A discipline that allows year-round practice of team sports, dryland mushing replaces the snow sled with a wheeled cart, opening nordic disciplines up to regions and seasons without snow.

The principle

One or more dogs pull a three- or four-wheeled cart on which the musher stands, over suitable tracks and trails. The discipline follows the same logic and commands as the traditional team driving discussed in our article on bikejoring, but with a vehicle adapted to snow-free terrain.

The different configurations

  • The 3-wheel cart: lighter and more maneuverable, suited to small teams
  • The 4-wheel cart: more stable, allowing larger teams
  • The number of dogs: from two to several pairs, depending on level and configuration

The link with other traction disciplines

Dryland mushing sits in direct continuity with the disciplines covered in our previous articles: canicross (one dog, on foot), bikejoring (team with a bike), skijoring (traction on skis). Dryland mushing is, in a sense, the land-based, summer version of the traditional snow sled, allowing nordic teams to train outside the winter season.

Which dogs

Northern breeds naturally dominate (Husky, Malamute, Greenland Dog — see our profile of the Siberian Husky), but athletic sport dogs also take part. As with bikejoring, the ability to work as a coordinated group matters just as much as individual performance.

Precautions specific to the warm season

Unlike the snow sled, dryland mushing is often practiced at higher temperatures — a major risk factor detailed in our article on heatstroke. Thermal vigilance becomes essential here: training early in the morning or in the evening, increased hydration, and simply calling it off in extreme heat, since northern breeds are particularly heat-sensitive, as discussed in our Husky profile.

Team safety

The same safety principles as for bikejoring apply, with heightened demands linked to the weight and inertia of the cart: a reliable braking system, mastery of directional commands, and managing unexpected situations (encountering animals, other trail users).

A demanding but accessible discipline

Dryland mushing makes it possible to discover nordic sports without depending on snow — a geographic accessibility that explains its growth in many regions, including those with temperate climates far from snowy areas.

Also available in English: the ideal first aid kit for the active dog, the Bernedoodle: the crossbreed winning over families and the basics of dog training: recall and socialization. More translations are added over time.