What NOT To Do

Rule One

We always tell our guests that the first and most important rule is: DON’T LET GO.

When you’re standing on the sled as the driver, you never let go of the sled. If you lose your grip, the dogs won’t stop. They’ll keep running along the trail - likely out of control - or veer off until they hit something. Then the sled can slam into them from behind. This can lead to serious injuries or even the death of a dog.

Illustration showing terminology.

Before leaving the kennel, we always check that everything on the sled is in its proper place. Every dog needs a tugline and a neckline (except for the leaders), which are both connected to the main gangline. The gangline attaches to the sled - or the training quad - via a carabiner, as well as a safety line in case the main line fails.

Most carabiners, when they’re not properly locked, show a strip of red. We have a saying: “If you see red, you’re dead.” If the line pulls loose, the gangline can detach from the sled, and the dogs can take off, leaving you stranded.

Personal Story

During training one day this week, four of us guides went out on quad bikes with two teams of twelve dogs. We were running an 11-km loop that used a cul-de-sac as a turnaround point. The day before, we’d placed some branches and pallets in the middle of the cul-de-sac, hoping the dogs would see it as an obstacle and curve around it. With one of us helping guide the leaders, this worked well for the first team.

The second team, however, decided to cut the corner and climb over the pallets, tightening their turning circle. As we inched the quad forward, the gangline wrapped around the front wheel of the quad bike. We had no choice but to detach the gangline from the quad - something I’d always been told never to do.

Three of us were holding the gangline as I loosened the carabiner. For a moment everything was smooth, but then the dogs felt the slack and started pulling. The other two guides let go, and I went flying - still clinging to the line. I was dragged along the road for about 20 metres before the others managed to catch the lead dogs. I untangled the line from the quad and drove it forward so we could re-attach the team.

We were incredibly lucky to stop the dogs before anything worse happened. Next time, I know to tie the leaders to a tree or another solid object before detaching the line. Both my arms ended up with road rash that’s still healing, but thankfully all the dogs were okay.

Rule Two

Rule Number Two is: Don’t let your team overtake another team.

If two teams come side by side, there’s a high risk of a dog fight — which is extremely difficult to break up when the ganglines get tangled. Always keep a safe distance between your sled and the one in front.