Replicating Dog Tra Vois Travel on the Northern Plains

Abstract

This is a study ofthe nature and limitations of prehistoric dog and travois travel on the northern Plains. Indian management and breeding of dogs, including wolj7dog matings, is described Historical accounts oftravois performance limits and of the nature of the Plains dogs are reviewed and found highly dissimilar. To test these accounts, a modern short-haired distance Husky was selected as a reasonable replicate of the extinct Plains dog races and a traditional travois was constructed. Detailed observations on dog and travois travel in various terrains in the Qu’ Appelle valley area, Saskatchewan, follow. Wetlands, scrub, and small gullies proved significant travel obstacles. Short course experiments reveal a drag capacity of at least 27.2 kg. Two 4-day long-course journeys with limited weight (11.8-13.6 kg) were undertaken, one in July, a second in September. Maximum progress in a day was 27.0 Tan. Results suggest that the travois could not be depended upon for summer tribal migrations, owing to heat impairment of dog performance beginning at shade temperatures as low as 8° C. The dog’s water intake was recorded, but water availability proved a less critical control on travois travel than heat.