TERM |
DEFINITION |
Dog Gear |
|
| Booties | Worn on the dogs' feet to keep them protected from slush or ice |
| Sweats | A rectangular wrap placed around the dogs wrist and ankle joints to prevent or decrease swelling and keep the joint warm while resting. Similar to sweats on a race horse. |
| Blanket | Sometimes used when a dog is resting. Blankets help to conserve energy that would normally be used to maintain body temperature. |
| Jacket | Lightweight covering put on a short coated dog in cold conditions. They help the dog maintain body temperature and use their energy for running. |
| Belly Blanket | Worn to protect nipples and genitals from severe weather conditions when those areas do not have adequate fur. |
Commands |
|
| Gee | Go right |
| Haw | Go left |
| Hike | Go forward |
| OK | Go forward |
| On-By | Go around |
| Whoa | Stop |
| Easy | Slow down...but not stop |
| Come Gee | Move the sled and team to the right |
| Come Haw | Move the sled and team to the left |
| Red Lantern | A gift presented to the final Musher to cross the finish line |
| Sportsmanship | Fair play and positive attitude on the trail |
| Cooley Challenge | An award presented by the Veterinary Staff at the end of the race to the musher and handling crew who exemplify a genuine concern for the health and welfare of their team while remaining competitive. |
Special Equipment |
|
| Gangline | The long rope that runs down the middle of the dog team that has tuglines and neck lines attached to it. When running a lrge team it will be coated cable. This prevents a dog from chewing through it or breaking from the wear or tear. Cable ganglines are mandatory in U.P. 200 Sled Dog Races. |
| Bridle | Roper that is wrapped around the stanchions on the sled to form a loop at the front of the sled, so the Gangline can connect to it. |
| Locking Carbiner | An oval metal ring that can be opened by pushing a hinged section. They are used to connect the gangline, snow hook and snub line to the sled bridle. They have a piece of metal that screws over the open joint to lock it into position. They are specially made to withstand several hundred pounds of pressure. |
| Shock Absorber or "Bungie" | Sometimes put between the gangline and sled bridle. It is strong yet flexible. It helps reduce tension when the sled bumps into something and when the team takes off. It is often made of aircraft tie-down bungie or several loops of regular bungie. |
| Tugline | The piece of rope that attaches the harness to the gangline and is where the dog pulls from You can tell if a dog is pulling if his tugline is tight. |
| Neckline | The piece of rope that attaches the dog's collar to the gangline. It helps to keep the dog in place and is not used to pull. |
| Dog truck | Mobile "dog houses" on a truck or trailer used to carry dogs, sleds and people |
| Picket Line | A temporary place to secure dogs when not pulling the sled or in their dog boxes. It is usually a long cable or chain with short leads that attach to the dogs' collars and are low to the ground. Mushers put straw down so the dogs can lay down and rest. |
| Basket | The main body of the sled in which the cargo is carried. A toboggan type basket is handy when the trail has deep snow. A raised basket has no drag and is fast on hard packed snow. |
| Brush Bow | A curved bumper at the front of the sled used to help the sled bounce off objects in the trail. |
| Brake | Made of strong metal and attached to the sled behind the basket and between the runners. It often looks like a claw and when stepped on by the musher will slow the forward progress of the sled. |
| Sled | Usually made of wood such as birch, ash, hickory, maple and oak, although modern materials such as high density plastic, fiberglass, stell, aluminum and graphite are now being used. Rawhide or n ylong cord holds the sled together, allowing the sled to be flexible. The average length is aproximately eight to ten feet, and it can weigh between thirty and one hyundred pounds. The most popular style sleds are basket sleds and toboggan sleds. |
| Basket Sled | Used mostly for racing, running traplines, travel. Good on hard packed trails, but can bog down in deep snow. |
| Snow Hook | A metal hook that looks like a bird's talon. The musher forces the hook into the snow, around a tree or another immovable object to stop the dog team and secure the sled when he must leave it. It is attached to the gangline, not the sled. |
| Snub Line | A strong rope attached to the gangline that can be tied off to secure the sled when the team is stopped. It comes in handy when snow conditions are not good enough to plant the snow hook. When not in use it drags on the ground next to the sled. |
| Sled Bag | Used like the basket to hold all the supplies for the musher and dogs. It can be used as shelter in bad conditions and is usually water resistant to keep the gear dry. |
| Runners | Narrow strips of reinforced wood about six feet long, 1 - 1 1/2 inches wide, with tips that curve upward in the front. They have a removable plastic bottom that can be changed to fit different snow conditions or when worn. The musher stands on the runenrs behind the basket of the sled. |
| Footboards | Small pieces of textured plastic or tire tread that are attached to the runners behind the basket. They make standing on the runners easier. |
| Stanchion | Strong pieces of wood or metal that form the side of the sled. They are securely attached to the runners and are what the bridle is attached to on the sled. |
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