#mushing

another kin collage!! I've been thinking about inuit sled dogs so so much lately.. the wild cold of the arctic, the teamwork, the wind rushing past..

This actually has just about nothing to do with my job but I can tell you all about what you want to know. The thing you're looking for is called a skijor harness.

It is intended to function as basically a single dog mushing setup. It works best and is intended for cross country skiing but people use it for running as well as biking. While there are definitely people and dogs who are doing it just to see how fast they can go, a lot of it tends to just be a novel way to go for a walk.

The harness is the same as one used for mushing; it distributes the load across the dog's shoulders and chest so they can safely pull, and it will have a attachment point somewhere in the middle of their back. The harness is attached to a belt that goes around your waist so you are still hands-free, and theoretically, in control of your joined speed. There is also usually a spring/ elastic component to absorb shock if you and the dog suddenly find yourself going opposite directions.

I would not recommend a cart until both you and the dog are really, really good about steering. And stopping. I know that dryland carts for dog mushing do exist, but every musher I've ever met hitches their team to a four wheeler because they need the brakes more than anything else. If you're trying to get the dog to just carry something, there are little doggy backpacks and saddle bags that will work so much better than trying to have them drag it in a cart. Unfortunately, if you are intending for the dog to carry you, you may need to revise your expectations.

Another quick note to note, there is a reason why skijoring and mushing are both cold weather sports. Dogs can't dump heat like we can and they will need to stop and pant to cool off. When they are working harder to pull or carry a load rather than just running on their own, they will heat up faster.