Skijor Heart Out: A beginner’s guide

By Meredeth Barzen

During the dog days of winter, it’s tempting to hibernate with your pooch, laying around on the couch all day and nodding off now and again to episodes of Animal Planet’s “Pet Star.”

NO! BAD DOG OWNER! Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have license to turn into a slug. You owe it to yourself and your pet to get out into the world and take in some fun, some exercise and some fresh air, and one of the best ways to do that in a Minnesota winter is skijoring—or, as Kristine Zellmer of local group Skijor Now puts it, “dog-assisted cross country skiing.”

Zellmer points out that skijoring has actually been around for more than 100 years. “It started when some Norwegians went to Alaska during the gold rush,” she says. “They saw dog sledding and brought the idea home to Norway and adapted what they saw to skiing behind horses and reindeer. The actual term means ‘ski-driving.’ With time, dogs started to be used.”

To skijor, you’ll need a dog that’s at least 30 pounds and loves to run. For equipment, you’ll need a harness for the dog, a belt for you, and lines to connect you to your dog. Ultra Paws sells this gear as a package for $115.95. Then, you’ll need somewhere to go and someone to show you how to do it—you can find these in the resources listed below.

If you’d like to get a jump on your skijor training before you get out on skis, Zellmer recommends leash-training your dog to respond to the main commands one at a time. They are:

‘Whoa’ = Stop

‘Hike’ or ‘Let’s go’ = Go

‘Gee’ = Turn right

‘Haw’ = Turn left

‘On-By’ = “Keep going—do not stop to smell the tree, chase the rabbit or examine the passing dog.” When you think your dog is going to be distracted from the trail, say the command. When she passes the object by, praise her.

And remember: You don’t have to be a speedy, big-shot racer to enjoy skijoring. By working with their dog, anyone can enjoy the sport as a casual, fun wintertime activity.

Skijoring Resources:

Clubs:

—Skijor Now

—Midwest Skijorer’s Club

Information:

—”Ski Spot Run” by Matt Haakenstat and John Thompson

—Midwest Skijorer’s Club Instructional Power Point

Places to Get Gear:

—Ultra Paws

—Skijor Now

—Midwest Mountaineering

Events:

—Sat., February 6: Chuck & Don’s Skijoring Loppet. Uptown Minneapolis starting at 1 p.m. The world’s largest skijor race—last year there were 107 teams and more than 2000 spectators.

—Sat., February 13: Midwest Skijorer’s Club 10th annual winter skijor event, sponsored by Ultra Paws. Starting at 9 a.m. at Ham Lake Park, with clinics for beginner, intermediate and advanced skijorers, plus pro sport and novice classes.

Places to Skijor:

—Midwest Skijorer’s Club Trail Guide

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