“Come haw” is an advanced directional command used in mushing that tells the lead dogs to execute a full 180-degree turn to the left. While a standard “haw” command means a left turn at a fork or intersection, “come haw” specifically instructs the leaders to swing all the way around and head back in the opposite direction.
This is one of the more difficult commands for a dog team to perform because the lead dogs must turn directly back toward the rest of the team and pass alongside them on the trail. It requires confident, well-trained leaders that will not be distracted or intimidated by running face-to-face with their teammates for a moment.
In sled dog racing and training, the come haw is used when a musher needs to reverse direction — for example, when they have overshot a turn, reached a dead end, or want to retrace their route. The equivalent command for a 180-degree turn to the right is “come gee.” Mastering these turnaround commands is a key milestone in a lead dog’s training progression.