The sled
My biggest son, who is 7 years old, loves wolf dogs and especially huskies.
He draws all day and has a dozen dogs plush wolf in his bed.
He also likes to watch videos on sled dogs, it is very beautiful to look at more, the landscapes are beautiful, all the snow and white spaces.
I learned a little about sledges and their team and I did not know but there are several breeds of sled dogs and several kinds of sleds too.
Origins
Men began using sleds during the Alaska Gold Rush.
At first, they were used only as means of transport but then, they quickly became a tool of sport competition. In 1908, was organized the first big race, the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
In 1925, there was a diphtheria epidemic that hit an Alaskan town, and because of the ice and the blizzard, it was impossible to send medicine to the people affected by the disease.
It is thanks to the dog sledges that several teams managed to get the medicines to the sick people.
The sled driver is called the musher, in fact, this is the word used by Canadian sled drivers to advance their dogs, which means walking.
Today, dog sledding is still used for sports and recreation, but snowmobiling has replaced it and serves as the primary means of transportation for Aboriginal people.
Types of dog sled
The choice of the sled depends on several factors, it is necessary to know the environment in which it will evolve, for what motive it will be used and how often, how many dogs do we have and what is their stamina?
There are two types of manufacture for sledges, there are sleds made of wood (ash, birch, oak or maple) and sleighs made of aluminum.
Toboggan hiking sled
It can carry a lot of load but it is quite heavy and rigid. It is designed to evolve in powder, off-piste and hiking.
The mid-distance running sled
It's a sled made for racing and speed. They are designed to make small distances.
Sled Dog Breeds
There is of course the Husky but there are also other breeds of dogs that work with sleds.
The Siberian Husky
(Picture source)
It is a dog intended for work, it is made to pull light weight over long distances. He is independent and is not a good guard dog and is protected by thick fur.
The Alaskan Malamute
This is one of the oldest breeds of sled dogs, it is powerful and made for endurance. He can pull heavy loads.
The Alaskan Husky
It is a dog from a cross between greyhounds, setters and forks to have a more powerful dog for the race.
His hair is short so that it is not too hot when running.
I hope you learned a little more about sleds and their dogs.
I wish you a good day and an excellent weekend !