“On by” is a mushing command that tells the sled dog team to keep moving forward past a distraction without stopping or investigating. Distractions on the trail can include other dog teams, loose animals, spectators, food, trail intersections, or anything else that might tempt the dogs to break focus.
This command is particularly important for lead dogs, who must override their natural curiosity or social instincts and maintain their forward trajectory. Training “on by” involves controlled exposure to progressively more tempting distractions, rewarding the dogs for staying on task. It is one of the more difficult commands to master because it requires the dogs to suppress strong natural behaviors.
In sled dog racing, “on by” is used constantly — when passing resting teams, going through checkpoints without stopping, or encountering wildlife on the trail. A team that does not respond well to this command can lose significant time or create dangerous situations by tangling with other teams. Some mushers also use variations like “straight ahead” or “on on” for the same purpose. Consistent training and early socialization help dogs develop the discipline needed to respond reliably to this essential command.