Born to run Bikejoring helps solidify bond between woman and canine friend By: Massimo De Luca-Taronno Posted: 8:37 PM CST Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 Last Modified: 9:08 PM CST Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 Updates

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This article was published 18/12/2024 (450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Muriel Smith adopted her dog Jake more than a year ago, it took 37 days before she could touch him. Her new companion didn’t trust her yet.

Now, Smith and her mixed-breed Eurohound put their trust in each other while competing in bikejoring, a dog-powered cycling sport raced over forested terrain.

“It’s a really cool relationship to have,” Smith said. “He trusts I am going to take care of him, and I trust he is going to go where I want him to go.”

Originally from Thunder Bay, Ont., Smith moved to Manitoba in 2007. The 66-year-old said living in the cold made her seek out a winter sport to enjoy.

Her first sport was kicksledding, something she discovered through Snow Motion, a club based in Winnipeg where people meet to skijor or kicksled.

Skijoring and kicksledding are both mushing sports — activities involving dogs pulling a person on cross-country skis or behind a small sled. Smith said that is how she discovered the niche sport of bikejoring.

“Anybody who kicksleds or skijores in the winter often does bikejoring during the other seasons,” said Smith. “I wanted to keep busy, so I thought it would be something to try.”

Smith hasn’t skipped a beat since. She competes in bikejoring in the spring and fall.

In late October, she and Jake attended the International Federation of Sleddog Sports Continental Championships in Minocqua, Wis. It was Smith’s first time racing against competition this large, so naturally, some nerves set in.

“I was very afraid to go,” said Smith, fearing the unexpected. The only thing she knew was she needed to be on the start line 30 seconds before the race or else she would be disqualified.

Smith faced her fears and landed a spot on the podium after capturing bronze.

It was an unlikely result based on the first day of competition. Smith said her nerves got the best of her, and she decided to play a little too cautiously, slamming on the brakes whenever Jake would reach high speeds.

Her mindset changed on Day 2.

“I looked at the leaderboard and saw the times and knew we had to make up some considerable ground,” she said. “I just thought to myself, ‘You’ve got to let the dog go, and you’ve got to keep pedalling.’”

The change in strategy made up exactly 23 seconds on the board and gave her and Jake a time of 7:48, good enough for a third-place finish in the masters’ division.

“I was hyped, the dog was hyped — it was just an amazing feeling,” Smith said. “I felt sick afterwards, but I felt great the dog and I did what we could do.”

Also finding themselves a spot on the podium were mushing athletes Edie Fisher (silver, Canada) and Mikki Douglass (gold, USA).

Smith said one of her favourite parts about competing was representing Canada with other gifted athletes, such as the two ahead of her.

“They are amazing mushers — so to be on the podium with them was very cool,” Smith said. “It made me feel like I actually deserved my place there.”

Jake, the Alaskan husky and German shorthaired pointer mix, arrived at Smith’s door in Gimli a year ago. He was a gift from one of Smith’s friends and was flown in from Yellowknife because his original breeder no longer wanted him.

Jake previously lived outside, so there were difficult adjustments when he began living indoors with Smith.

“He was very nervous to start,” Smith said. “He just needed to build confidence to learn to live as a house dog.”

The nerves were what caused Jake to initially fear letting his new owner touch him. Also living outside his entire life, Jake only knew to run — no matter where he was.

“He (Jake) nearly made a track in the carpet around the dining room table,” said Smith. “He’s an animal; he still has a mind of its own, and that’s all he knew at the time — how to run in circles.”

Smith said she’s just glad bikejoring was there as an outlet to help the two build their relationship.

“When you have dogs that run, just hanging around is not fun,” said Smith. “Bikejoring was the perfect way to exercise him and keep him under control — he loves to run; it’s his thing.”

It’s been a long, slow process of getting Jake to trust Smith, but now that he does, she said it’s a rewarding feeling.

“It feels wonderful because of the relationship and trust we’ve built and established with each other,” she said. “It truly is a special bond between dog and human.”

With upcoming bikejoring tournaments in Michigan and Quebec awaiting in the spring, Smith and Jake train every second day to prepare. Their focus, however, will be on the Worlds, also held in Minocqua, Wis., in 2025.