Dog sled facts for kids

Dogs pulling people on a sled.

A dog sled is a special sled pulled by sled dogs. It is designed to travel easily over ice and snow. People first used dog sleds a very long time ago.

The First Nations people in Canada created dog sleds before Europeans arrived. They did not have horses, so dogs became their main way to travel across snowy lands. People in countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia also used dog sleds. It was the best way to get around in many cold, snowy areas.

Today, racing dog sleds is a popular sport. Many people enjoy watching these races, and some even get to ride in the sleds. This sport is especially popular in places where there isn't much horse racing.

History of Dog Sleds

Dogs have helped humans for over a thousand years. They have been used for hunting and traveling since at least the 10th century BCE. These amazing dogs have played a big part in human history and culture.

Building a Dog Sled Team

Putting together a dog sled team is like building a sports team. Each dog has a special job.

• Lead dogs run at the front. They are very important because they guide the team. Mushers, who drive the sleds, take great care of their lead dogs.
• Wheel dogs are at the back, closest to the sled. They need to be strong to pull the sled out of deep snow.
• Point dogs (sometimes used) run behind the lead dogs.
• Swing dogs are between the point dogs and the wheel dogs.
• Team dogs are all the other dogs in the middle. They are chosen for their strength, speed, and how long they can keep running.

Best Dogs for Sledding

Some dog breeds are perfect for sledding.

• Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are often used for fun sledding trips. They are strong, fast, and can handle very cold weather.
• Alaskan Huskies are a mix of Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. They are very popular for dog sled races. Alaskan Huskies can run for a long time, eat well, and are very dedicated to running, even when tired.

For short, fast races called "sprint races," mushers sometimes use hounds with short hair. These hounds can be faster than regular huskies. They are trained from a young age to pull. It can be harder to train hounds than Huskies or Malamutes because pulling a sled is not natural for them. Training usually starts when a puppy is about six months old, by having them pull a small log.

Gallery

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  Dog sled in Quebec

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  Indian dog sled near Fort Clark. Watercolor by Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied 1833

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  Stained glass Alaskan theme, formerly part of a Seattle storefront, now in the Museum of History and Industry

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  Antique dog sled at the Adirondack Museum

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  Commercial sled dog kennels

Images for kids

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  A musher riding a dog sled in Røros, Norway, during a sled dog race

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  An 1840s oil painting of a fur trader using a dog sled pulled by three dogs. Dog sleds have been used for over a thousand years.