| Sled dogs, known also as sleigh dogs, sledge | | | | deep snow conditions using the toboggan will |
| dogs or sleddogs are dogs that are used to | | | | hitch their dogs in single file with traces |
| pull a wheel-less vehicle on runners (a sled | | | | on either side of the line of dogs. Dog teams |
| or sleigh) over snow or ice, by means of | | | | of arctic natives are usually run in "fan |
| harnesses and lines. It is not certain when | | | | hitch", each dog having its own tow line tied |
| this unique form of transport was first | | | | directly to the sled. |
| thought of by humankind nor where it | | | | |
| originated, but it may well have been in | | | | Driving sleddogs has become a popular winter |
| eastern Siberia, whose tribes have a long | | | | recreation and sport in North America and |
| history of nomadic winter travel. | | | | Europe; sleddogs are now found even in such |
| | | | unlikely places as Australia and Patagonia. |
| Several distinct dog breeds are in common use | | | | |
| as sleddogs, although any medium-sized breed | | | | A dog sled (or dogsled) is a sled pulled by |
| may be used to pull a sled. Purebred sleddog | | | | one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice |
| breeds range from the well-known Siberian | | | | and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are |
| Husky and Alaskan Malamute to rarer breeds | | | | used, depending on their function. |
| such as the Mackenzie River Husky. Dog | | | | |
| drivers, however, have a long history of | | | | A basket sled has a bed raised several inches |
| using other breeds or crossbreds as sleddogs. | | | | above the surface of the snow. This type of |
| In the days of the Gold Rush in The Yukon, | | | | sled is used in dogsled racing. Sprint sleds |
| mongrel teams were the rule, but there were | | | | are often short-bodied basket sleds. A |
| also teams of Foxhounds and Staghounds. Today | | | | toboggan sled has a lower carriage and uses a |
| the unregistered hybridised Alaskan husky is | | | | closed bed, allowing the sled to slide or |
| preferred for dogsled racing, along with a | | | | float over deep snow. Freight sleds, which |
| variety of crossbreds, the German Shorthaired | | | | are heavier and sturdier than sprint sleds, |
| Pointer often being chosen as the basis for | | | | may be toboggan or basket sleds. Both of |
| crossbreeding. Some years ago, a team of | | | | these types of sleds have runners which stick |
| Standard Poodles participated in the Iditarod | | | | out behind the sled, on which the musher can |
| long-distance race. | | | | stand. Older sleds relied on hooks attached |
| | | | to the sled with a rope, whereas modern sleds |
| Sleddogs are expected to demonstrate two | | | | usually include drag and claw brakes built |
| major qualities in their work (apart from | | | | into the sled. |
| basic physical capability to pull the sled). | | | | |
| Endurance is needed to travel the distances | | | | A recent innovation in sled design was |
| demanded in dogsled travel, which may be | | | | introduced in the 2004 Iditarod by Jeff King, |
| anything from five to eighty miles (8 to 130 | | | | who used a split sled for the race. This |
| km) or more a day. Speed is needed to travel | | | | sled, the Tail Dragger, has a basket-style |
| the distance in a reasonable length of time. | | | | body with a freight-holding back end, and an |
| Racing sleddogs will travel up to an average | | | | open middle. The musher can sit on the back |
| twenty miles per hour (32.2 km/h) over | | | | part or stand in the middle. |
| distances up to 25 miles (40 km). Over longer | | | | |
| distances, average travelling speed declines | | | | The komatik is a traditional Inuit sled, used |
| to 10 to 14 miles per hour (16 to 22 km/h). | | | | in Canada and Greenland, low-slung and on |
| In poor trail conditions, sleddogs can still | | | | which the hunter or racer sits or lies down, |
| usually average 6 or 7 miles per hour (10 or | | | | facing forward. The runners do not stick out |
| 11 km/h). Sled dogs have been known to travel | | | | as in basket sleds. |
| over 100 miles in a 24 hour period. | | | | |
| | | | A pulk is a short, flat sled used in the |
| Sleddogs pull various sorts of sleds, from | | | | Scandinavian sport of pulka. The dog is |
| the small 25 pound (11 kg) sprint-racing | | | | hitched to the sled and the sled to the |
| sleds, through the larger plastic-bottomed | | | | skier. The pulk is used to carry supplies or |
| distance racing toboggan sleds, to | | | | equipment, but not usually a person. |
| traditional ash freighting sleds and the | | | | |
| trapper's high-fronted narrow toboggan. | | | | The expedition led by the Norwegian explorer |
| Sleddogs are also used to pull skiers and to | | | | Roald Amundsen used dog sleds when they |
| draw wheeled rigs when there is no snow. A | | | | reached the South Pole before Robert Falcon |
| team of sleddogs may consist of anywhere from | | | | Scott's party did. |
| three to two dozen animals. Modern teams are | | | | |
| usually hitched in tandem, with harnessed | | | | A dog sled race was included at the 1932 |
| pairs of sleddogs pulling on tuglines | | | | Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York as a |
| attached to a central gangline. Trappers in | | | | demonstration event. |