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Dog-Sledding

Using sleds pulled by teams of huskies, man has been able to explore and settle some of the most inhospitable corners of the Earth. The importance of the sled dog was highlighted to the world at large in 1925, when relay teams crossed 650 miles of rough terrain and ice, often in blizzards, to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome in Alaska, where an outbreak threatened the population. Nowadays, snowmobiles and other motorised vehicles are gradually replacing the dog sled in everyday life, though dog-sled racing continues to grow in popularity.

Sled dogs are recognised for their loyalty, endurance and intelligence. Many believe that males make the best sled dogs as they listen better, whereas females can often be stronger willed and less eager to heed commands. Working in teams of at least four, the minimum number for dog-sledding, dogs can run at speeds of around 30mph for short periods, but when covering longer distances usually maintain a steady speed of 12-15mph, depending on the terrain.

Wood such as ash has traditionally been used to make the sleds. Even on modern sleds, metal is kept to a minimum so as to keep the weight of the sled down, avoid the accumulation of snow and ice, and maintain flexibility in freezing temperatures. Nevertheless, metal is commonly used nowadays on the sled’s runners.

Dog owners all develop their own language to communicate with their animals but, in the English-speaking world at least, the following terms are commonly used:

Okay: let’s go - start pulling
Gee: turn or bear right
Yaw: turn or bear left
Come gee or Come yaw: u-turn right, or u-turn left
On by: straight-on, no turns
Hike, hike, hike: go, go, go - let’s go faster

Sled dogs

Two breeds of husky commonly used as sled dogs are the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky.

The Siberian Husky was developed by the Chukchi tribe of eastern Siberian many centuries ago. They needed a dog that could withstand freezing temperatures while pulling a moderate load over a long distance. The dog’s relatively small size belies the fact that it is very strong and has high stamina. However, it cannot pull excessive weights, so the Chukchi used teams of up to twenty dogs. The Siberian Husky has a friendly, gentle temperament, and though it is very alert, it is not aggressive, and is in fact highly sociable, flourishing in the company of humans and other dogs. These natural traits were encouraged by the Chukchi, who used to care for the dogs in their homes as pets. Its thick coat can be black and white, red and white, cream, pure white or piebald.

While the Siberian Husky is a pure-bred sled dog, the Alaskan Husky is a working and racing dog, essentially a cross between northern village huskies, Siberian Huskies, Border Collies or German Shepherds, Inuit sled dogs, or even a dash of hound for speed. Its coat, which can be any colour from jet black to pure white, tends to be thick, but not long. It is not aggressive, as is commonly believed, but is a pack-oriented animal.

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