In the early 1980s, Bob Levorsen and Glenda Walling encouraged the International Sled Dog Racing Association and the European Sled Dog Racing Association to seek IOC recognition, which led to the creation of the International Federation of Sleddog Sports in 1985. The new federation gained international standing by joining the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in 1987 and submitting its first IOC application in 1993 after becoming a non-profit organisation. It later expanded its global presence, moving its headquarters to Brussels in 2012 and joining the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) in 2011. The IFSS has also aimed to participate in major multi-sport events, including the Masters Games and the Youth Olympic Games. Since 1990, it has organised World Championships, now held every two years, and has taken over responsibility for the European Championships.
