Living in a region of the world where winters are long and snow filled? Then consider training your dog in the art of snow sports, particularly dog sledding.

Dog sledding may seem an overzealous goal when it comes to your dog, but you'll be surprised to learn that most breeds can learn to mush right along with the husky leaders of the arctic north. It is wonderful exercise for a dog that enjoys running for miles and miles.

Debunking Myths

First let's debunk a few myths when it comes to canine snow sports. Any breed of dog can learn to mush as long as it weighs more than 30 pounds and is in good health. You also don't need a northern breed, such as a Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute to organize and run a winning sled team. Unless you're planning to travel long distances, you will only need one to three dogs to run a sled.

Being in top physical condition is important for sled dogs, so before you start, have your veterinarian review your dog's health. Begin the training by spending some time jogging with your dog or running him beside a bicycle to improve his overall physical fitness.

Every dog’s level of fitness is different, but in general it's a good idea to begin running him short distances – about ¼ mile each day - until he has had a chance to show steady improvement. Building the endurance is a slow and steady process, which should be fun and challenging for you and your dog.

Gradually lengthen the distances until your dog can easily run for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. Once he is able to run up to three miles a day without showing signs of strain or fatigue (heavy panting, overheating), you can begin sled training.

For current information on sled dog training and events in your area, contact the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) or the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS).for more information.

Training Tips

Most well-seasoned dog sledders recommend only doing long-distance runs (from 20 to 250 miles) with the breeds that are naturally bred for this type of activity. Most other sporting dogs like Labrador Retrieves, Setters, Pointers, enjoy the shorter distance runs.

These dogs do not have the thick, insulated coats of the northern breeds. Their thick coat protects them in extreme conditions. While the average dog may indeed have oodles of stamina and the will to excel, yet they lack the physical makeup for long-distance pulling in frigid temperatures.

In order to be competitive in sledding races under six miles, your dogs should have completed a minimum of 300 to 500 miles of training that season before your first race. If the weather, in your region, is cool enough, and you can begin your intensive training in September. Logging the required training time, prior to December 15 is a snap it breaks down to about 3 miles a day on average. Generally speaking, you and your dogs should be running at least weekly in the off season.

In addition to learning how to pull, your dog will also need to learn the standard voice commands:

• whoa (stop),
• hike (go),
• gee (right),
• haw (left),
• easy (slow down)
• hike it up or a tongue click (go faster).

Beginner dogs often learn these skills best, when harnessed up with experienced dogs.

Sledding Details

To pull a recreational sled, you will need two dogs. If you decide you want to do more than mush around the local park, competitions require a minimum of three to four dogs.

Sledding equipment is rather pricey. To outfit a proper sled, you will need:

• Gangline - which hooks the dogs to the sled
• X-back harnesses – which are made of nylon for each dog, and hook the dogs to the gangline.
• Snowhooks - which anchor the sled
• Snublines - which hold the sled when you're stopped
• Sled bag - , which holds the extra gear.