ocspirit Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 A collaboration of frequently used sledding terms (with pictures!) to help those of you getting started. Bear in mind with the commands, there is no rule stating you have to use the universal sledding commands, anyone can use whatever word or sound they wish so long as they are consistant and the dogs understand. Remember though, if you ever plan on mixing packs or teams, you might confuse the new dogs with your different terms whereas if you use the universal commands, chances are good the other dogs know those very same ones. COMMANDS Gee - turn right Haw - turn left Hike* - lets go or pick up the pace On-by - never mind whatever is distracting you and keep moving forward Ahead - don't turn there, go straight ahead Easy - slow down Woah - stop Line-out - hold the lines tight and forward but don't start pulling yet Come-gee - turn the entire team around in a U-turn going to the right Come-haw - turn the entire team around in a U-turn going to the left Gee-over - move to the right side of the trail Haw-over - move to the left side of the trail * - Most people think "mush" is the common word used. Mush was picked up when people heard the French calling out to their sled dogs using the command "Marche". However "mush" was found to be too soft of a word and "hike" was picked up instead. EQUIPMENT Harness - what is put on the dog to pull the sled (I use x-back harnesses like OC is modeling but there are many types to choose from depending on the type of body your dog has and what sort of pulling you want to do) Collar - I know you guys know this one but just wanted to mention how sledding harnesses usually have the large O-ring which is so nice and easy to work with Neckline - attaches to the collar to attach the dog either to the dog next to it or to the gangline Gangline - the main line that runs between the dogs and attaches to the sled (in the picture it is the blue/black line) Tugline - the line that attaches the dogs' harnesses to the gangline (in the picture its the longer solid blue ones) Here is a "lead-dog section" or everything you would need to run only 2 dogs (minus the rig or sled). The picture above features a "team-dog section" which you put together as many team-dog sections as you need then the lead-dog section at the front. So if you are running a team of 8 dogs you would need 3 team-dog sections and one lead-dog section. Snowhook - this is like the e-brake on your car. It can be used to slow a team down in conjunction with the brake of the sled by dragging it in the snow or once the team is stopped it can hold your team in place by the hooks being stomped into the snow. If a team is stopping for a while a musher may choose to put one snowhook behind the team and one out in front because with only one, if the team turns around it will pop the snowhook out which can become deadly when bouncing around behind a sled. Snubline - a line that comes out from behind the sled to anchor the sled and team to something while you hook-up the dogs (you can see the sled is tied to the wood post) Sledbag - (pictured above, the blue thing in the basket of the sled) a bag in the sled that is used to carry extra equipment (gloves, necklines, maybe a spare harness) or if a dog gets injured along the trail. All races mandate there be a sled bag on your sled and it must follow specific regulations regarding mesh windows that can be opened for ventilation if you do end up carrying a dog. Their internal space must also be of a specific size. THE DOGS AND PEOPLE Husky - a term used to describe any northern freighting dog Alaskan Husky - a name given to any dog that was bred with the intention of creating sled dogs Lead dog - the dog at the front of the team who leads Point/Swing dogs - the dogs immediately behind the lead dogs Wheel dogs - the dogs directly in front of the sled, at the back of the team Team dogs - the dogs between the wheel dogs and the point dogs Musher - the person who drives the sled, sometimes referred to as Driver as well Handler - anyone who helps the musher out with their dogs Tandem Hitch - the most popular for races as it is ideal for narrow trails and has the least chance for tangle. The dogs run in pairs one on either side of the gangline Fan Hitch - the ideal for running on ice because it spreads the weight of the dogs out. Each dog is directly hitched from his harness to the sled and they all run side by side. Dogbox - carries your dogs in individual (sometimes shared) compartments and is fitted either to a trailer or the back of a truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkyries Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 thats a great thread very informative for those wishing to start out thank you rep added xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val (Zebedee) Posted January 9, 2010 Report Share Posted January 9, 2010 Ren, what an excellent post! For anyone thinking of starting out running, this is great. I like that you've shown pics of each of the various bits too, helps people understand easier. Thanks to you for posting this & thanks to OC for modelling, very professional! +1 rep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex T Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Great post - rep added! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest snowdog Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 great thread, lovely pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 excellant thread and great photos, rep added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidjk Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 nice and easy to understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 great thread rep added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Fantastic thread - added to rep ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqwidge Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Fantastic thread!! Love the pictures too, makes it so much easier to understand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SABRES DAD Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Excellent post, answered a lot of questions i had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanna Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 COMMANDS that I´m using with my own dogs: Oikea - turn right Vasen - turn left Mennään - never mind whatever is distracting you and keep moving forward Eteenpäin - don't turn there, go straight ahead Seis (different tone as stopping order) - slow down Seis - stop Eteen - hold the lines tight and forward but don't start pulling yet Takaisin (i also use handmarks to show the right direction) - turn the entire team around in a U-turn going to the right Takaisin - turn the entire team around in a U-turn going to the left Oikealle/ota oikea - move to the right side of the trail Vasemmalle/ota vasen - move to the left side of the trail Yodling and making high voices if I want to more speed to running. To me it´s most logical to use my own native language with training. So people can also train their dogs simple commands like "right, left etc." Now I have to ask at which part of the sleigh you will tie the anchor? Or snatching rope? Without the sleigh let falling apart by the force of the pulling dogs. How do you tie the rope that it will hold up but get free when it is needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocspirit Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Now I have to ask at which part of the sleigh you will tie the anchor? Or snatching rope? Without the sleigh let falling apart by the force of the pulling dogs. How do you tie the rope that it will hold up but get free when it is needed? In that picture I have it just looped around one of the stanchions. BUT the three dogs I was using are all quite calm up until I get on the sled and by then I am standing on the sled's brake anyways. These days I'm running more intense dogs who, like you said, would break the sled and take off down the trail. Now I loop the snub line through either the carabeener that attaches my gangline to the bridal of the sled, OR I loop it through the loop of the bridal of the sled. I can stand on the brake and reach the snubline to undo it. Mine was also custom-made by a lady about my height. She used it with her team and then gave it to me when she quit. Some people have a rope that always stays attached to the loop of the bridal and drags out behind the sled, between the runners. This acts as a safety if the musher falls off they can grab the trailing rope and ideally catch the team. This rope is used to snub off and the musher only has to reach out behind them to let off the quick-release. My quick-release usually gets left behind. If I want it along though it is easy to reverse the set up so when i release it unwraps from around the tree (or whatever I snubbed off to) and stays with me. Out of curiousity, I've always known "Vuk" as "wolf" in Serbian. What is your language? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikibujin Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 How do you pronounce gee? Do you pronounce it like "gee" as in "geese", or "jee" as in "jeep"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanna Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 In that picture I have it just looped around one of the stanchions. BUT the three dogs I was using are all quite calm up until I get on the sled and by then I am standing on the sled's brake anyways. These days I'm running more intense dogs who, like you said, would break the sled and take off down the trail. Now I loop the snub line through either the carabeener that attaches my gangline to the bridal of the sled, OR I loop it through the loop of the bridal of the sled. I can stand on the brake and reach the snubline to undo it. Mine was also custom-made by a lady about my height. She used it with her team and then gave it to me when she quit. Some people have a rope that always stays attached to the loop of the bridal and drags out behind the sled, between the runners. This acts as a safety if the musher falls off they can grab the trailing rope and ideally catch the team. This rope is used to snub off and the musher only has to reach out behind them to let off the quick-release. My quick-release usually gets left behind. If I want it along though it is easy to reverse the set up so when i release it unwraps from around the tree (or whatever I snubbed off to) and stays with me. Out of curiousity, I've always known "Vuk" as "wolf" in Serbian. What is your language? Thank´s for your great answer! It gave me a lot of information! The "Vuk" is old novel for children from year 1965. (Hungarian Writer István Feketen) It´s a story for a little fox. Animation from it cames early 80.s. Interesting to know that it´s actually meaning word Wolf. My native language is finnish. And here word "Vuk" doesn´t mean anything. In finnish: Fox = Kettu Wolf = Susi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 i've got a 50% chance of being right but I say Gee like jee... may not be correct but Desna knows what i want when i say it. Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyn Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 We pronounce 'Gee' as in JEsus, 'Haw' as in saw. Our snubline, on both the sled and the rig, is attatched to the rear of the gangline between the team and the rig/sled. This is the way UK race rules specify it must be attatched, in order that the team, if required, can be secured with it and separated from the rig/sled. The 'working' end is then fed up to a suitable place for reaching by hand for use. There is an art to releasing it once you sorted out your problem and the dogs are raring to go. We use a two-clip method to make releasing it easier once your back onboard. If anyones unsure of that explanation, I can take photos for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 I use Gee as in JEsus as Lyn said but HAW - I have started using ha ha ha ha instead incase anyone thought I was calling my dogs whores Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNukka&Shadow Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 I use Gee as in JEsus as Lyn said but HAW - I have started using ha ha ha ha instead incase anyone thought I was calling my dogs whores Arr but Sarah if you repeat it like that wont it sound like your alughing at them! Yep I use the same as you tho like Jee and Ha and Nukka is juuuust about starting to get what I'm talking about which is great as I've just been offered a starter scooter kit for £65!!! With the bungee and the x-back and everything!! Soooooo excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Arr but Sarah if you repeat it like that wont it sound like your alughing at them! Yep I use the same as you tho like Jee and Ha and Nukka is juuuust about starting to get what I'm talking about which is great as I've just been offered a starter scooter kit for £65!!! With the bungee and the x-back and everything!! Soooooo excited! lmao probably but at least i wont get slapped lol £65 for a starter scooter and harness etc is FANTASTIC!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahNukka&Shadow Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 lmao probably but at least i wont get slapped lol £65 for a starter scooter and harness etc is FANTASTIC!!!!! Well it is 3rd hand but I've seen it and its still in good nick so I'm really pleased! Now just gotta get Nukka used to haveing something behind her coz I tried hooking her up to a little plastic kiddy sledge and she was petrified and got stuck under a bush!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Well it is 3rd hand but I've seen it and its still in good nick so I'm really pleased! Now just gotta get Nukka used to haveing something behind her coz I tried hooking her up to a little plastic kiddy sledge and she was petrified and got stuck under a bush!! 3rd hand doens't matter - it will only get bashed anyway, my pawtrekker was 2nd hand and has a few knocks and bumps on it but it will have a hell of a lot more by the time i've finished with it lol awwwww poor thing, it's probably the noise it made as it went across the snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocspirit Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 How do you pronounce gee? Do you pronounce it like "gee" as in "geese", or "jee" as in "jeep"? "Gee" is just like the letter "G" lol and "haw" rhymes with "law". Where I got strange looks is when I say "woah". I try to remember to say "woah" with a very clear "w" sound at the begining rather than saying "ho" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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