Almost without fail, one of the first questions people ask about dogsledding is how you choose the lead dog. As usual, what works with a sled dog team mirrors what works for human teams.
Here are a few parallels regarding leaders…
Ultimately as the musher, I am the leader, the one who decides our route, the teams, how much food to give them, etc. But on a run? It’s a partnership. The strongest teams have many lead dogs who excel at taking voice commands and holding the team tight when we stop. If I have several lead dogs, I can switch them out if one of them is having a bad day; is tired; or to give them a break from the added responsibility of leading the team. Strong human teams also are made up of many people with leadership qualities, so teams can adapt and call on various strengths and gifts, depending on the situation.
Some dogs prefer running in lead and don’t pull as well if they are further back in the team. It’s all about paying attention and knowing each dog and their personality. But the most important thing is the relationship and trust between the dogs and the musher. A team that trusts you will pull for you. It doesn’t matter whether they have 4 legs or 2!
People sometimes assume that the lead dog is the biggest, strongest dog in the yard. This is just not the case. It’s important that they are confident and fast enough to stay in front of the team, but their size and their gender simply don’t matter. The best lead dogs are deeply connected to their musher, and they have a certain self-possession that allows them to correct a dog with a glance, if that dog is causing a ruckus on the trail.
As with human teams, great leaders have more finesse than dominance; more confidence than ego; more presence than superiority.
We would be wise to learn from these beautiful beings.
