Going on vacation in the Jura massif with your dog
What activities to do in the Jura massif with your dog? What equipment to take for winter activities with your dog? Discover all this through the adventures of Aline and her two dogs Lover and Iskan!
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Even though the winter season has been kicking off for a few months now, I'm sure a few latecomers haven't planned their snow vacations yet. I am wrong? If you are one of them or if you simply want to discover a new destination, this new article will please you.
And if you go for a few days of vacation in the Jura massif with your dog? This is an opportunity to be able to recharge your batteries in contact with an omnipresent nature and to treat yourself to the various activities offered by this rich territory. And since I haven't had the chance to get to know this superb dog-friendly destination yet, Musher and I went to meet Lover and Aline, who had just returned from a few days of vacation in the Jura...
Lover, Aline's dog
Lover is a lovely Dalmatia 3 year old who has been deaf in his left ear since birth. He was born to a private individual whose contact was forwarded to Aline by a friend. When the time came to choose a little male, Aline had the choice between 2 hairballs. She had a huge crush on Lover. As it was the year of the Ls, and she had no idea of a name, she finally kept hers. Sometimes a little stubborn, Lover is a dog who needs to move constantly. He really has a top character since he is friends with everyone! The more the years pass, the more Aline tells herself that she should have called him Duracell as he loves winter and summer hikes. He also loves learning tricks.
Did you think the beautiful story ended there? Well no, Lover is not alone. Indeed, Aline's companion is the happy master of Iskan, the brother of the little Dalmatian. It's a Alaskan Malamute 5 year old who is much calmer. When they go for a walk, he follows them at his own pace and isn't really a fan of traction… Although a bit lazy, he likes to accompany them. All that matters to them is that their dogs are fulfilled in their dog life and well in their paws!
QUALIDOG-certified accommodation in the Jura
Are you looking for QUALIDOG-certified accommodation for a Trop W'ouf holiday with your dog? Is the Jura your dream destination for your next vacation with your dog? If you wanted to find accommodation where your dog will be welcome, don't hesitate to take a look at our selection of QUALIDOG-certified accommodation!
Our 2 days in the mountains in the Jura massif
Aline and her dogs have been going to the same shelter located in the Mont Tendre region in the Jura Vaudois park for 2 years now. This shelter is called the rock cabin, this place is open to all walkers provided they respect it. There is no reservation system. Around, they know the place like the back of their hand and love to contemplate the viewpoints! They have lots of favorite trails for you to discover. First of all, there is a loop or an out and back that they particularly like, it is the summit of Mount Sala. The wildlife is magnificent, but beware, this is a wildlife reserve, so your dogs must be kept on a leash. Mont de la Dole is also splendid, but rather to be done in spring or autumn, you will come across fewer walkers there.
In summer, if you don't want to be bothered by spring snow, you can discover the Givrins, Bassin and Arzier trails. For the summer, you can head to Mount Zinal where you will find many huts to rest. Here is the link of a site which gathers all the hikes to do in the Jura. For the greediest, you will enjoy going to buy raclette cheese in the village of Saint-Georges!
In short, Aline and her troupe have so many magical memories in this region that they don't even know which one to tell you about! On the other hand, Aline and her dogs have a funny little anecdote that will make you smile: the first year, it was necessary to install the battery and the solar panels at the refuge to equip the place because, before, there was no electricity and the occupants had to use candles for light. This method was not safe and the table burned several times… These two dogs also, in their own way, helped his companion by towing all the necessary equipment vigorously to the top…
Cani-snowshoeing, an activity that dogs love
In general, Aline and her companion love cani-snowshoeing with their dogs, just as much as cani-rando for that matter! Even though some people prefer to let their dog loose, they haven't made that choice. Indeed, their two dogs have the instinct of hunters so they prefer to keep them attached for the respect of other animals around! Aline really thinks that these cani-rando and cani-snowshoeing activities are suitable for all breeds of dogs, you just have to move at their own pace! Soon, weather permitting, they will try out cross-country skiing and cani-mountain biking with their two dogs… To be continued.
Musher and Sophie : “To practice cani-snowshoeing, you have to equip your dog with a pulling harness adapted to its morphology and then choose a elastic lanyard with an harness or an traction belt for you. And don't forget the snowshoes! On the dog side, this activity is rather sporty so remember to take breaks and give him something to drink throughout the outing. Anticipate his water needs carefully, otherwise he will be tempted to eat snow to hydrate himself and beware of gastric problems when returning to the car or when arriving at the chalet or refuge... There are a few precautions to take when going to the snow with his dog”. If you want more advice, check out the article: Winter sports holidays with a dog: precautions to take.
Equipment recommended by Lover and Aline for their winter activities
Lover is a short-haired dog with no undercoat, so Aline chose to buy her a coat. In his view, the Power Hound model from the Ruffwear brand is the one that combines all the required qualities, it is the most suitable for our mountain activities.
As for the daily harness or for short hikes, Lover is quite satisfied with the Front Range model from Ruffwear. On the other hand, when they go on longer adventures, Aline's dog prefers the X-Back Classic traction harness from Manmat and her Approch Pack model backpack from Ruffwear. Finally, as his dog has sensitive pads, he is under treatment Solipat from autumn to spring. This treatment is actually a pad tanner that will reinforce the weakened part. For outings in the snow, Aline usually equips her dog with boots Polar Trex of the Ruffwear brand always accompanied by socks. This model holds very well, even when the layer of snow is thick. Lover's been wearing them for two winters and they haven't budged. In addition to all this sports paraphernalia, their dog sleeps in a Ruffwear sleeping bag. The model is the Highland Sleeping bag, which they combine with an isolator mattress, the Highland Pad. Iskan, on the other hand, is equipped with rubber socks to avoid snowballs. All their equipment comes from the Ruffwear brand because it is the only one, according to Aline, which has the level of quality required for dogs on the trail.
Feedback on the shelter experience
Their refuge is quite comfortable. Indeed, they manage to heat it to 20 degrees above the outside temperatures. When the temperature inside the shelter drops below 10 degrees, they equip their little chilly with his coat and sleeping bag. For the croquettes and the mash, they are lucky to have positive temperatures inside, so nothing freezes.
If Aline had to send one last message about her experience in the mountains, it would be the following: “I can only encourage all masters to embark on such an adventure with their dog! This experience allows you to discover your dog's adaptability and even his personal abilities. A lot of wonderful moments are to be shared and I love seeing other people having fun doing activities with their dogs, I think it's really great.”
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After hearing this story, Musher and I have a little desire to go on vacation in the Jura massif… I hope this wow-fresh text will have given you the same desire for fresh air! If you want to contact Aline or discover this beautiful little family, here is the Lover facebook page. While waiting to plan your possible vacation in this region, many other destinations are waiting for you in the mag: This winter, go to the Pyrenees with your dog!, They share their dog-friendly tips with us in the Alps, Traveling to Norway with your dog.