The Working Sled Dog They offers much in the way of companionship. they can be trained to work with his owner as a pack dog, sled dog or weight puller. Sharing these activities with your sled dog will give them the opportunity to prove themself as an eager worker as well as providing help and companionship for the actively outdoors person. The most important attribute of a working sled dog is attitude. A dog may possess all the physical attributes needed to be a good sled dog, but without the desire to pull, he has nothing. Even the best dog must have proper feed when he is working or he will lose weight and muscle. Nutritional requirements for a hard-working dog are several times more than that of a maintenance diet and the onset of cold weather will make them greater yet. Sled dogs working long hard days in colder weather conditions rquire a diet high in fat and protein. Adequate water is necessary to prevent dehydration especially in cold, dry climates. Sledding or Mushing Sledding is the various sled dogs original job. They helped move camp for their nomadic owners as they moved between their hunting and fishing grounds. Because a dog team consists of several dogs it is essential that dogs have good temperaments and be well disciplined. You can start sledding with your sled dog for short distances when about twelve months old. Remember that the young dogs cannot cover the distance or pull the load that a well conditioned adult dog can from eighteen months onwards. Start the youngster or inexperienced dog off in a small team beside a well mannered, hard working dog. Use a light cart and stick to trails that are well packed and not too steep so that your junior can get the feel of running with a tight tug line without being worked too hard. Increase distances gradually and teach basic commands such as hike, whoa, and stay. their first experiences in harness should be positive as this is what he will have to build on as his training progresses. Your youngster will be ready to run with the experienced team his second winter. Apart from Carting, various other mushing activities such as Cani-walk, Canicross, Scootering and Bikejoring can be utilised to train your sled dog to become a working dog.  A variety of mushing events are available across South Africa. With the Siberian Husky being the racing type, some sled dogs such as the Alaskan Malamute, Greenland dog and Samoyed, these events are fun and social in participating in their own class. They provide the opportunity to run on some good trails and learn from the experts. A well trained and conditioned team can often be place in the middle of the pack. Sprint races are short, with the distances run being dependent on the numbers of dogs on your team. Distances are usually three to seven kilometers and up to twelve kilometers at National events. Many of these events include a one- or two-dog class for the mushers wanting to participate in other activities such as Cani-walk, Canicross, Scootering and Bikejoring. Some of these classes are held for Juniors, Adults and Veterans. For running dogs in warmer climates, many people enjoy dryland mushing or sledding. A variety of carts are available and some clubs host short cart races. When carting, people must be aware that warmer weather can be hard on the northern breed sled dogs and even dirt roads are harder on dogs' feet and joints than running o the snow. Back Packing Packing with your sled dog can be an excellent activity for both of you and is ideally suited for the one-dog owner. It is easy to train a sled dog to back pack. The equipment needs are minimal, especially if you are already a hiker or backpacker. Hiking trails can be found almost everywhere and most Mals love to get out on the trail. The dog should be obedience trained in the basics of heeling (walking by your side). He should know a command to walk in front of you or behind you in the event that you come upon a narrow trail. He should behave in camp and be able to be tied up in camp if needed. There are a number of back packs available, or you can construct your own. Make sure that the pack goes over the dog's head easily and test the pack fully loaded to see that the dog can move freely, with no binding or chafing anywhere. Your leash can be attached to the dog's collar or a D ring on the pack. If possible have quick release buckles on the pack as they are a big asset when encountering streams or other hazards. At about six to eight months of age a dog can be lightly packed. Start out with about 1/8 of the dog's own weight. Fill the packs with bulky, light items, giving the dog the feel of a full load with a minimum of weight. As your dog gets into good condition, slowly increase the load to 1/3 of his weight. Be sure that each side of the pack carries an equal amount of weight or the load will shift and be hard on the dog. Before you head for the hills your dog must be in condition and his feet must be hardened. Conditioning trips can be short hikes, or jogging with your dog. Before you do any serious backpacking, do some short hikes that will take you on a variety of trails. When your Malamute is mature he can carry about 30% of his own weight all day if he is used to doing it and is in good condition. Don't expect a dog who spends the day lying in the backyard to be in shape. When the dog packs are loaded, check that all is in balance. Large items such as tents may not be workable as they shift too much. Don't pack any items that might poke through the pack, and pack all perishable items in plastic bags in case the dog decides to take a swim somewhere along the trail. Plan on extra rations for your hard working dog when he is on the trail. Take a light chain or rope to tie your dog up within in camp and make sure to carry water if it will not be readily available along the trail. Take a break every hour or so to rest your dog, give him a drink and check his pack. Remember to watch that your dog does not disturb other hikers, wildlife or livestock along the way. Clean up after your dog on a trail or near camping areas. Weight Pulling The Alaskan Malamute is by nature and conformation a draft animal. His very size and weight lend to heavy pulling. The sport of weight pulling is popular, because it can be practiced at home in the back yard or urban park, it is something even the one-dog owner can participate in. Weight pull competitions consist of a dog pulling a given weight a given distance in a set amount of time. Weights are increased for each round, with dogs dropping out when they fail to make the pull. The competitions are divided into weight classes. There are several sets of weight pull rules used, the most common being those of the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) as applied by SAMA. These rules now call for a dog to pull a load a distance of 5 meters in one minute and give you the option of calling the dog from the far side of the finish line or driving the dog from a position behind the dog. Weight pulling may be done with sleds or carts. Rules do change from time to time so it is best to become familiar with the rules before you enter a competition. You may begin training for weight pulling when your dog is six months old; however, most competitions require that dogs be a year old to participate. Basic obedience training is helpful before getting started because the dog will have learned some basic commands such as stay and come. Start out with light weights on snow, dirt or grass. Make sure the harness is properly fitted and that the weight you are using does not make a lot of noise or that it is not so light that it might hit the dog should the dog spook and start running. A small tire makes a good weight to start with. Where to Go Join a affiliated Club in your area providing opportunities to work your dogs.