sled dog
nounDefinition of sled dog
: a dog (such as a Siberian husky or Alaskan malamute) trained to draw a usually heavy sled typically with other dogs over snow-covered terrain
—Sled dogs were originally used in colder regions (as of northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica) as work dogs to facilitate travel and transport of supplies but are now popularly used elsewhere during the winter especially for racing.
Examples of sled dog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Greenland’s unique sled dog culture and the specialised training technology and knowledge is in danger of disappearing. — Krista Stevens, Longreads, "Greenland’s Deepening Ecological Grief," 19 Aug. 2019 Other researchers fly weather balloons, dig pits to sample the snow, or peer at their instruments all night with a sled dog nearby to warn them of polar bears. — Jennifer Kingsley, National Geographic, "At this Arctic science base, life is anything but lonely," 30 July 2019 Then, following a thrilling afternoon dogsled ride, the sled dogs lolled in the mild sunshine, enjoying the cold of the fresh snow against their fur. — Candice Yacono, Orange County Register, "Where is paradise? Right near Missoula, Montana," 29 July 2019 This is not the case with the Alaska sled dog, whose breeding partners are consistently selected for good health and aptitude in their natural environment, rather than being bred to create a standard appearance. — Jeff King | Opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Jeff King: Let’s talk about dog euthanasia," 6 Mar. 2018 There are also courtesy buses that serve the portion of Park Road that is publicly driveable, which includes stops at the sled dog kennel and Denali Visitor Center. — Bailey Berg, Anchorage Daily News, "Taking in Denali National Park and ‘The Great One’," 3 May 2018 Try a sled dog excursion and follow wolf tracks in the snow. — Kitson Jazynka, National Geographic, "Wolves are making a comeback. Here’s where to see them," 2 July 2019 Spend an afternoon at a working sled dog kennel to learn about the pups’ historic role in the National Park Service, and the history of dogsledding, Alaska’s most popular sport. — National Geographic, "Alaska Middle School Expedition," 12 June 2019 The medical examination on Boppy's body indicated the dog died from aspiration pneumonia, caused by inhaling vomit, which can happen unexpectedly to the best-cared-for sled dogs, McGill said. — Tegan Hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, "Yukon Quest bans two-time champ from 2019 race after necropsy reveals dead dog had preventable health problems," 25 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sled dog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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