Musher Lingo
The following is a list of common terms used in the sport of dog sledding.
Alaskan Husky
A northern dog breed originating in the Alaskan bush, these dogs are breed based on performance rather than appearance and therefore are not a standardized breed.
Basket
The area of the sled used for caring supplies, people or injured dogs.
Basket Sled
A type of sled that has an elevated basket.
Brush Bow
The bumper or a sled, a curved bow at the front of the sled that helps the sled deflect off objects.
Check Point
The designated areas throughout a race where teams are accounted for and to make sure that everyone follows the correct trail. Also, the location where teams can re supply, rest, receive veterinary care and leave dogs that may be injured or tired.
Chute
The fenced in area at the start and finish of a race that helps guide the dogs and keeps spectators at bay.
Dog Box
A structure, usually on the back of a pickup or on a trailer, that has individual compartments for each dog and is used for transportation.
Gangline
The center line in which all the dogs in team are attached to. The line is attached to the front of the sled and goes all the way to the leaders.
Gee
Right, the voice command used to turn the team right.
Haw
Left, the voice command used to turn the team left.
Handle Bar
The part of the sled that is behind the basket and directly in front of the musher, used to hang on to.
Handler
A support person that assists the musher with various tasks before and after the race.
Harness
This is what the dogs wear, it is usually made of a webbing material and is often padded.
Harness banging
When the dogs are ready to go they jump and lunge forward into the harnesses.
Leader
A dog that can run in the front of the team, understands gee and haw, does not turn the team around when stops rather keeps the team in a nice straight line. Often in a team there will be two leaders in the front of the team to share the responsibilities.
Line out
The command called out to the team when stopped, specifically the leaders, to straighten the team out and tighten the gangline. Keeping the team lined out avoids tangles.
Lope
A canter or run.
Mush
Running a team of sled dogs, also a command to go but rarely used.
Musher
A person who runs a team of dogs.
Neckline
The piece of rope used to attach the collar of the dog to the gangline or used between the two lead dogs collars.
No-Man’s-Land
A designated area of the race trail, near the finish of the race, where a lead team does not have to give trail to an overtaking team.
On by
A voice command used to tell the team to ignore a distraction on the trail.
Pedaling
When a musher keeps one foot on a sled runner and pushes with the other foot.
Point
The position in team behind the leaders, also called swing.
Picket line
A long chain or cable line with leads off it, used for tying out dogs safely when traveling or camping.
Skijoring
When a person is on skis and a dog (or pair of dogs) are in harness and pulls the skier.
Sled bag
The custom made bag that fits into the basket area of the sled and keeps all the cargo dry.
Snow hook
A metal hook that the musher kicks into the snow to keep a team stopped.
Snub line
A rope used to tie off a team when stopped, resting or while hitching up the team.
Team dogs
Any dog running between the point or swing dogs and the wheel dogs.
Tobaggon Sled
A sled that has a flat bottom bed that sets directly on top of the runners and makes contact with the snow.
Trail
1) What a musher calls out to another team when they wish to pass or overtake the team in front of them. 2) The marked course in which the racers are to follow during the race.
Tugline
The line that comes off the back of the harness to the gangline.
Wheel
The position directly in front of the sled.
Wheel dogs
Dogs running in wheel position and take the brunt of the load and help the musher steer the sled around corners.
Whoa!
The voice command used to slow and stop the team.