Home | Dog Sports | What’s New | About | Contact | Store | Links

Agility | Conformation | Disc Dogs | Dock Diving | Earth Dog Trials | Flyball | Herding | Field Trials & Hunting | Lure Coursing  Obedience | Rally- O | Schutzhund & Protection Dogs | Therapy Dogs | Tracking | Pulling Sports

Skijoring at AthleticDogs.com

Skijoring - Cross-Country Skiing with Your Pulling Dog!

Skijoring is a pulling performance sport in which a dog (or team of dogs) assist a cross-country skier. The skier is propelled both by their own power and the extra pull from the dog. The skier and dog each wear appropriate harnesses and are connected with a length of rope or line (often elastic or bungee).  

Originally, skijoring was used as a training method for mushers (sled dogs), though now it has become popular as a stand-alone performance sport. Recently, snowboarders have adopted the sport as well, enjoying cross-country boarding with their pulling dogs!

Just about any breed of dog can be trained for skijoring, though dogs under 35 pounds are typically just along for the company, rather than to assist in pulling the skier along!

Skijor is practiced both recreationally and competitively across North America and anywhere else with a good supply of snow in the wintertime. The longest skijoring race (that we know of) is held annually in Whitehorse Yukon. The Road Runner 100 is a 99-mile (160 km) distance! Most often, skijoring races in North America are held in conjunction with sled dog races. In Scandinavia, skijor racing is closely related to the classic Scandinavian sport of Pulka and competitions are frequent.

Need equipment for skijoring? Check out the best products available in skijoring and other pulling sports equipment at the AthleticDogs.com store!