Sled dogs can run hundreds of miles in a single day, endure harsh weather conditions and live on raw meat and water.

"They just want to do it," said Jason Matthews, sled dog guide. "They want to run, they want to pull the sled, they want to be in the mountains, they want to be in the snow.”

And with snow on the horizon, Matthews has the dogs in the middle of their annual fall training.

"They need to get the muscles going again," he said. "They need to be able to run 20-30 miles without stopping."

The dogs might not look like the ones off of movies like "Eight Below" or "Iron Will," that's because Matthews' pack isn't bred for looks, but to get the job done.

"The Alaskan Husky is a hybrid mutt essentially."

Bred to race, the dogs don't compete much anymore, not with hundreds of tourists flocking to the greater Yellowstone area for dog sled vacations.

"People are coming here not necessarily to get an elk or catch a fish, but they're coming here to see wild life and see the wild places that we have."

Matthews said dog sledding is getting so popular that his business –Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures – attracts travelers from all around the world, including places like Australia, England, Norway and Israel. He adds that while the dogs enjoy the winter visitors, all they really care about is doing what they were born to do.

In addition to Matthews' pack, there are other teams to mush with in the Yellowstone area, including Base Camp Dog Sled Tours in Big Fork and Spirit of the North Dog Sledding in Ennis.