Sled Dogs

A slad dog is a dog that has been trained to pull a harnessed land vehicle, most frequently a sled across snow. Sled dogs were originally used as labour dogs in colder places (such as northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica) to simplify travel and supply transfer, but they are now frequently used in other parts of the world during the winter, particularly for racing.

After going through this article you will be able to know more about sled dogs, different types of sled dog breeds and how dogs used for sledding .  

Sled dogs are still used for transportation and employment in some Arctic and subarctic locales, however aircraft and snowmobiles have mostly replaced them. Rather than working, most dog teams today are kept for fun or racing.

Dog sled teams may reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. This type of travel necessitates both endurance and speed. Sled dogs come in a variety of breeds, but the most prevalent are Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.

History of Sled Dogs

The first formal sled-dog race, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to St. Paul, Minnesota, didn't take place until 1850. Sled dogs, on the other hand, have a long history in human history and have served a much deeper function than simply entertainment. In the difficult arctic circumstances, sled dogs were the primary mode of communication and transportation.Some researchers believe that human life in the arctic would have been impossible without sled dogs' help. Sled dogs have played a vital role in many notable historical events. Among the most notable during the previous two centuries are:

Sled dogs delivered everything from prospectors to supplies to mail during the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon towards the end of the nineteenth century. In his legendary classic The Call of the Wild, Jack London memorialised this.

The 1911 South Pole expedition of Roald Amundsen, in which the famed Norwegian explorer utilised sled dogs (a technique he learnt from the Inuits during an earlier investigation of the Northwest Passage). Amundsen beat rival Robert F. Scott to the South Pole, and many attribute his achievement to the employment of sled dogs.

The 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, during which 20 teams of sled dogs travelled over 700 miles in 6 days to provide a key anti-toxin to the town's sick residents.

Sled Dog Nutrition

Sled dogs require a lot of food to be fuelled because they live such busy lifestyles. In harsh circumstances, sled dogs may require up to six quarts of water each day. Sled dogs, too, have significant daily caloric needs for their meals, which vary depending on their age. While domestic dogs of similar size require roughly 1,700 calories per day, sled dogs can easily take up to 10,000 calories in the same amount of time. Some mushers use a carefully calculated combination of kibble and proteins such as chicken, salmon, or beef. During extremely cold weather, a warming stew is made by combining hot water, proteins, and kibble.

Sled Dog Breeds

Sled dogs were originally selected for their size, strength, and stamina, but today's canines are developed for speed and endurance. Sled dogs typically weigh between 25 and 55 kilos, however they can weigh as low as 16 kilogrammes (35 lb) and as much as 32 kilogrammes (71 lb). Sled dogs have exceptionally durable, webbed feet with tightly spaced toes because they can run up to 45 km/h (28 mph). They use their webbed feet like snowshoes.

The following are the most popular sled dog breeds:

1. Alaskan Husky

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In racing, these are the most regularly utilised dogs. They are, in actuality, mongrels bred expressly for sled dog performance. Alaskan Huskies have short to medium-length coats that come in a variety of colours and patterns.

2. Alaskan Malamute

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The Alaskan Malamute is a huge and powerful freight dog. They have round faces with delicate features and weigh between 80 and 120 pounds. They are claimed to be one of the first domesticated dog breeds, with origins in Alaska's Kotzebue Sound. These canines aren't necessarily quick runners, but they can pull a lot of weight. Expeditions, long adventure journeys, and moving huge goods are all common uses for them.

3. Canadian Eskimo Dog

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Exquimaux Husky and Qimmiq are two more names for them. The Thule people of Arctic Canada were the first to employ the Canadian Eskimo Dog. These skilled labourers can pull between 99 and 176 pounds per dog over distances ranging from 15 to 70 miles. The Inuit people have also employed them as hunting dogs. Seals, muskoxen, and polar bears have all been caught with their assistance.

4. Chinook

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They are a rare breed of dog that originated in New Hampshire in the early 1900s. They are a cross between the English Mastiff, the Greenlandic Dog, the German Shepherd, and the Belgian Shepherd. It is the state dog of New Hampshire, and the American Kennel Club designated it as a Working Group member in 2013. They have a relentless gait and are athletic and muscular

5. Greenland Dog

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These dogs are from Greenland, as their name suggests. They are large dogs with a lot of endurance, but they aren't speedy. Long treks and dog sled trips are common uses for them. Greenland's population is estimated to be around 15,000 people. A population that has shrunk dramatically during the last several decades. During the winter in Greenland, they are the principal form of transit north of the Arctic Circle. 

6. Samoyed

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The Samoyed was created by the Samoyede people of Siberia for reindeer herding, sled hauling, and hunting. They are an early breed that precedes the 19th century's contemporary breeds. They are classified as spitz or northern dogs. They have a pleasant and affable demeanour, making them ineffective guard dogs. The term "Sammie smile" or "smiley dog" refers to their alert and joyful expression. They do have a proclivity for barking, which makes them excellent watchdogs.

7. Siberian Husky

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The Siberian Husky, despite being smaller than an Alaskan Malamute, can pull more weight pound for pound. The Chukchi people of Siberia have employed them as sled dogs. They have been deliberately bred in recent years for their looks and pulling ability. They are best known for transporting diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska, in 1925.

8. Seppala Siberian Sleddog

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These dogs are descended from Tog, the famed sled dog, and are named for Leonhard Seppala, his musher and breeder. The Seppala Siberian is now a highly prized sled dog. They were bred to be powerful labourers and reasonably long-distance sled dogs.

Dogs Used for Sledding

Three things are required for dog sledding: well-fed dogs, well-trained dogs, and good equipment. During the 1896 Alaskan gold rush, which brought thousands of prospectors to the state, dog sledding became increasingly popular. To travel into the woods, they required transportation, and the only way to get there was by dog sled. By the early 1900s, dog sledding, also known as mushing, had become a popular mode of transportation in many northern parts of the United States and Canada, as well as a form of pleasure.

“Mushing” is a term used to describe dog sledding "and a musher is someone who travels by dog sled. Mushers choose their dog sled team with considerable care, as it involves multiple dogs with varied responsibilities. A long "gangline" ties the dogs together "going back and forth between them

With the first "All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race" in 1908, sled dog racing became a formal sport. Competitive racing was a good diversion from the harsh living circumstances of northern regions in the early days. Even after aeroplanes began to replace sled dog teams for transportation, freight carrying, and mail delivery in the 1920s, many northerners continued to enjoy dog sledding as a recreational activity.

Famous Sled Dogs

Finally, let us remember two legendary sled dogs who saved countless lives: Balto and Togo, the two lead dogs in the teams that delivered the diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska in 1925. Togo was the first to run the first leg, while Balto was the last to deliver the serum.

A bronze statue of Balto was built in Central Park (Manhattan) near the Tisch Children's Zoo ten months after he finished his run. “Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence,” reads the plaque at the base of the statue.

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What Makes a Great Sled Dog?

Sled dogs are chosen by mushers based on their size, weight, fur, and ability to work well with others, among other factors. Sled dogs are excellent athletes, lean and muscular, and have good eating habits. There is no restriction to how many dogs can pull a sled, therefore a musher may have anything from two to three dogs for a smaller work, such as hauling supplies, up to twelve or sixteen pups for a larger duty, such as transporting supplies.

A sled dog's thick coats provides warmth in freezing areas, and he wears booties to protect his sensitive paws. Each dog has a rigorous medical inspection prior to participating in races (such as the famed long-distance Iditarod, which takes place every year in Alaska, or the Yukon Quest) and performing non-racing responsibilities.

Mongolian sled dogs are said to have evolved somewhere between 35,000 and 30,000 years ago. Humans went north of the Arctic Circle with their dogs around 25,000 years ago, and began employing them to pull sleds around 3,000 years ago, according to scientists.

Facts About Sled Dogs

• Sled dogs were originally picked for their size, strength, and endurance. Breeders and trainers nowadays, on the other hand, are looking for speed and endurance. While most sled dogs currently weigh approximately fifty-five pounds, they can weigh as little as thirty-five pounds or as much as seventy pounds.

• The gait of sled dogs has been bred to be efficient. When jogging as a team on snowy, icy, and uneven ground, this quality is essential. Mushers often aim for a well-balanced dog team in which all members are compatible in terms of gait efficiency, transition speed (changing speeds), and size.

• Sled dogs can normally run at speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. They must have extraordinarily strong, webbed feet with tightly spaced toes to accomplish this on snow. This enables them to use their feet as snowshoes. Different sorts of sled dogs must have fur that fits the type of activity they engage in due to the similar weather conditions. For example, freight dogs typically have thick, heavy coats that retain heat. On the other hand, sprint dogs have short coats that allow heat to escape.

• Most sled dogs have a double coat, with an outer coat that keeps the snow out and an inside coat that keeps the dog warm and dry. During the summer, these dogs have a hard time controlling their body temperature. As a result, it is critical for their human spouses to avoid overheating.

• When they are curled up sleeping, their tails function as a fuzzy rope that wraps around their noses and feet to keep them warm. Those who have read Call of the Wild may recall Buck learning this method at a camp on a chilly snowy night. He proceeded to imitate his teammates' actions of covering themselves in snow and using their tails as a wraparound. Buck had a knack for picking things up quickly.

• These snow warriors also have a special blood artery arrangement in their legs that helps them avoid frostbite. Of course, they'll need a big appetite to keep enough fat on their bodies to sprint great distances in the freezing weather. To this aim, they are usually fed high-fat diets, and they may eat oily salmon or blubbery sea creatures while on the trail.

• Finally, sled dogs must not be extremely hostile toward other animals, which is a crucial criterion. When they're out in the field, they must be able to work as a team.

Did You Know?

• Sled dogs may reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

• They can travel over 1,000 kilometres or more!

• They weigh between 50 and 65 pounds on average.

• Sled dogs may eat up to 10,000 calories in a single day!

• They don't like it when it's quite chilly outside.

• Sled dogs are not bred for cold weather, which is surprising. To keep their paws warm, they must wear protective coats and booties.

• They are continually looking for ways to get some exercise. They are bright and have a good sense of direction.

• They have the ability to stay in peak condition for numerous years.

• Every year, mushers from all over the world go to Alaska to compete in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It takes place in March and is 1,049 miles long, taking around ten days to complete.