Something in advance

Of course our dog over the whole year continuously has been coached and has been conditioned. He has been constructed and now he is in top form. In the knowledge which winter sports should be performed those training possibilities were particularly forced, so that our dog has been best prepared for it.

Farther only the winter sports are chosen which fit to our dog. The fact that specially the winter sports fit to the Nordic dogs, I probably do not need to mention specially.

Here like everywhere the highest principle is to be considered that every activity, completely no matter what kind, may never take place without previous conditioning, without corresponding training. Just as people, dogs get muscular ache as well and this earlier or later spoils at his action because it was connected for him with pains.

The memory of our dog is still more enormous than its smelling and hearing performance, ethologics compare it to the impressive educability of sufficient known Delphine including their "storage capacity" of the once experienced. So it is no dog's Latin if, for example, husky guides inquire with the meeting before the running anxiously whether the Trail has been a little bit changed to opposite of the last year's race. They know namely only too exactly that their leading dogs themselves want to smash the old way after a full year of the total abstinence of just this racing place if there are not met special precautionary measures on the part of the organizers or the Musher in this point infernally pays attention.

Even the other, much more difficult conditions of the soil, but also the sporting manipulation with essentially lower temperatures or bigger altitudes require a punctual, but never sudden total fodder changeover.

If our dog moves only now and again sportingly in winter, it requires as a rule no fodder changeover, because the current weighed out finished feeds contain all required in brute proteins, essential fatty acids, minerals and other as far as important zinc. If our dog, however, by kennel attitude or constant winter activity uses more energy, performance-enhancing additions are essential. He already gets it if he becomes trained for the wintry sports application. There is not a fixed rule what our dog needs moreover specially, because like with the people there exist better or not fodder user. Therefore the constant weight control is important, so that our 30 kg weighing dog must not abruptly carry 10% of predominance about many kilometers. If the fodder is moved by amount or composition here, may take place only in small steps, till approximately 4 weeks the new standard is reached. The same is also applied to the changeover from Light- to the top performance fodder of the same manufacturer.

Certain additions have had a positive effect in the past. First these are electrolytes which become almost exclusively mixed completely individually by the respective dogholder from Isostar, grape sugar, basica and other ingredients. So ascorbic acid increases not only the capacity, but also the perseverance, however, tastes in pure form definitely terribly. Taken grape sugar is diminished first, before dog usesown body reserves, but no dog may the sweetish taste.

The water regime of a dog in winter may not be underestimated. With each, whatever performance taken, he starts sweating which takes place with our dog only about a surface enlargement of tongue and paws. Certainly, on the way our dog can satisfy temporarily its most pressing needs by biting the snow what leads, however, to diarrhoea and upset stomach and in the running costs absolutely some seconds.

Whether now simply vegetable oil or a piece of butter are given before the start in the water or the ice cubes prepared at home with finely chopped fish are given in it, is finally a matter of taste, especially for our dog, because he must take this mix. It is better to add some real meat juice than salty bouillon cubes to the electrolytes, already prepared at home. Then probably can none of our dogs still seriously resist and will take these energy bombs also in the form of ice cubes when he has learned this before. To ice cubes professionals reach gladly because the working dog must also balance its liquid budget absolutely and drinks from himself too little. With the ice cube he receives liquid as well as concentrated energy. And because he chews it, ice cubes also do not have the negative effect on the stomach like snowbiting.

Fundamentally may also not be overlooked that because of the expected snow safety higher convenient localities are visited and there, already in 1000 m over sea, farther at the top even more the air is so thin that she decimates own capacity as well as of our dog's. In addition there comes the different acclimatization time of person and dog. While people notice at the 2nd day a noticeable decline in performance, this enters with our dog only a day later. Participants of the world championships for sleddogs with which the 3rd run is the all crucial one can sing from here a song.

In altitudes the winter sun is not to be underestimated. Nevertheless, it is so intense that also dogs can receive a sunstroke. Dogs with dark and long fur are exposed to such a danger more than brighter coloured breeds.

Booties and a special paw fat - belong to the winter equipment for our dog as an alternative also milking fat or deer sebum, but not human handcream - and a towel in order to crush the snow lump between the sack and in the leg hair (and before a possible rest in a restaurant) with long hair races. At home long hair races can already be prepared by cutting of the hair in sack and runs a little, in the belly annoying snow lumps, nevertheless, form now and then.

Why Booties and paw fat? With our winter-active dog can form - in first on cold fresh snowfall - the sharp edged snow crystals between the sack to small lumps and chafe. As a consequence from here they lead to made red sack insides as far as the feared Fishers, skin tears which run in parallel to the footsinew. The mentioned special fat prevent for the lump formation a long time and have near the zinc ointment with the follow-up treatment good unhurt effect. If the fat is not sufficient, Booties, which must be so big that our dog can spread in it its paws, are put on to our dog. This is important because our dog is increased therefore its thrust and is not limited on the other hand with the sweating. Booties are special dog's shoes from cellular materials in different lengths for forelegs and hind legs. They were known by the husky sport.

During a rest and if the dog carries Booties, these are taken off because our dog can sweat only through the enlargement of its tongue and its paws.

With all fascination of the winter sport with our dog there are first of all with the stay in the high mountains dangers whose correct estimation can be life-crucial. So may be underestimated, for example, the control of critical situations like own accidents as well as a little crevasses or the danger of avalanches. Already with the walking in snowshoes or Dog Packing in the deep snow off the runways avalanches can be released. As a minimum a sharp knife, an avalanche detecting device (LVS), a peep, the mobile phone, a shovel and fresh batteries belong to the baggage. It is worthwhile each time to catch up corresponding information before a trip with the natives and experienced on the spot as well as to leave a route design. Best and safest one organizes such trips so that an experienced person participates in it.

Fun in the snow

Who would not like to go so sportingly ambitious with its dog to the snow, somewhat can and should nevertheless grant to him with a family excursion of the white splendour. Once each has experienced at home already how its dog freaks out with the first snow and suddenly appears younger in years. If only own family comes along, the person must hold out as a playfellow and corun, lie in wait and hunt.

Who would not like to go so sportingly ambitious with its dog to the snow, somewhat can and should nevertheless grant to him with a family excursion of the white splendour. Once each has experienced at home already how its dog freaks out with the first snow and suddenly appears younger in years. If only own family comes along, the person must hold out as a playfellow and corun, lie in wait and hunt.

What is more likely to throw snowballs as in such a surrounding field. If he does not bite in the snow during the rompage and swallows a little bit of it, too, the vain snowball searches can let him quickly become a snow eater. The consequence of it is mostly a stomach-intestine inflammation with diarrhoea which is to be put down with light diet over a few days.

And if the people would like to go to a restaurant after the walking-tour, the dog of course should accompany, but not soaked. In the parked auto he does not belong, because in there the temperature lies often only a degree over the outside temperature. Without necessary movement possibility for this cold he would freeze quite rapidly and fall ill.

Also not to be forgotten: the paws contaminated by the thawing salt which are easily attacked thereby. If salted ways can not be avoided, a lukewarm paw bath to the "desalination" stands on the plan; afterwards the sacks to be treated with backgreasing creme.

Dog Packing

Every dog wants to be demanded. The possibility to wear of Pack Bags is such a challenge which allows out dog to walk around to a certain extent of raised head between the others.

Based on the knowledge that dogs possess a very good memory and store every excessive demand immediately and it allows to spoil the activity, one does not load the dog with the first test run therefore with chock-full panniers, rather acts as cautiously as years ago with the first walking attempts with the leash. It would be also wrong to undertake the first walking attempts with panniers just in a shrub area because a dog knows its body size - on account of its sensors of touch distributed all over the body - with every hindrance knows whether he can pass or not and then is irritated when he suddenly is twice as wide and gets stuck there.

It is indispensable that the weight not only on both sides is evenly distributed and that the weight is increased only with increasing training and amounts later to maximally 25% of own body weight (in the lowlands to 1/3), but also that such a Pack Bag rests slipless and possibly far in front on the dog's shoulders and therefore is easy on its back.

Like human being, also the dog after some 1 hour travelling time needs to fill up something in the form of liquid consumption and stretched peace. Also the panniers are taken, water is given and the paws are controled.

For the quite romantic among us still an Insidertipp: a night migration with clear moonlight will remain an unforgettable experience and represents at the same time for our dog a welcome alternation. Besides, it is unimportant whether such a romanticism trip with good footwear on footpaths or, however, with snow shoes is implemented in the deep snow. Importantly is first of all that this enterprise is never tackled only by separate people with dog, also a human pair is too little. Not only more safety, first of all also common experiencing in the nocturnal nature only offers a bigger group.

The route should have been explored during the day already very well, so that eventually gone herd and their evasion ways are already known. Moreover, it is a matter to the night of considering that the temperatures must lie noticeably deeper than during the day and therefore the clothes need to be adjusted correspondingly. In any case at least one well loaded mobile phone is to be taken. Farther forehead lamps are very practical, because with it both hands remain free. Reflecting patrols in the clothes as well as in the harness of the dogs raise the safety farther. Nobody needs to be anxious about the dogs that these could trip like us. At the night he sees far better than during the day. A special structure in its eyes (tapetum lucidum) strengthens the remaining light, so that our dog can orientate himself in the twilight and darkness extremely well.

Sled accompanying

Everybody knows the lugubriously funny TV-spotlight by the end of the wintry forecasts where a completely freaky dog with joy bark pursues the sledge flitting to valley with one or two of its family members on it. Naturally the dog has its ultimative enjoyment in this wild chase.

However, the responsible person should not copy this. He knows on the one hand that his dog is a beast of prey and that he hunts, whatever moves, just also the foreign tobogganists who have perhaps actually no dog's understanding and correspondingly react fearfully and with it wrong. Besides, the dog is exposed naturally also dangers, because on account of the missing steering system and brakes he can get easily under the skids.

It is something else when with the family migration for all cases the sledge is taken and - according to the training of the dog - the warmly fited out son or provisions and pieces of equipment should be pulled by the dog. However, irresponsibly it would be, to connect the anyway too short cord of the sleigh simply in the collar. These train cords are calculated at the step of the people, but not at the average length of a dog of approximately 1 m and more. Besides, it would be for the dog an imposition to have to pull only with the neck. Before the sleigh a dog must always be equipped with a special train tableware (harness) which distributes the weight evenly about its whole back. Besides, a breast tableware is not sufficient. Therefore also the length of this train tableware known from the husky sport must be adjusted exactly to the individual build what takes place best by a specialized person.

The dog remains connected with this activity best with a leash with the escort. It would not probably be beautiful if the person had to run after his dog and the children on the sleigh, only because the dog goes abruptly after its hunting instinct following a fleeing game.

Skating with dog

Following the trend of the time, even illuminated skatingroutes became in many places out of the conventional skatingroutes special, often furnished, and there are also more and more dog's skating trails. However, unfortunately, these are still too less and mostly too short, so that with the wish for intense common winter sport only making way to the official skatingroutes remains. However, then it must be clarified whether dogs are forbidden generally or are tolerated under certain conditions. An usual argumentation for the dog's prohibition is the alleged destructive effect from dog's paws on the runway. On the one hand every skatingski sits down, however, playing about any spurt holes of our dog away and on the other hand dog's paws can prematurely and again and again prepaired, condensed runway wear less than human accidents, footprints of hikers on it or as brake used ski sticks. A suggestion mostly well taken by the responsible represents the suggestion to enter into the skating trail with the dog only when themselves most long-runners already have gone because of the dwindling sun spoiled and the route preparation car is not yet in action.

When ever possible one should run with the dog against the general direction of the traffic, because the dog fears the bound, blowing jacket or the ski sticks he should overtake. Either he makes way or puts even away. On top of everything there are problems to somehow prepare the long-runners in front of us on our unexpected arrival, because he hears like every person worse to the back and has also on a cord hat or earmuffs.

In the countertraffic someone can communicate much more simply and much more early contact can be done. And, besides, people which have a considerable respect on every dog are to be found on skating trails and do not reckon already at all on meeting an active dog straight here and on being overtaken by him.

Walking in snowshoes

Who is not a skier, but together with his dog would like to experience the snow off removed ways in its full splendour, can reach this with snow shoes. Meanwhile, complete travelling weeks are already offered. However, in the mountains such migrations should never be undertaken without trained, experienced mountain guide, because so their spites have snow and the quickly overturning high-alpine weather.

Such travelling trips begin in free ground and lead about the timber line in heights from up to 3000 m, so that only exact knowledge of the snow relations can retain including the most current avalanche warnings from an evil.

Just as the development of the hand-carved pure wood ski to the high tech-ski of our time took place, the time also did not stop with snow shoes. Certainly, it remained in a transitional phase still with the wood frame which was, however, to the run relief in front already a little bit bend and behind to the desired surface enlargement no more have an eye, but is rounded, to the so named Bear Paw. Even if nostalgics insist to this day on these natural snow shoes and apply them now and then, they would not like to renounce, nevertheless, the better efficiency of the aluminium frames (Sherpa Snow Claw snow shoe) which provide with hard-wearing ribbon of plastic and a tilting connection and are laid out for different body weight. The higher the front bending is, the lighter also falls the running which corresponds with the natural roll movements of the human foot as far as possible.

If it is not required from beginning of the trip, in the backpack there is a Climbing-, hip- or lap strap (jogging belt) with corresponding leash like the Skijöring for possible delicate descent passages to be able to hold at any time connection with our dog. Lap straps have turned out therefore as a little less proved because with accidents they slip under the shoulders or even more. With the hip strap a very wide backrest is important because thereby the train of our dog is led on the washbasin and not to the spinal column. Undefeated and suitable in every situation the by alpinists used climbing belts which are to be seen more and more with Pulkaraces and Skijöring.

Before a dog is taken on such trips , this must be arranged of course with the corresponding mountain guide. Not every trip is suitable for our dog.

The equipment for our dog consists of collar and train tableware. Leash, Booties, a special paw fat and a towel to crush the snow lump are in the backpack.

Skijöring and Pulka

These winter sports have in common that the dog carries conformist train tableware well sitting, to the individual build (harness) and is connected by a fitted with springs leash with the hip belt of the people who accompanies him on skating ski. In accordance with regulations the dog, besides, also may never be overtaken with fast downhills.

Skijöring is the youngest winter sport with dogs, at the same time, however, with big future. It is no more walk, but a demanding power run with dog. The person following to the dog must be a good Skater to be able to accept the speed submitted by the dog and to be able to keep up. Besides, the dog should not pull the people, but can run out of the perhaps nervous load freely. Even as popular sport for every dog's aces becomes Skijöring in the USA increasingly more popular, but also in these parts. Meanwhile, independent category is written out with almost all bigger husky runnings.

Few arguments still rules smally over the sort of the applied train tableware. In accordance with regulations the dog must carry a harness, from which he can not free in turning round or in some other way. There are dogs, they are true striptease artists and know how to get rid themselves quick as a flash, deliberated or unintentionally, in certain situations of the train tableware. To the evasion of a possible disqualification an additional lap strap with buckle is recommended for a moment.

owever, the Pulka-sport has a far longer tradition. However, the dog carries on it another train tableware than with the Skijöring, because he is also hung up laterally in the Pulkapoles from light alloy and pulls in addition a Pulkasledge which is provided according to gender and number of the clamped dogs with addition weight and is reweighed before the start as well as directly after the finish.

As first not very much spread beyond Scandinavia where Pulkaraces were popular since beginning of the thirties, it was called in the Central European racing events at first Scandinavian's class. Adaptation-needy for the dog the running is tried between the both by a curve about its neck to connected stakes which he possibly wants to make way for it. Every medium-sized and healthy dog can pull a Pulka which will be waxed like the skating ski and provided with an addition load of 20 kg per clamped dog and 15 kg per bitch.

In this contest sport the Norwegians with their pointers have since abolition of the quarantine regulations unambiguously the legends which for the first time in 1985 in Bruneck-Reischach (South Tirol) the central Europeans taught such fearing that one said a long time: in the year 1 after Bruneck. Although today also in these parts such dogs are applied in the winter sport, Norwegians and Finns are still feared mostly, nevertheless, they are still the better skiers.

It is raced in 2 categories, often also 4 if it is separated between ladies and men: Pulka short with only one dog over 10 - 15 km and Pulka long over 15 - 25 kms with to 4 dogs. From 3 dogs the Pulka must be equipped with a brake. After regulations the target line must be passed with all started dogs. That's why under circumstances hurt or not any more motivated dogs have to be carried in the Pulkasledge.

Agility on Ice

For those who want to be content with less than the with the Skijöring and Pulkasport demanded kilometers, there is Agility on snow. As a pilot's attempt St. Moritz, in 1997, introduced Agility on Ice. Meanwhile, this idea has smashed such that in January in each case 2 full education weeks with subsequent contests take place.

Sleddog runnings

While Skijöring, Pulka, Agility on Ice, also trips in snow shoes can be called still simultaneously single fighter disciplines, the correct big winter sport begins only with four or more dogs before the racing sleigh. During early years one found there only Sibirian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Greenland dogs or Samoyedes. Today everything may be clamped with the exception of completely less runnings what has four paws and wants to run.

At the beginning of the sixties the husky sport held entry in Europe, first in Switzerland, and established itself soon afterwards also in Germany, Austria and France. Also the Netherlands produced already early bigger bottom plates. In Switzerland this era began in 1955/56 with the first imports from Alaska and the establishment of the SKNH (Swiss club of the Nordic dogs) on 12/3/1959 in Geneva. In 1965 the first husky warehouse, an informal meeting was executed, and was recognized in 1966 four husky races by the FCI. So organized the SKNH in 1970 the first runnings more than 2 days in various categories and still in 1971 in Koblenz (Aargau) among other things only six met called participants with up to six dogs before the sleigh, at that time as big bottom plates. The first walking attempts with International husky runnings in Germany undertaken in 1974 in Bernau and in 1975 in Todtmoos. Today the six-dog-class (category B) belongs for a long time in the second-lowest bottom plate size area. In 1983 took place by ESDRA a standardization of the racing rules and the coordination of occasions and titles.

Finally, the first world championship was delivered under the care of the IFFS in 1990 in Sils (Switzerland). The longest time it was only allowed to start only with pure-bred huskies, only the TCE, founded in 1973, opened already in 1985 the runnings for all breeds. Only at the end of the eighties other European clubs followed officially this trend because one had recognized that at the family tree trickery particularly promoted by Austria was not to be got any more. Meanwhile, may be clamped - out of with the runnings organized by race club - everything what runs forward. Today are beneath the characteristic small standing-ears and the thick fur of the pure-bred huskies smaller, but often faster Alaskan Huskies with floppy ears particularly in the bigger categories or pointers with the Skijöring and the Pulkaclass.

Meanwhile, in whole Europe it is started uniformly in the categories C (2 - 4 dogs, 8 kms), B (4 - 6 dogs, 12 kms), A (6 - 8 dogs, 16 kms) and O (8 and more dogs, 24 kms) and the aforementioned kilometer information absolutely varies according to the topografic conditions at the respective racing place. Weather-related racing cuts can take place as well and in accordance with regulations highest a shortening is allowed of about 25%.

Husky runnings have to do purely nothing at all with the often described Jack-London-romanticism, but are the High school of the winter sport with dog. Certainly, the starting begins with a dog in the categories Skijöring or Pulka, but usually it does not stay long with this. As soon as someone is catched, he begins to develop his dog's team and already starts with four dogs.

Four dogs before the sleigh means that four individualists about several kilometers in the same rope to go. It also means that from these individuals in long preparatory work a harmonious team is to be formed which should take place only under manual of an old hare. So that have also started which spun a web sometimes more than round 14 dogs today in the Open class, the so named king's category, and lead with the greatest of ease, only with own voice as an aid, about kilometer-long Trails with an average of up to 30 km/h in the aim.

What an almost inexhaustible perseverance husky possesses, the fact shows that daily average performances represent actually no problem between 80 and 140 kms for a well-trained dog of these species. Even the top teams coached for sprint running in Europe graduate thousand and more training kilometer before the first snow running from autumn just like that and often use the first snow runnings still than the first training on snow. Whom the sprint distances do not satisfy, to him are offered in some racing places Middle Distance and Long Distance with bivouac. The Alpirod executed since 1988 to 800 kms or the younger Trans Thuringia transfers still higher demands.

Of which extreme performance huskies are able, once more the Iditarod in 2000, a long distance running about approximately 1800 kms from Anchorage to Nome in Alaska in the Beringstreet to Russia, has shown. Doug Wingley which had won this running already in 1995 and 1999, reached Nome with his 11 dogs in nine days, zero hours, 58 minutes and 6 seconds before Paul Gebhardt with the small projection of a little bit more than 5 hours. This corresponds to a daily average performance of 200 kms - in spite of that a mountain of 2000m is to be mastered, too. Of course this big running takes place like all others also under constant veterinary control.

Mountaineering

Under Mountaineering forces-living walking with dogs is understood in the alpinregion, often for some days. It is actually the long time experience for dog and person. However, such a thing like nature purely, never requires at the same time in double respect professional and sport for a loner. Such a double professional must dispose not only of alpine experience, but also have led a husky bottom plate about many years.

This variant of the winter sport pleasure may be called frankly extreme sport which is dependent on a lot of factors, especially from the moods of the nature, but also very strong from the condition of our dog including the own. The dog-person's-team depended on each other must be suitable for mountain together. Therefore the foreign exchange is called: less is more.

Nevertheless, it must not be immediately the Signalkuppe with 4554 m o s in the Monte-Rosa-region or the long corn snow fields of the Fieschenhoerner. Also defeating 6194 m high Mt. McKinley in Alaska with husky bottom plates should still only be left to professionals like Susan Butcher and Joe Redington.

Weight Pulling

An owner of only one dog can also participate in weight pulling. Also here is considered that certain experiences in base-Obedience have been made. As young dog's bones still grow, it is considered that young dogs   n e v e r  pull heavy weight.

The weight pulling is an outgrowth of the sort of work which must do an Alaskan Malamute daily. In 1934 this sport was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and this sport was popular first only for the husky breeds. However, today this sport is also executed by other dog's clubs within their exhibitions.

Many owners get this sport from pure enjoyment and others want to set up new records very seriously. It is incredible what weights an Alaskan Malamute can pull. Taaralaste "Naki" Neiu of Roger Burggraf's Taaralaste Kennels, Alaska, set up a record in 1970 in the North American championship. She pulled a sleigh with 2'350 pounds (approx. 1 ' 064 kg) more than 60 feet (approx. 18,3 m). To the comparison: a Fiat Punto, 1.8 l has an unloaded weight of 1'040 kg what corresponds somehow to the pulled weight !

Later Yukon Pride's Nanook Horizon pulled 2'850 pounds (approx. 1'291 kg) what corresponds in approximately to a Fiat Marea 1.6 l (1'275 kg, incl driver of 75 kg).

The heaviest single pulls recorded in Alaska occurred at previous Fur Rendezvous events. Two St. Bernards in the heavyweight class, Susitna (the father) and Kashwitna (the son), pulled an incredibly 5'220 pounds (ca. 2'373 kg) each.

Today the length of the distance about which the weight sleighs must be pulled varies. With most championships 16 feet are demanded, in Alaska, however, 25 feet.

Since the sleigh or the vehicle (according to season) is got moving, is the hardest part of this contest. Then the work will be much simpler for the dog. After every dog has pulled the weight, this is raised by approx. 100 pounds (approx. 45 kg) and a next round is started again. This ends with it, since a dog wins resp. other can not pull any more. One can win in 2 sorts, either taking into account the total of pulled weight or, however, if the pulled weight is set in proportion to own body weight.

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