skiing with dog

OMG!!! is that a BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG?!?!?

I have a BMD puppy - my family INSISTED (I wanted a boarder collie or a poodle)! I thought she was WAY TOO BIG AND CLUNKY to go skiing. She's 7 mo (and 55 pounds) and yesterday did a 1.5 run without fuss....

That picture is actually of my first Berner when he was around 5 yrs old (lived to almost 9 yrs). I now have a 1 yr old who cracked the 100lb mark awhile back and I'll be doing much more hiking with him this winter (he was too young last winter). Jonley, my first Bernese was awesome on the slopes. Stuck with me, loved the ride/run down the hill.... A good dog makes a great ski/board companion.

Here is my current dog, Charlie, at 6-months old last Feb.
farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3323742470_1392534eba.jpg

I haven't heard anyone mention what seems to me the most important consideration of skiing with your pooch... which is mitigating the chance of the dog receiving leg injuries from ski edges. I've seen folks deal with it various ways from just hoping, to extremely well trained dogs that stay well away from the sides and in front of skiers. Some like to put the dog on a stay command and ski down a ways and then have them come.

I have heard of dogs receiving nasty cuts from ski edges, sometimes severing ligaments. Luckily I haven't wittnessed it although I have almost run into other folks dogs that have come from behind and over taken me too close for comfort.

How do all you skiers with dogs deal with the dog safety issue?

I HIKE with my other dog, she used to get in the way on narrow steep trails and I only gave her only a couple hard clips and she never did it again. She is not a good ski dog because she gets snowballs stuck in the long fur between her toes.

Ron, I think after a single contact with the skis and a smart dog will know better. If the dog doesnt get it, probably too stupid to bring skiing.

I knew the Bernese were bred as Cart Dogs so they can pull things. They are also very cuddly. Heidi does not jump on people (we did not need to teach her this) but she does push her back and head into you to entice you to cuddle with her so she can knock over her unsuspecting subject because of her size.

I am soooo excited about my big cute Swiss doggie - we will have to go running again today - so she can get in shape for the ski season...

  She is not a good ski dog because she gets snowballs stuck in the long fur between her toes.

My dog has the same problem with winter snow, so she stays at home then. It's not an issue in the spring though so she comes on spring tours.

I use a "back" command which to my pooch means get behind me or else. We started with "heel" and progressed from there. I started teaching her after our first Baker excursion when she chased, barked and got in front of me for the entire descent. Added benefit is being able to take her walking off leash, even in the city or on twisty trails where people who are afraid of dogs and their subsequently hypersensitive children frequent. "Nooo dont touch that puppy!!!!"
But most importantly, ill never cut her with my skis, which otherwise would have been an issue.

Interesting discusion about skiing with dogs at:
www.epicski.com/forum/thread/66345/train...bulations-thereafter

...including whether to bag & pack their poop    :    or if burying it off the skin track is good enough   

A gent from Jackson Hole posted:  "Be REALLY careful about them on the way down. Our local vets treat a LOT of dogs for severe ski-edge cuts every winter. The dogs love to jump and play on the descent and they'll be right next to you if they can keep up. They don't understand that those things strapped to your feet have sharp edges."