Discovering mushing and sled dogs
Synonym of adventure and complicity with the sled dogs, the world of mushing fascinates and inspires. Inlandsis was moreover created by enthusiasts of mushing and dog sledding sports (French sprint sled champion with 4 dogs), who are the DNA of the brand.
But, what is the Mushing exactly? In this article, we explain the history of this mode of transport that has become a very specialized sport, the most common dog breeds, and why the dogs' pulling harness is a key element of this practice.
Summary
Mushing: A Millennia-Old Relationship with Sled Dogs
- Alaska, Northern Canada, and Scandinavia: lands of long distances
- Mid-distance: the rising race format
- The sprint: speed above all !
- Mushing on land: running without snow
- Mushing for everyone with single-dog sports
What are the most common dog breeds in mushing ?
- Nordic dogs: Husky, Malamute, Greenland Dog, Samoyed
- Modern racing dogs: Alaskan Husky, ESD, Hound, Greyster...
What equipment is used in mushing ?
- The pulling harness for dog
- Sled or go-kart depending on the seasons
- The line of stroke
Thibaut Branquart and his team of Alaskan Huskies Mushing: A Millennia-Old Relationship with Sled Dogs
Since prehistoric times, 5000-6000 years ago, dog sleds have been used by Arctic peoples for transport of heavy loads and the movements on snow and ice. On these snow-covered lands for much of the year, dogs are an essential aid in daily life as well as for colonizing new territories.
The end of the 19th century certainly marks the beginning of the modern history of mushing. Sled dogs were extensively used by prospectors in western Canada and Alaska during the famous gold rush. Writer Jack London is probably the most famous witness of this era with his adventure novels in the Great North, where sled dogs are omnipresent.
Harnessing the power of dogs for snow transport continued in the early 20th century and up until the 1950s. Sled dogs were then the most commonly used means of transport in the Arctic as well as during polar explorations conducted, for example, by Paul-Émile Victor or Roald Amundsen.
The gold rush having subsided, Western life is being organized in the Yukon and Alaska, and alongside the purely utilitarian use of the dog sled, the first races official mushing races were organized at the beginning of the 20th century. When a diphtheria epidemic struck the village of Nome in Alaska during the winter of 1925, 20 mushers took turns transporting the precious serum from Anchorage, located over 1,700 km away. This "serum run" saw the crowning of the famous lead dog Balto and was the origin, in 1973, of what is considered the world's greatest sled dog race: theIditarod.
Nowadays, dog sled teams are still used by some indigenous peoples living traditionally in Greenland, the Canadian Far North, or Siberia. However, snowmobiles and other motorized means of transport have largely replaced dogs for everyday needs. Driving a dog team has thus become a leisure activity or a professional sport for mushers at the highest level.
But by the way, why do we say "mushing" ?
The term "mush" is an anglicism derived from the French word "marche." It was created during the cession of Canada from the French to the English. "Marche," which was the command used to start or encourage dogs, then became "mush."
"Mushing" refers to activities related to dog sledding where the "musher" drives the sled.
The term "handler" is also widely used in mushing and refers to a person who assists the musher with the daily care of the dogs at the kennel, during races, or expeditions.
Jean Combazard and his Siberian Huskies at La Grande Odyssée The sport of mushing today
Long-distance races like the Yukon Quest or the Iditarod are the most well-known globally. Additionally, competitive mushing has organized itself around many other races and disciplines, with a different culture depending on the countries and places of practice.
Alaska, Northern Canada, and Scandinavia: lands of long distances
In Canada and Alaska, amidst vast snowy expanses, long-distance is the premier discipline of mushing. Two long-distance races are regarded as the ultimate benchmarks for mushers:
- The Iditarod : 1750 km across Alaska to connect Anchorage to Nome. The best teams now take 7 to 9 days.
- The Yukon Quest : 1650 km between Whitehorse (Yukon, Canada) and Fairbanks (Alaska, USA). Known as the most difficult with very little assistance.
In Scandinavia, and particularly in Norway, the geography and climate are also conducive to long-distance events. Mushers come from all over Europe and sometimes even from across the Atlantic to compete against the locals in one of the two benchmark races:
- The Finnmarksløpet : 600 or 1200 km across Norwegian Lapland starting from Alta
- The Femundløpet : 200, 450 or 600 km in the mountains around Røros, an old Norwegian mining town
We talk about long-distance running starting from 200 km around and up to almost 2000 km. Training dogs to cover such distances requires the musher's total commitment throughout the year. Given that race conditions are often extreme, a solid understanding is also necessary. spirit of adventure when doing long distance. That is why this race format is often considered the king discipline of mushing, the closest to the origins of sport.
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Mid-distance: the rising race format
With some sleeves of 30 to 60 km covered at full speed, middle-distance running is a rapidly growing discipline on the American continent, as well as in Europe and Scandinavia.
This type of race allows you to cover beautiful stages, usually with a return to civilization for recovery between rounds.
The training of dogs remains focused on endurance while developing the dogs' strength and speed capabilities. You can learn more in our "Training tips" developed with our athletes Inlandsis and notably Rémy Coste, 5-time world mid-distance champions.
In France and Europe, the most well-known mushing race is The Great Odyssey. Despite its "long-distance" culture, the race has now shifted towards mid-distance, which is more suited to the racing conditions in the Alps.
Scandinavia also offers a large number of mid-distance races:
- Norway Trail
- Amundsen Race
In the United States, in Alaska and Canada, the main mid-distance races are:
- Stage Stop in the USA, won by Rémy Coste in 2024.
"Training Tips"
Discover how to train your sports dog like a pro with our series of articles dedicated to training! Learn moreView this post on InstagramA post shared by Rémy Coste, Aurelie Delattre (@coste_racedog)
The sprint: speed above all !
Explosiveness and speed of the dogs are the key aspects of this very popular discipline in Europe and Scandinavia, especially because it allows running with small teams starting from two dogs.
The most popular and competitive category is often the 4-dog sled, even though the 2-dog category is gaining momentum.
A sprint sleeve is made of 5 to 25 km according to the size of the team and the profile of the race and is run at a average speed that can approach 40 km/h on the fastest slopes and in good snow conditions. Thrills guaranteed !
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Mushing on land: running without snow
Mushing having also developed in regions without snow or with uncertain snowfall these days, there is also a Practice on Earth also called terre aride You are trained on data up to October 2023.
- to train dogs outside of snowy periods
- for harness racing on land in sprint or mid-distance.
For teams of 3 dogs or more, a kart with 3 or 4 wheels is used, which can be more or less heavy depending on the goals set by the musher. The quad is also widely used, with or without a motor, for training the sled dogs.
The Cani-scooter is the vehicle of choice for training and racing teams of 2 dogs.
Rémy Coste in a Dryland race Mushing for everyone with single-dog sports
In full development among the general public, single-dog sports are attracting many dog owners of all breeds who wish to share a sporting activity with their four-legged companion.
Single-dog sports are practiced on land or on snow and on various surfaces:
- Canicross, cani-trail : the pleasure of running pulled by your dog
- Cani-hiking : If you can run being pulled by your dog, you can also walk and enjoy the scenery !
- bikejoring or Bikejoring : cart pulled by one or two dogs. Speed sensations guaranteed !
- Cani-scooter : scooter pulled by one or two dogs. Some similarities with a sled can then be observed.
- Skijoring : cross-country skiing pulled by one or two dogs to test your sense of glide !
- ski-pulka : a fairly niche discipline, mostly practiced in Scandinavia, where the dog pulls a small sled (pulka) followed by a skier.
These canine sports Harnessing comes directly from mushing and allows you to rediscover the bond and interaction with your dog that create the magic of mushing.
The pulling harness used in single-dog setups are exactly the same as those used in sledding at the highest level. No concessions are made for the comfort and health of the dog !
Whether for leisure or in competition, regardless of the level of practice, the most important thing is to strengthen your relationship with your dog through sports.
Cani-cross is a popular single-dog sport. What are the most common dog breeds in mushing ?
In mushing, a distinction is now made between traditional Nordic breeds and modern dog breeds, which are selected solely based on their physical abilities and performance.
Nordic dog breeds are:
- The Siberian Husky : this dog originating from Siberia is certainly the most well-known sled dog.
- The Alaskan Malamute : once used for pulling heavy loads, this is a particularly imposing and powerful dog.
- The Greenlandic : A dog known for its strong character, much like the climate of its country of origin.
- The Samoyed This white dog originating from Russia was used by nomads to pull sleds, as well as a guard and hunting dog.
As a general rule, slightly less efficient than modern racing dogs, Nordic dogs are now primarily used by enthusiasts of the breed above all.
It should be noted, however, that there are, particularly among huskies, 'racing lines' that can compete with modern breeds in certain racing formats and in the hands of talented mushers.
Jean Combazard, one of the most competitive Siberian Husky teams in Europe The racing dog breeds in mushing are primarily:
- The Alaskan Husky : Rustic, resilient, and swift, the Alaskan Husky is the quintessential long-distance dog. It is a crossbreed between the Husky and various hunting dog breeds such as the Pointer, Braque, or Greyhound.
- European Sled Dog or ESD : resulting from crossbreeding between Alaskan Huskies and greyhounds or pointers. These particularly fast and powerful dogs are the most used in mid-distance, sprint, and single-dog races.
- The Greyster : A cross between the Greyhound and the German Pointer, the Greyster is a very fast and powerful dog primarily used in sprinting and single-dog activities.
For recreational practice and particularly with a single dog, all dog breeds fit for sports may be suitable. However, it will be necessary to adapt well to the physical and mental abilities of one's companion to ensure that the enjoyment is shared.
The "hounds" are widely used in sprinting. What equipment is used in mushing ?
The dog pulling harness
The dog pulling harness is certainly the equipment to choose with the utmost care when practicing mushing. It must be adapted to the dog's morphology to allow them to deliver all their power with the greatest comfort. This is why there are many models and sizes available. To learn more, you can read our article dedicated to choosing a traction harness.
At Inlandsis, We have always taken special care in the development and manufacturing of our traction harnesses. It's no coincidence that top-level mushers like Rémy Coste and Aurélie Delattre, Jean and Jocelyne Combazard, or Thibaut Branquart have been choosing and using our harnesses for many years !
How to choose the right pulling harness for my dog ?
Read the article
Our pulling harnesses are used at the highest level in mushing as well as in single-dog activities. Sled or go-kart depending on the seasons
The sled is, of course, emblematic of mushing and must be chosen carefully according to the musher's intended use: transport, long-distance races (with a large amount of equipment to carry), mid-distance, or ultralight for sprinting. Each musher can also choose the characteristics of their sled according to their preferences: rigid or flexible, wide or narrow, made of wood, aluminum, or carbon. There is a sled for every practice and all terrains !
When the snow is absent, one can use a Map or a Quad in mushing, whether to train one's dogs or to participate in races on land.
The line of stroke
The towline is an essential element for organizing the harness and transmitting the power of the dogs to the sled.
Around the central line, the dogs are harnessed in pairs using a tugline and a neckline.
The towline is also equipped with a shock absorber to limit the impacts between the sled and the dogs. The same shock absorber principle is used for single-dog leashes.
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Mushing or driving a dog sled team is an ancestral mode of transportation become sport with, as we have seen together, many disciplines and specificities. It is a fascinating universe where the Well-being and the Complicity with the dog are central, for everyone's enjoyment !