Dog skiing / Skijoring

Skijoring, or skiing with a dog, offers the thrill of speed and good fitness training for both the dog and the skier. In skijoring, the dog runs ahead and is connected to the skier via a pulling harness, a flexible pull line, and a canicross belt. The sport can be practiced regardless of breed, and starting is reasonably easy. As the sport grows, the number of places to practice also increases, and in Finland, you can already hit the trails with your dog in many municipalities.

Before going on the trail, the dog should at least know the basic commands, especially stopping, and the skier should have sufficient skiing skills. On skis, the handler's control over the dog relies largely on verbal communication. Starting the pulling sport is often easier with canicross, as the runner can physically control the dog much more easily than the skier. You can read about starting canicross here.

In skijoring, you can progress to competitions if you wish.

Gear for skijoring

Pulling harness

In skijoring, as in other sled dog sports, the most important equipment is well-fitting and ergonomic pulling harnesses for the dog. The harness must not chafe or pinch anywhere nor restrict the dog's limb movements. A well-fitting pulling harness directs the pull to the dog's chest and the pulling pressure does not come on the dog's throat. Read more about finding the right harnesses in our fitting guide. You can also ask us about choosing suitable harnesses and gear. NOTE: never pull a dog with a collar, not even for testing!

Pull line

A flexible pull line effectively dampens jerks and is an essential piece of equipment for both the dog's and skier's safety. In skijoring, the pull line must, according to competition rules, be stretched to a full length of at least 2 m and at most 3 m. To give the skier enough time to react to the dog's movements, a longer leash (but at most 3 meters) is usually more practical. The skier's end of the elastic line must not have any metal parts (locks, rings, etc.), as they may injure the dog if the pull line detaches or is detached during pulling.

Canicross belt

The skier wears a canicross belt on the hips (note: NOT on the waist), preferably at least 7 cm wide (competition rule and safety factor). The pull should be directed to the skier's hips, and to prevent the belt from riding up too high on the waist, it must have leg straps. Pulling from low down does not easily unbalance the skier and also prevents back strain. In ski competitions, the canicross belt must have either an open hook or a quick-release lock for attaching the pull line, so the pull line can be quickly detached if necessary.

gear for skijoring from Traildog's

Ski equipment

In actual skijoring, skate skiing is used. Often skiing with a dog is so fast-paced that skate skiing is the natural choice. You can start skijoring experiments with classic skis, but as the speed increases and for actual pulling dog skiing on forest trails, you will need skate skiing equipment. Of course, nothing prevents skiing in the classic style if the dog is not a strong puller due to size or temperament, or if you just want to enjoy the outdoors.

Dog

Skijoring can be enjoyed with almost any type and size of dog. The most important thing is that the dog is healthy and wants to pull or at least move along the trail with the skier. For hobby purposes, most dogs learn to pull and enjoy it. The fastest and strongest larger dogs perform best in competitions, as in skijoring the dog's speed and endurance are emphasized. Popular breeds include German pointers, Dobermans, giant schnauzers, huskies, and various bird dog mixes.

To start pull training, the dog must have passed its growth phase and be healthy. The dog must be basically trained and get along with other dogs well enough to ensure that overtaking situations are safe for everyone.

Starting skijoring

As in all other pulling sports, start with short distances. Basic pull exercises can be done over 50-100 meters with the dog running towards a reward. This way the dog learns to enjoy pulling and gets used to the strain of pulling. Once the dog has learned that it is allowed and desirable to pull in the pulling harness, the pulling distances can be gradually increased. If your dog has not pulled with a pulling harness before, it is easiest to start pull training by jogging behind the dog instead of skiing. 

Even if your dog already knows how to pull, the skier is a different puller, and the dog must also get used to the skis and poles as well as, for example, the sound made when braking. For a dog that already knows how to pull but is new to skijoring, a training distance can initially be about one kilometer. Watch your dog and end the pull training as soon as the dog shows the first signs of fatigue. When the dog does not get too tired, the enjoyment of pulling remains. Although running is rewarding for many dogs in itself, remember to praise and reward your dog at the "finish line."

The dog also learns by imitating others, so during the first skiing sessions it can help to follow a more experienced skijorer (or even a dog sledder). Often the dog gets excited to follow another dog, and pulling and following the route come naturally. However, a sufficient safety distance must be kept from the dog team ahead, and overtaking should be practiced as a separate exercise. It is also wise to be sparing with using the so-called "hare." If you want your dog to learn to be an independent puller, it is good to do pull training also without a lure running ahead. Rewards at the end of pulling can be treats or play.

For skijoring, the skier should master a reasonable (skating) skiing technique, especially braking and turning techniques. The required skills naturally also depend on the terrain: starting on flat terrain, such as an ice track, is easy without hills and turns. On trail tracks, mastering skiing technique naturally becomes more important.

Skijoring technique

  • In skijoring, the goal is for the skier to disturb the dog's running as little as possible. In other words, to ski at roughly the same pace as the dog's running speed: skiing uphill and braking downhill so that the Pull line stays taut. When making tracks, you can also grab the Pull line by hand to prevent it from loosening under the skis or the dog's legs. 
  • Always stay behind your dog when going downhill, plowing. Do not ski on the classic track groove where braking is impossible. 
  • Mastering different skating skiing techniques naturally also makes skiing with a dog easier.
  • Dog skills: The dog must at least know how to stop on command. Direction commands as well as cues to slow down or speed up are also useful. Moving to the edge of the track on command makes passing easier.

Etiquette for the dog track

  • Always be prepared for unexpected situations. Skijoring is a fast-paced sport, with top speeds even around 30-40 km/h. Keep safe distances and don't stand still in curves or downhill sections. When stopping, keep your dog close to you at the edge of the track or between your legs.
  • On a skijoring track, dogs must always be leashed.
  • Walking on tracks/track bases is never advisable. A dog track does not mean a track where dogs can be walked or off-leash. Walking on tracks allowed for skijoring endangers both the safety of those practicing skijoring and your own dog. Passing situations come quickly and unevenness in the track base always increases the risk of injury.
  • If there is a dog team ahead of you, announce your intention to pass in good time and loudly. Say from which side you will pass (usually from the left). Give the one being passed time to bring their dog closer or completely to the side of the track if they wish. 
  • If you are being passed, move to the side of the track (usually the right edge), slow down and if necessary stop so that your dog is definitely under control.
  • On tracks where dogs are allowed, there are often also skiers without dogs. Inform them of your intention to pass in good time and pass at a safe distance and speed. Thank them!
  • Try to keep your dog off the classic skiing track groove. The groove gets damaged and on uneven surfaces at high speeds the risk of your dog spraining increases.
  • Give your dog a chance to relieve itself before the ski session and always clean up any droppings from the track!
  • Under no circumstances bring an aggressive or unpredictably behaving dog to the track.

Where can you ski with a dog?

Skiing with a dog is generally prohibited on public maintained tracks. Usually, a separate skijoring track is designated for skijoring, or a separate skijoring time slot is given on the general track, for example on certain evenings of the week. Check the allowed track sections/times in advance.

On natural ice, you can move freely with your dog, so skijoring is allowed there. Note that inexperienced dogs may not necessarily know how to pull (at least straight), if there is no prepared track to follow on a wide snowfield. Experienced dogs can of course manage this too.

If you plan to go on a trip to ski with your dog, it's a good idea to contact the destination early and inquire about skijoring opportunities. Every enthusiast can influence the growth of skijoring opportunities. Supply doesn't arise without demand! Actively contact municipalities and ski resorts and share your wishes.

Dog trails in Finland

You can search for existing dog trails in various electronic trail information services using the keywords skijoring or dog trail. Different municipalities use different systems. 

Traildog's compiled dog trail map also shows trails and trail times allowed for skijoring:

dog trail map

Competing in skijoring

In skijoring, competition distances vary between 5-20 kilometers. The skiing technique used is skate skiing, and the dogs of goal-oriented competitors are usually from larger breeds, such as German pointers, pointer crosses, and Dobermans—dogs that have a lot of speed and strength to assist the skier. Of course, you can also compete with smaller dogs.

There are three different competition formats in sled dog skiing: 

  • skijoring with one or two dogs (so-called line class)
  • pulka skiing, where there is a pulk between the skier and the dog
  • combined, where skiing is done alternately with and without a pulk

Skijoring competitions in Finland

Sled dog skiing competitions in Finland are organized by two different umbrella organizations: the Finnish Sled Dog Sports Federation VUL and the Finnish Working Dog Association SPKL. Only purebred registered dogs are eligible to participate in the competitions of the latter association. Mixed breeds can also participate in VUL competitions. Many competitions have hobby classes in addition to official classes/tests. You can find the calendar of sled dog sports competitions we have compiled here.

Frequently asked: Does the dog always pull on the leash if it participates in pulling sports?

One concern for those considering starting pulling sports is whether the dog will also pull on the leash during everyday walks. In practice, dogs quickly learn to distinguish from different gear when they are allowed to pull properly and when not. Pulling harnesses feel very different on the dog compared to normal everyday walking gear, so distinguishing is easy for them. It is logical for the dog that different harnesses are used on pulling runs than those used to teach polite walking without pulling in everyday life.

A dog that participates in pulling sports does not automatically mean a dog that always pulls on the leash. Practicing pulling sports is also a great way to channel an active dog's energy into exercise. Therefore, allowed pulling with pulling harnesses can very well also make everyday walks easier.