Snowscooting with your dog
Looking for a new activity to do with your dog? I have what you need ! Snowscoot with your dog. The snowscoot is a kind of special ski scooter, equipped with two skates. Your dog can either run freely alongside you or tow you like a cani-scooter. Yes, yes, you have the right image in mind… Snowscooting with your dog is possible!
I haven't had the opportunity to test this activity with Musher yet, so I interviewed a snowscoot enthusiast and her dogs. Margaux and her two adorable Australian Shepherds, Marley and Omega, show us their favorite winter sport: snowscotting! canicross, cani-vtt, cani-scooter, skijoring, cani-sled, cani-skate, cani-rando, cani-racket, cani-ski…. our trio is a fan of traction sports, of all kinds, summer and winter! Today, they are going to tell us about their experiences as riders 🙂 Let's follow our athletes, hang on, it's going to take your breath away! They show us their machine, their equipment and share great tips for getting started in this sport.
Margaux, I'll let you speak: it's up to you 🙂
Margaux and her two Australian Shepherds
Before telling you about snowscooting with a dog, an introduction is in order 🙂
My name is Margaux, I'm 28 years old and I live in Country of Gex, near the Jura Massif. I'm a beer salesman. Hey yes, everyone has their vices!! Haha. For 4 and a half years, I have shared my life with Benjamin, my fiancé. We are getting married in February 2020 and we have just bought a house with beautiful land: the project of our lives, to the delight of our dogs.
We are the parents of two adorable dogs: Marley and Omega, two australian shepherds. Chosen for their sporty, affectionate breed that is very close to humans. I wanted a dog that could follow me wherever I went (bars, restaurants, vacations, with friends, at work, at events, etc.) and in my activities (sports or not). It was important for me to be able to develop an unfailing bond. Marley, my first loulou is 3 and a half years old. Omega, the second terror is 1 year and a half old. My two dogs love sport, effort and solicitation but we will find more enthusiasm at Omega. She's always ready to go and go for it, Marley is more about holding back… but once she's gone, nothing stops her!
Snowscooting with your dog
The principle of snowscooting with your dog? You harness your dog, you give the GO and you direct them on the snow. They are in full traction, as on a sled.
We tested the snowscoot last year when my partner found and brought home his childhood snowscoot, which he had made from scratch. Neither one nor two after having discovered it, I told myself that it would be a blast with our dogs. We had a weekend planned at Morzine, so we took the snowscoot, the dogs and hooop forward in the car! I had never done a snowscoot before. I used to ski a lot but that's it. I put on my moon boots, put on the pulling harness to my dogs and hitched them pull lines on my handlebar. When I launched my traditional “FIGHT”: they took off like arrows!
Musher and Sophie : "Margaux knows her machine by heart but before letting her talk to us about snowscoot in detail, I wanted to give you some details. The snowscoot looks like a scooter but on skates and not on wheels. The front skid is equipped with a handlebar so that the machine can be steered. It's pretty easy to use, you can snowscoot from 7 to 77 years old as they say! To move forward, just skate or let yourself slide down the slope. More and more resorts are offering them for hire, you have surely come across them on the slopes.”
Where to snowscoot with your dog
This activity is normally practiced on downhill slopes like alpine skiing. We have decided to use it as a traction sport to be able to snowscoot with our dogs and therefore on a flat track. The Nordic tracks are the best solution because they are groomed. All resorts have Nordic trails so it is easy to practice this activity!
We go everywhere, we love discovering new places! We assume that everyone is dog-friendly and that our dogs are accepted everywhere. Good or bad idea… Know that we sometimes have nice surprises! The best winter sports resort will remain Morzine, summer and winter alike, it's dog-friendly to the hilt! We recommend it, you will never be disappointed!
Musher and Sophie : “Assuming that all places are dog-friendly can be a good idea, but I would still advise you to do a few checks beforehand. Organizing your excursion, preparing your equipment, making the trip, gearing up and arriving in front of the slopes where a “pretty” sign with a big crossed-out dog awaits you can be frustrating! All resorts are far from being dog-friendly… Better to inquire.”
The essential equipment for your dog
To snowscoot with your dog, you will need the same gear as for snowscooting. canicross : a pulling harness and pull line for the dog. I don't use harness for me and drawbar as found in cani-vtt. I hitch the lines directly to my handlebars: one on the right and one on the left.
I prepare my dogs' paws for the cold all season long, just as I prepare their paws in the summer for hikes on pebbles or tarmac. A shot of Solipat monthly and cream, when needed or after heavy sports/adventure sessions.
I don't use any other particular material for my dogs since they love the cold and the snow. They would be frustrated if I put a coat for example ! On the other hand, I am thinking of investing in a protection's mask for dog for Omega because she has super clear eyes. The reverberation of the sun on the snow bothers her, I'm even afraid that it will burn her retina. I am also considering investing in socks ou boots in case. But when the legs are well prepared and cared for, there is never a problem, normally...
On the skincare side, we have a little ritual at home. Each dog has the right to a paw massage after each big session, summer and winter. I also give them a slightly fattier and more complete diet with the addition of pasta or rice, food supplements as well, specialized kibble for active dogs… It has to be done according to the dog's needs!
For the human, nothing special except good shoes and a good wetsuit.
The snowscoot: a sport for all dogs?
It's a sport for all dogs who love traction. It is up to the master to know the capacity and enthusiasm of his dog. Of course, the build of the dog is to be taken into account: it still tows a human and a snowscoot! The dog is not a machine!
Tips for snowscooting with your dog
The first piece of advice I could give is to follow your dog's physical condition and his desire. There is no point in pushing him to the limit, at the risk of disgusting him and putting him in danger.
A warm-up while walking is necessary to not put it in the red immediately. After all it really depends on the dog. Mine, for example, are so excited when they see the harness, that they build up pressure very quickly so I don't necessarily warm them up but I regulate them over the first few kilometers so that they don't go too fast and burn out not all their energy.
Knowing how to listen is very important, in order to distinguish if they want to be in traction all the way – which is the type of Omega – or if they prefer to stay at my pace, which is the case with Marley . Each dog is unique! And if your dog doesn't like to tow, don't force it.
A game of games or congratulations is always better and appreciated at the end of the session 🙂 So the pressure goes down!
My dogs know the basic commands: right, left, halt, slowly, we stretch, you hold your right or left, you leave, etc… We have established real communication between us. The dog is at the head of the line, so he waits for the master's orders to move forward and direct himself. Knowing the basic orders seems to me a necessity. You cannot start a pulling sport without this knowledge.
The last piece of advice I could give is HAVE FUN WITH YOUR DOGS! Live this moment fully and share it with your darlings. You really have to experience this as pure pleasure / happiness 🙂
The story of Margaux and her dogs
The funniest moments remain the apprehension of turns! The dogs must not take them too tight otherwise it is a guaranteed fall!
The hard times are when they are both in competition: "I'm the strongest and I'm the one who tows the fastest...". There it takes off! You better be well behaved because otherwise the snowscoot will leave without you but with the dogs.
In any case, the snowscoot with my dogs is always a good laugh!! and focus!!
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Well here we go! All schuuuuuuuuuus! I hope this article has made you want to snowscoot with your dog. In any case, we are sure this year we will try the snowscoot, it looks totally W'ouf as an activity to share with your dog.
Thanks again to Margaux, Oméga and Marley for sharing their riding experience with us.
Last thing: are you looking for a ski resort for your winter holidays? Take a look at these articles: Winter sports holidays with my dog ; Top 10 “pet friendly” rentals Special Alps in winter ; This winter go to the Pyrenees with your dog. Psssssst: other articles dedicated to French resorts to test with your dog are coming very soon on the Mag' of EmmèneTonChien.com ! Stay connected and listen and listen!
In the meantime, for more info, holiday advice and dog-friendly tips, follow EmmèneTonChien.com on our facebook page et our instagram account : )