Sled Dog Primer

     Some friends who are new to the Iditarod were surprised to see that the sled dogs didn't look anything like what they expected. What they were probably expecting to see was teams of Siberian huskies. Photographers often use photos of Siberian huskies in Iditarod ads because they are such beautiful dogs with that striking black and white face and blue eyes, but only a few mushers have Siberian husky teams because they are usually a lot slower. Bob's team is Siberian huskies and I notice that he sometimes drops behind Jan and Angie.

Connie Starr raced the Cascade Quest with
a team of Siberian huskies. Siberian huskies come in
lots of colors and not all of them have blue eyes. The
Siberian huskies I know weigh 50-75 pounds.
(photo by Ari Sigglin)
 

  













    


    
  
   Alaskan malamutes were typically used to haul freight. They are even bigger than Siberian huskies, stronger but slower. An interesting thing to know: The University of Washington in Seattle, where Jan went to school, calls their sport teams "The Huskies" but the husky mascot is really an Alaskan malamute named Dubs. Check it out!

Sandi Shrager raced Alaskan
malamutes at the Cascade Quest.
Most malamutes I know weigh 80-120
pounds. Malamutes never have blue eyes.

  
















    

     
     The Alaskan huskies you see racing the Iditarod aren't Siberian huskies or Alaskan malamutes, nor are they really related to either one. They are a breed of their own, but not recognized as an "official breed" by the American Kennel Club. They are smaller, faster, and have way less conformity in look. They look like a bunch of mutts to me!



Roo (almost 5 years old) raced Alaskan huskies in the
Crystal Dog Challenge. Roo is the youngest musher I know.
Her daddy did the race with a lot more dogs!
 Alaskan huskies are 35-50 pounds.
(photo by Jana Rice)


 

    
    
   
     I have had Alaskan malamutes for over 25 years, and I still foster malamutes while a rescue organization called WAMAL looks for a good home for them, but my doggies right now are a Siberian husky named Tara and a malamute/husky mix named Timber. They have never pulled a sled. I'm beginning to think they should learn how. I might be missing out on a lot of fun!      CindyK