Iditarod 2007

I may sound stupid but what is the Iditarod 2007?

The Iditarod is basically THE big sled dog race.  It's long, grueling, frustrating, tiring...and apparently, incredibly rewarding for those who participate in it.  Some of the best dogs in the country compete in this race.

The Iditarod is the the most FAMOUS race.

http://www.iditarod.com

The hardest, longest and most grueling, and more traditional is the Yukon Quest, run between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (Canada).
http://www.yukonquest.org

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I was up in AK a few years back when it was going on, I didn't see it myself but I remember it was really big. If I remember right they had to start in Fairbanks that year because there was not enough snow further south or something like that? Nothing like watching a slead dog do what it was breed to do.

Anyone remember the name of the novel about a guys journey with his dogs in the Iditatod? He also wrote "hatchet" but I just can't remember the author or tital of the book. I was going to suggest it as a quick read if your interested in knowing what it's like.

Thanks everyone now I know what it is!  that sounds amazing and also like very hard work, but I'm sure it's worth it!

Wasn't this started to honor the dogs and their handlers who delivered some sort of vaccine many years ago?  It was a life saving vaccine during a time of epidemic?

Wasn't this started to honor the dogs and their handlers who delivered some sort of vaccine many years ago? It was a life saving vaccine during a time of epidemic?

 
 
Yes, but the teams that ran back then didn't have to run over a thousand miles at one time, the teams ran the vaccine in stages, today's race is totally different from the original serum run.
It is super hard on the dogs, and some get injured and some die.

ORIGINAL: snownose

It is super hard on the dogs, and some get injured and some die.

 
Yes, sometimes, dogs die.  Sometimes race car drivers die.  Sometimes boxers die.  Sometimes football players die.  They know there are risks, but they do it anyway, because they love it.

Life would be boring if people didn't take risks, I understand that part, but we as people can decide, is it fair to push it on animals that have no choice?

ORIGINAL: snownose
is it fair to push it on animals that have no choice?

 
Maybe you wouldn't, maybe I wouldn't, but some people do.  Some people have dogs for hog hunting.  Sometimes the dog wins, sometimes the hog wins.  Some people have dogs for bear hunting.  Same thing.  Not everyone coddles their dogs and considers them a pet and a member of the family.  For some people, a dog is a tool.  You have to take care of your tools, of course, but you don't have to pamper them.  I have no argument with them.

Same thing. Not everyone coddles their dogs and considers them a pet and a member of the family. For some people, a dog is a tool. You have to take care of your tools, of course, but you don't have to pamper them.

 
I guess I can't argue with that point, I might not agree, but it is what it is[]

When I was in Alaska this summer my DH and I stood at Mile 0 of the Iditarod trail in Seward.  When we realized how far Nome is, man that is like from Chicago to Denver.  Unbelievable!  Such endurance on the part of the dogs and the humans.
 
Those who have sled dog breeds...can I ask...sled dog breeds that I've seen have to be chained out separately so that they don't fight amongst eachother.  Wouldn't it behoove the breeders to breed for better dog-dog temperament among a breed that is meant to live and work with other dogs?  What's up with that?

From the information I have read, just about all sled dogs are intact males and females.
They even breed during a race at times, hard to keep them a part......

ORIGINAL: snownose

From the information I have read, just about all sled dogs are intact males and females.
They even breed during a race at times, hard to keep them a part......

Okay, did you start this thread just to give out bogus information? Remember, not everything you read on the internet is correct! There are some very twisted anti-sledding sites out there. Before you go any further with this I think you need to visit Alaska so you know what you are talking about.

Dogs breeding during a race is very counter to winning the race. [:@] Most dogs are intact unless they wash out. Mushers do have to breed dogs in order to have teams. If you have a good leader, you are going to want to breed him/her. They are working dogs, not pets.

Here is information on the care taken of the dogs pre-race and during the race. These dogs are extremely special. Everyone should take this good care of their dogs!

In addition they are flown out if they are injured. Mistreating your dogs will get you disqualified.

http://www.iditarod.com/learn/vet-10.html

G33, tying out sled dogs so that they can't get tangled or fight is not just for sled dogs. They aren't aggressive animals. You may not realize it but ANY dog tied out should not be able to touch another dog that is also tied out. They will eventually fight. ANY dog will do that.

You aren't going to keep 20 sled dogs IN THE HOUSE! They are happy outside. Most mushers take their dogs out training several days a week if not nearly every day in the winter. Summer the dogs are trained with 4-wheelers. They get lots of exercise and attention.

Often the dogs get steaks at the end of a race. []

edited to correct typos