FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
As you are a new musher, here are a few tips that might help you with your new-found sport. It is important to note that we do this for fun and exercise firstly and don’t be concerned if things don’t go perfectly the first time. Remember, we are here to help you.
What Breed of Dogs are suitable?
There are several dog breeds which are suitable for sledding. The Canberra Sled Dog Club (CSDC) has had the following breeds over the years -
Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Labrador, Newfoundlands, English Pointers, Mixed Breeds
As a general guide most dogs 10kg and above should be strong enough for the sport.
How old does my dog need to be to run?
The CSDC recommends your dog be atleast 8-9 months of age before you try sledding. If your dog is younger than this you can still attend our training sessions to familiarise and socialise your dog with club members and what we do. To enter the CSDC Classic it is required that all dogs are 12 months of age.
What Equipment do I need?
Helmet - This is a must. Without a helmet, you will be unable to attend any training exercises with the club nor will you be able to attend any official races in Australia. Bicycle helmets, horse riding helmets, etc can all be worn.
Scooter/Rig/Mountain Bike - A scooter or Mountain bike is needed if you are going to race with 1 or 2 dogs. Find out more about the scooters used on the Kickbike Australia website here. It must have working brakes and should be kept in good condition (tyres etc).
A rig is usually a 3 or 4 wheeled machine used when you are racing 3 dogs or more. There are many different styles these days but they basically resemble a chariot where the musher stands on the back of the rig and steers them with handle bars or a side handle.
Dog Harness - A harness is needed for each dog in your team. Care must be taken when putting on or taking off a harness as some dogs don’t like to have their feet touched. You will need to have your dog measured up and correctly fitted by a harness supplier.
Gang/Neck lines - The gang lines connect your dogs to your scooter or gig. These are the lines that are connected to the rear of the dogs harness. The idea is that the gang lines allow the dogs freedom of movement without being too close to the scooter/rig/bike/sled. Necklines are used to connect 2 dogs next to each other. The neckline is fastened to each dog’s collar. The neckline prevents the dogs from being able to go in opposite directions.
Training you and your Dog -
Sledding is a sport. There is definitely a certain fitness level required if you want to do your best. That’s not to say that you have to be the fastest sprinter but you should be able to survive a 2-3 kilometre run without having a cardiac arrest. In order to get yourself and your dog into shape for the sledding season, you can use several methods. Here are a couple that might help to get you started.
Walk your dog every night/every second night for at least an hour. You should walk at a brisk pace, working up at least a light sweat by the time you arrive back home. After a week or two you should be able to combine the walk with some jogging. Again, you should work your way up to this.
Attend the CSDC training sessions or go out and run by yourself. You will find that just taking your dog for a run over a couple of kilometres every other night will allow both you and your dog to get fitter. Not to mention comfortable with each other. This is a good experience as you are getting in sled training and knowledge of what your dog’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Club Rules -
While at our training sessions all dogs must be on lead or tethered to a stake out line. Off leash dogs are not permitted. Please do not approach another dog with your dog without permission from the owner. If you bring your children to training it is your responsibility to ensure their safety. Whilst our members dogs are well socialised it is an environment where they are excited and high energy. Please exercise common sense.
All dogs that attend the forest are required to have proof of C3 + KC current vaccinations.
Please clean up after both yourself & your dog whilst in the forest.