Here’s the third installment in our series of Iditarod and dog mushing posts from Mudflatter LoveMyDogs. I’ve added to it some pictures I took at the Iditarod start in Anchorage nine days ago. Many thanks to LoveMyDogs for these wonderful insights that add so much firsthand knowledge and really enhance our knowledge and enjoyment of the race.
*********************************
The Leonhard Seppala Award
by LoveMyDogs
“In Alaska, our dogs mean considerably more to us than those ‘Outside’ can appreciate, and a sleight to them is a serious matter.” ~Leonhard Seppala, patron saint of dogsledding
Sled dogs are amazing animals. They run for the pure joy of it. They are not a specific breed (in fact they have many different dogs bred into them: including Border collie-or so they say- and more recently hounds and German Shorthaired Pointers). Some are bred for speed, most for good appetites and tough feet as well as good attitudes. Some people breed Siberians for racing because they are beautiful. My first two “sled dogs” were Malamute-mixes (not fast but big, strong, very beautiful and extremely stubborn—not necessarily good traits for racing dogs). A “sled dog” is really defined by the “work” that they do. They belong in the “working dog” group, along with herding dogs, hunting dogs, etc. But they are not specifically a “breed” and not one of them would make it into the AKC (except the purebred Siberians and Malamutes). If you have ever owned a “working dog” you will know that they can go insane (literally) without a job.
~Run Baby, Run!
My Malamute-mixes and I never raced. We never needed to. The most precious times were running under a full moon. No headlamp needed. It is the quiet and the beauty in the cold of winter that I craved. Snow machines can get you there but dogs get you there in a more primitive and more meditative way. The only sounds that you can hear are the sounds of the earth, the wind, the sled runners swishing on the snow and the sound of breathing (yours and your dogs’). If the moment is truly magical, your breath becomes one with those of your dogs. At that moment in time, one realizes how big this earth we live on really is and how we are here for this one moment in time and you and your team become truly connected: Connected with the earth, the sky, everything around you and each other. To connect with another being (that is not human and does not speak your language) is a gift. And how can you help but want more.
“I would see a thing of beauty when running them, or many things, the pictures like frozen jewelry, and there would not be so much beauty when not running them. So I ran them because I wanted to see the beauty again, find the wonderful places they could take me.” Gary Paulsen ‘WinterDance’
Sled dogs are addictive. But what better addiction could you have? The problem is that one gets addicted to their speed and their power. It is truly amazing to pull the hook and feel the sled jerk in your hands as you are whisked away into that silent world of wonder. They speed up when you go around corners-just to see what is on the other side, I guess. You can spend hours watching their tails, their heads, and their ears. They will tell you what is ahead. If they really speed up it might be a moose and you had better be on your toes, or maybe it is just a smell that only they can identify with their finely evolved noses.
~Musher Michelle Phillips’ lead dogs
Then there are the “lead dogs”. A lead dog is special. Not all dogs can handle the mental work of running in front. Most dogs would prefer to chase something. Leaders set the pace and have to be fast enough to stay in front of the rest of the team but not so fast that they burn everybody out. They have to be smart and trainable because theirs is the demanding job of understanding the stupid human’s commands and following them. They are not necessarily dominant dogs but they are always incredibly loyal. They love without question even when the stupid human does something stupid. You can teach most dogs (not all) to lead, but a true leader will do it no matter what circumstances you are in. They have to know how to pull a whole team past another musher, either from behind, or sometimes head on. They have to be confident that they can do it. They are generally given the best spot on the couch or in the truck. They often get first treats. They are the kings and queens of sled dogs. Veteran leaders will teach younger dogs if they are side by side by nipping them on the neck when they start clowning around or getting out of line.
Every sled dog has a different personality. Some howl, some don’t. Some like to play, others are shy. Top teams often have mushers who can put a team together like a basketball coach. I have watched some of the more elite mushers go by our house at night and it is amazing. When they come over a snow berm, there are 64 legs trotting in unison (perfectly matched gaits) and then the sled comes over with a huge plume of snow blowing off the runners. There are 16 sparkly breath clouds above each head and then one, higher up, from the musher’s shrouded face. And then they are gone. It is beautiful to watch, but far, far better to be along for the ride.
Sled dogs are fed like kings (far better than their owners-who often subsist for months on Top Ramen or mac and cheese). They are fed the best meat, fish and fat sources that their owners can buy. They are generally fed twice a day. They get their shots every year. Their feet are tended to as if they were all Paris Hilton. Every toe nail is cut, every split is tended to. The shadow of a limp is cause for immediate concern. They are massaged and stretched. They have special shoulder coats with little pockets to put hand warmers in to keep muscles warm while they are sleeping. There are leg wraps, wrist wraps and any number of liniments, supplements and ointments that go with having sled dogs. Taking care of more than 5 is a full time job. The dogs should always eat before the musher does (even if it is just a snack).
~Musher Aliy Zirkle and one of her lead dogs
The most amazing part of having sled dogs is that they become family (often more important than the musher’s human family). Mushers often eat, sleep and even pee with their dogs. I like howling with mine. On the trail, you are family. You depend on one another for everything. The very air that you breathe is one and the same after all. They can heal you after a bad day at work or a fight with your spouse with one look over their shoulder as if to say “Are you there? We are here.”
For all of these reasons, the Leonhard Seppala Award for exemplary dog care is probably the most coveted. It is awarded by the veterinarians on the trail and, unfortunately (my opinion), it tends to go to the front runners.
Recent Comments