In search of old pictures/texts of loggin with sleddogs.

[Jesper Jepsen]

Hi, I do know that back in the time sled dogs was used to pull logs out of the woods just as horses was around the world. Sadly I can't find very much about it and almost nothing about what kind of sled or device they used to lift the logs so the dogs could pull it. 
The reason for this is that I own a Alaskan malamute and more are on their way and they are going to be used to pull loge, carts wood tools/wood and other and to be used as working dogs so I wanted to get as much knowlege to build on  
So if any of you have or know how I should grab onto to get some information I would really like your help. 

The picture is from the first time he pulled a log( he have been pulling a small cart and bicycle before, he is around 15 months old and are around me 24/7.



 

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Strong dog.

[Jesper Jepsen]

Properly trained and with a good harness an 3 year old alaskan Malamute male can pull around 1000 to 1600lb so yes they are strong dog, no racer by any means but slow strong going dogs.  I normally say that you have two choices when he really wants to go, let go or follow he is going either way. 
I know that in Alaska they did run the dog trains, three cargo sleds in line with 12 Malamutes in front and one on each side of each sled so around 18 dog at one time.. They pulled 3-4 tons of cargo on those trips and even more sometimes.  So no doubt that the dogs have the power to do loggin but I can't find any pictures of the gear they used :( 

Jesper

[Roxie]

Very interesting concept.

[gspren]

There are pictures on here of sleds built to haul logs behind a snowmobile that would be a good start. You would need to add some sort of brakes to keep from over running the dogs going downhill.

[isawlogs]

   A small set of bob sleighs will work.
 
Then again so will a cone put on the front of the log.

What you can do also is cut the front of the log like a sharpened pencil, that way it does not grab into roots orthe ground as the dog is pulling it, that is where the cone is used in place of cutting the end of log into pencil shape.

[clearcut]

cut the front of the log like a sharpened pencil,

Oh, I thought that was to encourage the dog to move faster.

The Library of Congress has an image of a circa 1900 dog team pulling lumber and shows 2 types of sled.

     https://www.loc.gov/item/99614337/

[Jesper Jepsen]

The cone thing I have been thinking about and probably will try a old traffic cone with the base cut of. The issue is more when it comes to hauling the log(s) 2-5 or even 10 miles home on a sled or small vagon. At the moment I leaning mostly towards to minimise the sleds they use(d) for horses or build a sled so that the front end of the log are of the ground when the dogs are pulling. A dog log trailer is not such a problem as that is more what we use on our daily training ohh yes the brakes.. they need to be good. 
From the links It seems that I going to writhe to some places in Alaska to look for information.  

In the mean time .. its training with the small cart and that weird dog won't pull if there is less than 150lb  after him..  He needs to feel the harness when working..