Train a sled team around four voice commands, haw (left), gee (right), whoa (stop) and hike (go), with a lead dog that is intelligent, confident and responsive, and team dogs that pull steadily without fighting. Start young dogs by running them in harness alongside experienced ones, and budget the food, since a working team of 8 eats 12-20 kg a day.
Part of Sled & Travois Construction
Dog team training is the building of a group of sled dogs that responds to voice commands and pulls together, led by one or two trained lead dogs.
The Team Is Only As Good As Its Lead
A sled team works from four voice commands (haw, gee, whoa and hike) and two kinds of dog: leaders and team dogs.
The parent article’s principles are these. Lead dogs must be intelligent, confident and responsive to voice commands (haw, gee, whoa); not every dog is lead material. Team dogs need to pull steadily and not fight, and matching temperaments matters. Young dogs are started by running them in harness alongside experienced dogs. The commands are haw (left), gee (right), whoa (stop) and hike (go), and the same traditional words are used for draft animals: see the voice-command table in Draft Animal Training, which uses “walk on” where mushers use “hike”.
Feeding is part of the plan: the carrier gives 1.5-2.5 kg of high-fat food per dog per day in the working season. For 8 dogs that is 8 × 1.5 = 12 kg to 8 × 2.5 = 20 kg a day (Dog Sled Design for the trip totals).
Where Each Dog Goes
In a tandem hitch (Harness & Gang Line), the lead dog or pair runs at the front and sets direction and pace. The dogs nearest the sled feel its swings and jerks directly, so they need to be steady. Place the dog that is hesitant beside a steady one, and keep the dogs that fight apart.
What You Need
- A set of harnesses and a short gang line
- A light sled or drag to start
- An experienced dog or team to run the young dogs with
- Food and water for conditioning
- A snow hook or anchor to hold the team while stopped
- Patience: no training stage is rushed
Method: Stages, Passed By Result Not By Calendar
Stage 1: Harness acceptance. Introduce the harness and let the dog wear it. Pass when the dog stands calmly in it.
Stage 2: Running beside experienced dogs. Put the young dog in harness next to an experienced one. Pass when it keeps pace and the line stays tight without being forced.
Stage 3: A light drag. Add a light load. Pass when it pulls steadily and does not stop at each noise.
Stage 4: Commands in order. Teach whoa first: it is the command that prevents accidents. Add hike, then gee and haw, always the same word every time.
Stage 5: Lead work. Select a dog that holds a line, answers commands and keeps its head when the team is excited. Try it at the front with an experienced dog beside it.
Stage 6: Full team. Run the team over rising loads and distances, watching each dog’s gait and feet.
Diagnosing Team Problems
| Sign | Likely cause | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Slack line from one dog | tired, sore or unwilling | check feet and harness; rest or swap |
| Team ignores the leader | wrong dog in front | try another leader |
| Fights in the line | temperaments mismatched | separate them in the order |
| Team bolts at the start | not held by anchor | set the hook and brake; hold until ready |
Common Mistakes
- Rushing a young dog to heavy loads — start light; heavy early loads injure the growing dog.
- Changing the command words — the dogs answer sound, so use the same words every time.
- Punishing slowness — the sled dog’s willingness is the asset; fix the cause.
- Underfeeding in the working season — a team that is pulling hard is burning more than it is fed.
Safety
Fights, bites and a team that runs off
Dogs in harness fight, and a driver who steps between them risks bites. Keep the team staked or hooked while stopped, never let go of the sled handlebar on a moving team, separate fights from the side with a long object where possible, and treat every wound: see Wound Management.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Terrain & Technique — using sleds in varied conditions
- Combine with: Harness & Gang Line — the hardware