Book Review: Dog Driver: A Guide for the Serious Musher
Anyone who works with sled dogs knows that there's no one way to do it. I have been working with sled dogs since 2013, and while I feel ready to own my own kennel, I know that there are a lot of mistakes for us to make. Dog Driver: A Guide for the Serious Musher by twin sisters Miki and Julie Collins is a great reference for anyone getting into the sport.
They cover topics from dog psychology to sleds, and food to trail conditions. They also offer a great list of reading material, including books that are not intended for sled dog use. This shows their holistic approach to dogs. They seem to say, read everything, but retain the information that is relevant to you. Miki and Julie are honest and down to earth, making dog mushing accessible to anyone who is interested in the sport. They talk about what it was like for them at the beginning, and what they have learned over the years.
In 2010 the sisters wrote a revised edition of the book. They also wrote an article for mushing magazine diving into their 'lessons learned.' They explain what it was like for them in the beginning of their dog mushing career. This is not only a great read, but also humanises the two bad asses, reminding us that everyone has to start somewhere. Click the link below to read the archived article.
With the intention of getting more sled dogs, we know that we will make mistakes. With reference books like this as well as a strong community of dog mushing friends, we know we will succeed.
