Let it snow

For the skiers out there, have you ever considered taking your dog along when you hit the snow?

An article in the Summit Daily News in Frisco, Colo., by Julie Sutor, makes that suggestion.

The team sport of skijoring is something dogs and their owners can do together.

In skijoring, dog and skier each wear a harness and are linked together by a Bungee lead. They work together to travel along the trail. The human half of the team can wear classic Nordic skis, skate skis or even backcountry touring skis. The skier uses a set of commands to direct stopping, starting and turning. There's even a command to ignore squirrels, other dogs, birds, or other distractions on the trail.

As with any sport, you have to make sure everyone — dog included — is safe.

Watch for ice balls between the dog's toes and frostbite. Joint and ligament problems can occur over time as well.

And as with jogging and bicycling with a dog, be careful you aren't letting your dog overexert himself.