THERE IS A COMPLEX OF TRAITS and characteristics generally necessary to working sleddogs. Some, like speed and endurance, are widely known and discussed; others are rarely mentioned, perhaps because dog drivers simply take them for granted. In order to produce a viable and well-rounded "total dog," sleddog breeders need to consider all the characteristics that go to make up such a dog. Twenty sleddog qualities have been identified by the Canadian SSSD Project as relevant to breeding and selection programmes. They are:
- pulling ability
- speed
- endurance
- attitude or determination
- innate sleddog capacity
- intelligence
- trainability
- cooperation
- docility
- bonding
- metabolism
- movement
- courage
- seriousness
- temperament
- eating and drinking
- climate hardiness
- reproduction
- health, viability and longevity
- leader quality
Racing speed and racing endurance are only two aspects of this set of qualities; they are far from being the only traits that matter. The above list of sleddog traits was part of our presentation to the Canadian agricultural authorities at the time of the SSSD's recognition as an evolving breed. They are discussed in the article, "The Traits That Matter," available on the DOCUMENTS subdomain of this website.
