Dog Booties | Ganglines | Harness | Musher gear | Sleg bag | Snow Hook DOG BOOTIES A combination of Velcro and elastic wrap are attached to the heel for easy operation and snug fit. The booties also are made out of polar plus fleece for most snow and ice conditions. Back to Top GANGLINES They are made with hollow braided rope and are about 3/8" thick and are the main lines that hold the dogs to the sled. Back to Top HARNESS All harnesses have reflective tape on them for the safety of the dogs while mushing at night. There are two different types of harnesses. The X-Back and H-Back. The X-Back (on the Siberian Husky, red in color) is used for most pulling applications, except heavy weight pulling. Padded with fleece in the shoulder area, this allows the dog to breathe better, because his ribs are open. The H-Back (on the Samoyed, blue in color) is designed specifically for distance dog drivers. The 'H' design helps relieve the pressure in the hip area. Particularly these are for the Wheel Dogs because they have the heaviest load. Back to Top MUSHER GEAR All gear for the musher can vary depending on the weather, distance, and the musher's preference. Most wear goggles to shield themselves from the icy wind. As shown in the picture, the typical mushing hats are made of warm fur that covers the ears and forehead. The warmer the musher's clothes the better, though the clothes should not be too warm, as mushers often peddle or push behind the sled to help their dogs on hills or tough terrain. Back to Top SLED BAG Used and required to carry sick or injured dogs, if something is to happen while mushing. The Sled bag is also made of tough Cordura pack cloth with water repellent coating and a heavy duty rust-proof zipper. Back to Top SNOW HOOK The Snow Hook can also be called the Snow Claw, it is used to hold or stop the sled for the musher. It is of Alaskan Claw style and designed to grip into hard or thin packed snow, and icy or frozen ground. Back to Top    --------------------    back [] main Copyright © 2003 artwork and photographs to D. Smith and C. Whitlock