Skijoring is a winter sport where a person on skis is pulled by a dog. The term "joring" is derived from the Norwegian word "jøre," which means "to drive" or "to make go".

In Skijoring dogs are harnessed and attached to the skier via a towline.

Training for skijoring involves teaching your dog to pull you while you're on skis and ensuring both you and your dog are comfortable and safe during the activity. 

Here are some steps to help you get started:

Basic Obedience Training

Before introducing your dog to skijoring, make sure they have basic obedience training. Commands like "stay," "come," “gee” (for turn right) and “haw” (for turn left) are essential.

Get the Right Equipment

Invest in proper skijoring equipment, including a skijoring harness for your dog (like our Harness X-Run, Harness X-Shirt or Harness Scandinavia), a skijoring belt for yourself, a towline for one dog or two dogs, and appropriate skis.

Familiarize Your Dog with Gear

Proper equipment enhances safety and comfort. Allow your dog to get used to wearing the harness. Let them wear it around the house and reward them with treats to create positive associations.

Introduce the Skis

Set up your skis in an area where your dog is comfortable. Allow them to sniff and investigate the skis. Again, use treats and positive reinforcement.

Teach Commands

Teach your dog basic directional commands such as "gee" for right, "haw" for left, "whoa" for stop, and "on-by" to pass distractions without stopping (terms derived from sleddog).

Practice Leash Skills

Practice loose-leash walking to ensure your dog understands how to maintain a steady pace without pulling excessively.

Start with Short Runs

Begin in a controlled environment with short runs. Gradually increase the distance as your dog becomes more comfortable and responsive. Select trails or areas suitable for skijoring. Look for groomed cross-country ski trails or wide open spaces with enough snow cover. Before hitting the trails, spend some time warming up with your dog. Allow them to run around and expend some energy to ensure a more focused and enjoyable skijoring session.

Build Endurance

Gradually build up the distance and duration of your skijoring sessions. Pay attention to your dog's energy levels and take breaks when needed.

Positive Reinforcement

Always reward your dog for good behaviour and following commands. Positive reinforcement will help reinforce the desired behaviour. Skijoring is a partnership. Communicate with your dog through voice commands and body language. Building a strong bond with your furry companion enhances the enjoyment of the activity. Finish your skijoring session on a positive note. Reward your dog for a job well done and enjoy a cool-down period together.

Safety First

Ensure that both you and your dog are wearing appropriate safety gear. Be mindful of the terrain and weather conditions.

Vet Check

Before starting any physical activity, consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your dog is in good health and physically able to participate.

Hydrate and Snack

Bring water and snacks for both you and your dog, especially for longer skijoring sessions. Staying hydrated and fuelled contributes to a more enjoyable experience.

Remember that skijoring is a team activity, and both you and your dog should enjoy the experience. It's important to be patient and take the time needed for both of you to become comfortable and proficient in skijoring together.

The key to enjoying skijoring is to approach it with a sense of adventure, patience, and a willingness to learn. It's a fantastic way to stay active during the winter months and strengthen the bond with your furry companion.

Skijoring events can be organized as races or competitions, and they are held in various locations with winter conditions, all over the world.

Remember to prioritize safety, have the right equipment, and most importantly, have fun out there on the snowy trails!

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How to Find a Place to Practice Ski Joring?

Finding a good place to practice ski joring can be tricky in most countries, but don’t worry, we’ve got a few tips to help you get started!

Why Is It So Hard to Find Dog-Friendly Slopes?

Many ski stations don’t allow dogs on their slopes for several reasons:

• Dog paws can damage the tracks of the cross-country trails.
• There’s a risk of accidents with other skiers.
• Some visitors simply don’t appreciate the presence of dogs.
• Unfortunately, not all owners clean up after their dogs.

Where and When You Might Be Allowed to Practice Ski-Joring

Some cross-country trails will display whether they are dog-friendly or not on their info boards, but if you can’t find the information, an email or phone call will do the trick! You can also try searching online for “dog-friendly cross-country trail + place” and hope to find somewhere local to you. Be aware, though, that some trails allow dogs for walks but not for ski-joring.

Ski stations that do welcome dogs often have restrictions. Some might allow access for specific events or training days but they’re rarely open to dogs throughout the whole season. In some places, ski-joring is allowed but only on quieter days, or at the very beginning and/or the very end of the day, when the trails are less crowded.

Looking on the bright side: going for a late afternoon/evening ski-joring session is quite awesome too! You’ll enjoy peace and quiet, avoid the crowds, and have a unique experience skiing under the stars (don’t forget your head torch!).

Don’t automatically assume that if you’ve seen someone ski-joring somewhere before that you’ll be welcome: it’s a good idea to contact the station each season to confirm their policy, as rules can change or it might have been a one-off authorization.

Some stations have pedestrian trails open to dogs all day long. If that’s the case, these can be great for ski-joring practice!

Our best advice for regular training would be to look for ski-joring, canicross, or mushing clubs, they often organize ski joring sessions, and might know of hidden gems or have special agreements with certain stations and ski schools.

How to Approach Ski Stations

If you can’t find a dog-friendly ski station nearby:

• Talk to smaller local stations. They’re often more flexible and open to dialogue.
• Show responsibility. Promise to pick up after your dog and demonstrate that your dog is well-trained and under control when wearing their pulling harness.

How to Help Ski Joring Grow

The more responsible and organized the ski joring community becomes, the more likely it is that other stations will open their doors to this sport!

You can help by:

• Always cleaning up after your dog.
• Keeping your dog perfectly under control when crossing paths with others.
• Having valid dog insurance to cover potential incidents.

Our Partners

Axaeco has a few great partners that will make your life easier when it comes to finding a place!

• Elisa D'Oria - Torino
• Comunicane Dolomiti - Cortina d'Ampezzo

If you know of any clubs, trainers, ski schools, or stations interested in being featured in this article, let us know!

In Summary

Accessible slopes do exist, but finding them takes some effort and homework! Unless you are super lucky and live next to one of our awesome partners.