Another good way to learn about the basics is the book Skijor With Your Dog by Carol Kaynor. One good article for beginners is Hitting the Trails by Ken Severin, which is available on the Internet courtesy of Mushing Magazine. See our books and articles page for more. It's a sport that can be enjoyed on many levels, from jaunts with the family dog, to noncompetitive fun runs, to all-out racing. It is helpful for the skier to have intermediate skiing ability or the willingness to take some lessons.
Many people prefer skijor belts with leg loops to keep the belt from riding up.
Many people also put 'booties' on their dogs' feet to keep them comfortable in the snow. See this link . For good discussions of equipment, check out the book Skijor with Your Dog and also the article Selecting skijoring equipment by Ken Severin. If you are just beginning to work with your dog, you may want to start with a set of skis that you are comfortable with and progress from there as you and your dog become more confident. If your local ski shop offers rentals and lessons, this can be an inexpensive way to try different equipment combinations and improve your skiing.