HOMESTEADING DOG SLEDDING

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Most dogs enjoy being out on the trail and will give you everything they've got, so don't constantly berate your pullers (only cheechakos yell commands just to hear themselves talk) ... the dogs don't like being shouted at any more than you would. Oh, you'll have an occasional, obvious laggard ... but good training will make physical punishment unnecessary for most dogs. I never use or even carry a whip. (Don't hesitate, though, to get rid of the "bad apple" who won't respond after being given a fair chance.)

If one of your dogs slows down considerably while on the trail, you may have to "basket" the animal ... that is, tie it into the sled. (You should be prepared for this-and other minor mishaps-by always carrying some spare short cords and snaps.) If you do have to basket a pooch, be sure to check its paws for cuts. In some conditions- especially when you're sledding over icy, broken trailsit may be necessary to "boot" all your dogs. Foot protectors can be made from denim and fastened in place with masking tape. Keep an eye out for bad trail conditions so you can boot your beasts before they begin to limp!

There're lots more sledding tips for a beginning musher to learn, but most of them are either common sense or the kind of knowledge that's best picked up as you go along ... so I guess I should sign off now. However, I would like to remind you of the most important rule for training and working dogs: Never give a command that your pullers are incapable of following ... or one that you're not prepared to enforce! Follow this, and you'll all have a doggone good time!

Good mushing with your team! And by the way, if you're sledding out to the Nome gold fields sometime and happen to pass through the Susitna Valley ... stop in and say hello!

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