Skiing with dogs

**linds-o-rama** · 11-13-2009, 05:56 PM

I know a bunch of you like to ski with your dogs, I do too, she never says no. Here's a photo of my dog Kaya and I enjoying some early-season snow (October 28th) on the cinder cone on Mt. Bachelor. She's totally into face shots!

**sidewall** · 11-13-2009, 06:14 PM

Cool picture- I remember in the book "Merle's Door" he talked about how Merle was quite the
skiier.

**Lone Star** · 11-13-2009, 06:25 PM

where's your dog's beacon? dont you care about his safety?

**linds-o-rama** · 11-13-2009, 06:47 PM

I'm assuming you're kidding but in case you're not... I actually did consider this. I think it would be a good idea to have a dog beacon on a different frequency than regular ones, you could use it for other stuff than dogs as well. But really, if there is an avalanche situation, I'd want to dig out my (human) buddy before my dog. Therefore, she doesn't have one.

A friend of mine considers his dog to be a 60-lb charge.

**mtnreed** · 11-13-2009, 06:52 PM

Hoping to get my dogs out this year - they love the snow and love to run with when biking and hiking. Great picture as well.

LM · 11-13-2009, 07:30 PM

My buddy and his dog Fin in the Cassiar Mtns of Northern BC.

My dog Roy and I as well in the Cassiar Mtns off Highway 37. Near Jade City for those that know the highway. Roy gets out skiing with me nearly every weekend from October through to June.

If you are concerned about safety, SOS used to (and might still) made little beacons that ran off a different frequency for finding your sled or other things you wouldn't want to lose.

**nesta** · 11-13-2009, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by LM

If you are concerned about safety, SOS used to (and might still) made little beacons that ran off a different frequency for finding your sled or other things you wouldn't want to lose.

I was just going to mention the SOS sled bug

**raym** · 11-13-2009, 10:48 PM

I take my dog out 95% of the time I go snowboarding. Only time I dont take his is if I go to an area dogs arnt allowed or if the area is to steep with cliffs.

He's more excited to go out then I am and will never day no to going! He loves to chase after me and try to go faster then me. He actuly starts to wimper and wine when Im putting my splitboard togeather ot taking it apart.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaA4Wi8UsxM"]YouTube- Apex Resort Nov 13 early season pow[/ame]

Baz seeing the snow

Baz dominating the snow

Baz being dominated by the snow

Baz after a cuple face shots

Baz falling alseep on the drive home

There, a TR for my dog, Baz.

**Mannix** · 11-13-2009, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by linds-o-rama

A friend of mine considers his dog to be a 60-lb charge.

Your friend is a piece of crap.

Calling it how I see it, but anyone who would intentionally ship Spot onto a slope while seriously questioning the slope's stability is a loser.

Maybe my humor meter needs adjusting, but that's pathetic if you're/he is serious.

Iain

**cowdog57** · 11-13-2009, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mannix

Your friend is a piece of crap.

Calling it how I see it, but anyone who would intentionally ship Spot onto a slope while seriously questioning the slope's stability is a loser.

Maybe my humor meter needs adjusting, but that's pathetic if you're/he is serious.

Iain

i agree, and dont forget to train your dogs to shit in the skin track

**deeppo** · 11-13-2009, 11:26 PM

I have a feeling the 60pound charge was a joke. That being said if there is even a question about the slopes stability leave fido at home. This is my third year skiing with my dog and I plan on being even more careful then before
deeppo

**fatkid** · 11-13-2009, 11:56 PM

skiing with dogs can be fun, but it is super important to make sure they stay hydrated, fueled up and away from the edges of your skis. Its really important to remember that your dog will do everythinjg possible to keep up with you even though he has already run 3x as far as you have hiked by the time you get to the top.
Gotta be super careful keeping them out of steep shots where they could fall, or get lost on the other side of a knoll. I wont ski with freinds that bring dogs, and would never bring my mutt on a tour with other people, it has to be on the lab pace, not yours.
I have a 65 lb lab mutt that loves snow, but after a close call cutting his wrist on a ski and nearly losing him to blood loss, he is restricted to mellow xc skiing, and short mtn bike rides...its not worth losing my homey b/c i want another lap. Ill take him for a cool hike most of the time, or to the lake.
be smart and dont beat up your pooch.

http://www.adventurefilmworks.com/Vi...FWCrescent.wmv
this link shows what happens when you put your adventure priorities ahead of your pooch.

**Dug** · 11-14-2009, 12:02 AM

But but but Dogahawk is amazing!!!!

**ski_adk** · 11-14-2009, 12:08 AM

On the opposite side of the spectrum, I've got friends who ski with their lab and take her on group outtings all the time and she's perfectly fine. The biggest thing is that they're all very conscious of her and work together to keep her safe. For instance, one holds her back when the first skier descends, releases and then everyone spots the dog descend. (BTW...She's about 45 lbs and loves otter slide whenever possible...otherwise, she gets a few face shots before she starts to follow the trench down.). When she's at the bottom, everyone else goes.

We're hoping to do the same with our dog this season. Can't wait to get him out on his first tour.

Did somebody say Dog Hawk?
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQ5U62tiiw"]YouTube- Dog A Hawk[/ame]

**fatkid** · 11-14-2009, 12:10 AM

i guess its just like any other judgement call, youll keep skiing with your dogs and friends dogs until you realize how dangerous it can be for the pooches. enjoy your bliss.

edit- the dog that this video says is fine, is no longer fine b/c she was taken on a tour in AK and lost in a storm. spare me the "that dog is sick" heroics. it is selfish. im pretty sure that the guy in the video feels the same way now.

**liv2ski** · 11-14-2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by fatkid

i guess its just like any other judgement call, youll keep skiing with your dogs and friends dogs until you realize how dangerous it can be for the pooches. enjoy your bliss.

edit- the dog that this video says is fine, is no longer fine b/c she was taken on a tour in AK and lost in a storm. spare me the "that dog is sick" heroics. it is selfish. im pretty sure that the guy in the video feels the same way now.

Wow, just one more of many comments on how my best friend could get fucked up if I am an idiot and get him in over his head because he wants to be with me. I am over wanting my guy out there unless I am meadow skipping.

**deeppo** · 11-14-2009, 08:48 AM

I think there are plenty of opportunities to take your dog skiing. Obviously cutting your dog is always a risk. The key is mellow slopes in the right snow conditions. Last year my dog tweaked its back on a 20 degree slope. It was perfect corn for the skier but the dog would break through every 10 steps or so. I had a friends dog tomahawk down a slope that we have on video(it was on Americas funniest home videos but we did not win). Slope angle was 35 degrees but the snow was firmer then thought. Ill try to dig up the vid. The dog(who lived till 16) was ok but shooken up.
deeppo

**stupid idiot** · 11-14-2009, 09:04 AM

What dog is best @ digging out!

**akokskis** · 11-14-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by raym

Baz being dominated by the snow

This is awesome. Stoked on the faceshots.

**Danno** · 11-14-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by linds-o-rama

A friend of mine considers his dog to be a 60-lb charge.

That's why they call them Avy poodles!

**Pow4Brains** · 11-14-2009, 11:57 AM

Dogs in the back country is so 2001. Cats are the BOMB.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ight=catatonic

**bcd** · 11-14-2009, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by linds-o-rama

I'm assuming you're kidding but in case you're not... I actually did consider this. I think it would be a good idea to have a dog beacon on a different frequency than regular ones, you could use it for other stuff than dogs as well. But really, if there is an avalanche situation, I'd want to dig out my (human) buddy before my dog. Therefore, she doesn't have one.

A friend of mine considers his dog to be a 60-lb charge.

Ortovox has a dog beacon:
http://en.ortovox.com/safety_products/ddoggy.html

**akokskis** · 11-14-2009, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by bcd

Ortovox has a dog beacon:
http://en.ortovox.com/safety_products/ddoggy.html

HOWEVER.... If you look at the details, the doggy beacon transmits at 457KHz, which happens to be the exact same frequency that avalanche beacons work at ("In 1986 the international standard of 457 kHz was adopted and remains the standard today," [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_transceiver"]wiki[/ame]).

So... I'd probably not use that specific doggy beacon in the BC.

**wetcoaster** · 11-14-2009, 12:27 PM

Like everything else in backcountry skiing, it is a judgment call and isn't something to do without giving it a lot of thought.

A couple things I consider when deciding:
*How cold is it? How long will I be out?
*How deep is the snow?
*How much vert are we planning (ie: mellow or hard day)?
*How exposed is the line?
*How high is the avalanche danger?
*Are there any crevasses?

If I'm going for a mellow tour without a huge dump of snow with a good friend who I know is careful, I throw the dog in. Otherwise, it is probably best and safest for her to stay at home.

One last thing. I have a friend who lost a dog in a crevasse and says trying to rescue her and fail was one of the worst couple hours of his life. I never take my dog on glaciers anymore.