When the trail is relatively flat, the team ski beside the sled, holding a handle bar upright. When the trail goes through rough ice, down steep drops or demands a lot of turning the sled, one 'dog driver' rides the back of the sled, the other rides the front and manages the dogs.
canadian driving dogs
Canadian Inuit Dogs (CID) are
the last native breed of in North America. Iqaluit has one of the largest numbers of pure breed Eskimo
dogs. Dating back 4,000 years, these dogs were used for guiding groups because of their keen
nose and strength.
The Canadian Inuit Dogs will judge their affiliation with the leader based on Respect, Consistency, Trust, and Fun. The Inuit Dogs do not suffer fools easily! You are the "leader of the pack” and have to communicate verbally what you expect of them through words, tone of voice and body language. When giving commands, you must be firm and make sure they follow through. After a hard day, the leader thanks them for a job well done, feeds them, brushes them, and has fun with them. More >>
breaking techniques
Rear foot brakes: The person at the back of the sled operates the foot brakes. These
steel-toothed brakes are mounted at the back of each runner and are operated by pushing them down.
When pressure is released they spring up.
Belt brakes: Belts include: snow machine belts, 2" rope loops or chain loops. The belts are thrown over the front runners to cause drag and slow the sled. These are safe to use and will continue to brake the sled even if you fall off or dash off to turn the dogs. The smaller snow machine belts are easy to drop over the runners and can be flipped off when the front of the sled lifts over a bump.
The longer, 1
meter rope loops have better braking power, as they drag further back under the load, but to remove
you must lift the runner at the same time you pull it off. (Usually a 2 person job) Chain loops work
well on ice.
Hand brake or snow hook: These are large steel snow hooks that are set in the snow as a parking brake. They are attached by a short length of rope and clipped to the pituk. When you are stopped and you want to anchor the team; pull back the slack, set the brake firmly in the snow and stomp it down with your boot. Never put 100% trust in a snow brake! The brake will not hold on ice, loose powder snow or thin snow. If the team swings off to the side it is easy for them to pop the brake out even in hard pack snow. It helps to have a person stand on the brake. Do not attempt to use a snow hook while moving. If the brake snags a rock it can break your hand!
sledding terms -(inuktituk language)
- Qomatiq : Inuit dog sled
- Napu : cross boards
- Pituq : rope that connects sled to dog traces
- Runners : the wooden boards that run on the snow.
- Sled bed : the base of the sled that carries the load
- Handle bars : wooden up-rights, lashed to the back of the sled
- Trace : rope that attaches harness to pituq
- Fan hitch : each dog on a long trace (in the south tandem hitch is used)
- Lead dog : on long yellow trace
- Supporting at lead : red traces
- Middle dogs : blue and purple traces
- Wheel dogs : short yellow
- Snow hook or hand brake : Large steel snow hooks that are operated with your hand, attached by a short length of rope and clipped to the Pituk
