-- About the Dogs & Dryland Mushing--
When people think about sled dogs, the mind typically takes them to either a Siberian Husky or an Alaskan Malamute. While these are very popular dogs used in mushing, you will notice that lots of different breeds are equipped to pull a sled or scooter. Learn about some of the dogs below.Siberian Husky
Huskies are an active, energetic and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic. Siberian Huskies were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia. The dogs were imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and later spread into the United States and Canada. They were initially sent to Alaska and Canada as sled dogs but rapidly acquired the status of family pets and show-dogs. ...Read moreAlaskan Malamute
The Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemuts tribe of upper western Alaska. These dogs had a prominent role with their human companions - working, hunting, and living alongside them. The interdependent relationship between the Mahlemut and their dogs fostered prosperity among both and enabled them to flourish in the inhospitable land above the Arctic Circle.For a brief period during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, the Malamute and other sled dogs became extremely valuable to recently landed prospectors and settlers, and were frequently crossbred with imported breeds. This was often an attempt to improve the type, or to make up for how few true Malamutes were up for sale. ...Read more
Alaskan Husky
Alaskan Huskies (at least those used for speed racing) are moderate in size, averaging perhaps 46 to 50 pounds (21 to 25 kg) for males and 38 to 42 pounds (17 to 19 kg) for females. Some of them superficially resemble racing strains of the Siberian Husky breed (which is likely part of the Alaskan Husky genetic mix), but are usually taller and larger with more pronounced tuck-up. ...Read moreYour Dog
Your dog may be ready for pulling a scooter. There's no rule book on dogs that pull scooters or sleds. Parker and Zeus, Sue Meinzinger's two German Shepherds, http://www.sleddogcentral.com/scootering.htm, know how to pull a Sacco cart very fast. They race fall and winter with the Northwest Sled Dog Association. When Sue hitched her shepherds to my Jones Dog Scooter one Sunday afternoon in April, these experienced dogs knew what to do. They took off at a lope down the trail pulling Sue on the scooter easily and fast.Dryland Dogsledding
This section will help you learn more about (dryland dog sledding) a.k.a. "mushing". It will take a little work to dig through this info...but hey! Get used to it! One thing getting into sled dogs guarantees is plenty of hard work!I'm not kidding! This is a fact! And it's not a cheap addiction!
If you're one of those people who "sticks" to mushing (or it sticks to you), you can anticipate changing your entire lifestyle. Yes, I know, you're only going to have a couple of dogs for fun. So don't blame me if a few years down the road you've moved three times for more space, have twenty dogs in your yard and you're trying to figure out how to quit working so you can devote more time to training dogs.
Except for those few born into "doggy" families, we've all gone down this road. It all seems so innocent to begin with but before you know it your life becomes "dog centered." You will always need just "one more" dog (probably a very expensive leader); a newer sled (one of the high tech ones); a few more harnesses (that new style, you know); a set of dress Carharts, a new truck, a new dog box, a few more pans and houses, chain, snaps, lines, food, food, food...and don't forget a nice little used ATV (which just happens to need an engine overhaul and new tires).
Consider yourself warned!
Now that you've been warned, I must tell you that I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my 30+ years with sled dogs. It's a marvelous sport with wonderful people...and best of all, the dogs. They are magnificent creatures that you will come to love and respect for their honesty, commitment, heart, unconditional trust and love, and unwavering loyalty. They will teach you things you cannot learn any other way except by living in the company of dogs.
Written by - Judy Bergemann