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The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
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The Iditarod
Mush with P.R.I.D.E (Providing Responsible Information on a Dog's Environment)
Sled Dog Central
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Read an excerpt for Dog Driven
Play a Dog Driven Trivia Game
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Read more about the Bestseller Ice Dogs
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Download the discussion guide for Sled Dog School
Read an excerpt for Falcon Wild
Read an excerpt for Overboard
Play the Will You Survive? game
FUN Fact #1: Despite common usage in annoying commercials or movies, mushers do not say "Mush" to their dogs. Where did this come from? One theory is that French trappers were overheard saying "marche" to their dogs. The term "musher" stuck and is used to describe someone who runs sled dogs.
FUN Fact #2: In the winter, most mushers bait the water they give to their dogs so the dogs drink it before it freezes. A bucket of water can be laced with bloody meat parts of various origins, making it look a little like a horror movie prop with floating globs of goo. Mushers also like to gross out their friends by asking them to ladle it out to the dogs. But, watch out for the dog who has this all figured out and tips their bowl over to eat the chunks off the snow.
FUN Fact #3: One of many things a leader must know is their right, "gee" from their left, "haw." These commands have been around since teams of oxen were used to plow fields. But the best leaders will understand subtle uses of these commands such as "gee over" to get the team to hug the right side of a trail. This can be used to allow a snowmobile or another team to pass.
I once ran with a musher who used a blind lead dog. They were so tuned in to each other, the musher could whisper, "gee, gee, gee" and the dog would veer farther right with each use of the word. I'll never forget seeing the dog charging down the trail and then unquestioningly leap off mid-stride after hearing, "GEE!"
MUSHER: Someone crazy enough to drive a team of sled dogs
ALASKAN HUSKY: A dog of mixed bloodlines bred for speed, stamina and attitude
GEE: Command to turn right
HAW: Command to turn left
HIKE: A command some mushers use to go or to encourage the dogs to run faster
SNUB LINE: A rope that ties the sled to a post or tree
TUG LINE: The line that is attached to the back of the dog's harness
GANG LINE: The main line that the dogs are hooked to that attaches to the bridle, then the sled
WHEEL DOGS: The dogs pulling in the position closest to the sled
LEADERS: The dogs that are in the front of the gangline, trained to take commands such as gee and haw
POINT DOGS: Dogs directly behind the leaders in the team
DOG BOX: A box that sits in the back of a pick-up truck that has individual compartments to transport the dogs
SNOW HOOK: A metal clawed hook that digs into the snow to keep the dogs in place like a parking brake