Snowboarding with your dog
Today I'm talking to you about a activity to do with your dog, It's about snowboarding! Yes do snowboarding with his dog it's possible 😀 Liou and Franck, our two Dunkirk competitors in cani-mountain biking, usually go sliding along the slopes in the resort of Les Saisies in Savoie.
As a reminder, this station was shared with us by Eloïse and Anis, our Savoyard duo, in the article: They share their dog-friendly tips with us in the Alps. Eloise talked to us about making skijoring with a dog, this sport Too W'ouf which consists in being towed in cross-country skiing by his dog. Well, put away your skis and take out your board because it is on a snowboard that Franck gets towed by his dog Liou. They tell us about their adventures. Let's go for a 100% fun ride with his dog. Why have your dog looked after during the holidays when you can take your dog on holiday and have a blast with him?
Frank and his dog
Liou and Franck are first of all love at first sight. Liu is a malinois belgian shepherd three years old, very sporty. It was in Dunkirk that they met for the first time. Former soldier Franck knew that this was the breed he needed.
Frank: “- The Malinois Belgian Shepherds are very intelligent dogs, rather hardy and light-hearted. He is a dog that can do anything. A real asset within a team and especially in the army (amazing search dog, explosive, weapons, defense dog, intervention, they are even parachutable). It is exactly this kind of rather versatile dog that I needed.“
After finding out Franck was able to pick up Liou, then 4 and a half months old, from a breeder who didn't have time to take care of her. When you bring a dog into your life, you have to be patient. One year is the time it took for Liou to adapt to his new environment and to be totally attentive to Franck. A few books on dog training, time and lots of love and you're done!
Musher and Sophie: “When Musher came home she was a baby. At 3 months, the puppy's brain has not finished developing. That's why you can't expect your puppy to know how to walk on a leash, stay on his mat, be clean…. in 5 minutes flat”. You have to repeat, reward very strongly as soon as he does something good and listen to your pet to offer him solutions if there are things he does not understand. NEVER punishment: it is useless except let off steam!! Patience, respect and listening are the magic words of education. Musher also took time to become the perfect dog who shares my life today.”
Snowboarding with your dog
We go skiing every year. Going on vacation with your dog, It's happiness. We were already doing cani mountain bike with Liou, she therefore knows the basics of traction.
That winter, I had taken his equipment to go hiking and I said to myself: “Why not try snowboarding?”
The only problem is that there was no dog-friendly chairlift. So I climbed the mountain on foot with Liou. Haha, when we want, we can! :)) When I think that some people leave their dog in a kennel for the holidays when we can share great experiences with them...
Musher and Sophie: “Do you want to see what it looks like? I advise you towatch the video of Chaussette and Patrice who ride together. It's breathtaking. Chaussette must have good cardio to follow his master snowboarder in the powder! Maybe a next sport for Musher and me to try: snowboarding with your dog"
It is absolutely necessary that you already know how to snowboard before starting with your dog, otherwise you risk ending up in the trees :)) In snowboarding it is your arms that serve as your balance, but with a dog, you must hold the loin with one hand so it gets a little tougher.
During this sport, the dog is in front. It is therefore imperative to know your doggie well and that he already has the basics of cani cross to know the direction orders and especially the STOP
It will therefore not be new for him to pull his master and he will be focused on his trajectory. A dog that is not used to it will quickly be tempted to go see people passing by or run into the legs of skiers!
The essential equipment for snowboarding with your dog
You need a dog harness et a cani mountain bike lanyard . I recommend boots ou socks to protect the paws from the snow.
– Musher and Sophie : “Franck is totally right, you have to protect your dog from the snow and the cold, powder snow is not without danger. Read this article: Winter sports holidays with a dog: precautions to take. You will know everything to protect your dog from small inconveniences due to snow, whether outside or inside... Musher's intestines have unfortunately experienced this. Taking your dog on vacation requires a minimum of preparation…”
Boots ou dog shoes protect well but Liou only wears them before and after the activity. I don't put them on her on purpose because she wouldn't have the same sensations and the snow would get into her boots. In the end, it ends up piling up inside and hurting her...
Where to snowboard with your dog?
I left at Les Saisies with my dog, we snowboarded on the green and blue slopes, but beware it was out of season. So there weren't many people on the slopes… Nobody told me anything.
Musher and Sophie : ” We have inquired and know that you can also snowboard with your dog in the Pyrenees! You remember in the article: This winter, go to the Pyrenees with your dog! ? I was telling you about the Nordic Station De Cap Cir in which there are kilometers of tracks for go skijoring with a dog, you can also go snowboarding! ”
Liou, a snowboarding dog
Liou only asks for that! As soon as I take the snowboard out, she gets carried away, she is so excited that she bites the board! She is a very sporty and demanding female dog, as long as she exerts herself she is happy. She does not even ask for a reward for the effort, a caress or her favorite toy is enough for her.
This activity allows her to exert herself well and she needs it! These are great sensations, we are on 25 km / h. To slow down, I just have to shout: “slowly” “slowly” and little by little she starts to slow down, that's why I don't recommend practicing this winter sport with a dog that is not listening to his master. I also make Liou step a little to the side. To avoid the edge in the legs.
Frank's story
I don't have any particular anecdote but it's always very funny to see the faces of other skiers when they see us :)) . It's always the same scenario. They suddenly see something overtaking them, lower their heads and realize it's a dog. They are surprised!. Then BIM me who arrives behind hooked to Liou: this time they are mega surprised! :))
People often come to see me taken aback by Liou and our activity but I have never had any complaints, neither from them nor from the trackers or rescuers. They are surprised and curious to see me snowboarding with my dog but not disturbed. Ultimately, go on vacation with your dog becomes almost “normal”. And that's rather good news! Because leaving your dog in boarding is a punishment for him and for his master..
The cani-snowboard: for all dogs?
It's not a breed problem, the master must be good at snowboarding and must know the reactions of his dog, because there are skiers, so you need a dog who is physical and attentive. Of course, there are breeds that won't have the strength to pull someone through the snow. I'm thinking of the dachshund for example, it will be complicated for him... :))
I invite you to going on a ski holiday with your dog. He's going to have a blast, that's for sure!
FlashDog : To practice snowboarding with your dog, it must be well educated and know all the basic commands. Without this, this winter sport can be dangerous for him as well as for you. To educate your dog, there is nothing better than positive and gentle education with the Canidelite online training. In a few videos, you will know how to educate your dog and how to better understand and communicate with him.
Dog-friendly tips
I mainly go to Les Saisies to snowboarding with my dog. I stay in a dog friendly chalet.
Otherwise I live Dunkirk with my dog, Malo Les Bains beach accept dogs. You can explore the Bois des Forts in Coudekerque-Village, I train there for my canicross competitions with Liou. I also go to the slag heaps, these are old mining sites where there are paths authorized for dogs to walk 🙂 Additional info about my city. In Dunkirk, only small dogs are allowed on public transport, those that fit in bags...
Sophia and Musher : "So ? Would you like a holiday in Dunkirk with your dog? 20 minutes by car you can go to the Bray-Dunes seaside resort, you can stay in the Villa Les Margats from Holiday Suite where pets are welcome! 😀"
Musher and I hope this article has made you want to try the snowboarding with your dog! For amateurs, take the advice of Liou and Franck into account, do not embark on the adventure without knowing this sport well. If you want to know more about this Wouafement Bien duo, head to their facebook page: DNADog. Go quickly slide with them by watching this video Too W'ouf!