I’m cruising down the ski trail behind by my dog Penny -- the rope between us is taut and her ears and my ski poles are flying in the breeze.  The Karhu’s sing as they skim along the snow --the Vizsla and the skier partners in an effortless Vermont skijouring run.  That’s the image I keep visualizing.

But then, a red squirrel crosses the path and with a lurch, we’re headed out through the pines at breakneck speed.  Or, Penny stops abruptly to investigate a fresh deer poop and we collide in a tangle of harness and ski poles.  That’s the scenario my spouse, kids, and anyone who knows Penny visualizes.

Yet, skijouring is a sport that has intrigued me for years.   I am a decent XC skier and have a strong energetic Vizsla who is always ready to run so it seems, on the surface, like a good mix.  A good mix for disaster.  Penny’s training is not exactly ready for prime-time.

Skijouring involves one or more dogs hitched to a cross-country skier by a rope.  The skier wears a belt harness and the whole rig can be purchased for about $200-275 US.  Skiers use either diagonal stride or in the cases of races, skate technique.  You very well may have to help out the dog on the uphills and slow down to avoid overrunning on the downhills.  Many of the commands for sled dog racing are used and you are advised to train on foot before snow falls.  Most any medium-sized to large dog can be used if they like to run.  They respond to voice commands (that’s a problem for us) and should be socialized with other dogs (another problem).  Here are some training techniques and commands.

We were watching a special on Vermont Public Television recently where a reporter tried it out and actually competed in a low-key race up north.  It looked like fun but the dog she “borrowed” was well-trained and patient.  When she fell, he waited quietly instead of, like my dog, coming over to lick you and get tangled up in ski gear.

So, I guess I need to practice my gees and haws with my red dog.  I know she’d love it - she loves running alongside the bicycle with a Springer attachment.  So for now, I will just visualize skijouring with Penny.  Now, if I could just get her to visualize pulling in a straight line, responding to verbal commands, we’d be all set.  Perhaps this winter.

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