Dogsledding

I

Introduction

Dogsledding, activity in which a dog team pulls a sled and a driver over snow and ice. Drivers, commonly called mushers, stand on, push, or run with the sleds. People practice dogsledding recreationally and competitively, and in remote areas they use dogs for transporting freight. In the northern regions of Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada, dogsledding stands as a symbol of the hardy frontier life of the past, when survival depended on the bond between humans and dogs.

Most popular in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, dogsledding also exists in mainland Europe, the continental United States, South America, and even Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa. Dogsledding’s presence in warmer climates has prompted innovations such as wheeled carts that dogs can pull during warmer months when there is little or no snow. The term mushing, which people often use to refer to dogsledding, can also refer to pulk racing and skijoring, in which people wearing skis are pulled by one or more dogs.

II

Dogsledding Fundamentals

The basic dogsled is made of wood, metal, and plastic. Drivers stand on the back of the sled and direct the dogs with voice commands. The most common are gee for right, haw for left, hike to go, and whoa to stop. Drivers make the sled run smoothly by shifting their body weight around turns, pedaling with one leg, and getting off to push or pull the sled. A musher’s most important responsibility, however, is to the dogs: feeding and watering them, checking their health, and tending to injuries.

The type and number of dogs used on a team depend on climate and workload. Alaskan Malamutes, American Eskimo dogs, and Siberian huskies are the most common sled dogs. These breeds have compact feet and double coats of fur, and are comfortable running at temperatures from 5° to -40° C (40° to -40° F). In warmer climates drivers use a greater variety of breeds, especially short-haired pointers and husky-hound mixes.

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For short trips with little cargo, drivers use teams of 6 to 12 dogs. If heavy cargo, long distances, or deep snow are factors, a driver may use 16 or more dogs. As additional dogs are added to the team, the musher must spend more time training the dogs individually in order to retain control and help the dogs work as a team. Consequently, drivers must seek a balance between power and manageability when they form a team.

III

Equipment

Mushers must remain warm while driving their sleds. To do so, they wear thermal underwear and socks, snow pants, jackets and parkas, face masks, gloves, hats, and insulated boots. Many mushers use ski goggles to protect their eyes from flying snow. Because there are so few daylight hours during winter in the northern regions, mushers need headlamps and reflector tape to see and be seen during the long, dark nights.

Sled dimensions have remained constant for many years. Most sleds are 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long and 0.6 m (2 ft) wide. The weight of sleds, however, has decreased significantly since the late 1800s. The wooden freight sleds used in the past weighed 150 kg (330 lb) and could carry much more than 500 kg (1100 lb). Today, most sleds weigh between 15 and 30 kg (30 and 70 lb), and their loads are rarely as heavy.

To glide across snow and ice smoothly, the sled rides on two runners that extend several feet behind the main portion of the sled. The musher stands on these extensions while the sled is moving and holds on to a vertical piece of wood called a handlebow, which extends waist-high at the back of the basket. The basket is the slatted base of the sled where equipment is stowed. Tired or injured dogs can be carried in the basket inside special pouches called sled dog bags. The front of the sled is reinforced by the brushbow, a strong, wooden, rounded lip that acts as a bumper. The driver can stop the sled by standing on the brake, which is a set of steel claws that drag in the snow. Once the sled is stopped, the musher can tie it to a post with a snowhook or a snub line.

The sled and dogs are connected by a durable set of ropes, the main portion of which is called a gangline. The gangline runs straight from the sled’s bow and attaches to smaller sets of rope that connect to each pair of dogs. These sets are called necklines and tug lines. Necklines, which meet the gangline at right angles, act as guides that keep the dogs running straight, and tug lines snap onto each dog’s harness and link the dog’s pulling power to the sled. Harnesses fit snugly around the dogs to maximize the transfer of strength.

IV

Training and Caring for the Dogs

Sled dogs are raised to enjoy running. Once they are old enough, they are placed on a team and tested in different positions. Each dog then assumes a specific role within the team. At the front of each team are lead dogs, which, alone or in pairs, set the pace. Leaders are usually the most intelligent dogs and are trained individually. It is essential that they learn commands and automatically obey the musher. The lead dog is followed by swing dogs, or point dogs, who help guide the sled. Swing dogs must also be intelligent. In the event another lead dog is needed, a swing dog serves as the replacement. The middle dogs, or team dogs, provide the main pulling power of the team. The two dogs closest to the sled are called the wheel dogs. They must be agile and able to pull the sled around tight turns.

Mushers must know basic veterinary skills to care for the team’s health. While traveling, mushers closely monitor their dogs for fatigue and injuries. Most vulnerable are the paws, which suffer cuts and abrasions from the snow and ice. Mushers treat sore feet with balms and protect them with fabric booties.

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