Dog Sledding Commands and Terminology

Dog Sledding Commands & Terms to learn

Ever want to try something new with your dog? If you’re a dog owner, then you know that the two of you never have a boring day. There are always new adventures and experiences to be had! Dog sledding and learning dog sledding commands is a great way to exercise your dog both physically and mentally. One thing I love about dog sledding (mushing) and dry dog sledding (urban mushing) and Canicross is how much dogs enjoy it! They bark with excitement anytime they see their harnesses come out from under the bed or closet because they know that soon they will be pulling me down a trail.

There are several terms and dog sledding commands you should know before taking your pup out on the trail, so we’ve compiled a list of some common dog mushing commands below.

Dog Sledding Commands

Hike!: This means get to moving! It helps to get a team started or increase the speed of a team on the move.
Gee!: Turn to the right.
Haw!: Turn to the left.
Easy!: Slow down. This is helpful when getting to a tight corner, or if you need to come to a stop.
Straight Ahead!: Keep going straight forward. This is helpful when you get to an intersection of trails.
Whoa!: Stop.
On By!: Keep moving passed another team or a distraction like animals on the trail.
Line Out! This is a command to the Lead Dog to tighten the Gangline and pull the team out straight from the sled. It helps to avoid tangles and help you hook up and unhook your dogs after a run.

These are the main terms you will use when you are out on a trail with your dog, so it is important to work hard on training these commands before you get onto a sled, bike or scooter with your pup.

Aside from these dog mushing commands, there are loads of other names and terms you should keep your eye out for:

• Basket: On a traditional sled this is the main body, where passengers or gear may be carried. If you are dry sledding or urban mushing, you use a bike, scooter or cart.
• Bikejoring: (pronounced baik-jawr-ing) is a sport where one dog or a team of dogs runs in front of a bike, pulling. Dog bikejoring is often called urban mushing and is done in areas without snow.
• Bed or Cargo Bed: this is the floor of a traditional Basket.
• Booties: slippers for dogs, your dogs will wear these when working in conditions that can do damage to their paws. For example, to prevent ice forming between their toes. Or if you are dry sledding, to stop rocks being caught in their toes. They can be made of a wide rang of fabrics and are held on with velcro.
• Brake: On a traditional sled this is a metal claw at the back of the sled. The handler (musher) will stand on it, which digs it into the snow to slow the team down. If you are dry sledding you would use your bike brakes.
• Bridle: This is a Harness that connects the sled to your team. It attaches to several points on your sled. This is to stop any stress points forming on your sled. The Gangline attaches to the Bridle, most of the time with an intermediate shock cord or bungee to reduce jarring the dogs.
• Brush Bow/Brush Bar: the curved piece at the front of your sled’s main body. It is created to stop plants and brush from wrecking your sled. Similar to a bumper on a car.
• Crabbing: when a dog is fatigued or uncomfortable, their hindquarters can pull at an outward angle instead of parallel to the Gangline.
• Canicross: Similar to bikejoring, this is done on dry land. A runner will attach their dog via a line and harness and run with the dog out 1-2 dogs out in front.
• Distance Race: This is a multi-day dog sled race of 1000 miles. There is usually camping in the wild, dealing with extreme weather and rough conditions. Think races like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod.
• Dog Bag: If a dog becomes sick or injured during a hike, they are put into a fabric bag that is carried on the sled so their handler can take them to get help.
• Dog Barn: Housing for a group of dogs. For example, in Alaska it is traditionally a structure where dogs stayed overnight while the handler/musher slept in a roadhouse on the trail.
• Dog Box: a carrier for several dogs. You will see these on the back of a truck or ute when a musher needs to move their team. Styles can vary depending on the owners preference, but they usually have individual sections for 1-2 of the dogs each.
• Dog Driver: the person driving the sled dog team – also called a Musher or Handler. They shout dog mushing commands to the dogs during a run.
• Dog Yard: For handlers with large teams, this is where they live. Usually each dog has their own doghouse and they are tethered to a pole by a chain so they can run in a circle. Some people prefer to have their dog yards enclosed by a fence instead so the dogs can run free of a chain and play with the other dogs.
• Foot Boards: On a traditional sled this is where the Musher stands. It is on the runners of the sled and is usually covered with rubber or non-slip treaded surface.
• Gangline: connects the dogs who are pulling to the sled. It consists of a main line that runs down the middle of the team. The dogs are then attached to Tuglines and Necklines, that are attached to the gangline. The gangline attaches to the Sled at the Bridle.
• Handler: a person who assists the musher, usually during a race or in the dog yard. This can also be the name of the musher when dry sledding.
• Harness: a long webbing of fabric that attaches the dog to the tugline. It snugly fits around a dogs body.
• Lead Dogs: The team leader. This dog or dogs are at the front of the team, understand and take the dog mushers command. They are highly intelligent, have a strong drive and are trail savvy. Teams will either run a Single lead (1 dog) or Double lead (2 dogs).
• Loose Leader: a lead dog who runs free of the team, yet still guides the tethered team and listens to commands.
• Mid-distance Race: shorter than a distance race, it is usually a multi-day dog sled race of 200 to 300 miles.
• Musher: a person who drives, cares for and manages a sled dog team – also called a Dog Driver and can be called a handler.
• Neckline: This helps to keep the dogs in line and avoid tangles. It is a a short line (10-12 inches) attached loosely between the dog collar and Gangline, or between the collars of double leaders.
• Peddling: pushing or kicking the ground with one foot while keeping the other on the sled to help provide extra momentum for the dog team.
• Point Dogs: Also called Swing Dogs. These are the two dogs right behind the lead dogs who help to turn.
• Rigging: all the lines used to attach dogs to a sled/bike/cart.
• Runners: The two bottom pieces of a traditional sled that come in contact with the snow.
• Safety Line: an extra line that runs from the Gangline to the sled, in case the main line breaks.
• Snub Line: a rope attached to the Gangline or Bridle. This is used to tie teams to a tree or stake to hold the team when resting.
• Stake: metal or wooden post driven into the ground used to tie up a dog.
• Stakeout: a main chain with separate short chains to attach several dogs to. May be strung between the front and back bumpers of a truck, or between two trees.
• Swing Dogs: depending on which musher you’re talking to, either the two dogs directly behind the Lead Dogs, or those between the Point Dogs and the Wheel Dogs.
• Team Dogs: all dogs other than the Lead Dogs, Point Dogs, Swing Dogs and Wheel Dogs.
• Tether Line: a long chain with smaller pieces extending from it used to Stake out a team when no stakes are available.
• Tuglines: the line that connects the back end of the harness to the Gangline – the line that the individual dog tugs on.
• Wheel Dogs: the dog or pair of dogs harnessed closest to the Sled. They are generally stronger and often larger than their teammates and must take the greatest load when making turns or changing directions.

Why not get out on the trails and with these dog sledding commands to see what you and your dog can do!

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