A practical look at protection, adaptation, and daily care

One of the most common questions we get—especially from people seeing sled dogs for the first time—is how their feet handle the cold.

It’s a fair question.

Dogs are traveling across snow and ice for hours at a time, often in temperatures well below freezing. But between natural adaptation and consistent care, their feet are remarkably well-equipped for those conditions.

Built for the Cold

Sled dogs have several natural advantages when it comes to handling cold environments.

Their paw pads are structured differently than human skin. They contain fatty tissue that resists freezing and provides a level of built-in insulation. Combined with a dense coat—including fur between their toes—this helps reduce direct exposure to snow and ice.

Circulation also plays a role. Blood flow in the extremities is regulated in a way that helps retain core warmth while still protecting the feet from freezing.

These aren’t accidental traits. They’re the result of generations of dogs being selected for their ability to travel and work in northern climates.

Why Booties Matter

Even with those natural adaptations, protection is still essential—especially over long distances.

Booties are one of the most visible parts of sled dog care. They act as a barrier between the dog’s feet and the trail, protecting against abrasion from ice, hard-packed snow, and uneven terrain.

In practice, we use them regularly—not just when it’s extremely cold, but as part of a consistent routine. It keeps the dogs’ feet in good condition and prevents small issues from turning into bigger ones over time.

Dog Booties are an important part of dog care and one of the biggest racing expenses in Iditarod — How Sled Dogs Keep Their Feet Warm 2

Daily Maintenance and Awareness

Foot care is something that happens continuously, not just at the start or end of a run.

Dogs’ feet are checked often—before runs, after runs, and at stops along the way. We’re looking for small changes: a spot of wear, a crack forming, or anything that could become uncomfortable if ignored.

If something does come up, it’s addressed early.

That’s really the theme of sled dog care overall—small adjustments, made consistently.

Conditioning Over Time

Like anything else in mushing, durability is built gradually.

As dogs train, their feet adapt. Pads become tougher, and tolerance to different trail conditions improves. This doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of steady exposure and thoughtful progression.

The goal isn’t to push through conditions. It’s to prepare for them.

Rest and Recovery

When dogs stop, keeping them out of direct contact with the snow matters.

At checkpoints or on the trail, we use straw to create a dry, insulated place for them to lie down. This helps protect both their bodies and their feet from prolonged exposure to cold surfaces.

Rest isn’t just about recovery—it’s also part of maintaining overall condition, including foot health.

A System, Not a Single Solution

There isn’t one thing that keeps sled dogs’ feet warm.

It’s a combination of factors working together:

Natural adaptation
Consistent protection
Regular monitoring
Thoughtful training
Proper rest

When all of those pieces are in place, dogs are able to travel comfortably and efficiently—even in conditions that would seem extreme from the outside.

Final Thought

Sled dogs are built for the environments they work in—but they’re also supported by a system of care that’s developed over time.

Foot care is a good example of that balance.

It’s not left to chance, and it’s not reactive. It’s part of the daily rhythm of working with these dogs—and one of the many ways we make sure they stay healthy, comfortable, and capable on the trail.

One of the things most new fans to dog sledding want to know is how are dogs are taken care of out on the trail by vets and how the logistics of so many dogs is managed. During Iditarod and other dog sled races, mushers must carry a vet book. In Iditarod, it is a mandatory piece of gear and mushers are required to have a vet sign it at every checkpoint to ensure the dogs have been examined.

Each dog on Iditarod is given its own unique identification tag. The identifcation tag is composed of two values, a number and a letter.The number refers to the musher. Each musher’s value is determined by their starting position. In 2015, Travis started 56th so each of his dogs had a “56” on their tag. Each dog is then individually assigned a letter. Each musher is given their own tags so we put our tags 56A, 56B, 56C, on each dog on Travis’ team.

photo courtesy of Dianne Johnson of thhe Iditarod Trail Committee

At the front of the vet book, each musher lists their dogs name and next to their dog writes down the letter of the tag that dog was given. Additionally, Iditarod takes down the name, tag of each dog, and their microchip number. This way dogs have two identifiers out on the trail: their microchip which can be scanned or their dog tag on their collar.

The vet book is an integral way for vets at different checkpoints to communicate what they see in a dog or in a particular dog team. It allows volunteers to quickly look up the name of a dropped dog and relay it to those back in Anchorage.

2015 Iditaods Travis Beals Vet Book. The starting 16 dogs.

travis beals 2015 iditarod vet book. the first page has each dog, their “letter”, and their age.

The vet book itself is rather small and is waterproof. Many mushers elect to tie it to their sled. If you do not have your vet book, you cannot continue down the trail. If you forget your vetbook at one checkpoint, you have to go back and get it — wasting valuable time.

We generally tie our vet books to our sleds so that we cannot lose them. It allows us to access them quickly and prevents the volunteer vets from accidently walking away with them.

Mushers are required to have a vet sign their vet book at each checkpoint. Mushers also have to sign the vet book. The vets may make notes or may simply put an “all good” or a smiley face. Common notes might be about dogs who were prescribed antibiotics.

The vet book is a valuable tool to help mushers and vets make sure that the dogs get the best possible care while out on the race.

This year in training, I am carrying my own “vet book” so that I can practice not losing it. For those who know me, they know my struggle. My book, however, is a bit different. I am using it to make notes about dogs on or directly after a run so that I can keep the best records possible on my team while training myself to hold onto the small yellow notebook. My notes are usually about when I fed or watered and the effects I’m seeing in my dogs. It’s something Aaron Burmeister mentioned casually at the rookie meeting so I figured I would give it a shot. If I’m going to practice carrying a notebook, I might as well make some notes!