Dog Sledding: An awesome sport for you and your Dogs

Posted On March 30, 2021

Looking for a sport you can do with your furry friend that is fast paced and takes in the beautiful landscape? Dog Sledding might be the sport you are looking for.

For many people, the first thing they think of when you say dog sledding is Balto, the snow and Alaska. 

But did you know, that dog sledding is a sport enjoyed by many dog owners around the world. They even have a bunch of movies about sled dogs!

In Australia, there is dry dog sledding which is done with bikes and carts. Then you have the classic snow dog sledding in Canada, America and Europe. All around the world, people have found ways to enjoy sledding with their dogs. 

Dog sledding has been in practice for many decades and it continues till today.

A ride on the dogsled through the snowy trails or dry forests is the best time of your life. No wonder so many people who start this sport get hooked! This adventurous activity is packed with excitement and fun. It creates an adrenaline rush within your body and helps to create a strong bond between you and your dogs.

The origin of Dog sledding can be traced back to over 4,000 years ago. The people of the snow covered areas of the North depended on their dogs for transportation, companionship, protection, hunting and trapping. Sled dogs allowed these people to travel these difficult frozen landscapes. 

Even today in some places people still use dog sledding to travel from one place to another in snow. But it has now become an adventurous sport and a fun activity for people around the world.

Think this is a sport you and your companion might enjoy? We’ve put together this guide to help you get started!  

Things to consider before dog sledding

Age requirements

Anyone can become a musher! From children to men and women, everyone is welcome to participate. Clubs generally offer classes for all skill levels and ages. Usually these are broken into classes based on age: Pee wee class (younger kids 1-8); Pee wee unassisted (8-10);  Junior (kids 10-16); Open class (from 16 years of age). There are also a Novice class for beginners, Touring for non-competitive dogs, Veteran for dogs 8 years and older.

Learn From Others in the Sport

Across the world there are many Dog Sledding clubs that can help introduce you into the sport. Many veteran dog sledders can help you and your dog learn the ropes. Often, dogs find it easier to learn from other dogs who already know how to sled. Many clubs offer introduction days where you can hook your pup to a rig with trained sled dogs. Once you have one dog that knows how to sled, it makes it so much easier to teach the rest of your dogs. 

Sled Dog commands

At the markers and based upon track circumstances, mushers will call commands to their dogs such as: “gee” turn right;  “haw” turn left; “easy” to slow; “trail” to other mushers before passing or “on by” to make a safe pass.

What to wear

Depending on where you are in the world will depend on what you need to wear! If you are are dog sledding in the cooler parts of the world, you will want to wear warm clothing that will protect you from the elements. You must ensure that you are wearing thermals, woollen jackets, caps, waterproof boots, snowsuits and gloves. These layers of clothes will help you to stay warm. Dog sledding is a snow sport and you can’t risk your health.

If you are dry dog sledding in warmer climates like Australia, you will want to wear something light. Often handlers in warmer climates will stick to activewear as you can get a bit muddy on the tracks. 

Choosing The Right Gear For Your Dog

Choosing the right dog sledding gear for your pups is important. They will need:

• A special harness where the contact point is toward the back of their body. This helps with weight distribution for maximum comfort for your dog.
• Gang Lines & Rope
• A Sled (if in snowy areas)
• In warmer climates you have a few options with urban dog sledding. Depending on the number of dogs you would like to run you have the option of:
  • Bikejoring (a bike with a special attachment out the front).
  • A rig (which looks like a chariot)
  • A scooter

Breed of dogs used for dog sledding

You might not be aware but all over the world dogs are bred specially for the purpose of dog sledding. However any dog can be part of a dog sledding team!

The popular breed of dogs mostly used for dog sledding in cold climates is Alaskan Huskies. The Alaskan Huskies are a bred mixture of Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Husky. Alaskan Malamutes dogs are very strong weighing up to 54 kg. 

Another breed of dogs used for snow dog sledding is the Canadian Eskimo. They are commonly used in the Canadian Arctic region. Chinook and Greenland dogs are another rare breed of dogs for sledding.

When everyone thinks sledding they think huskies and snow dogs. But did you know most dog breeds can be sledding dogs? In warmer climates, dog breeds like Dalmatians, German Shorthair Pointers and other sighthound dogs make for great sledders. Dogs with shorter coats are more tolerant of the temperature in these areas.

It is surprising that some dogs can travel 8 km to 130 km in one day.

Think this is a sport you and your dog might enjoy? Get in touch with your local club to find out when their next introduction event is on. In the meantime, make sure to check out Youtube for some great resources on getting started.