Sledding is the Malamute's original job. He helped move camp for his nomadic owners along the Alaskan coast as they moved between their hunting and fishing grounds. Because a dog team can consist of several dogs it is essential that dogs have good temperaments and be well disciplined.

Getting Started
You can start sledding with your Malamute when he is about 12 months old. Remember that the young dogs cannot cover the distance or pull the load that a well conditioned adult dog can.

If possible, start the youngster or inexperienced dog off in a small team beside a well mannered, hard working dog. Use a light scooter and stick to trails that are well packed and not too steep so that your pup can get the feel of running with a tight tug line without being worked too hard. Increase distances gradually and teach basic commands such as hike, whoa, and stay. His first experiences in harness should be positive as this is what he will have to build on as his training progresses. Your youngster will be ready to run with the experienced team his second winter.
Events
A variety of sledding events are available across the country. Even though the Malamute is not a racing dog, these events are fun and social. They provide the opportunity to run on some good trails and learn from the experts. A well trained and conditioned team of Malamutes can often place in the middle of the pack.

Sprint races are short, with the distances run being dependent on the numbers of dogs on your team. Distances are usually around 3 to 8 kilometers for the smaller teams, up to 20 kilometers for the larger teams. Many of these races include a one- or two-dog class for the "peewee" and junior racers.

There is an increased interest in the middle distance and long distance races. These races are suitable for a larger team of Malamutes whose owner has the time to devote a season of Autumn training followed by many kilometers of training and conditioning once the temperature falls.