Mush: A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training

Rating:
Summary: one of the greatest tools out there
Review: This book gives you years of experience in dog sledding and carting. Written in a very easy to read "discussion" format, it covers dog selection, obedience, racing training techniques, etiquette, and even sled/cart building. With this single reference, there is enough common sense know how to become a contender in the sport!

Rating:
Summary: MUSH
Review: This is a good book for beginners. I called it my bible when I started running dogs....it answers all those questions you feel stupid to ask a "professional musher" The book includes history of sleddogs, diagrams, photos and even how to build your own dog houses/boxes, make your own gear,& pattern for booties. It's a must for you library.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Primer
Review: This is a good book for beginners. I called it my bible when I started running dogs....it answers all those questions you feel stupid to ask a "professional musher" The book includes history of sleddogs, diagrams, photos and even how to build your own dog houses/boxes, make your own gear,& pattern for booties. It's a must for you library.

Rating:
Summary: one of the greatest tools out there
Review: This was a great book! It gave you ways to train your dog how to pull and when I hooked my dog up to a sled for the first time, she felt very confident in her position. I feel that it is due to the book's helpfulness, and ability to go in great detail when needed. I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to start dog sledding or who wants to learn abit more about the sport. It is great for all ages. :-)

Rating:
Summary: A Great Primer
Review: This was the first book I bought on the subject of sled dog training, back in the 70's, and it's still one of the best books I have read on the subject. It's kind of a "textbook" in style- Careful, detailed step by step instructions, diagrams, history, cautions, everything the begining musher needs to know. It also is very humane in tone, suggesting fair and kind treatment of dogs, completely blowing the stereotype that mushers are cruel whip welding fiends out of the water.
Ms. Levorson clearly states that abuse has NO place in training sled dogs, and in fact gives good reasons why fear trained dog are not only pitiful, but unreliable and hard to handle. I learned to train dogs from this book, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to do sledding or carting with dogs, either one dog or a whole team, whether they are interested in recreational mushing, work, or competition. Ms. Levorson also suggests adopting an older or retired trained sled dog to help train both you and your dogs, a suggestion that most professional mushers wholeheartedly support ( no, they *don't* kill them when they get older as the Animal Rights people suggest, I've been around too many mushing kennels to believe this nonsense- mushers WANT to find good homes for retired dogs, and you can get great dog that way- I did ).
"Mush" is still one of my favorite sled dog books, I wouldn't be without it. I still go back and refer to it after all these years. I even remember making my first harness based on Ms. Levorson's very good patterns- it's easier than you would think!