What a better way of hauling your gear than with a dog. This is our Husky mix, Joli. She is almost 2 yrs (and can then pull weight) and I am training her to pack with packs, tobaggan, and cart (good for that, but not much of a hunting dog :) ). This is her on a training run before we got last week's big snows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/My%20stuff/jolitraine2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/My%20stuff/jolitraine1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/My%20stuff/jolirest.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/My%20stuff/jolipull.jpg)
Very good looking dog with beautiful eyes. It looks like she'll come in real handy on winter scouts and hunts. What kind of snowshoes do you use?
My newest ones are a pair of "Montagnais" shoes. They are the really big wide kind that look like a racket. I also have an old pair of michigans and have a hal made (been meaning to lace them for 4 years) pair of Ojibwes. Wood and rawhide all the way. I had a group os middle schoolers out shoeing a few years ago and the kids with modern alum. and neoprene shoes struggled in the real snow.
Looks like fun. You should strap on some skis and let her pull you around. fun fun !!
Very good exercise for the pup for sure!
She sure has wild eyes, seems she's got some Healer and Border in her, should be a smarty.
I agree with formerbutcher (skijouring) is just a blast, dogs seem to love it.
I have to put boots on my dogs as thier feet get cut up from the sharp snow!, doesn't seem to bother them till its about -20 then I guess the snow must get sharper?
QuoteOriginally posted by tpoof:
Very good exercise for the pup for sure!
She sure has wild eyes, seems she's got some Healer and Border in her, should be a smarty.
Yeah, the eyes are definately from her mom (Husky). The dad is unknown as the mom was running. I have heard a lot of guesses but I am leaning toward spaniel/bordercollie. Hard to say. he was probably a mutt too. Nothing like a good old mutt!
Skijoring... I have thought about that. Perhaps next winter when she can handle a load! :D
Skijoring really doesn't put that much strain on the dog since you can ski behind them to get em going pushing with you'r arms and skiing. A buddy of mine had a dog that just loved it. It would see you getting the skis out and would just go nuts.
Tell us more on the toobagan. Looks like an old style hauler? What is it made out of? How long? Wide? etc
It is a two plank old style toboggan about 12-13" wide and app. 7ft long (I don't have it here at work to measure). I made it of birch. It is all put together with rawhide lashing, using a tying technique seen on a few old Ojibwe and Cree tobaggans from the 18th century. Being tied instead of riveted/screwed makes it much more flexible and it works great. Eventually I hope to build an 18th century harness for the mutt too, but time hasn't been working with me yet.
you need any booties?
i have a bunch that would probably fit.
shoot me a pm if you can use 'em.