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Dog Sledding Then And Now
Stories of dog sledding are found in every culture where snow is relevant. Dog sleds have been used for hundreds of years and continue to remain popular today, in races and recreation, as well as used for transportation and hauling. With its long history and harsh environment, dog sledding is an exciting sport with many interesting facets.
From as far back as the tenth century, dogs have pulled sleds across the snowy northern regions of the world. Inuits traditionally use a sled called a komatik, on which the rider is lying or dramatically tilted forward. Toboggans are used in deep snow, and basket sleds have their bed and bedding quilts lifted inches above the snow and are used in racing.
It takes many years and the right dog to train animals to work together to pull a sled. The most common breeds are the Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds. Ranging in weights from fifty pounds to eighty-five pounds, these thick-furred dogs have been bred for hundreds of years for pulling sleds. More recently, breeders are mixing the working breeds with racing breed such as greyhounds in an effort to add speed to their already superior strength.
Sleds consist of many different parts. Every sled of any type has three main components. There are harnesses to connect the dogs, ganglines, which connect the dogs to the sleigh beds, and the sled itself, which comes in many shapes and sizes. Up to sixteen dogs can be connected to the sled to pull a rider and his freight. To brake, hooks or claws connected to ropes or levers wedge into the snow to slow the sled.
Dog sledding has been used for many various uses. It is an ideal method for taking supplies for hunting and fishing, as the sleigh bed is ideal for transporting goods. One dog can pull as much as eight hundred pounds. Dogs respond to commands telling them to speed up and slow down, as well as what direction to turn.
The biggest event of the year for dog sledding is the Iditarod, an annual even that takes competitors across the great state of Alaska. Spanning over 1200 miles, the race runs from near Anchorage, Alaska to Nome. Outside the first leg, the race does not run through any populated areas and takes a great deal of skill and training to finish. The fastest in history was in 2002 with a time of eight days and twenty-two hours.
Dog sledding is an exciting sport. From the wonderful dogs used to get from place to another to the many various types of sleds, there is no end to the possibilities. Whether for recreation or as a necessity, sled dogs are an important part of culture and history.
Greyhound at the Dog Park