Paws Along the Trail with Dog Houses

Sled dog houses vary between kennels. Some mushers build and design the cozy homes. Others use plastic barrels or premade dog houses. Dogs’ names are painted on or routered onto wooden signs; this is mostly for visitors or new handlers as the mushers amazingly know the nuances and names of their sled dogs.  

Sled dogs, mostly Alaskan huskies, have double coats of hair and the curved tails to keep them warm.  Each dog has its own house where it can escape the other dogs in the yard, rain or storms, and then curl up and sleep in peace.  You will often see them relaxing, sticking their heads out of the house to keep track of what’s going on.  Typical dogs, they  are extremely observant.  Some prefer sitting serenely on top of their houses like the Peanuts™ character Snoopy.  Sometimes, sled dogs jump onto the roof to loudly let their “boss,” the musher, know they’re ready to work!   When the harnesses come out, the cacophony begins.  “Pick me!  Pick me!” is communicated excitedly and loudly as all the dogs want to run and pull!

Lessons on volume can be incorporated through learning about sled dog houses!

Students problem solve the volume of a dog house with this hands-on activity using graham crackers and frosting.

 Volume and Doghouses