Like everything, it seems, people have strong opinions about skiing with dogs. Never! Always! Never, except! Always, except! Look at any local backcountry ski forum on Facebook, and you’ll see plenty of armchair quarterbacks where dogs are concerned.
I, for one, never thought this would matter for me. In my 20s, I remember saying ridiculous things like, “My touring is for me; I’m never going to want to bring a dog.”
Well, joke’s on you, bud. My first winter adventuring with my then-girlfriend/now-fiancee’s 85-pound non-descript black rescue immediately proved past-me wildly mistaken. The sheer hilarity of watching that dog pick up a head of steam down an open meadow with dusty powder exploding all around him—it will never not make me smile. Fast forward three years and he’s the being I’ve probably shared the most ski days with in the backcountry.
I’m no dog trainer, and I’m not even a lifelong dog lover. But I have formed a few takeaways after completely shifting my opinion on skiing with a dog. Here’s hoping they help you share some laughs with your canine friend.
Pay Attention (ie, Learn Your Dog)
I’m sure the internet is full of dos and don’ts. I think a lot of how you approach a backcountry ski day with your dog will depend on, well, your dog.
When temps will require a jacket? How sensitive are her paws to ice build-up and cold? What are the snow types that will be so challenging I should leave ole boy at home? Will she chase anyone who skis by downhill, or will she stay put until it’s me on the descent?
You can only become comfortable tailoring the experience to your dog after some trial and error. And you have to closely watch her as you tour. I had to watch my dog blast off after a totally different group before I understood that without some practice, he would happily follow anyone downhill—and probably get in their car at the bottom.
Of course, you only gather these notes by doing. And how you do, especially at the beginning, can set you and your canine buddy up for a successful future. To that end…
Recalibrate Your Pack for Dog Safety
I know, I know. Safety third! But when it comes to the pup, we have to reset.
I, for one, don’t bring first aid stuff on short tours. Heck, sometimes I don’t even bring water, snacks, or my sanity. I’m talking about the zero avy danger, 500-feet-of-vert roadside zone 30 minutes from my house. But still; I admit to forgoing some pack items when I’m on my own.
When I started touring with a dog, I took the time to bring the goods. Jacket, booties, musher’s wax, (warm) water and bowl, treats (always), minor first aid kit (dog-focused), a close-cell-foam pad or adventure blanket, and so on. Though some are conditions dependent, most of these things come on most our tours. Over-do things to begin with, and tailor the kit to your pup as you get more experience together.
Watch Out for Ski Edges
Speaking of safety—the last thing you want is to slice your doggo’s leg open with a ski edge. And trust me, most dogs have a hard time staying clear of skis. If they’re not walking directly ahead of you or crashing over your skis to get back in front, they’re trying to stand on your skis when their paws start to get cold. I don’t blame them!
I needed to be extra mindful of my movements as I took the dog skiing more and more. I have to remind myself to stop moving when he’s near my skis; tell him to sit and let me come to him rather than letting him crash into me; give him space for sporadic movements when we’re descending. Giving him a solid buffer as often as I can helps us avoid friendly fire.
Have Obedience Dialed
You don’t need to impress the Westminster Kennel Club in order to take your dog skiing. But you do need to make sure you can do one thing: Get him or her to come to you when they have to. Maybe it’s a clicker. However you do it, you want to be able to keep your dog close when you need to. I sling a leash across my body in case I need to grab homeboy quickly.
This is especially true in areas with lots of other people and pups around, like some ski areas and popular touring zones.
Imagine You’re Their Size
In some places, and in certain snow conditions, being a dog’s size can be extra difficult or dangerous. Even if you’re not skiing avalanche terrain, some micro features could bury or injure your dog if they broke loose. Similarly, that crust that your skis power through will be much more challenging for the pup than packed snow or pure pow. Knowing the snow or spots they might struggle with will help keep them safe and also reduce the chances that you get too separated.
Ski Fall Line
This one obviously depends on where you’re skiing and the snow conditions. But when you can, try to ski the fall line. My dog has the best experience skiing when he can let gravity do the work (shocker!). He also prefers using my tracks if the snow is crunchy or heavy. Giving him as straight of a shot as I can makes a huge difference in keeping him oriented and stoked. Plus, nothing brings me more joy than watching him get absolutely shacked in blower snow when he’s able to hit top speed running straight downhill.
LNT!
Know your area’s policies on dogs. Some resorts don’t allow them; some do. Some zones require leashes; others don’t. When incidents happen and people aren’t following the rules, that’s when we end up having to leave our pups at home.
And, of course: Bring poop bags, use them, and take them with you. Should go unsaid right? Well…you’d think. The skin track deuce may be funny in the moment, but—come on, man!
