Years ago, Dawn Lanning received a Siberian husky as a gift, loved the breed and soon learned how to mush with a team of dogs. Today, she owns 32 huskies (considered one of the best sled-pulling breeds) who happily pull everyone from families to Boy Scouts on trails near her Hastings Huskies and Horses ranch in Hastings, Minn.

Toboggan Sled
Unlike the traditional wood-slated basket dogsled, the toboggan sled is better for rides and pulling weight.

1. Runners: The driver, or “musher,” stands here, putting weight on either side of the runners to steer.

2. Brake: This foot brake is a metal piece between the runners that digs into the snow. The dogs stop the sled when they feel the pull from the break and hear a call of, “whoa.”

3. Handle Bar

4. Bed: Holds passengers or cargo.

5. Stanchions: The bracing posts on the sled.

6. Bow: Good for bouncing off of trees and other debris.

7. Gang Line: Runs from sled, starting at the bridle (see #9), through the middle of the dog team.

8. Bridle: Connects the sled to the dogs via a carbineer that locks to the shock cord (a giant rubber band between the sled and the gang line that protects dogs in case of a jarring impact).

9. Tug Lines: Connect to the dogs’ harnesses to pull the sled. This line links up to the gang line.

10. Harness: Wraps under the dogs’ legs and around their bodies to link them to the sled. Attaches directly to each dog’s tug line.

11. Neck Line: Connects the dog’s collar to the gang line to keep all the dogs moving in the same direction and working together.

The Dogs
12. Wheel Dogs: The strongest pullers as well as dogs in training (it’s easier to communicate with inexperienced sled dogs when they’re closer to the sled).

13. Point Dogs: The pace dogs.

14. Leaders: Keep the other dogs in line. Leaders are generally females because they tend to listen better.

Calls
Mush! = Go
Whoa! = Stop
Gee! = Right
Haw! = Left
On Boy! = Tells dogs to get back on the trail after another sled team passes.