Skijoring with a dog
Dog skijoring is believed to have originated in Norway. It all started with simple individual training of sled leaders. The dog had to pull the trainer, who was on skis. Gradually, classes became more and more popular and soon developed into an independent sport. The first skijoring competition took place in 1930.
The idea of skijoring was quickly appreciated by the Americans. It was they who popularized this sport. In 2011, the biggest competition was held near Minneapolis, in which more than 200 teams took part.
As for Russia, in the Soviet Union there was a special training for service dogs, which was called “towing a skier”, and it took place approximately on the same principle as skijoring.
Sports Features
According to the rules of skijoring, one athlete can be pulled by one to three dogs in a team. The length of the track is usually from 5 to 20 km, but there are also much longer distances. So, for example, the Canadian track is considered a record, its length is 160 km.
International organizations supervise competitions. In the US and Canada, this is the International Dog Racing Federation. In Russia, skijoring on dogs is a sledding sport, the rules of which are approved by the All-Russian Association of Sledding Sports. There are also disciplines similar to it: this is a towing race and skier towing, which are held by the Russian League of Cynologists and the Russian Cynological Federation.
How to participate?
Getting started with skijoring is not that hard. This sport does not require a large amount of equipment, the main thing is desire, including dogs.
Skijoring can be done by animals that can pull a person. As a rule, these are large pets weighing more than 16 kg.
The best candidates for this sport are dogs of northern breeds (huskies, malamutes, huskies), as well as retrievers, labradors and even mastiffs. However, the breed does not play a special role. Often dogs without a breed become outstanding athletes.
Equipment:
Belt. Athletes use a wide belt worn around the waist. Climbing harnesses are also suitable;
train This is the cord that connects the skier and the dog. Its length is approximately 1,5–2 m, it absorbs sudden movements;
Harness. For sledding, each dog needs to buy a special sports harness-harness. It differs in the special durability and ease;
Skiing. Cross-country skis are great for skijoring. For better glide, they are lubricated with wax. However, if you want to practice in different areas (in the city, in the forest or on the track), you should purchase the appropriate pair of skis for each of them.
Training
For skijoring, you should choose a dog trainer, because training a pet is one of the main components of success. First of all, he must know the commands “Stop”, “Forward”, “Left” and “Right”, and also obey the owner without special signs.
Physical activity starts at about the age of one year, but a lot depends on the breed of dog. It is very important that the pet is disposed to this sport – he pulls the athlete with pleasure and fulfills all his commands.
Dog skijoring is a team sport, and much depends on the person. The owner must stand well on skis, be able to maneuver and slow down at the right time – in a word, be a worthy partner for a pet. In addition, there must be complete mutual understanding and trust between the skier and the dog.
