Evening star., 1939-02-05
ourDogCan
Learn tOPull
A Sled
But Training Must
Be Started Early
Saws Old Guide
BY JIM EMMETT.

Half a dozen of us were crowded
about the glowing stove in Hank
Williams snug cabin on the ALA
cash River in Northern Maine We
had brought up gifts of old maga-
zines, and the peanut bars the old
guide enjoyed, so he was in par
ticularly good humor.
"Sled dogs" Hank managed to get
out between alternate puf1s on q
particularly rank corncob pipe and
bites of chocolate, "are ornery crit
ters. They're heap of trouble, but
up here we just couldn't get along
without them in winter. Summers,
we go most anywhere we want in a
canoe. But when winter comes
and 1t comes early and stays late
here-we fall back on the dogs,
hiking them up and down the frozen
streams, through the woods and
back and forth across the lakes"
According to Hank, almost any
dog is suitable for sled work If train
ing Is commenced early. But Hank
naturally does not regard a poodle
or lap dog as a dog at all, so he
probably meant any strong, rugged
breed, such as an airedale, collie.
shepherd, setter, wolf-hound, Great
Dane, Newfoundland, ST. Bernard or
just palm hefty mongrel.
AS Hank says, you must begin
training early; if possible, when the
puppy is 6 months old. Harness can
be homemade Of canvas or duck.
in three or four thicknesses for
strength. and consisting OF a wide,
rather loosely fitting collar with an
other strap about the dogs middle.
The traces may be made of rope,
and should be fastened to rings sewn
in the outside of the collar. Then
lead to the band and back to the
sled or toboggan in such a way that
the entire weight Of the pull Is on
the dogs shoulders, with the body
band only to hold the traces in place
and keep the dog between them.
A leather harness can be bought,
but any puppy requires an individ-
ual harness, and grows so quickly
that 1t must be changed during the
training period as the dog gains in
size. DUCK permits easy changing
or, since it is cheap, the collar and
band may be replaced entirely as
necessary.
Let Puppy Play.
Inc nrst step in training Is to al
low the pup merely to play in his
harness short time each day. to
become used to it. Then lengthen
out the traces and hitch them to a
hight piece of wood, increasing the
weight of this over a period of sew
eral weeks. Try to handle the pup
IN such a way that he considers the
pulling play, rewarding him with a
puppy biscuit or other delicacy when
he behaves well.
When he reaches the point where
ne does not seem afraid of whatever
Is behind him, you can consider he
has learned to pull and a light sled
can safely be attached to the traces.
The next step is to teach him to 90
ahead instead of merely to follow
you.
Then come the driving commands,
which you will want to teach in the
true dog driving language of both the
Indians and whites of the Far North.
"Mush' (moosh) starts the dog mov-
ing. "Ho' or ''hah" means to stop,
"kurri, kurri' ga faster, "chaugh"
to turn left, and ''yew" to turn right.
One dog can haul alone, but there
Is more fun If you have two or more.
Perhaps a friend, who is also inter-
eSted, has a dog which, while he is
not puppy, is intelligent and strong,
II you have one trained dog you can
team him up easily because he will
act as leader and carry the other
dog along until he, too, has learned.
There Is heavier pair Of rope
traces to be used for the entire team
IN tandem hitch. The heavy duck
collars. padded inside with Sheep
skin with the wool on, if you wish,
are better than fiat breast straps.
The traces of the leading dog are
merely heightened out to allow for
the second or other dogs. Dog No.
2 is fastened between these so that
the traces are attached to his body
band. From this band short straps
lead to his padded collar, so the pull
comes on this, and the band rides
well forward. When an obstinate or
unframed dog is placed last in the
team, If he does not pull the sled
bumps him and keeps him moving.
Packed Trail Is Best.
"A toboggan makes good dog sled,
put even with this, dogs pull best
over a packed trail or road instead
OF through loose, unbroken snow.
1t you wish to be more picturesque,
make light seat to fasten on the
center of the toboggan, bringing its
back up in two long. curved han
dies which can be held from behind.
Fasten small bells on the dogs
collars and make whip with q
short handle and lash. Do not use
this on the dogs, but learn to snap
1t in the air above and to either side
OF the team. A single, fair-sized
dog will easily haul a light boy on
the toboggan over good road, espe-
cially if another is at the handles to
help over rough spots. Two dogs
will haul the same load, or heavier,
at a faster clip.
There is no more exhilarating
sport than racing dog team down
frozen road. Bells tinkle as the
dogs dash ahead, entering into the
spirit Of the sport as much as does
the driver. The occupant of the
toboggan snuggles down in a warm
blanket, while you race astern at
the handles, cracking the long whip
and alternately jumping on the back
to ride in rough going, and of again
to help out when more speed is de-
sired.
If you turn upside down in a snow
bank on sharp turn, and have to
untangle excited dogs and the over
turned toboggan from a snarl Of
traces and harness, you will agree
with Hank that dogs are ornery
critters" But you will agree with
him, too, that there is no keener
snort or better Way to get about