just that if other animals were available im not sure if they would work out as they might go through ice or snow. So the sleds can only be so heavy and same with the animals and its all relative to how much surface area is in contact with the ground. Like they could likely breed goats to survive the conditions but they likely would not work as well.
size of animal which is feasable in a environment is determined by largely 3 things (besides general genetic limits) - climate, food availablilty, and any predators. within tundras it is very beneficial to be big because your surface area to mass ratio would be less (you lose heat through your surface, and the total heat you produce is roughly proportional to your mass). So most tundra animals grow big.
my guess with dogs being prefered is that 1) they are available, 2) humans have history of collab, 3) they are also predators. last is important, as 1 of the reasons to go out is to catch some prey, and dogs are good predators. goat might fit other 2, but does not fit 3 (their pray is usually very sparse, and almost always ‘vegitative’). In areas where there is hardly any other pray (like himalyas), dogs are not raise because their hunting skilss are useless. Yaks (fancy bulls) are raised because they can carry load, and also you can use their “side products” (hair in summer, and milk more generally)
just that if other animals were available im not sure if they would work out as they might go through ice or snow. So the sleds can only be so heavy and same with the animals and its all relative to how much surface area is in contact with the ground. Like they could likely breed goats to survive the conditions but they likely would not work as well.
size of animal which is feasable in a environment is determined by largely 3 things (besides general genetic limits) - climate, food availablilty, and any predators. within tundras it is very beneficial to be big because your surface area to mass ratio would be less (you lose heat through your surface, and the total heat you produce is roughly proportional to your mass). So most tundra animals grow big.
my guess with dogs being prefered is that 1) they are available, 2) humans have history of collab, 3) they are also predators. last is important, as 1 of the reasons to go out is to catch some prey, and dogs are good predators. goat might fit other 2, but does not fit 3 (their pray is usually very sparse, and almost always ‘vegitative’). In areas where there is hardly any other pray (like himalyas), dogs are not raise because their hunting skilss are useless. Yaks (fancy bulls) are raised because they can carry load, and also you can use their “side products” (hair in summer, and milk more generally)
you know I was thinking of mentioning the hairy cows they appear to use in mongolia.