4595 x 3446 px | 38,9 x 29,2 cm | 15,3 x 11,5 inches | 300dpi
Date de la prise de vue:
17 mars 2014
Lieu:
Alta, Norway
Informations supplémentaires:
The Heritage of the sled dog is a long and proud one, stretching some 4, 000 years. The people of the North were dependent on these animals for protection, companionship, hunting, trapping and most of all – transportation. Sled dogs have enabled explorers such as Byrd, Peary and Amundsen to travel the frozen wastelands of two Poles and have played a vital role in bringing civilisation to the snowbound areas of the world. These days few of the inhabitants of the far North are dependent upon dogs for basic survival, however, the same intimate relationship between man and dog still exists and is evidenced through the sport of sled racing, which has now emerged into a major worldwide interest with teams working throughout North America, Europe and even as far as Australia and New Zealand. Each dog in the team wears an individually-fitted harness generally of lightweight nylon/polypropylene webbing, padded around the neck and shoulders for comfort. Again there are a number of designs giving good choice for suitability and personal preference. The dogs are hitched to the rig or sled by means of a central rope known as the ‘gang line’ being attached to this by means of a tug line to the rear of the harness and a neckline from the dog's collar. Brass clips – that do not rust or freeze – are used to attach the dog into the lines. Throughout its history, the Alaskan Husky has been most commonly used for sledding, proving its superior abilities to work in the harshest of climates and terrain. Alaskan Huskies are primarily bred as working dogs. They have greater endurance in sled racing than Siberian Huskies do. In very cold conditions, Alaskans often race in “dog coats” or belly protectors. Particularly in long distance races, these dogs often require “dog booties” to protect their feet from abrasion and cracking. On long distance races they require considerable care and attention on the trail at rest stops.
