Photo from the Military Museum Archives

Proper selection of dogs for a team is crucial. They should be similar in height and agility. Experience with dogs has shown that balanced (sanguine) dogs are suitable for sled dog service, although phlegmatic dogs can also be used. Excitable (choleric) and inhibited (melancholic) dogs are completely unsuitable for sled dog service. It has been noted that overly excitable dogs tire more quickly during work, require increased nutrition, and often suffer injuries such as strained front leg muscles. Dogs with this behavior are unsafe for work near an enemy, especially on the front lines, because they react to the various auditory and visual cues of combat with barking and yelping. Furthermore, it is more difficult to train excitable dogs to remain calm while in the «stand» position than a sanguine dog. Dogs of the melancholic type, that is, cowardly, hid in the first available shelter, did not obey commands, and ran away from the handler. The dogs were immediately removed from the battle sleds during combat.