Go snowshoeing with your dog
Hello Wouafer's!
Today, direction the mountain with Vanessa, Miguel and their dog. They had a great stay in the Alpes de Haute Provence this winter, for Christmas. They tested for you: Ubaye Valley with a dog in winter. They were lucky enough to be greeted by beautiful snowflakes and already snow-covered winter sports resorts for their greatest pleasure and especially that of their dog, Ruby!
Between Alpine skiing, snowshoe hike et toboggan runs, they didn't have time to get bored and enjoyed a great snow holiday with their dog!
They had already had the opportunity to visit the Ubaye Valley with their dog last summer which had been a great experience to live and they tell us in this article their adventures in winter mode.
An article to read if you are looking for great ideas for activities to do with your dog in the snow!
Vanessa, Miguel and Ruby, the floor is yours!
Contents of this article 100% dogs and holidays
- When you go on a winter vacation in the mountains with your dog, make sure you protect him well from the cold and snow which can be corrosive for his paws;
- If you go on vacation to Barcelonnette, a network of shuttles which connects the city to the stations is at your disposal free of charge and dogs are welcome on board;
- To practice a sport with your dog, it is important to choose equipment adapted to its morphology but also to the activity itself. It is also important to know your limits to avoid exhausting your dog and yourself.
Going to the mountains in winter with your dog
Hello Wouafer's!
We have just returned from our winter excursion in the Alpes de Haute Provence and it was great! The snow, the good fresh air and the sun were there and it was the ideal opportunity and conditions to make our dog rediscover the snow.
Go to the mountains with your dog in winter as in summer, it's really the must of the must I have the impression! We were able to leave Ruby there in semi-freedom in large open spaces so that she could let off steam and run in the snow and we were even able to walk in the middle of the forest quite easily. It's really the ideal place to have a good time with your dog but be careful all the same, there are many precautions to take to be able to enjoy your winter holidays in the mountains with a dog.
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Make sure our dog is not cold
With a long haired dog like Ruby, we don't really have to worry about the temperature. Her coat protects her and on top of that, her hair is waterproof : ideal for tackling the snow. But that didn't prevent her from enjoying curling up in a ball by the fireplace once she got home to warm up her legs and her nose! It's all about being careful with signs of cold what can his dog show to warm him up and / or shorten the walk if necessary!
Tips from Musher and Sophie: “Thinking about protecting your dog from the cold if he is sensitive to it means ensuring his comfort and that he doesn't catch a bad cold. Nicer to spend a nice winter holiday with him! For information, I advise you to read on the Mag ' our great article Should you dress your dog in winter? You will find lots of good advice and good ideas!”
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Protecting our dog's pads
Le salt for snow removal or even cold are corrosive and can damage the more or less sensitive pads of our dogs. To protect Ruby's, as we were only going away for a weekend, we decided to apply a mixture of vaseline andcoconut oil for moisturize your pads but also to create a protective and waterproof barrier between its legs and the ground. The results were satisfactory for our weekend getaway, but a specialized balm to protective slippers are surely to be expected for activities and longer stays in the snow. Remember to check your dog's paws regularly during the walk. The most dangerous are the snowballs that form in the hairs between the pads. These small icicles cut like razor blades and can quickly hurt your dog.
Here are the small precautions that we generally took for our stay in the mountains and I will now tell you about the experience of Miguel who went for a snowshoe hike with our dog !
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A snowshoe hike with your dog: instructions
During our winter holidays in the mountains with our dog, we obviously spent a day at the ski ! With my mother, we practice the Alpine skiing since I was very young and the snow cover was ideal for not having to do a few descents! We then went to the ski area of Sainte-Anne-la-CondamineNear Barcelonnette. Unfortunately, Ruby was not accepted on ski slopes in the area, for reasons ofhygiene and security. So I could not share a small descent with her. Never mind, so she left for snowshoe hike with Miguel, whom I asked a few questions on his return to be able to share his experience with you!
The day started at 8:00 a.m. on a beautiful winter morning. It was chilly and the town was still sleepy but the shuttle to take us to Sainte-Anne was ready to go. The city of Barcelonnette has a shuttle network linking the city to the surrounding stations which is totally free and even better: 100% dog-friendly ! It was the very first experience on the bus for our dog. Ruby was wise the whole trip (25 minutes or so). Of course, chests are available to transport the sliding equipment which is very practical and the shuttles also work in summer for the greatest pleasure of lovers of hikes !
Once at the foot of the slopes, the group split into two: on one side my mother and I to hit the slopes and on the other side Miguel and Ruby to explore the snowy trails!
On the trails of Saint-Anne?
To make snowshoeing with our dog, we have equipped it with its pulling harness as well as a elastic lanyard of about 2 meters, all connected to Miguel by a adjustable elastic waistband. We have chosen Trixie (lanyard and elastic belt) and Inlandsis (pulling harness) material and we also use it for canicross and bike with our dog. Besides, the belt was more comfortable and practical to wear than a harness for this kind of activity where the suit is out.
We also always put on his collar with his medal in case she gets lost, it reassures us to know that our phone number is listed there so that we can find her if necessary, even if we never let her go without a leash or without a lead. She's a real little runaway and the mountains can quickly prove dangerous for her. Miguel had also put in my bag his 20 meter lanyard to be able to let her stretch her legs during break times. Moreover, it was clearly specified at the entrance to the trails and hiking loops that dogs had to be tethered for safety but also for hygienic reasons and to prevent them from disturbing wildlife.
Of course, Miguel left with a pair of snowshoes and sticks to evolve more easily in the snow and Ruby helped him a lot on the climbs! Also be careful, there are not many water points so you have to remember to provide water for yourself and your companion. Luckily he had remembered to take a large bottle of water as well as the retractable bowl from Ruby.
La snowshoe hike with Ruby went very well! Ruby really tuned in and that was a big plus for the downhill portions. Telling him to wait or go slower, she slowed the pace to prevent Miguel from falling. On the contrary, in the climbs, she gave him a little help by towing! A real team effort! Teaching your dog not to be in traction all the time can be practical, especially on descents. to avoid slipping on the floor which may be unstable. Miguel was glad Ruby knew the key words”hold on"And"slowly"!
Of course, Ruby has neither the size nor the strength of a husky or malamute, his efforts were commensurate with his template and his capacity. Miguel made breaks so she can breathe and stretch her legs. The snowshoe hike She liked it a lot and she slept well when she got home!
Miguel was also careful that she didn't don't eat too much snow what could have made her sick but she couldn't resist taking a bite of it all the same...
Do you want to go out in snowshoes with your dog?
Miguel's first piece of advice would be to inform the people accompanying you of the paths you take to secure yourself. The paths taken when he left were sometimes steep and far from everything: great for the change of scenery but less for the security aspect!
Miguel had also slipped into his bag a map of the domain et downloaded an app which indicated all the terms and conditions to know about the surrounding hikes: super practical for getting safe, especially when you are accompanied by a dog!
For more snowy places and where visibility was reduced, he would have liked to have had a luminous necklace so as not to lose sight of Ruby when she was on the lunge. It's something that we will definitely put in our wishlist for his birthday!
It is necessary to choose a equipment adapted to the morphology and needs of his dog. We had a little trouble finding the right size for Ruby, who has a bit of a special build, but once we found the harness that suited her best, we felt a lot better in her. gait and comfort.
Care must also be taken not to exhausting your dog, the cold, as for us, can tire a little faster than usual especially if he's not used to it. And you also have to realize that the dogs make a lot more effort than us to walk in the snow ; they don't have snowshoes at their feet. As soon as they leave the track, they sink into the fresh snow and have to hop forward… A big expenditure of energy!
Many thanks to Vanessa and Miguel for sharing their holidays in the mountains with their dog and especially their experience of snowshoe hike ! It was Too W'ouf and with Musher we can't wait to be able to go on a snowshoe outing again. I got a pair of racquets over Christmas and can't wait to try them.
See you soon for new adventures in the Mag ', see you soon the Wouafer's!
To discover also
If a good snowshoe hike interests you, so I'm sure others winter sports also!
Our Wouafer's have already told us a lot of their great experiences of sliding and hiking in the snow like Daphnée and her two Malinois shepherds who practice fatbikes, Célia, Claude and their dogs hurtling down the slopes on their snowboards or even Margaux and her two Australian Shepherds who have fun snowscooting.