A summer camp in the US which introduced children to sled dog racing brought the best out of those on both sides of the dog harness.

Lindy Howe and Kevin Quiets, who co-own Maine’s Heywood Kennel Sled Dog Adventures (HKSDA), arranged for girls in the Perham area to meet and greet the animals.

Lessons focused on training, feeding and caring for the magnificent breeds, along with advice on how to work out with sled dogs during the summer months, reports the Bangor Daily News.

"These girls are the future of our sport. They got all the gear out, packed up sled bags and pretended they were going on an expedition," Mr Howe remarked.

The sessions clearly made an impression on youngster Jillian Mandeville, who revealed she would like to try the sport again during the winter.

HKSDA offers numerous sled dog tours in the US, including distance and wilderness tours, which are aimed at "serious outdoor enthusiast[s]".