Why were dogs still used for hauling in Plains communities after horses arrived?

Even after the arrival of horses in the Great Plains, dogs continued to be used as draft animals for specific, mundane tasks. While horses were essential for hunting and long-distance travel, they were generally considered too valuable to be used for routine chores.1

Consequently, dogs remained the primary animals for short-distance hauling, such as transporting water and firewood from valleys to nearby camps or villages. Before the introduction of the horse, dogs had been the only domesticated animals available to Plains peoples, serving as draft animals that pulled the travois—a V-shaped vehicle used to carry burdens.12