Dryland dog sledding and dryland dog sledding requires it's own special terms and jargon.

Bar brake or claw brake
This is a piece of aluminum with metal spikes that dig into the snow that the musher steps on to hold the sled in place once the sled is stopped.

Basket
This is the portion of the dog sled in front of the musher where passengers sit or where gear is carried.

Bridle
Similar to the rigging on a sail boat. It is a series of lines and bungees that run from the rear of the basket to the front of the sled and are used to connect the lines. A carabineer is then connected between the bridle and the shock absorber (if one is being used) which is then connected to the gang line.

Brush bow
The brush bow is a piece of curved wood, metal or plastic in front of the basket. It is designed to absorb impact during crashes similar to a bumper on a vehicle.

Bungee or Shock Absorber
These devices are inserted between the rig or the dog sled and the gang line to relieve stress on the dogs and absorb jolts during starting and stopping. Smaller lines designed for one to three dogs are used for skijoring, bikejoring and scootering may include a shock absorber built directly into the line.

Dog boxes
Made of fiberglass, metal or wood these boxes are mounted on the bed portion of a flat bed or pick up truck and are used to transport sled dogs.

Dog sled
Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC uses MaineMade dog sleds which designed for mid-distance, stage, and long distance mushing. Similar to skis, dog sleds are steered by flexing them. Dog sleds come in many different varieties including, basket sleds and toboggan sleds. Basket sleds ride on runners on top of the snow about four to six inches off the snow. Toboggan sleds ride directly on the snow. Toboggan sleds usually work better in deep, untracked snow. Basket sleds work better on packed trails and in general are a little easier to steer through sharp corners. Dog sleds are also categorized by how they are used for racing including, sprint sleds, mid distance sleds and distance sleds. Typically, the longer the race, the larger the sled because most mid-distance and distance races require the musher to carry certain required equipment (e.g., snowshoes, an axe, a sleeping bag rated to a certain temperature, booties for each dog, and dog food).

Dog Truck
This is a truck used for transporting dogs. With large teams of dogs, the truck is usually a large pick up or flat bed truck with dog boxes built on the bed. Smaller, micro mushing kennels, may use different vehicles including, SUVs, mini vans, full size vans, or station wagons.

Drag or drag brake
This is a piece of snowmobile track that rests between the runners of the dog sled right under the driver's feet. To slow the sled, the musher steps down onto the drag.

Driving bow
This is the handle bar of the sled which the musher holds onto while driving the sled.

Drop lines, Drop Chains or Picket lines
These are cable (or chain) lines used to tether dogs at a trail head, race or event while waiting to go out for a run.

Gang line
This is the main line which is connected to the rig or the dog sled. A gang line is made up of three distinct components: The main (center) line, neck tugs, and tug lines. The dogs are then connected to the center line by a neck line which connects to each dog's collar and by a tug line which connects to the tug loop on each dog's harness. The dogs pull by pulling on the tug line not the neck line. The neck line merely keeps the dogs alongside the main line and the leaders side by side.

Handler
The musher's chief assistant. A handler helps harness/unharness dogs, hook dogs up to the line, hydrate dogs, train dogs, feed dogs, load and unload dogs and equipment from the truck, repairs equipment, drives the dog truck from check point to check point in long races, and generally helps the musher out. At races, a handler might help the musher get his or her dogs to the starting line. A good handler doesn't get paid much but is worth his or her weight in gold.

Leaders or lead dogs
These are some of the most special dogs on a dog team. They are the dogs that know best the commands that the musher gives and are responsible for following those commands. They are also in the dogs that set the pace. As they say in mushing: "If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes."

Musher
Also known as a dog driver and chief poop scooper. The musher drives the sled or rig, trains the dogs, cares for the dogs, assists by pedaling or running up hills, and scoops the dog yard.

Point dogs
These dogs run right behind the leaders.

Sled Bag
This is a heavy bag which is tied to the basket of the dog sled and holds gear. It can also be used to hold a dog injured on the trail or too tired to continue that needs a lift back to the trail head. Race rules usually require that these bags be vented (i.e., have a mesh window) so that a dog being carried in the bag does not over heat.

Snow hook
This resembles a small but sharp boat anchor and serves much the same purpose. It is connected to the sled by a line, and is deployed (set) when the musher needs to hold the sled in place and get off the sled. The musher sets his snow hook by putting it on the snow and digging it in with his foot while allowing the dogs to pull forward to "set" the hook.

Snub line
This line is used to hold the sled or rig in place on the trail or while hooking the dogs up or unhooking dogs. It is frequently paired with a quick release, panic snap or wooden pin so that it can be quickly released by the musher at take off while standing on the dog sled or the rig.

Swing dogs
These dogs run right in front of the wheel dogs.

Team dogs
All other dogs between the point dogs and the swing dogs.

Wheel dogs or wheelers
These are the dogs that are hooked in closest to the dog sled or the rig. They tend to be large powerful dogs. They usually have the most impact in pulling the sled or rig through turns.

Phone:
(443) 562-5736

Email:
catherine@marylanddogsledding.com