Sled and Sport Dog Ranges

Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and includes carting, pulka, scootering, sled dog racing, skijoring, freighting, and weight pulling. More specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow or a rig on dry land. The term is thought to come from the French word marche, or go, run, the command to the team to commence pulling. "Mush!" is rarely used in modern parlance, however; "Hike!" is more common in English. Mushing can be utilitarian, recreational, or competitive.

Mushing as a sport is practiced worldwide, but primarily in North America and northern Europe. Racing associations such as the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS) and the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) are working toward organizing the sport and in gaining Olympic recognition for mushing. It is the state sport of Alaska.

Although dogsled racing gets more publicity and is seen now as the primary form of mushing, recreational mushing thrives as an unorganized sport providing healthy outdoor form of winter exercise for families.

Mushing for utilitarian purposes includes anything from hauling wood or delivering milk or the mail to rural travel and equipment hauling. Dogs have been replaced by snowmobiles in many places, but some in some isolated areas people have gone back to sled dogs, finding them safer and more dependable in extreme weather conditions.

Dog team members

Dog team members are given titles according to their position in the team relative to the sled. These include leaders or lead dogs, swing dogs, team dogs, and wheelers or wheel dogs.

Lead dogs steer the rest of the team and set the pace. Leaders may be single or double; the latter is more common now, though single leaders used to be more common during the mid-twentieth century. Sometimes a leader may be unhitched (a loose or free leader) to find the trail for the rest of the team, but the practice is uncommon and is not allowed at races. Qualities for a good lead dog are intelligence, initiative, common sense, and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions.

Swing dogs or Point dogs are directly behind the leader (one dog if the team is in single hitch). They swing the rest of the team behind them in turns or curves on the trail. (Some mushers use the term swing dog to denote a team dog.)

Team dogs are those between the wheelers and the swing dogs, and add power to the team. A small team may not have dogs in this position. Alternately, the term may be used to describe any dog in a dog team.

Wheel dogs are those nearest the sled, and a good wheeler must have a relatively calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving just behind it. Strength, steadiness, and ability to help guide the sled around tight curves are qualities valued in "wheelers."

Information from wikipedia.org

To enjoy these sports you do not have to live in areas with snow, here in the UK mushers use dry-land rigs, a 3 wheeled trike pulled by teams of dogs, dog scooters that can be pulled by a single dog or a team, Cani-X running with your dog, bike-joring where your dog pulls you on a bicycle or even roller scating with your dog. You do not even need to have huskies or malamutes, many people enjoy these sports with Dalmatians, GSD, Springer Spaniels and the like.

 We offer a full range of sled and working dog equipment from gang lines, tow lines and harnesses to handmade sleds. Our equipment is sourced from Montana in the USA and we distribute the Adanac range made by the famous musher Jack Beckstrom. Our harnesses include the world famous Zima X-back harness invented in Montana more than 50 years ago and still made by the same company. Click on the brochure cover left to download our full catalogue. Whilst much of the equipment is not kept in stock all of the time, you will receive it generally within 2 weeks, barring sleds that are hand made and require several months notice. To order or for more information, please call +44 (0) 330-088 -DOGS (0330 088 3647) or email info@xtradog.com

Belts, and Lines

Padded walking, cani-X, ski-joring belt and walking belt. Also Available with leg straps

Scooter / Cani-X / Skijoring Lines

Our line package - Consists of a quick release snap, an internal bungee section, and a tugline. Everything for a one-dog hookup except a harness (and we can help you decide what size would work). Available in red, purple, blue or black.

Dog Scooters

Xtra Dog isthrilled to be an official dealer for the Pawtrekker range of dog scooters. We offer 3 models, a disc brake version, a full suspension model and the extreme Rufftrax scooter. Click here or on the Pawtrekker logo to visit the scooter page.

Working and Sledding Harnesses

A working dog needs a different type of harness to our fleece walking range. This includes dogs used for Sledding, Cani X, Scootering, Bikejoring, Skijoring, and Tracking. Thes dog need to be able to pull into the harness rather than the ability to loose lead walk at heel. For this reason, these harnesses sit further back on the dog allowing them to pull.

The Most popular working harness is the X-Back which was invented in 1953 in Montana and has become the recognised standard for sled dogs around the world. Whether you are training a husky or malamute to pull a rig of sled for fun or you have aspiration of winning the Iditarod or the Yukon Quest these harnesses are for you. Our harnesses are the original, and still hand made in Montana as they have always been. These harnesses have been copied, but never bettered and now available to mushers and enthusiasts in the UK. Click here to read about the history of the X-back harness.

"We have used Zima harnesses exclusively for the past 6 years, they are long lasting, fast drying, and most importantly fit well and are comfortable, we have never had any issues with harness rub at all. We highly recommend them! " Louise Cook, British dog musher based in Canada. To find out more about Louise visit http://www.shaytaanhuskies.com/

There are four styles to choose from: 

ZIMA X-BACK IDITAROD FLEECE, the ZIMA X-BACK CLOSED CELL FOAM HARNESS, the ZIMA FLEECE OR FOAM MULT-SPORT HARNESS. The standard construction consists of black webbing, neck and chest padding made of polarplus (polartec 300) or closed cell foam which is very lightweight and quick drying. the Multisport harnesses have a higher point of attachment, have adjustable belly bands, and are fully padded. They are great for skijoring, bikejoring, dog scootering, or even tracking. Padding colour is coded according to size. The harnesses can be customised any way you wish. Order by standard size or send us your dog's measurements by downloading the sizing chart above. Please be aware that these harnesses are hand-made in Montana and the custom sizes will be made especially for you, so please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Customs sizes are non-returnable.

These harnesses have been featured in Hollywood movies including Call of the Wild 3D, starring Christopher Lloyd. Click below to view the trailer. They have also been featured in Eight Below, Iron Will and the new Scooby Doo film. In the press they have been featured in Mushing Magazine (USA) and Our Dogs (UK)

Which Harness is For Me?

ZIMA X-BACK IDITAROD HARNESS

This harness is the perfect racing and training harness for all pulling dogs. It is ideal for racing sled dogs, whether you are using a rig or a sled in the snow. These harnesses are fleece lined so provide extra comfort for the dogs. The Zima X-Back Harnesses have been worn by dogs that have won races like the famous Iditarod from Alska to Nome and the Yukon Quest. They are also very popular for training sled dogs.

Extra padding comes as standard

ZIMA X-BACK CLOSED CELL FOAM HARNESS

This harness is a professional racing harness. It is lined with foam, which does not offer the soft comfort of fleece but it has the advantage of a lightweight nylon webbing, rip stop nylon wrapped around closed cell foam, stays flexible in cold, and doesn't absorb water. It dries very quickly with padding around the neck, down to the chest and extends past front legs. It only weighs 3 ounces. It is extremely poular with mushers who are working in snowy and wet conditions.

MULTI-SPORT HARNESS 

This harness sits further forward on the dog, so not ideal for racing. This harness is ideal for dogs that are being used for Scootering, Cani-X, Bikejoring, Skijoring, Tracking and Rollerblading. This harness is available in fleece or foam.