What do mushers do to train the dogs during the summer and before it snows?
The most common means of training when no snow (or not enough snow) is on the ground is by using a four-wheeler. A four-wheeler is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle that weighs about 500 pounds and has an engine that can be used to regulate how fast the dogs run and how hard they pull. Some mushers do train all summer. Some run their dogs as a part of a summer tour business, like IdidaRide Sled Dog Tours in Seward, Alaska. Others train their dogs all summer to keep them in shape. However, a number of mushers don’t train during the summer and let the dogs have time off to rest and relax.