It’s the first Saturday of a new Anchorage March; countless mushers patiently wait through the 40 degree calm to test their skill and commitment. It’s a warm day today, though knowledge of dangerous temperatures and frigid wind soon to come weighs heavily on those experienced in such matters. This line is merely ceremonial; the actual race won’t begin… Read more →
Live game coursing, the act of chasing prey for sport, is an ancient tradition. Drawings on Egyptian monuments dated from 4000 years ago depict hounds in the act of coursing. As a humane alternative to live game coursing, lure coursing was developed by Lyle Gillette in California during the 1970’s. This sport is a way to test a dog’s ability… Read more →
Similar to skijoring, except that it involves a bicycle instead of skis, Bikejoring allows a harnessed dog or team of dogs to pull a cyclist, and is another mushing pursuit that can be great fun and a fantastic aerobic workout in the absence of that cold white stuff. As a sign of the increasing scooter ownership in many countries, dog… Read more →
Easily one of the oldest and most recognizable forms of mushing, dog sledding dates back thousands of years, as it was used by many Native or First Nations cultures to pull loads of food or people, and probably first originated in North America or Siberia. Involving a sled, a driver and a team of harnessed dogs, sledding is likely the… Read more →
As an expedition in exertion that’s lower impact than some other mushing sports, hikejoring is probably one of the easiest mushing activities to begin together with your pup. A hybrid of skijoring and mountaineering, the concept of the dog-human team remains the same, promoting bonding and a sense of learning respect between dog (or pack) and owner. As a relatively… Read more →
Another modern day incarnation of a mushing activity, inline skating with your dog is an accessible and urban friendly workout for both you and your pup. As easy as it may sound, however, it’s not without risk, and a skate with your pup, especially within city limits, should only happen if you have full control over your speed and direction. A… Read more →
Also known as dry land mushing, dog carting is a fairly self-explanatory activity, involving the pulling of a cart (which can carry supplies or sometimes a person) by a dog. Traditionally, large dogs like Newfoundlanders and Bernese Mountain Dogs were used to pull carts of firewood, market goods, mail, and even coal, since they took up less space and were… Read more →
Quite literally ‘driving on skis’, skijoring involves a dog or team of dogs pulling a cross-country skier – the skier helps movement of the team by pushing with poles and skis, and the dogs, attached by sled harnesses and rope to the skier, provide additional pulling power. It’s a fairly cost-effective way of exercising your dog, since only ski equipment,… Read more →