Long Distance Sled Dog Preparation

This year, the World Championships for all mushing categories are taking place in Norway on the Femundløpet. This famous sled dog race is one of the most important and demanding mushing competitions in Europe. Here, we focus on the long-distance category.

We followed animal osteopath Elsa Bouhours, who joined the Femundløpet veterinary team for this 2025 edition, bringing her expertise in the preparation and monitoring of sporting dogs.

Characteristics of Long-Distance Races

The Femundløpet crosses the mountainous regions and forests of southeastern Norway. Several distances are offered to competitors:

F600 : A race of about 600km, which is the most prestigious event.
F450 : A shorter one, where the dogs cover around 450 km.
F200 : This race, more accessible, is intended for beginner or amateur mushers.

In these competitions, the dogs are in teams of 6 to 12 depending on the category.

The extreme conditions of this competition demand very demanding preparation for the animals and their drivers. Temperatures are very low, ranging from -10°C to -30°C. Extreme lows can reach -40°C in some years.

These factors force mushers and dogs to demonstrate very high endurance and resilience.

Preparation, the key to success

Long-distance races such as the Femundløpet and Finnmarksløpet, both held in Norway, or the Iditarod in Alaska, attract participants from all over the world, both professionals and amateurs.

However, to tackle this type of ultra-intense sporting challenge, demanding preparation is mandatory to guarantee the safety of both the animal and human teams.

Equipment Preparation:
On the canine side, sled dogs (generally Alaskan Huskies and Siberian Huskies) are well adapted to these conditions thanks to their thick coats. Monitoring is necessary to prevent exhaustion due to cold and injuries to the paws.

To withstand such cold temperatures, mushers must equip themselves with highly insulating clothing, gloves, boots, and face protection to avoid frostbite.

The sleds are equipped to carry coats for the dogs and sleeping bags for the mushers in case of need.

Source : Facebook Elsa Bouhours - Ostéopathie animale

Physical Preparation of the Dogs:
For this type of competition, the endurance of the dogs is one of the main qualities required, as shared by Elsa Bouhours, an animal osteopath specializing in sports dogs and a musher herself:

“During training, the goal is to increase the dogs’ resistance to exertion.

We train them at a slow trot (13-14 km/h) on land. This speed must be maintained even uphill to work on muscular endurance. 

Gradually, the distances are increased in order to best develop their stamina.

For preparation, we look for smooth trails. We avoid mud and rocks, and try to have packed earth or grass surfaces to preserve the dogs’ joints as much as possible.

 

We only train when the temperature is below 14 degrees Celsius, ideally below 10 degrees, so that the dogs’ cardiovascular capacities are optimal.

 

During preparation, it is also helpful to be able to meet with other mushers. This allows the dogs to practice with several teams on new trails, to overtake, to cross each other, etc.”

Example of a training schedule to prepare dogs for mid-distance races

Preparations are very specific depending on the races targeted. In mushing, the main categories are:

Sprint : distances of ~4 to 30 km.
Mid-distance : from ~50 to 200 km in stages (e.g., La Grande Odyssée).
Long distance : over 200 km, up to 1600 km with checkpoints.

Here is a detailed example of a training schedule to prepare dogs for a 200km mid-distance race taking place in January or February.

August/September: Muscle mass development

For a mid-distance race taking place in January or February, for example, the dogs begin their preparation gradually starting in August/September. They are quickly subjected to strength and power training to stimulate the production of actin and myosin, two essential muscle proteins. These proteins play a crucial role in contraction ability. The more muscle mass the dogs develop, the better their joints are protected during sustained exertion. This phase is carried out over very short distances.

"During training, it is absolutely essential to maintain joy and pleasure for the dogs. They must keep a very good morale and love what they do, even when demanding training is put in place," Elsa reminds us.

Source : Facebook Elsa Bouhours - Ostéopathie animale

September/October: Endurance development

In this stage, the dogs will have less and less weight to pull, and hills will also be avoided. On the other hand, the distances will be gradually increased in stages.

For a mid-distance race taking place in January or February, as in this example, from September onwards, the strength training blocks are carried out over distances of up to 10 km.

In October, the distances are lengthened to 15 km, then to 20 km, limiting the weight pulled.

Throughout the preparation, Elsa ensures that the dogs are in good physical and mental shape, the objective being to avoid any injury or loss of morale within the team.

November: Goal of 25 km on land

The training sessions are gradually increased up to 25 km on land. Elsa Bouhours strongly advises against exceeding 35 km on this type of terrain. The risk of serious joint injuries is too high, particularly for heavy dogs or when the terrain includes steep descents.

Training over distances of less than 30 km can therefore be done on land, but to increase the distances, it is advisable to do it on snow in order to limit osteoarticular trauma in the dogs.

"A training injury can happen quickly, and a dog resting for 3 weeks in November or December will have great difficulty catching up on training, and therefore taking the start of a race." Elsa Bouhours

At this stage of the schedule, in addition to increasing the distances on snow, strength blocks will be reintegrated into the training. Little by little, speed blocks will also be added to the preparation of the canine athletes.

From November onwards, the dogs are normally very comfortable over distances of 25 km. Strength blocks such as 3 x 15 km with weight pulling will be reintegrated into the training.

A variation may be to play on the number of dogs harnessed to adjust the level of difficulty. Speed blocks will also be worked on, for example, blocks of 2 x 10 km at a higher race speed.

December: Strength, Speed and Endurance

The dogs are trained in real conditions. In our example (preparation for the Femundløpet), the team is moved to Norway to continue their preparation until the time of the race.

“There, we see that the dogs who were comfortable on land, at 13-14 km/hour over distances of 25 km, are extremely comfortable on snow, at 16-17 km/hour on average over 50 km!

 

In passing, it is important to acclimatize the tissues to these new temperatures and terrain. The efforts must be progressive.

 

On this type of terrain, the distances can be lengthened very quickly, unlike what is possible on land,” says Elsa.

This example training schedule varies depending on the training contexts of the teams.

In the case presented in this article, the dogs are trained in France, on sometimes uneven terrain. The teams only move to Norway a few weeks before the race.

The schedule is different if the dogs live permanently in Sweden or Norway, for example, and have excellent working conditions (temperatures, surfaces) throughout the year. The training must therefore be adapted to the environment and the objectives targeted.

The ultimate goal for Elsa is to have dogs who are confident in their running, in their physical and physiological abilities, and in their musher, ready to give their all without a doubt.

Source : Facebook Elsa Bouhours - Ostéopathie animale

Feeding the Long-Distance Dog

On long-distance races, fat intake is very important. These are provided by the diet and allow dogs to have the necessary energy to cover the distances required by the race. The protein intake, meanwhile, helps the dogs in their anaerobic efforts throughout the competition.

Examples of kibble used for sled dogs are Sporting Life Energy 4800 or 5000 from Royal Canin, or the sports ranges from ProTeam or Greenheart. These ranges correspond well to the nutritional needs of dogs with very long periods of sustained activity, as Elsa Bouhours shares with us.

The energy intake of this kibble is important, with a rate of 30% fatty acids, an essential condition for dogs that must demonstrate extreme endurance in polar cold. The protein level, meanwhile, is 32%, offering optimal support for muscle capacity.

Hydration of the long-distance dog

Electrolytes are used when severe dehydration is observed. However, great vigilance is required when using these food supplements, which can pose a health risk to dogs if not used correctly.

Several studies highlight the potential danger for dogs, which are anhidrotic animals (animals that do not sweat). Electrolyte drops in dogs occur when they are in a state of very advanced dehydration.

Electrolytes tend to encourage animals to drink. This is not always ideal for sporting dogs, which can sometimes have difficulty hydrating sufficiently.

"A risk that absolutely must not be neglected is that of seriously damaging the functioning of the dogs' kidneys if, by providing electrolytes, they do not hydrate themselves sufficiently at the same time," confirms Elsa.

"I admit to being quite opposed to the use of electrolytes in the world of canine sports, unless these supplements are administered by a veterinarian, often by infusion. Hydration is a particularly decisive factor for sled dogs. The cold and exertion often make their hydration difficult. This is the main challenge for any musher: avoiding dehydration."

Electrolytes are therefore very rarely used in long-distance races, where the risks of dehydration are too high. Over shorter distances (mid-distance and especially sprint), the use of electrolytes may be a little more frequent.

Animal Osteopathy's Contributions to Long-Distance Dog Training

According to Elsa Bouhours, who is in charge of sled dog teams, four missions fall within her area of expertise:

1) Detect discomfort and imbalances: In order to prevent underperformance or even injuries.

2) Ensure the longitudinal and lateral rebalancing of the dogs: "My goal is for them to be at their best in their bodies, both at rest and during exertion," says Elsa.

3) Manage injured dogs: In this case, specific osteopathic care is provided to injured animals. The most common disorders are carpal inflammations, tendinopathies, muscle injuries and injuries to the shoulders and withers, according to Elsa's experience, specifically applied to sporting dogs. The objective of osteopathy is to support the healing of canine patients, after, of course, having consulted a veterinarian.

4) Education for mushers: A very special mission that Elsa gives herself in her practice: "I am really committed to improving the observation and first aid actions that mushers can apply in the management of their dogs. This is, in my opinion, a professional responsibility that falls to them and a respect for animal welfare. I share with them very simple manipulations to assess the state of pain in a joint or how to unblock a joint. The carpus and pisiform are often the source of tendinopathies in the event of blockage in long-distance racing. These easy actions are within the reach of mushers and can help animals overcome certain disorders."

The Usefulness of Tendiboots™ Canine for Sport Dog Preparation

“The use of Tendiboots™ Canine is very interesting, in my experience, for animal health professionals. The tool allows us to detect subtle information, such as a limp that is difficult to perceive with the naked eye or difficulties with flexion that are not very visible.

 

This technology is particularly valuable for making comparisons before/after osteopathy sessions or after intensive training. Thanks to Tendiboots™, we can objectively monitor the evolution of the dogs’ locomotion according to the care received or the intensity of the efforts made.

 

What interests me a lot is the possibility of following the evolution of the data as the training phase progresses. For me, this information is very useful and must be communicated to the musher throughout the training, so that we can adjust our strategies together based on the data collected.

 

However, just before the race, I prefer not to transmit this data to the musher. At this stage, there is no point in informing them of slight asymmetries that cannot be corrected at the last minute. This could induce doubts or stress just before the start. The data is useful upstream to maintain the musher’s confidence in the training plan that has been followed.”

Find all the news from Elsa Bouhours on her Facebook page :

Elsa Bouhours - Ostéopathie animale

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