Back

Sledge Dogs

.

Certain kinds of dogs, such as Huskies, are bred to cope with extremely cold conditions. They have what we call a double layered coat. Closest to their skin they have wool, just like what you find on a sheep. The outer coat is long oily "guard hairs" that protect the wool from getting wet.

It is kind of like wearing a big down jacket and rain coat, and it keeps them warm no matter the temperature. Most of them do not like to be inside of a house for too long, because they get too HOT. So they live outside year round. When they go to bed at the end of the day, they curl up like Woody here on the picture, cover their nose with the tail (the nose is really the only part that could freeze) and let the snow drift over them like a blanket.

These dogs were widely used in cold climates to pull sledges. They work well pulling a sledge in a team, running across the snow. During the exploration of the North and South poles, dog teams were used for travel. Successful explorers like Amundsen were not sentimental about their dogs. They looked after them and used them to pull the men and equipment, and then on the way back, they would kill them and eat them for food. If you want to read more about this, check out the Antarctica sites in the archived websites about exploration.

These days people use snowmobiles and other mechanical means to travel in deep snow and ice. There have been no dogs in Antarctica for many years now. But the tradition of pulling a sledge is still kept alive by keen dog owners, who have races across the snow. It is hard to tell who enjoys it the most - the people or the dogs!