Article Title: Training A Sled Dog
Author: Gray Rollins
Information about sled dogs and how they are trained.
Sled dogs are a group of dogs that are used to pull a vehicle
that has no wheels but is set on runners over terrains of ice
and snow. Sled dogs are attached to these vehicles by harnesses
and lines. It is said that the origins of sled dogs can be
traced back to Siberia as the people that live there have a long
history of nomadic travel due to rather harsh winters.
There are certain breeds of dogs that are synonymous with being
sled dogs. These dogs being Huskies and Malamutes although just
about any medium sized dog would be suitable to be a sled dog.
Dogs that are selected to be sled dogs need to exhibit three
main qualities. First of all they need to be in peak physical
condition and be able to pull a sled, they need to have the
endurance to be able to pull a sled over sometimes great
distances and they need to have the speed in order to do the
task of pulling the sled quickly. There are many teams of sled
dogs that have been able to travel over one hundred miles in a
twenty four hour period of time.
Teams of sled dogs can range from three dogs to a team of two
dozen dogs. Sled dog teams not only pull several different types
of sleds for racing and other transporting purposes they have
also been known to pull skiers when there is little to no snow.
Pups that are being trained to be sled dogs are weaned from
their mother as soon as possible in order to shift their
attentions to their musher. They are at about six weeks old
shifted from their mother into their own pen in order to
accomplish this.
When pups that are being trained to be sled dogs are around
five months old they are already running around with the lope
that is characteristic of a sled dog and is also the time when
they are first introduced to a harness.
There are many methods in which pups learn to be sled dogs. A
very common method is to harness up to a dozen pups behind a
pair of experienced older sled dogs and control the speed that
they go with the use of an atv. The speed that the older dogs
are allowed to go is gradually increased as the pups' endurance
and strength continues to increase.
People are amazed that sled dogs are so excited to be able to
pull a sled over long periods of time and generally over very
rough terrain. Mushers can attribute this to the very early
interactions that they have with the pups that builds such a
strong relationship between themselves and the dogs so very
early in their lives.
About The Author: Gray Rollins is a featured writer for
DogTeachers. Learn more dog training tips at
http://www.dogteach
http://www.dogteach
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