Mushing Belgium vzw (MBEL) is a federation of the following Belgian mushing clubs:

The Inuit Trail vzw
  

Vlaamse Federatie voor Sledehondensport vzw

Brussels Mushing

(Mushing Belgium is a member of the World Sleddog Association - WSA )

Belgische Mushing Federatie FBMF
( member of F.I.S.T.C )

F.B.M.F is a federation of Belgian mushing clubs, it's members are :

Snow Hook Team

 

• Snow Girls Team
  
• Mushing Club Du Brabant Est
  

• Alaskan husky: a northern dog of mixed breed, usually used to denote those bred for racing.
• Basket: the main body of a sled, where passengers or gear may be carried.
• Booties: slippers for dogs, worn while working under certain conditions to prevent ice forming between their toes. Made of a wide range of fabrics, including fleece and Gore-tex
• Brushbow: the curved piece out in front of the main body of a sled, designed to stop brush from damaging the sled.
• Dog Bag: a fabric bag carried on a race sled, used to put a sick or injured dog into in order to carry him to a place where he can be cared for.
• Dog Box: a carrier for several dogs, most often seen as a wooden structure in the bed of a pickup truck. Styles vary widely, but usually built with individual sections that hold one or two dogs each.
• Driving Bow: the handle that the musher holds on to - also called a Handlebow.
• Easy!: the command for the dogs to slow down.
• Gangline: the main line that the dogs and sled are attached to.
• Gee: the command for the dogs to turn right.
• Handler - a person who assists the musher.
• Harness: a webbing of fabric that fits a dog snugly, to which the Tugline and Neckline are attached.
• Haw - the command for the dogs to turn left.
• Hike! - the command to get the dog team moving.
• Husky - in common useage, any northern breed dog - properly, a Siberian Husky.
• Lead Dogs: the dog or dogs in the front of a team. These dogs are noted for their high level of intelligence and drive, and are often females. May be run as Single lead (1 dog) or Double lead (2 dogs).
• Line Out!: Command to lead dog to pull the team out straight from the sled. Used mostly while hooking dogs into team or unhooking them.
• Mush!: term used to get a team going - Hike! is more commonly used.
• Musher: a person who drives a sled dog team - also called a Dog Driver.
• Neckline: a short line (10-12 inches) attached to the Harness and Gangline, that keeps the dog in line.
• On By!: the command to go by another team or other distraction.
• Pedaling: pushing with one foot while keeping the other on the sled.
• Point Dogs - used by some mushers to denote the two dogs right behind the Lead Dogs. Others call them Swing Dogs.
• Rigging: all the gear used to attach dogs to a sled.
• Runners: the narrow pieces of wood that a sled rides on. Usually have a replaceable plastic layer to reduce maintenance. The runners extend behind the Basket so the Musher can stand on them.
• Safety Line: an extra line from the Gangline to the sled, in case the main fitting breaks.
• Snow Hook: a large metal hook that can be driven into firm snow to anchor a team for a short period of time without tying them.
• Snub Line: a rope attached to the back of the sled, which can be tied to a tree to hold the team when the snow is not firm enough to use a Snow Hook.
• Stakeout: a main chain with separate short chains to attache several dogs to. May be strung between the front and back bumpers of a truck, or between two trees.
• Stanchions: the upright pieces that attach the runners to a sled.
• Swing Dogs: depending on which musher you're talking to, either the two dogs directly behind the Leda Dogs, or those between the Point Dogs and the Wheel Dogs.
• Tack: harnesses
• Team Dogs: all dogs other than the Lead Dogs, Point Dogs, Swing Dogs and Wheel Dogs
• Toboggan: a sled with a flat bottom instead of runners. Used when deep, soft snow is expected instead of a good trail.
• Trail! : Request for right-of-way on the trail.
• Tuglines: the main line that connects the dog's harness to the Gangline - the line that the dog tugs on.
• Village Dogs: a derogatory term for poorly socialized dogs of unknown breeding.
• Wheel Dogs: the two dogs right in front of the sled. These will normally be the heaviest dogs in the team.
• Whoa: the command to get the dog team to stop.
  
  In addition to the above voice commands, various other colorful expressions are used.
  

Note: It should be thoroughly understood that as dogs are not driven with reins,
but by spoken commands, the leader of the team must understand all that is said to him and guide the others accordingly.
An intelligent leader is therefore an absolute necessity.
At times it appears that there is some sort of ESP* between musher and lead dog.
Don’t be surprised if you hear a musher have an in-depth conversation with his lead dog.

*(extrasensory perception)

 

Sled dogs ( working dog breeds used for mushing )

Sled dogs, highly trained types of working dogs that are used for sled dog racing or recreational mushing.

 

Purebred sled dogs :

siberian husky

Alaskan malamute

Samoyed

Greenland dog

Crossbred sled dogs :
Alaskan husky

Scandinavian hound