Touring with a Dog for the first time

I've learnt a few lessons over the last few years skiing with my dog.

He don't get first tracks...If I'm with others, he and I ski last! I'll hold him and let the others ski and this also avoids the possibility of collisions and ski cuts and is only fair. If you don't like being last...don't take him.

Sometimes my friends will be really nice and let me go ahead and they will hold him until I'm well ahead and then let him chase me from a safe distance behind.

When I do drop in, I ski fast initially and point them to get ahead of him... again to avoid collisions and ski cuts. Usually in deep snow this is no problem and in fact I've never really had a problem staying ahead of him even in harder snow conditions.

If you are skiing and colliding with your dog or letting him collide with others....you're doing it wrong.
Common sense really.

My other rule is that if you are skiing with your dog, then its a special day and you adapt your tour, skiing objectives etc to that fact. It's like taking a child with you. They take precedence. If it's an epic day then I'm not going to take my dog with me or if I'm with a lot of others, I'm not taking him with me.

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. Similar to JD, he will probably be limited to some evening trips to Hyak this year and an occasional light tour. All the info, particularly on cuts etc. is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

F

One time near Teton pass, I saw this dude drop this small cliff. His dog didn't want nothing to do with it. Fondly, I remember the guy yelling at his dog, "Dog, Dog, I need to get to work"

And of course the ultimate dog poop tour is up the road to kendall lakes from the gold creek sno-park.

One time near Teton pass, I saw this dude drop this small cliff. His dog didn't want nothing to do with it. Fondly, I remember the guy yelling at his dog, "Dog, Dog, I need to get to work"

And of course the ultimate dog poop tour is up the road to kendall lakes from the gold creek sno-park.

I don't know which is worse, the poop or the bags of poop that melt out in the spring

The first item I would suggest is that your dog is well trained and under voice control - this is a safety item for, you, him, and other skiers.