How to Race Sled Dogs in the Iditarod

The sport of dog sled racing involves several dogs, usually a Husky breed, attached to individual harnesses pulling a sled holding at least one person. The musher as he is called has reigns to control turning and a brake to stop the dogs but he will also use command words to signal the dogs on what he wants them to do. Sled races usually have anywhere from 3 to 24 sled teams that start separately and are racing a clock instead of each other. This is because of the problems with getting so many excited dogs to start cleanly at one time. In many parts of Canada simultaneous starts are very popular however. Races can go for distances anywhere from 4 miles to upwards of 1000 miles! The longer races are broken up into several days. In most cases just over 100 miles a day is the normal trek of the average dog sled team.

This free video series is full of fantastic information about dog sledding and tips on all aspects of the sport. Our expert covers everything from the clothing and gear you need to caring for the dogs. You will see every step of preparing for a sled dog race as hear them all explained thoroughly. These videos are not only informative but the videography is so beautiful you can almost feel a chill in the air just watching them. Whether this is a sport you're interested in or not this series is a must see! MUSH!!
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Author: Expert Village