Ironically, the powerful, dedicated canines profiled in NATURE’s SLED DOGS: AN ALASKAN EPIC are little more than mutts. “The dog we call the Alaskan husky isn’t a formal breed,” explains onetime musher Joe Runyan, who won Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race in 1989. Rather, huskies are mixed-breed dogs that are selected “for performance, not looks,” he says.
In particular, husky breeders are looking for dogs with an instinctive desire to pull long and hard through the toughest conditions. “You’ve got to have dogs that really want to see what is around that next corner,” Runyan says. “They want to be always on the go.”
Still, careful breeding over decades has produced dogs with telltale physiques. For one thing, the best sled-pulling dogs have quick, efficient gaits and remarkable strength for their size. “You rarely see a really good sled dog over about 55 pounds,” says Runyan, speculating that larger dogs are at a physiological disadvantage when it comes to delivering oxygen and blood to the heart, lungs, and muscles. But even small dogs can pull impressive loads. “My daughter had a 43-pound dog that pulled over 800 pounds,” Runyan recalls. With such power, a 16-dog sled team “is like a small pony with 64 legs,” he notes. Bigger teams, including one that included more than 200 dogs, have been known to pull buses and even help move houses. “Their strength can be unbelievable,” Runyan says.
Getting dog teams to pull together, however, takes months of training. In the off-season, for instance, some mushers rope their teams to wheeled carts or four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, and let the dogs pull the chariots along snowless dirt roads. The dogs are so strong and possess such an inherent drive to pull, that according to Runyan, even brakes have difficulty holding them back.
Dogs running the Iditarod have special abilities — and special requirements, like food. Along with their power comes a huge appetite. While a normal mutt might get by on 1,500 calories a day, sled dogs can easily consume up to 10,000 calories per day. And while they’re tough, huskies can have sensitive feet. To safeguard them, mushers tie on polar-fleece booties that keep paws warm and protected. In the Iditarod, a single musher will use about 2,000 booties. Each usually lasts several hours and up to 100 miles.
Once trained, sled dogs can remain in top form for years. It’s not unusual to see 10-year-old dogs in races. Top dogs are highly sought after by breeders to help sire champion lines. And the prospect of owning one is not to be taken lightly. “They take a lot of love and care,” Runyan points out.
To order a copy of Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic, please visit the NATURE Shop.
Online content for Sled Dogs: An Alaskan Epic was originally posted November 1999.
(134 votes)
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i love dogs
i love sled dogs so much that they are all over the walls of my room
April,
The first sled dogs were alaskan Malamute type. As for the Iditarod or serum run the dogs were Malamutes and Siberians that moved the Serum to Nome. Malamutes do not need booties for there feet since the Artic is a natural place for them.These new dogs were bred for speed and winning. Winning is not everything and what tthey do not tell you is the number of dogs that are hurt and suffer form poor feet for sleding. Of course if they had feet like a Malamutes suitable for those conditions there would be know problems.
ILOVE Dogs
I LOVE DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sled dogs are the best.Love ya
11/18/08
Vanessa PIillera
SLED DOGS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!I wish I could see a real sled dog.Sled dogs are the best dogs in the world!!1!!I wish Balto were here.You ROCK Balto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a husky and a malamute, and I tell ya, they are the best dogs. BUT, you have to know how to handle them, they can be very mischeivous, it is in thier nature. Also there have been many reports of them getting loose. (jumping over fences, sneaking out the door) you have to be aware of them at all times… The thing I hate the most is all the adds I see for lost dogs in my area, and most of them are siberian huskies. It breaks my heart. Don’t get one unless ur experienced…
My friend Michael King lives in Alaska and runs sled dogs. Last time I talked with him he said he had 47 sled dogs. Now that is a lot of dogs lol. Michael has been training sled dogs and running guided trips now for over 12yrs. If you have any questions I’m positive he’d be happy to help. If you would like to find out more about him please go to his website at: http://www.alaskatrailkingadventures.com
what is the biggest malamute have u seen and how big do they get?
I love dogs especially snow dogs .Some day I would like for them to give me a ride on a sled. I hope I win tickets to the Iditarod.
i had a malamute and we had to get rid of him cuz he ate the neibors chickens
i hate sled dogs!!!!
I think that malamutes are pretty cool,these alaskan snow dogs remind me of this very fomous book that i read it was called WoodSong by Gary Paulsen.
i like cheese!!!!!!
I FOUND A DOG THAT IS CRAZY !! ALL IT WANTS TO DO IS RUN. IT PULLS US AROUND THE YARD. REALLY, THE DOG IS NUTS. IT JUMPS OVER THE FENCE AND RUNS NON-STOP FOR SEVEN HOURS.IT ONLY EATS FOOD AND DRINKS WATER AT THE END OF THE DAY THEN GOES INTO IT’S BOX AND SLEEPS. IT WAKES UP AND STARTS ALL OVER AGIAN. I FOUND IT IN A PARKING LOT . IT WAS LOOKING FOR A CAR, LIKE SHE FELL OUT OF ONE, THEY SAID EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT A WEEK. RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE ILES. SHE IS VERY THIN, VERY STRONG, PULLS PULLS PULLS. YET AT NITE EATS ALOT OF FOOD AND WATER, WHERE DOES SHE PUT IT. WILL ONLY STAY OUTSIDE. VERY HYPER. WAS HAPPIEST WHEN THE TEMP WAS 28. ONE DAY I WATCHED HER RUN OVER OUT FARM AREA FOR 7 HRS STRAIGHT CHASING BUNNIES. VERY SWEET DOG, DID SOMEONE LOOSE A SLED DOG? HAVE HAD HER FOR A YR. CANNOT KEEP, SHE NEEDS A JOB. COULD NOT FIND OWNER. AGE 18 MONTHS. BOARDING IN FLORIDA.
P.S. I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE HER: LOST ROCKET SILUKI (KI.O.TAY)IDIDAROD DOG <<< NICKNAMES. SHE IS STRONG, FAST, SMART, YOUNG, HEALTHY, DID I SAY FAST? I NOTICED SHE LOOKS ALOT LIKE THE DOGS I SAW IN THE RACE ON TV AND DECIDED TO TRY AND SENT HER TO HER CALLING. ALL INQUIRIES TO MOUNTINANGEL@AOL.COM
i have a unique love for husky dogs…
I am in love with huskys
I luv dogs!!!!
I lov dogs!!!!
I have two husky, one Samoyed, and one Malamute and there all of work to take care of them all.
P.S. i love them all.
I think dogs are sexy!!!
I thought Malamutes were bread for pulling heavy loads for shorter distances, and huskies for lighter loads for longer distances, and regardless if the animal was from the area or not, I thought booties are to protect the animals feet, form ice and rocks, they were never born with a sled attached to their backs thus their feet aren’t designed to be pulling items, they just can, and are used for it, so I would use booties
I love dogs.I have 2 dogs.Do you like dogs?
Go Jeremy! I like oranges. My aunt ran the Iditarod in 1992. She gave me one of her retired dogs. The dog’s name is Kieska. She rocks! I love sled dogs. I’ve got 7; I’m hoping to run the Iditarod.
I love dogs too! yay!
Dogs Are Great
i think there great too
I lo0ve Dogs
OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWww
i also loooooooooooooooooove dogs! yippee!
i thin dogs are cool
I race and I’m 12, I am going to be in the Iditarod in 6 yeaers when I’m 18
dont u love dogs
…i can’t get a citation for this site
I like sled dogs they could bring us history like Balto did.
why are alaskan huskies better at dog sledding?
I love dogs!!!:-D
i luv dogs:)
i love sled dogs!!!!
I have a 3 yr old snowy white huskie named Kiba, he is my sled dog.He refuses to pull anyone else but me!He is a very loyal dog and he would do anything for me!He has even killed a croc for me!(It was preety big!)
im getting a sled dog and its gonna be a siberian husky
Sled dogs are adorible! i’ve always wanted one but my mom says they’re too big to have running aroud the house.
por que?
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
i
like
pieeeeeee
hi yea im the youngest kid to every win a real dog race! i know a anywho about dogs so just ask and all know allthis info is really bad i know more then dumb PBS
i love dogs so much
i hate this site
yo yo yo dawg i am a hommie who loves cats boo dogs
SLED DOGS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!
DOGS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE SLED DOGS THEY ARE JUST VERY BEAUTIFUL AND SO GOOD.
ILY SLED DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LUV SLED DOGS THEIR DA BOMB….LIKE TICK TICK LOL
¶¶¶¶¶•••••¶¶¶¶¶••••¶¶¶•••¶•¶•¶•••••¶¶¶¶ª••••¶¶¶¶••••¶¶¶¶¶¶
Lauren
ˆ ÒØ√´ ÍÒ´Î ÎØ©´ THATS CODE BO YA
ˆ ¬ø√´ ∂ø©ß ßøøøøøøøøøøøø µ¨ç˙ translation i love dogs sooooooooooooo much
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeee
DID YOU FART JETT THAT IS MI DOGGIE
i wonder how long dogs train they must be cold but good for the people that but boots on their dogs horray for all the dogs that are going to be in the race good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
im roxy like a puma
im roxy like a puma yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
i love dogsssssssssssss
dogs are my lifee!
i love them
i have 70005
u dog luvers r insane dogs are awesome but horeses are better
that was okay
2000 booties. lol
This site SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LUV MEEEEEEEE!! I ROX SOX OFF!!!!!!
Animals like Sled dogs are amazing!
This website rules!!!! I love husky dogs too,they are awesome!!!! I have a Husky named Abby she is sooo cute!!!!
i think dog sledding would be so much fun right now. i want to do it when i’m older. any info on it. please e-mail me. thanks!
My dog,Lucy is very sick she is also a Husky breed. I want her to live too. See heres want happened,I have 7 cats (and no I will not name them all) and one of them made Lucy fall off the couch and I have a glass table right in front of it an she happened to land right on the corner of my table in my room! I thought she was okay but she was not! To more info on Lucy write on here to me!!!
I love Dogs and Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love sled dogs!!!!!! They are the sweetest and most cute things in the whole freaking world. lol
i love sled dogs there big n cute
i want a dog even mor now there cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can a pomeranian be a sled dog they are so small lol i cant believe how cute siberian husky`s are i have one its adorable
howwwwwwwwwwwww
awwwww they are sooooo cute i wish i had one. But i have a puggle wich is very cute though
I love Huskies and Sled Dogs more than anybody in the whole world put together! I have one myself he5r name in Mya she os a Siberian Husky Fool-blooded! I LOVE SLED DOGS!!!!!!
I LOVE SLED DOGS LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!!!!! I have them all over my wall i have 16 huskies Mya,Diesile,Max,Nikishka,Brock,Mario,Annabele,Billy, Tray,Sam,Freddy,William,Tom,Balto,Togo,and Jenna! I LOVE THEM AND SLED DOGS! ILOVE THEM MORE THEN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD PUT TOGETHER!!!!!!!:)!
DIE ALL YOU SLED DOG LOVERS THE ONLY SLED DOG AND WILD DOG GIRL IS BRITTNEY RIDDLE OR HUSKY GIRL! I LOVE WILD DOGS AND SLED DOGS MORE THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD PUT TOGETHER! HA HA HAAA!
i love dogs thay are sooooooooooooooooo cute! my brother is weird because he is allergic to dogs!
dogs are the cute’s in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, you guys are soo mature. A thousand explaimation points does NOT prove your point.
i love dogs soooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!! but my gog past away not to long ago but anyways i wish that one day i could go race one day and have my dream come true!
i know i have 2 dogs that i love so much and every time i go out side i play football or just go swimming with them. when i play football it is hard for me to get the ball back from them!
I love dogs and I have a begle her name is Cindy and she can jamp hi.
I have to dogs of my own i love them they are so cute molly and peppi
we saved both molly was thrown in a barn and when we took her home we put her on the floor and she tipped because she was starved to death. Also peppi was thrown in a snowbank out of a car window
I had a husky but the owners took him back I guess it wasnt really our dog
I like sled dogs they are awesome. u rock cheese
i like to eat dogz
People Bolto is only famous because he brought the medicine to he village in alaska and crossed the line.. Plus Bolto ran 53 miles. But Togo was the dog that ran 350!! plus he saved his whole dog sled team and when all the other sled dogs were resting togo didnt give up he was standing when no other sled dog was! Bolto only gets the fame for those 53 miles! Togo does because he didnt go to the village he stopped and gave the medecine to boltos sled dog team 53 miles from the village! but togo really did run 350 miles so TOGO is the famous dog!(or atleast should be!!) this is the thing that makes me angry. that people dont understand that but hopefully when your read this you will understand that togo is an awesome dog .. i mean bolto is awesome to just he shoudent get all the fame!
BTW alaskans dont speak a freaking different language(atleast not all of them) and we dont live in freakin igloos and our schools are not a bunch of igloos put together. im sorry to say this but if you thought we did ur kinda stupid dont you think…? well yea thanks for reading this i guess lmao XD TOGO RULEZ DONT FORGET THAT!!
i think the iditarod is so awsome i wish i could enter but i can’t because i am 9 and i don’t have 4,000 dollars. Bye
i have a husky she is soooooooo cute and has blue eyes and is wight and Grey
my aunt really wants a huskie but they love the cold and they won’t survive.by the way that ant my real name.
do you know balto from the great syrum run,if you do and if you think he won witch he tectnaly did but he did’t.another dog named togo did.balto only ran 53 miles togo ran 350 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!togo did’t even get any credit.
When I grow up, I want to live in Alaska, and maybe run the Iditarod.
hey im ellen. i love dogs and i am 74 but i wish i could be cool enough to be in the Iditarod.
i love dogs!! my dream is to be in the Iditarod! but im only 7!!
I LOVE BALTO!! I WOULD RATHER BE A DOG THEN A HUMAN!!!
i am glad im only 74 because the age limit in the Iditarod is 81 and have any of you read the Gary Paulsen books they are so cool!
hi just so you know i am a Iditarod freak!
oh yeah!i read the Gary Paulsen books and they are AMAZING!! Woodsong is my favorite book of ALL time!!!! i love it!! my dream is to meet him and even be in the Iditarod with him!!!!
he has withdrawn from the iditarod already and thats probaly the last time he will enter. =(
were talkin abot the iditarod
im reading WoodSong with my classmates n teach
“I think that befor the Idintorod race, the racers should be warmed up. other than that, I think Alaska is cool.
THE IDITAROD HAS STARTED!!!! AND I LOVE DOGS! I NAMED MY 2 DOGS GRAPE SODA AND ORANGE SODA!!!
hi!
the dogs are amazing and i love all of the types of sled dogs!
i love american bulldogs AND huskeys
Zane and kyle hi. i love dogz
i currently have 12 dog’s and i am looking for a few more so i can enter the iditarod
im studing sled dogs and the iditarod at my school and we get to pick a muster and i picked jeff king and today he was in 14th place i have to recorded where he and everyone and today he lost one dog and OMG john really u want to enter the iditarod that so cool but u have to be 18 years old unless ur racing in the JR. one tho still kool
i love dogs like siberin huskyes
sled dogs are so cute
hey whats up how are all of your dogs doing
hey how are your dogssssdoing I love dogs they are awesome
I just had one ? how do you win the race
dear millisa owens,
In our class we had to write a paragraph for spelling and I started my paragraph like this: Hi I’m millisa owens I am goinh to tell you some information about the Iditarod, I wrote about you because you are really pretty and I feel bad for you being out there in all of that bad weather.
I love puppys do you?
i hate dogs
i hate dogs
i love puppys
i have read a book about this event. the book is called stone fox.
i have a dog his name is bob
i have a dog his name is billy
hey i need help
you know its a bit helpful but not what i’m looking for but you know what shuuut up!
you know its a bit helpful but not what i’m looking for but you know what
I wish i had a house but i am a stinky HOBO who is in love with ellen O i am already endgaged to her but she probably didn’t here me because the fans were on and she is already expecting
I LOVE AMERICAN BULLDOGS AND HUSKEYS!!!!!!!!! ANYONE ELSE LIKE AMERICAN BULLDOGS????
i love sled dogs
hey i red this book callled stone fox and i have to do this project about sled dogs i came here to get information
i am researching on the breed of dogs 4 a project…….thnx 4 nothing
That was meeee lol im from wbms!!!
hey its me out in the pod!
DOGS ROX my socks off~! lol and so do …nope nothing else
Today I watched the movie balto I thot it was awesome.I never knew he saved someone.Now I call him my hero.
yo
Huskies are the awsomest, i watch idiotorad every year.
hey ilove hotdogs
im special and i love kats
love this place
this has soooooooooo much info
kool
you are a wondful dog
I like your dogs
i love dogs
I love dogs but it’s to bad Melissa Owens got out out of the race
i love dogs so much!
i LOVE dags
hi, i like dogs, they are cute, i have 4, i think the iditarod is cool
When I grow up I want 2 be a musher because I LOVE SLED DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love my sibarian husky!!!!!!!!
I have a german sheperd husky, does that count?
I think melissa should have stayed in the race!!!! She was doing really good in 30th!!!!!!!!!
hi my name is jamie i hate dogs so much im insanly in love with them!;)
I love huskies so much that have it all over my room.
I’m doing a research report on Sled dogs because they are sooooooooo cute
I wish I had a husky! I would be a awsome racer! They rock for their speed, coat and their kindness!!!!! :)
DOES ANYONE ELES LIKE AMERICAN BULLDOGS?
I love American bulldogs
why does everyone love dogs so much
what is culling
i love dogs i love sled dogs more. when i heard about balto saving the children i cried. yoday not many dogs save people. but at the same time making dogs pull a sled evan with plains seems wrong. but it’s my opinion.
balto is annoying
All of the dogs in the iditarod races are amazing
WHAT ARE THE 13 DOG NAMES?!?!?!
the Serum Run amazes me! If anyone has time they should definitely look up some info on Leonhard Seppala! That guy is amazing! All of the mushers should get recognition!
I was doing a report and this was a lot of help!
omg they r s0ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cuuuttttttteeeeeee
im only fifthteen but i was wondering how old you have have to be to race in the iditorode for females
I live in White Mountain, AK. We are the last stop on the Iditarod before the finish line in Nome — 77 miles away. Life is different when the closest Wal Mart is 500 miles away. (in Anchorage, by plane.) We have dogs, but usually use snowmobiles — we call them snow machines to get around in the winter. This year we had four feet of snow. It is just now beginning to melt. In a few more weeks the ice will break up and go down river.
Balto you rock.I just wish you were here
huskeis are the most honorable dogs to have.they are smart,brave,loveable,they are pure hearted. these are some of the reasons i love them.
I agree with Alena, huskies are smart,brave, loveable, and more
I have a husky!
i have a husky named Akita. She is so loveable. It’s so hard to be strict with her though cause she uses the sad puppy dog eyes….
dog are just azaming
i love dogs a lot.at home i have three dogs
i love dogs
is at home
i have three puppys
their so cutes i love them so much
i hate you all. just kidding! or am i?
1 thing i want to know is why dompeople hurt dogs 4 no apperent reason. they should be in jail 4ever!
what do snow dogs eat? i now they eat meat
i love sonow dog’s there my fav i actually live in alaska!it’s cold…..very cold….. ummm. just ask me anything u like i have 7 of em so i would know!
i love husky so much!!!
contrary to the popular belief Togo Balto’s brother was better very unknown but balto only carried the serum a short ways togo carried it over 800 mile’s (either that or 500) so there is a little known fact for you
i had 2 but one died 4 days ago :’(
he is my fav dog/wolf/siberian husky/alskan malamute
:D
Halo out of Czech,my love 6 Siberian(1 16 year!!!)
i love dogs its ben my dream to see the ididorod i love dogs
I once had a husky that pulled down my window and jumped out of my car.
I went dog sledding a couple of years ago in Grand Targhee. It was one of the most fantastic experiences I’ve ever had! Wish I could do it all the time! The dogs are so beautiful!
sled dogs are so cool i have one that is just like the one in the pic!!!!
I love dogs sooooo much but i can’t have em in the house because my mother’s allergic to them.
I like that a lot of people are interested in dog sledding, but what most of you don’t know is that not only do you have to be 18 to run the Iditarod, but it will cost you thousands of dollars for the dogs to run it, I used to live in Alaska and for a couple of years lived up the road from Joe Redington Sr. and his 2 sons, so I do know something about sled dogs
I love sled dogs sooo much! that is my dream! but everyone says i cant! :(