Dog Sleds

Dog sleds have been used for thousands of years in cold, snowy places. A team of strong dogs pulls a sled across the snow. The driver, called a musher, stands on the back of the sled. Dog sledding is still used for transportation, and it's also a popular sport.

Sled Dogs

Sled dogs are special breeds built for the cold. Huskies and Malamutes have thick fur and lots of energy. A sled team usually has 12 to 16 dogs. The lead dogs are the smartest and follow the musher's commands. The dogs love to run and get excited when it's time to go!

The Iditarod

The Iditarod is a famous dog sled race in Alaska. It covers about 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome. The race takes 8 to 15 days to finish. It honors the 1925 serum run when dog sled teams carried medicine to save a sick town. Mushers and their dogs are true athletes.

Fun Facts

• Sled dogs can run up to 20 miles per hour and cover over 100 miles in a day.
• The Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska is about 1,000 miles long.
• A famous sled dog named Balto helped save a town in Alaska by delivering medicine in 1925.

Did You Know?

Sled dogs wear little booties on their paws to protect them from sharp ice and snow! A musher might go through hundreds of booties during a long race.