Dryland dog sledding and dryland
dog sledding requires it's own special
terms and jargon.
Bar brake or claw brake
This is a piece of aluminum with metal
spikes that dig into the snow that the
musher steps on to hold the sled in place
once the sled is stopped.
Basket
This is the portion of the dog sled in
front of the musher where passengers sit
or where gear is carried.
Bridle
Similar to the rigging on a sail boat.
It is a series of lines and bungees that
run from the rear of the basket to the
front of the sled and are used to connect
the lines. A carabiner is then connected
between the bridle and the shock absorber
(if one is being used) which is then connected
to the gang line.
Brush bow
The brush bow is a piece of curved wood,
metal or plastic in front of the basket.
It is designed to absorb impact during
crashes similar to a bumper on a vehicle.
Bungee or Shock Absorber
These devices are inserted between the
rig or the dog sled and the gang line
to relieve stress on the dogs and absorb
jolts during starting and stopping. Smaller
lines designed for one to three dogs are
used for skijoring, bikejoring and scootering
may include a shock absorber built directly
into the line.
Dog boxes
Made of fiberglass, metal or wood these
boxes are mounted on the bed portion of
a flat bed or pick up truck and are used
to transport sled dogs.
Dog sled
Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC uses
Artic Star dog sleds which are made of
white ash and are hand-tied by a gentleman
in Pennsylvania. They are tied using slim
nylon cord and have mortise and tenon
joints. Similar to skis, dog sleds are
steered by flexing them. Dog sleds come
in many different varieties including,
basket sleds and toboggan sleds. Basket
sleds ride on runners on top of the snow
about four to six inches off the snow.
Toboggan sleds ride directly on the snow.
Toboggan sleds usually work better in
deep, untracked snow. Basket sleds work
better on packed trails and in general
are a little easier to steer through sharp
corners. Dog sleds are also categorized
by how they are used for racing including,
sprint sleds, mid distance sleds and distance
sleds. Typically, the longer the race,
the larger the sled because most mid-distance
and distance races require the musher
to carry certain required equipment (e.g.,
snowshoes, an axe, a sleeping bag rated
to a certain temperature, booties for
each dog, and dog food).
Dog Truck
This is a truck used for transporting
dogs. With large teams of dogs, the truck
is usually a large pick up or flat bed
truck with dog boxes built on the bed.
Smaller, micro mushing kennels, may use
different vehicles including, SUVs, mini
vans, full size vans, or station wagons.
Drag or drag brake
This is a piece of snowmobile track that
rests between the runners of the dog sled
right under the driver's feet. To slow
the sled, the musher steps down onto the
drag.
Driving bow
This is the handle bar of the sled which
the musher holds onto while driving the
sled.
Drop lines, Drop Chains or Picket
lines
These are cable (or chain) lines used
to tether dogs at a trail head, race or
event while waiting to go out for a run.
Gang line
This is the main line which is connected
to the rig or the dog sled. A gang line
is made up of three distinct components:
The main (center) line, neck tugs, and
tug lines. The dogs are then connected
to the center line by a neck line which
connects to each dog's collar and by a
tug line which connects to the tug loop
on each dog's harness. The dogs pull by
pulling on the tug line not the neck line.
The neck line merely keeps the dogs alongside
the main line and the leaders side by
side.
Handler
The musher's chief assistant. A handler
helps harness/unharness dogs, hook dogs
up to the line, hydrate dogs, train dogs,
feed dogs, load and unload dogs and equipment
from the truck, repairs equipment, drives
the dog truck from check point to check
point in long races, and generally helps
the musher out. At races, a handler might
help the musher get his or her dogs to
the starting line. A good handler doesn't
get paid much but is worth his or her
weight in gold.
Hike" or "Let's Go"
These are the terms most frequently used
to get the dogs started. Contrary to popular
belief, "mush" is not a command used in
dog sledding.
Hup, hup
Go a little faster.
Leaders or lead dogs
These are some of the most special dogs
on a dog team. They are the dogs that
know best the commands that the musher
gives and are responsible for following
those commands. They are also in the dogs
that set the pace. As they say in mushing:
"If you aren't the lead dog, the view
never changes."
Musher
Also known as a dog driver and chief poop
scooper. The musher drives the sled or
rig, trains the dogs, cares for the dogs,
assists by pedaling or running up hills,
and scoops the dog yard.
Point dogs
These dogs run right behind the leaders.
Sled Bag
This is a heavy bag which is tied to the
basket of the dog sled and holds gear.
It can also be used to hold a dog injured
on the trail or too tired to continue
that needs a lift back to the trail head.
Race rules usually require that these
bags be vented (i.e., have a mesh window)
so that a dog being carried in the bag
does not over heat.
Snow hook
This resembles a small but sharp boat
anchor and serves much the same purpose.
It is connected to the sled by a line,
and is deployed (set) when the musher
needs to hold the sled in place and get
off the sled. The musher sets his snow
hook by putting it on the snow and digging
it in with his foot while allowing the
dogs to pull forward to "set" the hook.
Snub line
This line is used to hold the sled or
rig in place on the trail or while hooking
the dogs up or unhooking dogs. It is frequently
paired with a quick release, panic snap
or wooden pin so that it can be quickly
released by the musher at take off while
standing on the dog sled or the rig.
Swing dogs
These dogs run right in front of the wheel
dogs.
Team dogs
All other dogs between the point dogs
and the swing dogs.
Wheel dogs or wheelers
These are the dogs that are hooked in
closest to the dog sled or the rig. They
tend to be large powerful dogs. They usually
have the most impact in pulling the sled
or rig through turns.
Whoa
In a perfect world, this command is used
to slow the dogs down and stop them. In
an imperfect world, that is what the brakes
are for.
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