What equipment do I need for dog sledding?
To start dog sledding, you will need a sled, a brake for your sled, harnesses, a tug line, collars, a snow hook and a snub line. There are many choices for the different items depending on how many dogs you will use, and how you will use your sled. For recreational use, your equipment can be simpler and will cost less.
How much does it cost to start a dog sled team?
And the total comes to (drumroll please!)… Some mushers will lease an entire dog team and race and train with a kennel. Leasing a dog team can be very costly, often ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 for one season! Still others will purchase or breed all of their own dogs.
How do you start mushing?
Mushing is the sport of leading a team of dogs as they pull a sled. To get started in mushing, look into dog sled trips and races, and stop by a sled dogs kennel. Try mushing classes, joining a mushing-related association, or helping an established musher train their sled dogs.
Do sled dogs wear booties?
Now you know why dogs wear booties when training and during Iditarod. They wear booties for much the same reason humans wear socks – to prevent abrasions and keep their feet happy. Sled dogs are built better for cold weather than our mushers and handlers.
How expensive is dog sledding?
The prices vary among experiences, age of participant and time of year, but an 8-hour day trip costs about $250 and the multiple night trips can cost more than $1,000. Prices for children are discounted. Book in advance, as some experiences are already full.
What are the commands for sled dogs?
The most common commands for a dog team are:
- Hike!: Get moving.
- Gee!: Turn to the right.
- Haw!: Turn to the left.
- Easy!: Slow down.
- Straight Ahead!: move forward, for instance at an intersection of trails.
- Whoa!: Stop.
- On By!: Pass another team or other distraction.
- Line Out!
When should I start training my sled dog?
Mushers typically train dozens of dogs before settling on a core team. They start training at about nine months of age, and the best of dogs can race until they are nine or ten years old.