Interestingly, early French-Canadian drivers frequently used “Marche!” (which translates as ‘walk’ in French) to order their dogs to start. So the French expression became ‘Marchers’ which eventually evolved to the term we know of today: “Mush!”. A good ‘musher’ develop a special bond with their dogs, knowing how to care for them and reward them, yet also imposing enough authority to remain leader of the pack.

Within a sled team, each dog has a specific role. Teams of two to twelve dogs, sometimes more, are attached in pairs to a rope connected to the sled called a centerline. The ‘lead dogs’ are generally the most powerful and are placed at the front of the sled. The musher simply uses their voice to guide and direct the one or two lead dogs at the front who react to the commands and steer the pack accordingly.

Today, dog sledding is still a major tourist attraction in many regions of Quebec, especially in Charlevoix. The best way to fully experience the thrill of the pack’s furry & fiery spirits is to experience a once in a lifetime dog sledding excursion.

Dog sledding, from the pawprints of yesteryear to the high speeds of today