Dogsledding is one of the most popular ecotourism activities in Sweden. Guests come from far and near to experience the thrill of riding or driving a dogsled.

A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.

Dog power has been utilized for hunting and travel for over a thousand years. As far back as the 10th century these dogs have contributed to human culture.

Assembling a dog sled team involves picking leader dogs, point dogs, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog is crucial so mushers take particular care of these dogs. Important too is to have powerful wheel dogs to pull the sled out from the snow. Point dogs (optional) are located behind the leader dogs, swing dogs between the point and wheel dogs, and team dogs are all other dogs in between the wheel and swing dogs and are selected for their endurance, strength and speed as part of the team. In dog sledding Siberian Huskies or Alaskan malamutes are the main types of dogs that are used because of their willpower to work.

Credits: Fredrik Broman/imagebank.sweden.se