WHAT IS DRY-LAND SLEDDING

Dry-land sledding is very similar to traditional mushing. We just do it without the snow! There are various options when it comes to sledding, it really does depend on personal preference and the number of dogs that one wants to run.

Canicross

Canicross is cross country running, walking or hiking while your dog pulls you. It's more than just jogging with your dog. It requires that your dog understand basic commands like “gee” which means right and “haw” which means left. These commands are easily learnt and dog and musher will soon be on their way enjoying the crisp morning air together.

       Equipment required:

  1. Harness
  2. Bungee gang line
  3. Canicross belt

Scootering

One dog or two can be used in dry-land scootering. The dogs are each fitted with a harness and then attached to the scooter by a bungee gangline. The musher rides on the scooter which is pulled by the dogs. With scootering it becomes even more important that the dogs are taught the commands so that the musher can be sure that they are travelling in the right direction. “On-by” is also a great command, it asks that the dogs go past an area of possible distraction and stick to the current path.

        Equipment required:

  1. A Scooter
  2. Harness (one or two depending on the number of dogs)
  3. Single bungee gangline to run a single dog or a split bungee gangline to connect to two dog’s harnesses
  4. Neck line (only necessary when running two dogs)
  

Bike-joring

Bike-joring is becoming an increasingly popular sport abroad where all breeds of dogs are hooked up to a mountain bike and people ride through the park and through the countryside. It is very similar in concept to scootering where one dog or two is connected to a bike by a bungee gangline and then the dog or dogs pull the musher who rides behind. This is a faster form of dry-land sledding and is a great workout for the dogs.

        Equipment required:

  1. A Mountain Bike
  2. Harness (one or two depending on the number of dogs)
  3. Single bungee gangline to run a single dog or a split bungee gangline to connect to two dog’s harnesses
  4. Neck line (only necessary when running two dogs)

 

  

Carting

Carting allows a musher the opportunity to run more dogs at the same time. It is a little more complicated than the other forms of dry-land sledding as the musher needs to know his or her team and be able to read their body language and ultimately encourage the team of dogs to work together cohesively.

Howling Huskies has a threer wheeler club cart to run larger teams of up to eight dogs.

        Equipment required:

  1. A Cart
  2. Harnesses
  3. Bungee gangline with cross over lines (dependent on number of dogs)
  4. Neck lines

 

Safety Equipment

Howling Huskies holds the safety of its human and canine members in high regard. Mushers must ensure that they wear the following for bike-joring, scootering or carting:

  1. Cycling helmet
  2. Gloves (you’ll need them for the chilly winter air too)
  3. Suitable clothing (warm and protective)
  4. Closed shoes

Sledding equipment used to rig the dogs up must be in proper working order:

  1. Brakes on the vehicles must be in working order
  2. Metal clips on gang lines and harnesses must be in proper working order
  3. Harnesses must fit properly without chafing under the dogs arms

 

WHEN AND WHERE WE SLED

Sledding takes place during the winter months of the year. We meet just before sunrise every Sunday morning from around April until about August. The weather dictates the time that our sledding season begins and ends. We do not sled in temperatures higher than 15 degrees. We have a quick mushers meeting at around 5H45 and then the first mushers are usually out on the trail at 06H00 and we finish up around 07H30 when it starts to get too warm for the dogs. We then enjoy a cup of coffee together before heading home to enjoy the rest of our Sunday with dogs that are satisfied and content.

We sled at Riversands Farm. Please get in touch with one of the committee members for directions to the venue.  

To see the track click here.

Howling Huskies holds a night sled once every month. These are great for those who prefer to sleep in on a Sunday morning. It’s a great opportunity to bring family members with as it is not as cold. Please see the events calendar for the night sled dates for this year. Please note that a night sled is held on a Saturday night in place of that weekend’s Sunday morning sled.

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