HOMESTEADING DOG SLEDDING

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Here in Alaska, folks who need to travel in winter often end up "going to the dogs"... and loving it. After all, canine-powered snow-going is an enjoyable mode of transportation (dogs are a lot friendlier than are jeeps or snowmobiles), and dog sledding can be downright practical, besides. I often make 60 miles a day with my five-member team, for example, and also use dog sleds to haul lumber, groceries, firewood-and more-out to my rural homestead.

If you live in an area that's snowbound during part of the year, you can take advantage of dog power, too. You'll have to secure good gear and beasts-and take the time to properly train your pullers—but you'll find that the rewards of sleddin' will be well worth the effort.

CHOOSING YOUR WORK DOGS

Regardless of its breed, however, a good sled dog must have an obedient temperament. Many fine teams have been formed around a family pet whose devotion to its owner sets a fine example for the others. Another character trait to look for in a potential puller is an ability to get along with its peers. Infighting simply cannot be tolerated in a sled team.

When you set out to form a group of "tundra trekkers", you'll obviously have to decide how many dogs to get. I've seen impressive teams consisting of as many as 20 canines, but I'd suggest you start out with just three. Many novice mushers (we Alaskans call such amateurs cheechakos) quickly find that trying to handle and train more than three dogs can be a most confusing-and frustrating-task.

After you gain some experience, you'll likely want to add one or two more tail waggers to the team. Just be sure that any untrained beasts undergo a five-day "getting acquainted" period with the other dogs before being trained for harness. And remember: Never tolerate the slightest show of aggressive behavior from those new critters or, for that matter, from any of your dogs. You will pay dearly if you let them get away with such methods of "showing their enthusiasm": As we say in Alaska, vet bills are the medals of the cheechako!

SLEDS AND SLEDGES

Besides getting-and training-some dogs, you'll need a sled (or a "freight" sledge) and a set of harnesses and lines. Commercially available sleds are pretty much standardized (the classic "Alaskan gold rush model" is widely used) and can be obtained through the equipment shops listed in this article's sidebar. An eight-foot snow runner makes the best all-around sled for work and play, and can cost you anywhere from $150 to $750. The wooden load luggers come in two basic styles: The popular standard sled can-with the help of three dogs-transport one person and five bags of groceries, while the larger capacity freighter holds a 500-pound payload (not including the "musher") but does require a minimum of five strong dogs.

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