As far as archaeologists can tell, dog sledding was invented by the native and Inuit people in the northern parts of modern Canada thousands of years ago, dating back to before the first Europeans made land.
Dogsledding is a method of winter travel developed by northern Indigenous peoples. Early European explorers and trappers adopted it as the most efficient way to haul goods across snow-covered terrain.
Early French Canadian drivers called “Marche!” to spur their teams. English explorers misinterpreted this as “mush” — henceforth drivers were called “mushers.”
Although the airplane, automobile and snowmobile have largely replaced the traditional roles of dog teams, dogsledding has become a popular winter sport. Sled dog enthusiasts train teams for a variety of activities from touring wilderness areas to racing for fun and cash prizes.
Races are held across Canada, often in association with winter carnivals. Some are short distance races or sprints, where speed is the key to winning. Others are endurance races covering many hundreds of kilometres and several days of travel. The most famous endurance race in Canada is the Yukon Quest, which runs each year between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. The race is 1,600 km long, taking 10 to 14 days to complete, depending on trail and weather conditions.
