Post by Artemis on Nov 14, 2007 14:25:10 GMT -5
For those not familiar with sled dog team make-up (info copied from Wikipedia):
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Lead dogs steer the rest of the team and set the pace. Leaders may be single or double; the latter is more common now, though single leaders used to be more common during the mid-twentieth century. Exceptionally a leader may be unhitched (a loose or free leader) to find the trail for the rest of the team, but the practice is uncommon and is not allowed at races. Qualities for a good lead dog are intelligence, initiative, common sense, and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions.
Swing dogs or point dogs are directly behind the leader (one dog if the team is in single hitch). They swing the rest of the team behind them in turns or curves on the trail. (Some mushers use the term swing dog to denote a team dog.)
Team dogs are those between the wheelers and the swing dogs, and add power to the team. A small team may not have dogs in this position. Alternately, the term may be used to describe any dog in a dog team.
Wheel dogs are those nearest the sled, and a good wheeler must have a relatively calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving just behind it. Strength, steadiness, and ability to help guide the sled around tight curves are qualities valued in "wheelers."
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Also, some common terminology associated with sled dog racing/mushing:
Mush / Hike - Command to get the dogs moving. Mush is more recent, while hike would have been the term more used back in the day. But we're not picky; use whichever you want.
Gee - Command to get the dogs to turn right
Haw - Command to get the dogs to turn left
On by - Command to get the dogs to go by another team/distraction
Whoa - Command to get the dogs to stop
Easy - Command to get the dogs to slow down
Don't think I'm missing anything else. These are the terms I remember using most often on other Alaskan places, anyway, in relation to sled teams.
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Lead dogs steer the rest of the team and set the pace. Leaders may be single or double; the latter is more common now, though single leaders used to be more common during the mid-twentieth century. Exceptionally a leader may be unhitched (a loose or free leader) to find the trail for the rest of the team, but the practice is uncommon and is not allowed at races. Qualities for a good lead dog are intelligence, initiative, common sense, and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions.
Swing dogs or point dogs are directly behind the leader (one dog if the team is in single hitch). They swing the rest of the team behind them in turns or curves on the trail. (Some mushers use the term swing dog to denote a team dog.)
Team dogs are those between the wheelers and the swing dogs, and add power to the team. A small team may not have dogs in this position. Alternately, the term may be used to describe any dog in a dog team.
Wheel dogs are those nearest the sled, and a good wheeler must have a relatively calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving just behind it. Strength, steadiness, and ability to help guide the sled around tight curves are qualities valued in "wheelers."
----------------------------------
Also, some common terminology associated with sled dog racing/mushing:
Mush / Hike - Command to get the dogs moving. Mush is more recent, while hike would have been the term more used back in the day. But we're not picky; use whichever you want.
Gee - Command to get the dogs to turn right
Haw - Command to get the dogs to turn left
On by - Command to get the dogs to go by another team/distraction
Whoa - Command to get the dogs to stop
Easy - Command to get the dogs to slow down
Don't think I'm missing anything else. These are the terms I remember using most often on other Alaskan places, anyway, in relation to sled teams.