With the cold we experience in Quebec in winter, it is well known that dogs do much less exercise during this period. It is an animal and innate need to spend accumulated energy by moving outside. We notice that dogs are more anxious, stressed, excited and many owners will admit, embarrassed, that they know that their dog lacks exercise, but that they do not want to go for a walk at -40. Are there alternatives that would allow dogs to move and have fun in the winter with their owner? It seems so…

Cross-country skiers who want to move with their dog can practice this sport which consists of combining skiing and an animal team. It can be a horse, a pony or a dog that will pull the skier. This discipline can be practiced with one to three dogs.
The master puts on a harness and the dog wears the same type of harness as for sled dogs. Interestingly, the dog moves according to its own desire to run and to please the master's voice commands, since there are no reins to control it.
Small dogs are rarely involved, but several dog breeds with an innate tendency to want to run and pull can participate.
Here are some breeds that are particularly good at this sport, but several other breeds can also practice canine skijoring:

Skijoring is no different from the technique used in alpine skiing, except for the speed that can be achieved with the help of your furry friend. By practicing this sport, you will get exercise and your dog will too, not to mention that you will feel psychologically closer to your friend by the simple fact that you will have to form a team together.
This sport is practiced in all countries where there is snow. In Quebec, there is among others the club "Sports Canins Attelés Québec" (SCAQ) which organizes ski-joering days for members.
There is a web page ( www.sportscanins.com ) that is intended to be a directory of clubs, events and websites of amateurs practicing harness sports in Quebec. There is also a list of equipment suppliers.
Several groups are currently meeting in Quebec to put more uniform regulations on paper for this sport. In any case, nothing prevents you from doing skijoring simply for the pleasure of moving with your dog, without any competitive objective!

Cani-cross and cani-walk

In these two increasingly fashionable disciplines, the dog and its owner are connected by an extendable leash and make the same physical effort: running or fast walking.
Originally, it was more of a training technique for sled dogs, but it has become a great way for active people (joggers, cyclists, triathletes) to move while exercising their canine friend.
It also allows the less athletic among us to go for a walk in the forest and move at their own pace with their dog, regardless of its breed or size.
The equipment used in this sport must ensure the comfort of both the owner and the dog. The owner wears a belt or harness with a ring to which the extendable lead is attached. This lead has a maximum length of 2 meters.
Finally, the harness allows the dog to be comfortable to move and breathe freely during the activity.

So, are you up for it?

Source: From hand to master