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About sled dogs and dryland mushing
Sled dog racing in the UK looks different from the Alaskan image. With little reliable snow, most racing is dryland mushing: teams pull wheeled rigs, bikes or scooters along forest trails from autumn to spring, with snow racing when the weather allows. This page explains the sport, the clubs that run it and what to look for in Siberian Husky puppies from working lines.
What this work involves
The core discipline is rig racing. A rig is a light wheeled cart pulled by a team of dogs, from two to six or more depending on the class, and it is the nearest thing to a sled on dry ground. Teams set off at timed intervals on forest trails and race against the clock. Single dogs and pairs compete in bikejor, scooter and canicross classes at the same events.
Racing happens in cool weather: the UK season runs from September to May. Training starts over short distances and builds up, and competitive teams may train several times a week through the winter. A good sled dog is fit, sound, keen to pull and willing to pass other teams calmly.
Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK
Sled dogs in the UK are bred by private breeders, many of them mushers who race their own teams, and trained by their owners, usually with help from a local club. There is no scheme that supplies trained teams.
- The British Sleddog Sports Federation (BSSF) is the national governing body for sleddog sports in Great Britain. The International Federation of Sleddog Sports and the International Canicross Federation both recognise it as the national body for GB. It runs national rankings and National Championship races, with recent rounds at venues such as Thetford Forest and Kinnaird Castle, and a pathway to selection for Great Britain at international championships.
- The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain runs working rallies, including the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally. First held in 1984 and later moved to the forest trails at Glenmore, it is described by the club as the longest-running of its working events, and by 2000 it was attracting more than 200 teams. The club’s working rally rules admit only KC-registered pure-bred sled dogs: Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, Greenland Dogs and Samoyeds.
Breeds and lines
- Siberian Husky – described by the RKC as the lightest and fastest of the sled dogs, and the mainstay of UK rallies.
- Alaskan Malamute – described by the RKC as the strongest of the sled dogs, bred to pull heavy loads over long distances rather than for speed.
- Samoyed, Greenland Dog and Canadian Eskimo Dog – rarer Nordic breeds, eligible for pure-bred rally classes when KC registered.
- Alaskan Husky and Eurohound – racing crossbreeds bred for speed rather than looks. They are not RKC recognised, so they run in open classes rather than Registered Nordic Breed classes.
For dryland mushing, look for working lines whose parents actually run in harness. Show-only lines may have the look but not the drive or build for racing.
What to ask a breeder
- Do the parents run in harness, and in which classes and events? Can I see them work?
- Are the pups KC registered, so they can enter Registered Nordic Breed classes and club rallies?
- What health tests have the parents had? For Siberian Huskies, the breed club’s Code of Ethics requires an eye test within the 12 months before mating and hip scoring under the BVA/KC scheme.
- How and at what age do you start young dogs in harness?
- Can you introduce me to a local club where I can learn to handle a team?
Legal and welfare notes
Heat is the main welfare risk. The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain’s working rally rules require organisers to review the event, and possibly halt it, when the shade temperature at or near the start reaches 15°C, and dogs must be at least twelve months old, except in novelty classes. BSSF racing is for dogs of 18 months and over, with a recreational class from twelve months, and dogs at race sites must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Nordic breeds also need a lot of exercise at home: the RKC suggests more than two hours a day for a Siberian Husky. Owners have a legal duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in England and Wales and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see sled dog racing in the UK?
The Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, run by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, is the best-known event, and the BSSF holds championship rounds at forest venues across Great Britain between autumn and spring.
What is dryland mushing?
Sled dog sport without snow. Dogs pull a wheeled rig, a bike or a scooter, or run with a person on foot in canicross. It is how most UK mushers train and race.
Do I need a husky for sled dog racing?
No. KC-registered Nordic breeds race in Registered Nordic Breed classes, while crossbreeds and other breeds can race in open classes at BSSF events. Fitness, temperament and a love of pulling matter more than breed.
If you breed Siberian Huskies, Malamutes or other Nordic breeds whose dogs run in harness, list your kennel on Canine Breeder and tell buyers about your dogs’ working record and aptitude.