Sledding &
the Alaskan Malamute
For sledding
event details please see the
Events & Activities page
For sledding
event rules please see the
Documents & Forms Page
Sledding is an activity enjoyed
by many breeds of dog, but particularly by breeds that have a heritage and
instinct for pulling in harness such as the Alaskan Malamute.
The Alaskan Malamute is a
freighting sled dog whose purpose is to pull moderately heavy loads at a
steady speed over long distances. Even though the Malamute is not a sprint
sled dog like the Siberian Husky, they nevertheless enjoy the sport of sled
dog racing just as much and will quite happily plod along at their own pace.
The instincts of this very
ancient breed are strongly entrenched and most Malamutes still harbour a
natural desire to pull, even though they are primarily family pets for most
of us. There is no better way of satisfying the Malamutes’ natural instincts
to pull than by harnessing them up and getting them to pull you along,
whether it be on a bike or scooter or in the more traditional manner of
pulling a sled on snow.
The Alaskan Malamute is
basically a working dog, and getting your Mal involved in some sledding
activities will not only make him or her a healthier and fitter dog, but
also a happier and less frustrated one. It’s also an enjoyable activity for
the “musher” (dog driver) as it allows your Malamute to get plenty of
exercise while being kept under effective control, and it’s easy for you to
keep up with your dog even if you aren’t terribly fit.
You don’t necessarily have to be
involved in sledding events to enjoy this activity. Many dog owners use the
local trails and parks to exercise their dogs in harness in preference to
being dragged along on lead during walks.
Sledding in Australia
Most of Australia’s alpine areas
are National Parks or Alpine Resorts Commission areas, which means they are
not accessible to dogs. Accordingly most sledding events in Australia are
conducted in bushland on dirt tracks with the 1-dog and 2-dog teams pulling
scooters and larger teams pulling 3-wheeled rigs, although there is one snow
race held annually at Dinner Plain.
The AMCV conducts several
sledding events from April to September each year ranging from training
days, sprint race events, longer maxi race events through to 16 km excursion
events. A number of private clubs also conduct sledding events that are open
to anyone who wishes to enter, however these usually require pre-entry.
The AMCV uses a number of
forests around Melbourne for our sledding activities, including areas around
Geelong, Macedon, Heathcote and Ballan. These areas are all within 1 to 1.5
hours drive from Melbourne, and for 2-day events many participants choose
camp overnight with their dogs.
For any dog, strenuous
exercising should be avoided in warm weather, so the sledding rules dictate
that a sledding event cannot be held if the temperature is over 15oC.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone with a healthy dog over
12 months old can
participate – you don’t have to be a club member and it doesn’t matter what
breed of dog you have or if the dog has registration papers or not. All dogs
are eligible for prizes, however the major club awards are reserved for
purebred registered Malamutes.
Most sled dog races offer 1-dog,
2-dog and 4-dog classes, so even if you only own one dog you are still able
to participate. The AMCV does have a requirement that participants must have
competed in the 1-dog class before progressing to larger team sizes for
safety reasons.
For the long distance events
dogs must be at least 2 years old to participate.
Any dog that has been unwell, or
is showing signs of lameness or illness should not be brought to any event
as this is not in the dog’s best interests or those of the other dogs
attending.
Equipment
To participate in sledding
activities with your dog you will require some specialised sledding
equipment:
- Harness
- Scooter (for 1 and 2 dog teams) or gig
- Bungee line
- Limited Slip Collar
- Helmet
- Line cutters
The harness is the most critical
piece of equipment for the dog to have to wear and is specifically for
sledding purposes. The harnesses are made to measure for each individual dog
to ensure good fit, and are made from strong, lightweight webbing with
padding around the neck and chest to maximise comfort for the dog and
minimise the risk of injury. The most commonly used sledding harness is the
X-back harness which can be purchased via the AMCV or from a sledding
outfitter such as Windchill Dog Gear.
The other essential piece of
equipment is the bungee line. This is a poly-rope line around 2 metres in
length which incorporates an elastic bungee section which acts as a shock
absorber. Again this piece of equipment is designed to minimise the risk of
injury to your dog.
Scooters and gigs are specially
manufactured for the sport of sled dog racing, although a scooter purchased
from a bike shop would probably suffice for some recreational sledding with
your dog.
For sled dog events a
helmet is required for safety of the musher, and line cutters may be needed
should lines becoming severely tangled.
Events on Offer
There are several types of events the
club conducts involving sledding, from introduction and training days right
through to long distance endurance events. The types of event on offer are
as follows:
TRAINING DAYS:
Activities Introduction days & Sledding training days are held at the
beginning of the sledding season in April or May and go into more detail
about what is involved in sledding with your Malamute. These training days
focus specifically on sledding and other working activities and anyone is
welcome to come along and give it a try. The club supplies a limited range
of harnesses and scooters at these events for members to borrow.
RACE EVENTS:
These are timed race events which offer 1-dog, 2-dog and 4-dog classes,
with trail distances being 2 – 4 km per dog for sprint race events (ie a
2-dog team will be required to run a distance of between 4 and 8 km) and
slightly longer for Maxi race events.
FOR THE KIDS:
We also offer Junior and Pee Wee classes for the young “mushers” in the
family. These are very short, fun events and everyone gets a prize.
EXCURSION EVENTS:
Several of these events are held during the season and are a minimum of
16 km trail distance. Although these events are timed they are not a race (ie
no winners or places are awarded). For a dog/driver to participate in an
excursion event they must have completed at least one race event (in any
team) during the season.
More Information:
Click
here for Sledding Event Rules
For details of races being
held this year, see the
Activities & Events
page, send us an email, or contact the AMCV’s Sledding Co-ordinator, Vice
President (Activities) or Secretary.
We encourage anyone with an
Alaskan Malamute, or any other breed of dog that loves to run, to have a go
at sledding. Your dog does not have to be particularly fit or fast, they all
enjoy the opportunity to do the activity they were bred to do. If you have
any queries about sledding please contact the AMCV Sledding Co-ordinator.
ALASKAN
MALAMUTE CLUB