SLEDGE DOGS OF THE NORTH. 185 



tract the attention of the driver and by these 

 means verify directions, as if to ask if it is lend- 

 ing right. In case it loses the track it will slow 

 up, whine, run up or ''criss-cross its tracks, 

 sniffing and smelling in an anxious, expectant 

 way, until it finds or is led correct, when it 

 hov>ls with delight and pulls off "like blazes" 

 again. 



They have strange likes and dislikes. As en- 

 tire pack will punish one who incurs the dis- 

 pleasure at times to an extent of crippling or kill- 

 ing each other. If a strange dog comes amongst 

 them he is pretty sure to get "mauled'' or his 

 scraping abilities put to test, which usually ends 

 in a free-for-all fight, catch as catch can rulci'. 

 predominating. 



When in harness training a young dog gets 

 punished frequently by its mates for any awk- 

 wardness it shows. Old dogs especially show 

 contempt for a new or strange dog which takes 

 its mate's place, be it pup or otherwise, and will 

 often sulk if their place is changed. Each seems 

 to think his place is best, the leader especially 

 being particularly proud of his honored position 

 in "Dogdom." As a rule, existing difficulties 

 or arguments in harness are stored up until that 

 day's march is over, because of fear of punish- 

 ment from the driver, but as soon as turned 

 loose, they settle the difficulty of the day by an- 



