lead dog

Team's front puller

The lead dog runs at the front of a sled dog team, setting pace and direction.

The term extends figuratively to anyone in a leading position: She's the lead dog on this project.

The expression if you're not the lead dog, the view never changes comments wryly on the disadvantages of following.

leadership

alpha

First Greek letter

front runnerExpected winner
musherDogsled operator
harnessStraps controlling an animal

towline · command · trail · race · sprint · distance · handler · kennel · breeding · bloodline

sled racing

Iditarod

Alaskan sled dog race

mushingDog-sled transportation sport
dogsledAnimal-drawn snow vehicle
sled teamHarnessed animals pulling cargo

checkpoint · booties · Nome · Fairbanks · tundra · arctic · blizzard · headlamp · stake out

traits

trailblazing

Being the first through

pathfindingCalculating efficient travel routes
reliableConsistently performing as expected
focusedDirecting attention narrowly

intelligent · confident · experienced · responsive · driven · stamina · gait · gee · haw · whoa

breeds

husky

Rough-voiced or stocky

SiberianOf northern Asian Russia
purebredOf single breed ancestry
mixed breedOffspring of different varieties

endurance · speed · double coat · blue eyes

Categories

bigwigsbigwig, big shot, big wig, VIP, big kahuna
dog sleddinghusky, sled, harness, musher, Iditarod
sled dogshusky, mushing, sled team, dogsled, musher
dog mushingmush, huskies, malamutes, neckline, gee
IditarodIditarod, Nome, mushers, sled dogs, huskies
Mushingmusher, mushing, sled dogs, dogsled, mush

Opposites

sled team position

lead dogwheeler

One that rotates

hierarchy/status

lead dogfollower

One who supports another

subordinate · bottom dog · underling · lackey · rank and file

Family

dog, lead, leader, leading, dogged, leadership, mislead, leads, misleading

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G