Dog Sledding Equipment
It’s no secret that dog sledding is about the toughest, most time-consuming, most expensive and most addictive of any dog activity. So what’s stopping you?
First you’ll need sled dogs. Don’t be dismayed if your dog isn’t a bonafide Husky-type. Dalmatians, German Shorthaired Pointers, Border Collies, Poodles and a bevy of other breeds have made it onto mushing teams. Most good mushing dogs weigh between 40 and 60 pounds and have the urge to pull. You can work with your own dogs and have loads of fun, but if you’re serious about getting a top team together, start with dogs from top mushing lines.
Equipment
A kick sled is a lightweight transportable brakeless chair on runners, made to be pulled by one or two dogs. Any more dogs and you risk being out of control! Basket sleds, in which the basket is set high above the runners, are next in weight. They are fast, easy to manage and ideal for recreational mushing with a few dogs. Finally, toboggan sleds, in which the load is carried only inches above the runners, are the choice for soft snow and added stability, as well as for camping and long-distance trips. Both basket and toboggan sleds have simple but effective brakes.
Next you need harnesses for every dog in the team. A good fit is critical for your dogs’ comfort and pulling ability. The harness of choice for speed or recreational mushing is the custom fitted X-back harness with padding around the front. For heavier loads, a weight pulling (or freighting) harness is preferred, which is the same kind of harness used in competitive weight pulling. These harnesses have a wooden rod (called a spacer) at the rear that helps distribute the weight for ultimate pulling ability.
Ganglines (towlines, tuglines and necklines) attach the sled to the dogs’ harnesses. The towline runs between all the pairs of dogs back to the sled, and tuglines run from each dogs harness to the towline. The neckline runs from the dogs collar to the towline, but is only there to keep all the dogs facing in the same direction - not for pulling. Never use cheap lines, and when possible, carry spares.
You’ll also need a snow hook, which you’ll be grateful for as your dogs are flying down the trail and your sled is careening behind them and your cries of “whoa!” are going unheeded. A snowhook is a big, heavy metal hook attached to the rear of the gangline that you can jab into the snow to try to slow your progress. It’s more often used, however, as an anchor when you need to be off the sled while the dogs are stopped and you wish them to remain where they are rather than taking off-without you.
Finally, what will you do if one of your dogs gets injured on the trail? A sled bag enables you to carry a dog on the sled without the dog jumping out. It’s essential when you’re anywhere away from civilization.
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