| Alaskan
husky |
a
northern dog of mixed breed, usually used to denote those bred for
racing. |
| Basket |
the
main body of a sled, where passengers or gear may be carried. |
| Beargrease |
a
500-mile sleddog race held every January in Minnesota. Named after
John Beargrease, an Ojibway (Chippewa) Native American who carried
the mail by dog sled, the race runs from Duluth to Grand Portage
(on the Canadian border) and back to Duluth. |
| Booties |
slippers
for dogs, worn while working under certain conditions to prevent
ice forming between their toes. Made of a wide range of fabrics,
including fleece and Gore-tex |
| Brushbow |
the
curved piece out in front of the main body of a sled, designed to
stop brush from damaging the sled. |
| Dog
Bag |
a
fabric bag carried on a race sled, used to put a sick or injured
dog into in order to carry him to a place where he can be cared
for. |
| Dog
Box |
a
carrier for several dogs, most often seen as a wooden structure
in the bed of a pickup truck. Styles vary widely, but usually built
with individual sections that hold one or two dogs each. |
| Driving
Bow |
the
handle that the musher holds on to - also called a Handlebow. |
| Easy! |
the
command for the dogs to slow down. |
| Gangline |
the
main line that the dogs and sled are attached to. |
| Gee |
the
command for the dogs to turn right. |
| Handler |
a
person who assists the musher. |
| Harness |
a
webbing of fabric that fits a dog snugly, to which the Tugline and
Neckline are attached. |
| Haw |
the
command for the dogs to turn left. |
| Hike! |
the
command to get the dog team moving. |
| Husky |
in
common useage, any northern breed dog - properly, a Siberian Husky.
|
| Jingler |
a
noise-making device, usually bells or washers on a ring or rope.
The noise made by the jingler accompanies a correction. |
| Lead
Dogs |
the
dog or dogs in the front of a team. These dogs are noted for their
high level of intelligence and drive, and are often females. May
be run as Single lead (1 dog) or Double lead (2 dogs). |
| Malemute |
The
largest breed of Husky. Also the Eskimo name for "dog".
|
| Mush! |
many
people think this is the term used to get a team going - Hike! is
most commonly used. |
| Musher |
a
person who drives a sled dog team - also called a Dog Driver. |
| Neckline |
a
short line (10-12 inches) attached to the Harness and Gangline,
that keeps the dog in line. |
| On
By! |
the
command to go by another team or other distraction. In other words,
don't slow down -- keep going. |
| Pedaling |
pushing
with one foot while keeping the other on the sled. |
| Point
Dogs |
used
by some mushers to denote the two dogs right behind the Lead Dogs.
Others call them Swing Dogs. |
| Rigging |
all
the gear used to attach dogs to a sled. |
| Runners |
the
narrow pieces of wood that a sled rides on. Usually have a replaceable
plastic layer to reduce maintenance. The runners extend behind the
Basket so the Musher can stand on them. |
| Safety
Line |
an
extra line from the Gangline to the sled, in case the main fitting
breaks. |
| Single
leading |
one
dog as a single lead dog. The alternative to a single lead is a
double lead, where two dogs run together at the lead position. |
| Snow
Hook |
a
large metal hook that can be driven into firm snow to anchor a team
for a short period of time without tying them. |
| Snub
Line |
a
rope attached to the back of the sled, which can be tied to a tree
to hold the team when the snow is not firm enough to use a Snow
Hook. |
| Stakeout |
a
main chain with separate short chains to attache several dogs to.
May be strung between the front and back bumpers of a truck, or
between two trees. |
| Stanchions |
the
upright pieces that attach the runners to a sled. |
| Swing
Dogs |
depending
on which musher you're talking to, either the two dogs directly
behind the Leda Dogs, or those between the Point Dogs and the Wheel
Dogs. |
| Tack |
harnesses
|
| Team
Dogs |
all
dogs other than the Lead Dogs, Point Dogs, Swing Dogs and Wheel
Dogs. |
| Toboggan |
a
sled with a flat bottom instead of runners. Used when deep, soft
snow is expected instead of a good trail. |
| Tuglines |
the
main line that connects the dog's harness to the Gangline - the
line that the dog tugs on. |
| Village
Dogs |
a
derogatory term for poorly socialized dogs of unknown breeding.
|
| Wheel
Dogs |
the
two dogs right in front of the sled. These will normally be the
heaviest dogs in the team. |
| Whoa |
the
command to get the dog team to stop. |
| |
