Dog Questions

[Ullrsson]

My next BC skis will be with metal edge, although a subtle type (e.g. Gamme)

I read something here about Asnes edges being razor sharp. I got Nansens three weeks ago and don't think they are very sharp. Still worry a bit but that's just me. Maybe it's the more downhill types that are sharp? I am planning on gamme or finnmark for one of my next skis but can't decide between them, basically comes down to whether I think they pose a danger to a young dog.

Mine were pretty sharp out of the box. After a few weeks of use they are not that sharp. Still, if a dog's paw was to meet ski edge at speed it would most likely cut. I did cut my dog unfortunately. It's certainly something to avoid. Thankfully it was minor. He is much more cautious now, but definitely not the preferred way for him to learn.

[TheMusher]

My next BC skis will be with metal edge, although a subtle type (e.g. Gamme)

I read something here about Asnes edges being razor sharp. I got Nansens three weeks ago and don't think they are very sharp. Still worry a bit but that's just me. Maybe it's the more downhill types that are sharp? I am planning on gamme or finnmark for one of my next skis but can't decide between them, basically comes down to whether I think they pose a danger to a young dog.

Right! May be sharp. Definitely a thing, since others - including above poster - keep experiencing this.

I have them both, and have started using the Gamme more with my dogs. At the same time, there are many individual differences such as skiing style, terrain, dog tempo and leg length, leash length or off-leash, etc etc.

If you're feel they may pose a risk, I say go for the safe option. The Finnmark are great until you go quite steeply downhill or on icy spring conditions. In fact, they're so great for I have 2 pairs - one for fine and one for ugly conditions (:

[lilcliffy]

I almost always backcountry ski tour with dogs (we own and breed border collies on our farm).

I always have used metal-edged skis for backcountry Nordic touring skis.

Although I have never signifcantly injured one of our dogs (i.e. there have been a few collisions)- I guess there is always a risk.

Backcountry skiing in my local context doesn't work or make sense without metal edges.

However- I would definitely want a ski without edges for any skiing where the skier is attached to the dog (e.g. skijoring).

[corlay]

(e.g. skijoring).

such a cool sport!
Ive been soooo tempted to buy a “startup kit” (~$100 USD), but just dont trust that any of the dogs Ive had would have equal enthusiasm and focus. (they dont wander far, but do like to stray off-trail some, and will chase a deer or rabbit briefly if they encounter one…)

[lowangle al]

(e.g. skijoring).

such a cool sport!
Ive been soooo tempted to buy a “startup kit” (~$100 USD), but just dont trust that any of the dogs Ive had would have equal enthusiasm and focus. (they dont wander far, but do like to stray off-trail some, and will chase a deer or rabbit briefly if they encounter one…)

Wow a hundred bucks, including the dog?

[RabbitEars]

My next BC skis will be with metal edge, although a subtle type (e.g. Gamme)

I read something here about Asnes edges being razor sharp. I got Nansens three weeks ago and don't think they are very sharp. Still worry a bit but that's just me. Maybe it's the more downhill types that are sharp? I am planning on gamme or finnmark for one of my next skis but can't decide between them, basically comes down to whether I think they pose a danger to a young dog.

I started skiing with our 7mo old puppy. We’ve tried both boots and no boots. She didn’t seem to be bothered by the boots but snow kept working its way in. She was totally fine without boots when we tried it. A generous amount of Mushers Secret helps ice from building up between the toes and easier to remove when it eventually does. Boots actually seem to make more sense in the city with all the ice melt that is thrown down it burns her paws.
I have had a couple close calls running into her on downhills when she stopped abruptly on the trail, And another time when she went off the trail and darted back in front of me. Definitely could see how things could go wrong. Now I have the kongsvold skis that I bought just because I thought it would be a good ski for me. Love the ski and it being dog friendly is a bonus.

[wabene]

In the beginning anything seemed possible!

Ah, maybe I've gone too far.

Sit down strike

Free at last!

[wabene]

It seems the problem with getting dogs to accept booties is the dewclaw. I think mushers remove it. The Velcro strap squeezes down on it and causes discomfort. I have thought about getting Sadie's removed in the spring, but booties are a royal pain anyway. Just think how often would you ski if you had to put on 4 boots?

[fgd135]

I worked around avalanche dogs for 20+ years...as a pro patroller and in mountain rescue. And still do as a volunteer. Those dogs are of course always around skiers of all skill levels, all with metal edges; on and off chairlifts, etc., and the dogs never wear booties, ime, except sometimes puppies in training. Accidental ski cuts to them are rare but do occasionally happen. It's very important to train dogs to stay a distance away while a skier is moving and not jump onto moving skis or snowboards.

[TheMusher]

1. Yes they often cut off the feet of dogs.

2. A reindeer herder on the Hardangervidda? That is odd because the reindeer down there are wild. The furthest south that the Sami traditionally herd reindeer in Norway is Nord Trondelag where the South Sami live. The majority of Sami herders being situated well north of there, with the bulk of them in Finnmark.

I can not imagine a Sami putting boots on a dog.

My old friend Olof, a herder in Lønsdal Norway (one of two families still herding on the Saltfjellet) does not use dogs at all. I would tell you how many reindeer he has but that would be rude. . This is him with his grand daughter. That was a very late Spring so all the moss was gone but the grass was still covered and they had to purchase feed. His husbandry area is endangered by the Chinese quartz mine plans on the Nasafjellet. BTW she skis better than me.

@randoskier
There have historically been reindeer herders on Hardangervidda, yes. Not sure if they were sami. See below:
"In 1946, there were about 7,000 domestic reindeer on the plateau. Since then, this number has become smaller and smaller, and in the early 1960s there were about 2,000. Today, there are almost no domestic reindeer on the plateau."
Source: https://openarchive.usn.no/usn-xmlui/bi ... sAllowed=y

This guy was not a sami, but an operator of a DNT hut who also supported the herders in the 60s and 70s with his dogs. Don't know the details, so don't ask

Definitely did not use dog socks back then. My point was that the paws of his border collie were not made for the snowy conditons, as opposed to his spitz types. There may of course be individual differences in that respect, but in my experience, a lot of modern/Western breeds struggle with clogging (right word?) snow and hence benefit from socks/boots.