Hot dogs show their true grit

It's a dog's life hauling a human up to 8.5 kilometres over rough terrain - but it was all part of the fun for 42 dog sledding teams over the weekend.

The teams had 120 dogs between them, and were participating in the New Zealand sled dog championship at the Kaingaroa Forest course, 20 kilometres north of Taupo.

Ten sprint and freight races between 4.5km and 8.5km long were contested over a track of gravel, clay and pumice.

Chris Skelton caught the dogs and drivers in action.