Sled Dog Team

Explore Finnish Lapland: How a Dog Sled Team Powers Through the Arctic

Hello, fellow adventurers! Today, I’m will pull back the snowy curtain on one of the most thrilling aspects of mushing in Finnish Lapland—the fascinating world of dog sled teams. At the end of this article, you’ll discover details about my personal dog team and why I had to run up hills… ⬇️??‍♀️

How to Choose the Best Sled Dogs for Your Lapland Adventure

The selection of sled dogs is a careful process that focuses on health, stamina, temperament, and compatibility. Breeds like Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and Canadian Eskimo Dogs are popular for their endurance, strength, and adaptability to harsh climates. Each potential sled dog undergoes rigorous training and assessment to ensure they’re not only physically capable but also enjoy the work, ensuring their well-being and performance.

Optimizing Your Sled Dog Team: Positioning and Strategy in Lapland Mushing

In a four-dog sled team, the arrangement of each dog is meticulously planned according to their skills and personality, ensuring optimal performance and harmony:

  • Lead Dogs: At the very front are the lead dogs. These canines are the strategic thinkers and decision-makers of the team. They need to be highly intelligent, confident, and focused, capable of interpreting commands accurately to navigate through twisting trails and challenging conditions.

    Visual depiction of a four-dog sled team
    Visual depiction of a four-dog sled team
  • Swing Dog: Directly behind the leader, the swing dog plays a crucial role in helping the team maneuver turns and curves. This position requires a dog that is a quick learner and adept at responding to the lead dog’s movements, ensuring smooth changes in direction.
  • Team Dog: The third position is occupied by the team dog. This dog bolsters the team’s power, providing the necessary drive to maintain momentum. The team dog must be strong and diligent, working in sync with the others to keep the sled moving efficiently.
  • Wheel Dog: Positioned closest to the sled, the wheel dog is essential for pulling the sled out of tight spots and navigating around physical obstacles like trees and rocks. Strength and steadiness are key traits for this role, as the wheel dog must handle significant load and pressure during the ride.

Communicating with Your Canine Crew

Effective communication between the musher (which was me ?) and the sled dogs is essential for a successful journey. Commands are typically vocal, with standard commands like “Haw” (left turn), “Gee” (right turn), “Whoa” (stop), and “Let’s Go” (start moving). Building a bond based on trust and respect is crucial, as these commands need to be executed swiftly and accurately by the team

Fun Fact: However, since I was completely inexperienced at giving commands, I simply said “okay,” which was my way of signaling “let’s go.” So picture me sitting on the sled, repeating “okay” about a hundred times a day…

Training: A Journey of Mutual Respect

Training a sled dog team is about creating a synergy where each member trusts and understands their role. Starting with basic obedience, the training gradually integrates more specific sled-pulling commands. Young dogs learn from seasoned veterans, creating a mentoring system within the pack. The training also heavily focuses on building stamina and adapting to different weather conditions, ensuring the dogs are prepared for the varied landscapes of Lapland.

Personal Sled Dog Team

Sled Dog Team in Finnish Lapland
Sled Dog Team in Finnish Lapland

I originally thought I’d get to pick my own sled dogs, but it turns out our guide did that for us. They chose based on stuff like how much we weigh and whether the dogs get along. Being on the smaller side, I didn’t end up with the strongest dogs. My team included a super young, bouncy puppy still figuring things out and an older dog who knew the ropes but wasn’t the most powerful puller.

Each dog had its own harness, made just for them to fit perfectly and feel comfy. But let me tell you, getting those harnesses on was no small feat! It required a lot of patience and careful handling. We had to tackle one dog at a time and couldn’t rush it at all, especially with one of my dogs who always tried to chew his harness. I had to wait until everyone else was set before I could even start with him.

Me, trying to put the harness on my dog
Me, trying to put the harness on my dog

Once we got all the dogs harnessed, the energy at the starting line was just buzzing. The dogs were all barking and jumping, pumped to get going. As soon as they were hooked up to the sleds, we had to move quick. There was no time to mess around with all that noise; you just had to get going and keep up.

I was in the third spot right behind the guide, which was actually a pretty good place to be. The pros were at the back. During our practice run, I had a bit of trouble keeping up. My sled was lagging, and my friend behind me had to keep braking so she wouldn’t run into me. And when we hit hills? I had to jump off and run up to help my dogs pull, all bundled up in my winter clothes. Talk about a workout! (Could start a marathon career…what do you think?)

After a bit of struggle, we switched one of my dogs for another, and wow, did that make a difference! Everything just clicked, and we started moving smoothly. That whole experience really opened my eyes to how much goes into mushing. It’s not just about being physically ready; it’s about connecting with your dogs, trusting each other, and working as a team. It was tough but seriously rewarding, and I ended up loving my team and their energetic spirits.

Check out my other Posts about my Mushing Experience:

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Jeannette

Hey there! I'm Jeannette, the face and spirit behind «Tails from the Mushing Trails». Born with a heart itching for adventure and eyes dreaming of distant horizons, I've found my calling in the untamed wilderness of our beautiful planet. A wanderer at heart, I thrive on the thrill of new experiences, whether it's scaling a remote mountain peak, diving into the deep blue, or mushing through the snowy landscapes of Finnish Lapland. Join me as I share tales of wild beauty, personal challenges, and the sheer joy of discovery. Whether you're an avid adventurer or a dreamy armchair traveler, I hope to inspire you to embrace the unknown and celebrate the wanderlust within. Welcome to my journey. Let's make it unforgettable.

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19 thoughts on “Explore Finnish Lapland: How a Dog Sled Team Powers Through the Arctic

  1. I didn’t know about the different role of the dogs, so interesting, Could you recommend a trip with the dogs? Super excited for the next blog!!

  2. This is definitely going on my bucket list! The bond between the team and the sled dogs is so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your journey!

  3. Thank you for sharing. I wouldn’t have expected that switching one dog could make such a big difference. Your blogs are so inspiring; they make me want to try it out myself.

    1. Same here. Let’s plan this for next year… I do think whether TT Rims on the Dog Sled would help?!

  4. On photos it looks very relaxing. Now I have learnt that there is a whole lot of work behind the smooth mushing. Thanks for sharing your adventure !!

  5. The bond between dogs and humans is amazing!!! I‘m already looking forward to more insights !

  6. what a great article about your time in island with sled dogs! makes me wanna pack my things and go there. keep it up!

  7. Wow, how exciting the experiences you’ve had! Thank you for allowing us to be part of it through your thrilling blogs!

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