Tips for Touring with Dogs

Personally I think it's retarded when I see people with their dogs out skin and skiing. Not fair for the poor dog and also another associated avy risk

SkiBum.Personally I think it's retarded when I see people with their dogs out skin and skiing. Not fair for the poor dog and also another associated avy risk

i Have mixed feelings about your response, on one hand, people have no business taking their dog down gnar lines , but having watched many dogs blast through powder on low angle days, I think its a great way to exercise your dog. I was more or less looking for opinions on making it as fun for your dog as possible

SkiBum.Personally I think it's retarded when I see people with their dogs out skin and skiing. Not fair for the poor dog and also another associated avy risk

Every time I've seen a dog in the preseason they seem stoked as fuck. As long as the dog is a good breed for the snow. And most people aren't dumb enough to bring a dog on anything with high avy danger.

op get whatever booties they have at any pet store as long as they don't look like they will fall apart. Get a jacket if they seem to get cold easily in the snow. And be sure your dog actually likes being in the snow for a long time

I have a Husky and do not take her. I refuse to ski with anybody that does as well. Not only does it put my life at risk it put the dogs as well. They ruin skin tracks, distract the owner and a host of other issues. If a slide happens, I want you focusing on the task at hand not you dog. If you want to run the dog get some snowshoes and hit the meadows or I got a XC ski set up and let her pull my ass all over the place. Never touring!

_local_idiot_pupsicle ...

No tips. Just like this pun.

snowpocalypseI have a Husky and do not take her. I refuse to ski with anybody that does as well. Not only does it put my life at risk it put the dogs as well. They ruin skin tracks, distract the owner and a host of other issues. If a slide happens, I want you focusing on the task at hand not you dog. If you want to run the dog get some snowshoes and hit the meadows or I got a XC ski set up and let her pull my ass all over the place. Never touring!

Solo meadow skipping with the dog is great fun

So much hate for something so nice.
Bringing your dog with you is awesome if they can contain themselves. One of my dogs is way to stoked and can be a pain in the ass sometimes, while another is just super chill and relaxed on both the way up and down (same breed).

As long as you're not sabotaging for anybody (like ruining skintracks or whatever) I don't see a problem. Obviously you don't take your dog with you if it could be a danger to you, your buddies or your doggo.

Also depending on breed it's a huge difference if it's a good idea If they will handle the snow, handle you skiing and everything in between. If you have a Husky it's not even an exercise while for example a Labrador would be pretty chill afterwards. Use your common sense and everything will be fine. Don't take the dog with you if there's crust or if you're gonna send some gnarly cliffs or whatever, you get my point.


The first few times will probably suck since your dog (depending on breed, speaking of own experience) will be all over the place, run over and under your skis and be way to stoked. I would recommend going out a few times just to practice and learn your dog some commands on where you want it to be while skinning as with skiing. Depending on breed they may want to herd you and thats pretty dangerous since ski edges and dog legs don't mix. Learn your dog to run behind you no matter how fast or slow you're skiing, some of you may think it's not gonna be a problem but it's actually really difficult to ski faster than some breeds.

Also Ski edges and dog legs don't mix.

OP, What kind of breed do you have?
And I wouldn't stress with dog boots, they usually suck and get lost in the snow.

It feels like my english is pretty rough but hopefully you guys get my point.

So much hate for something so nice.
Bringing your dog with you is awesome if they can contain themselves. One of my dogs is way to stoked and can be a pain in the ass sometimes, while another is just super chill and relaxed on both the way up and down (same breed).

As long as you're not sabotaging for anybody (like ruining skintracks or whatever) I don't see a problem. Obviously you don't take your dog with you if it could be a danger to you, your buddies or your doggo.

Also depending on breed it's a huge difference if it's a good idea If they will handle the snow, handle you skiing and everything in between. If you have a Husky it's not even an exercise while for example a Labrador would be pretty chill afterwards. Use your common sense and everything will be fine. Don't take the dog with you if there's crust or if you're gonna send some gnarly cliffs or whatever, you get my point.


The first few times will probably suck since your dog (depending on breed, speaking of own experience) will be all over the place, run over and under your skis and be way to stoked. I would recommend going out a few times just to practice and learn your dog some commands on where you want it to be while skinning as with skiing. Depending on breed they may want to herd you and thats pretty dangerous since ski edges and dog legs don't mix. Learn your dog to run behind you no matter how fast or slow you're skiing, some of you may think it's not gonna be a problem but it's actually really difficult to ski faster than some breeds.

Also Ski edges and dog legs don't mix.

OP, What kind of breed do you have?
And I wouldn't stress with dog boots, they usually suck and get lost in the snow.

It feels like my english is pretty rough but hopefully you guys get my point.

mushers wax. prevents ice buildup on paws.

some really negative answers i think its cool when people bring there dogs with em.
id say don't bring em to busy places where people are skiing
you prob shouldn't be taking your dog on crazy lines too

Don't go tour with him to before he have stopped growing, the chance of him getting fucked up hips for the rest of his life is big.

We get a lot of late season snow where I am, so well skin up the resorts once they close and ski around there. Its very safe compared to being way out there, and if you have something like this available to you it would be a good way to try out the dog to see how they are going to handle the whole touring deal

Im just thinking of a dog prancing through snow :3 thats adorable.. My 1 cent. I think bringing your dog out is a good idea.. ofcourse dont take him out to some gnar lines.. but like everyone knows the limits of our furry friends

Boots are good. Obviously bring food/water and a small blanket.

I keep my dog behind me so I can't accidentally run over her or cut her with edges. If they try to lead use your poles to block them.

Stay off anything that might slide or is steep. If the snow has a deep crust layer don't bring them.

_local_idiot_Does anyone have dog booties that they recommend? just adopted a pup and dont want him to turn into a pupsicle ...

As the owner of 10 sleddogs and someone who as been mushing for 8 years, I'm in a position to speak on this matter. Your average dog is naturally equipped to deal with snow without a bootie, the conditions under which it becomes necessary is when snow is rather wet and it begins to compact between the pads of their paw into little snowballs that rub. This can also be remedied but trimming the hair between their pads so there is nothing for the snow to clump to. Some people will also bootie there dogs when conditions are icy, so they don't cut up their feet on sharp ice, but is has the reverse effect of removing the dogs traction on the ice and makes them prone to shoulder injuries from slipping. Unless your dog is a hairless chihuahua or a breed with little or no fur coat then you don't need to worry about keeping them warm until the temperature goes below -10 to -15 degrees. Also take into account, I have never met a dog that liked wearing booties and most will attempt to chew them off when they get a chance. If you are still convinced however don't subject your pup to the awful shoe style ones you find at petco, use a simple cloth one as you can find at any of these dog sledding stores:
https://dogbooties.com/
http://www.adanacsleds.com/dog-boots/

I take my Akita/Husky mix up to Taos more than half the time i ride, and at the end of the day i let him run with me down the mile or more catwalk from the bavarian on the backside (where i park) to the front base area and hitch a ride back or have a homie drive my car around.
Anyways two things i do to keep the ice chunks out of his paw pads: Trim that shit as good ass possible, i use like hair buzzers about once a month, And buy some of the stuff called "Mushers Secret" (find it online) and smear it on your pooches paws and paw fur before you take them out. its basically like water repellent chapstick shit that keeps anything from sticking but doesnt ruin their grip. Works awsome for hot pavement too when i skate him in the summer.