Question

Dog mushing is a key part of The Call of the Wild, and was very important to the Klondike Gold Rush. Using either the Internet or print sources, research the use of dogs during the Gold Rush. Find two or three credible sources that seem particularly interesting, and write a brief paragraph summarizing what you found. (Word limit - 150)

Answer 1

Dog mushing played a crucial role in the Klondike Gold Rush and is a central theme in Jack London's novel The Call of the Wild. The novel illustrates how sled dogs were indispensable for transportation in the arctic conditions of the gold rush. It also highlights the historical significance of dogs in human culture across various roles and societies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dog mushing was integral to the Klondike Gold Rush, as vividly depicted in Jack London's The Call of the Wild. This novel follows Buck, a Californian dog thrust into the role of a sled dog in Canada, battling the brutal conditions of the gold rush era. During the gold rush, sled dogs were essential for transportation and logistics in the harsh arctic environment, where other means were infeasible. Indigenous cultures, like the Assiniboine and the Inuit, had long utilized dogs for transportation and developed technologies like the travois and sledge before the gold rush. This reflects a historical continuity, shown also in how dogs have played roles as shepherds, hunting companions, and protectors in various human societies, according to the significance of dogs in human culture historically.