For dog lovers, few things appeal as much as the prospect of riding in a sled pulled by a team of canine endurance athletes. Roald Amundsen used them to become the first man to conquer the South Pole in 1911, but we don’t have to be famous explorers to fulfill our dreams. Not only can you take a vacation to a resort that allows you to drive your own team, but these days you can also take it up as a sport. You could be forgiven for thinking that because dogs like to run, there isn’t much training required. The truth is that this sport is physically demanding for both the people who ride the sleds and the dogs that pull them.

So what does it take to be a successful sled dog?

  1. Start them young

Cathy Freeman won a gold medal for running when she was just eight years old. Russell Crowe got his first acting job when he was six. Sled dogs begin training when they are just two months old, which is just over a year old in human terms. Early training includes running, getting used to the harness, and learning to pull. Dogs can start competing as early as two years old and carry on until they are 10, the human equivalent of racing from age 14-70!

  1. Practice

Just like human beings, dogs learn good habits through regular practice and consistent routines. All dogs run, some a little, others a lot. But sled dogs have to learn how to run together, which is another skill altogether; and they have to be able to do it over long distances. It can take a little while to work out which dogs work best together, and where they prefer to be harnessed in relation to the sled. Like human endurance athletes, dogs are started on shorter distances at first, and then the distance they run is increased by a few kilometers at a time. If there isn’t enough snow to train on, the dogs are harnessed up to a quad bike or another vehicle to still get the pulling experience and exercise.

  1. Nutrition

Sled dogs can eat and quickly burn off six times the calories of non-sled dogs. Their food must be high quality and balanced with the right combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. It’s not the sort of thing you’d find in your typical can of dog food. These endurance athletes are fed a high-fat diet, often including dry kibble and raw meats. To be a successful sled dog means to adopt the lifestyle of an athlete. That requires dedication, proper nutrition, exercise, and rest, all of which need to be provided by their owner and trainer. In Summary, if you are interested in pursuing the training of a sled dog you yourself will have to be disciplined and very well attentive to the needs of each individual dog.  A lot of care goes into training and maintaining the health and wellness of each dog.  You yourself will also have to train and be disciplined to strengthen and lengthen your own endurance.