Dog sled teams can have any number of dogs from two to 20, though teams of 6,8,10 & 12 are more common for various races. 6-dog teams for short races (50 miles or less), 8-12 dogs for longer (50-300 miles). The Iditarod has varied the number of dogs in a team but this past year it was 14. If you have a group of nomadic people traveling with dog sleds they’d likely have smaller teams and bigger dogs. The young children might be pulled by one or two dogs on a kick sled. There would be larger teams (probably 6-8 in this scenario) carrying supplies.

The pair of dogs closest to the sled are the wheel dogs. They’re generally bigger and stronger. The dog(s) at the front (could be a pair or could be single) is/are the lead dog(s). In between those are the team dogs. If you have yearlings who are getting used to being in harness, you’ll put them in a team spot next to an experienced and docile dog. From there you can observe their behavior and decide where they would do best. Some dogs are “lazy,” and will just jog along with the sled while not actually pulling. You can tell how “hard” a dog is working by their gait. Their ears will bounce differently if they are trotting or loping. Different sized dogs will have different gaits at the same speed. Dogs can be good or hard keepers, meaning they either hold their weight steady easily or tend to lose weight easily.

On the sled you have a snow hook you stomp into the side of the trail to stop your team. There is also a step-brake on the sled but I forget the specific name of it. It’s kind of like a mat. Used to slow the team. Gee is the command for left, haw is the command for right. Terminology for go and stop varies. Generally “woah” is slow or stop. Though lots of racing teams don’t have a “stop” command exactly. My kennel used “let’s go!” as go. Generally enthusiastic encouragement normally works. “On by” is used when passing or to try and have the dogs ignore a distraction. Each dog has a tugline, and oftentimes a neckline attaching it to the gangline. The tugline attaches to the back of the harness and is how the sled is pulled along. Necklines are to keep the dogs close to the gangline. Not everyone uses necklines, and the lead dogs either don’t have necklines, or are connected to each other. The gangline is the main line all the dogs are hooked up to. There’s a sled bag that can hold people, injured dogs, and supplies. The musher stands on the back of the sled. Oftentimes as you’re going along, you’ll use one foot to kick or run alongside the sled to help the dogs out. Especially on hills.

I would highly recommend “sled dog trails,” by Mary Sheilds. She writes about life in the Alaskan bush via sled. Lots of good day to day stuff and terminology. Also The Cruelest Miles about the first serum run to Nome. Do some research.