ringwise
Boxer Buddy
Skijoring is a BLAST! I live just east of Sacramento, and my husband and I take the dogs to the snow a lot during the winter months. We both grew up skiing (although I just did downhill).
I have a pug mix that is mixed with some sort of nordic breed, so I decided to see if he'd be any good at skijoring. He was MEANT to do it!!! I used downhill skis the first year, but enjoyed it so much that I got cross country skis last Christmas. We've been quite a few times, and I haven't hurt myself once
I've fallen a few times, but nothing serious (getting up with cross country skis is a lot harder than with downhill, though.) Since Puck is small (35 pounds) he doesn't really fly, he kind of just helps me along by pulling.
We've taken our Boxer, Tango, but he's a very soft boy and wouldn't pull on the harness (kind of kept Puck company by running just behind him.) He wore his coat and booties, and really didn't like it.
I plan on taking Snap, our new baby Boxer girl this winter. She loves to chase, and I'm hoping that she'll just follow Puck's lead.
One of the nice things about skijoring is the control (no, really). Puck has to be on a leash when we hike around big distractions, but with skijoring, he's attached to me. And he's never taken off when he's in harness - it's almost like he knows it's his job and just keeps pulling. He's pretty trained, and knows "wait", "come" and is learning "left" and "right".
I have the web address of a company that makes harnesses and lines, and I've really liked their product, if anyone wants it. They custom make the harness, and they've fit both of our dogs with very different body shapes perfectly.
Laurie Buckley
Shingle Springs, CA
I have a pug mix that is mixed with some sort of nordic breed, so I decided to see if he'd be any good at skijoring. He was MEANT to do it!!! I used downhill skis the first year, but enjoyed it so much that I got cross country skis last Christmas. We've been quite a few times, and I haven't hurt myself once
I've fallen a few times, but nothing serious (getting up with cross country skis is a lot harder than with downhill, though.) Since Puck is small (35 pounds) he doesn't really fly, he kind of just helps me along by pulling.We've taken our Boxer, Tango, but he's a very soft boy and wouldn't pull on the harness (kind of kept Puck company by running just behind him.) He wore his coat and booties, and really didn't like it.
I plan on taking Snap, our new baby Boxer girl this winter. She loves to chase, and I'm hoping that she'll just follow Puck's lead.
One of the nice things about skijoring is the control (no, really). Puck has to be on a leash when we hike around big distractions, but with skijoring, he's attached to me. And he's never taken off when he's in harness - it's almost like he knows it's his job and just keeps pulling. He's pretty trained, and knows "wait", "come" and is learning "left" and "right".
I have the web address of a company that makes harnesses and lines, and I've really liked their product, if anyone wants it. They custom make the harness, and they've fit both of our dogs with very different body shapes perfectly.
Laurie Buckley
Shingle Springs, CA