Originally posted by Gina's Ark Inc.
do you say haw to turn left only? what's for straight, right/left and do they back up too? -- how about stop?
Haw is the command for a left turn. Gee is right. Add an "over" to the end of either of those and means move to that side of the trail. I use Gee over alot. Pingo likes to run on the left side of the trail, which technically is the wrong side! Doesn't matter much until we run into another team.

On-By is the command for going straight or passing something--a dog, a turn, person, another team.

Dog teams do not have a reverse command. They don't back up without great difficulty. If they miss a turn, it's way easier to just take the next one! There is a command for turning around--"Come around Haw" or "Come Around Gee", depending on which way is easier. However, it's only used in emergencies. It's almost impossible to do a come around without tangling the team.

Whoa is the command for stop, but most sled dogs ignore it. Paxil will stop on command sometimes. Sled dogs don't like to stop. That's why there is a brake on the sled, a drag mat and snow hooks are required equipement. I carry two snow hooks as they are notoriously unreliable devices. It's a lousy feeling to be 20 miles from anything, sitting in the snow, watching your dog team run without you!