Skiing with your dog

Are you going on a winter sports holiday with your dog ? How about trying skiing with your canine companion ? Ski joering , ski touring , downhill skiing, skating… all with your dog. Yes, skiing with your dog is possible! To prove it, I interviewed a super-doggy duo straight from the Aravis mountain range in the Alps!

This is Estelle and Yeti. These two mountain lovers are inseparable (hehe) and enjoy several amazing winter sports to share with your dog. They also do bikejoring and canicross , but their real passion is winter sports. Today, they're going to tell us about their skiing experiences 🙂 Let's follow our athletes and discover the joy of skiing with your dog. Watch out, they're fast! Full speed ahead… 🙂

Estelle, it's up to you 🙂

Before telling you about skiing with a dog, an introduction is in order 🙂

Yeti is a real wolf, he likes to sleep outside, doesn't ask for too many cuddles, silent and passive haha… He's a very endearing and very loyal dog! I saw him metamorphose as our story progressed… he learned to trust me and understood that I would never abandon him! His biggest flaw: stubborn (a real head of mule, especially if you want to get something from him by force). His greatest quality: his warm fur?! And I'm not talking about his permanent smile!

For more details about our story, come take a look at our Woof-tastic profile . I'll tell you all about it 🙂

I have been skiing since I was 3 years old. I grew up at the foot of the ski slopes. My family is ski touring and as soon as I could, I did too. At 18, I was already leaving alone with my skins in search of solitude on the peaks, aha! By adopting Yeti, it was out of the question for me to stop my activities, so he follows me everywhere! And he loves it!

I started with small outings to check its behavior and adapt mine as well. And as we went out, we both became experts! During our ski sessions, I start to climb slowly but Yéti is flat out at the beginning so he tows me! Then it calms down and regulates itself. We take a few small breaks to drink and a real break at the top with a small snack and of course souvenir photos for fun! Eh yihaaa the descent!

Before heading out on a ski tour with my dog, I spend a lot of time on skitour . It's a forum specializing in ski touring where skiers share their experiences on various peaks, outings, and so on. I also rely heavily on my extensive knowledge of the peaks! I have a Vermeil Arrow level on groomed runs. Since I was little, I've followed my family off-piste. I'm just as comfortable on groomed runs as I am on moguls or powder (well, crusty snow is a different story, isn't it?!). I have to admit that for several years now, groomed runs have bored me... I prefer searching for powder to staying on the edges of the runs...

Now that ski touring has become incredibly popular and is no longer reserved for experienced mountaineers, most resorts offer marked ski touring trails so you can go up and down safely! Which is great news :). When ski touring, I prefer to go with a guide for safety reasons.

However, for ski-joering, cross-country skiing towed by a dog, it is generally very complicated… most resorts refuse the presence of dogs so as not to damage the track (which is quite normal). I had found an arrangement with the manager of a station who accepted me with my dog ​​(a big thank you to him!) at sunset when the slopes were closed and before grooming them. It allowed me to make some nice outings.

To choose the right equipment for my dog, I looked online. Leashes with springs , pulling harnesses , shock-absorbing belts … I have several models… Yeti, my dog, has his own little wardrobe, haha! He also has a harness with saddlebags, which is very practical because he can carry some of his water. Yeti is a real Sherpa with his dog pack . As for a dog coat , Yeti, who is an Alaskan Malamute, is THE naturally equipped dog! He doesn't need to cover up.

However, I check his pads after each ride…so far nothing to report. And the veterinarian gives us the green light every year! For the moment, Yéti is in full force of age and follows with pleasure. I will be more vigilant in a few years by adapting my outings.

Sophie and Musher: “Snow and anti-freeze products are very irritating to your dog's paws. Musher and I use Solipat paw pad fortifier . It will help protect your dog's paw pads.”

👋 Musher's great deal

Dog food, supplies, grooming, vacations… the cost of a dog can quickly add up. So, with Musher, we created the Advantage Card : the very first card that brings together useful discounts to save you money all year round, on everyday expenses or vacations. 💸 See the 34 available discounts

For my part, I think that this sport is not made for all dogs. The dog must have regular training, be resistant and enduring... You are not going to ask your friend who does not like running to come and do a marathon with you. It's the same for your dog! Going up in the powder and running behind you on the descent is a very intense effort for him.

👋 Musher's great deal

Dog food, supplies, grooming, vacations… the cost of a dog can quickly add up. So, with Musher, we created the Advantage Card : the very first card that brings together useful discounts to save you money all year round, on everyday expenses or vacations. 💸 See the 34 available discounts

Before diving headfirst into this sport, I think there are some basic rules to follow. In particular, your dog needs to know its right from its left. Yeti knows his well, which is quite handy for pulling sports!

Then you have to know EVERYTHING about safety and ALWAYS have the safety equipment on you! Check the weather carefully, choose the orientation of the slope, do not ski in the middle of the afternoon in the heat... Always let someone know you are going out so that someone can call the emergency services if they don't see you. not go back.

I start with the worst memory to end on a good note. Yéti got lost during a ski touring outing. This time, it was snowing hard and it was a white day. As we were downhill and untied him, I couldn't find him when I stopped to see if he was following. I looked for him everywhere and night was beginning to fall… He ended up coming back; even he had been scared! A word of advice: put a bell on the collar, if you can't see it, at least you'll hear it!

Now a funnier anecdote: there was a lot of snow and attracted by the fresh snow, I left before sunrise to be alone. On the descent, Yeti struggled because he was sinking into the powder and couldn't go fast. I only saw his ears sticking out! I got tired of waiting for him and seeing him struggle so much so I carried him on my back to finish the descent! Too bad this scene couldn't be filmed...

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Oh yes, too bad Estelle! I would have loved to see you skiing with a malamute on your shoulders: p I hope this article has made you want to go skiing with your dog, but you will have understood: be careful! Ski touring with your dog is a sport you have to be prepared for. You must be sure of your skiing level, your dog's abilities and know the mountain and its dangers well. Be aware of your limits and those of your dog so that you never foolishly put yourself in danger.

Thanks again to Estelle and Yeti for this lovely information and wonderful article 🙂 You can find this magnificent duo on their Instagram page “ ichoosethemoutain ”, a real feast for the eyes. You'll see, their photos are breathtaking!

One last thing: looking for a ski resort for your winter vacation? Check out these articles: Winter Sports Holidays with My Dog ; Top 10 Pet-Friendly Rentals: A Winter Special in the Alps ; This Winter, Head to the Pyrenees with Your Dog . Psst: more articles dedicated to French resorts to try with your dog are coming very soon to the EmmèneTonChien.com blog ! Stay tuned and keep your ears and noses open!

In the meantime, for more information, holiday tips and dog-friendly deals, follow EmmèneTonChien.com on our Facebook page and our Instagram account 🙂