Who Are These Dogs That Pull Sleds? Racing with Poodles

Who Are These Dogs That Pull Sleds? Racing with Poodles
By Robert Forto, PhD

Are they purebreds or mongrels? What sets them apart from other dogs and enables them to work with man under brutal weather conditions? What sort of strange dog is it that yammers and yowls to be a part of a team, preferring to work or race than rest in a warm kennel?

Written pedigrees are not required to enter a sled dog race, nor does the dog have to be a northern breed, although a majority of dogs on the racing trail are related to working dogs of the North. These dogs have a strong instinct to pull. These dogs can be everything from an American Kennel Club registered Siberian Husky, a “one-quarter husky” mixed breed, or any variety in between.  These dogs can be Irish Setters, Walker Coonhounds or even a Border Collie. In search of an unbeatable dog team, dozens and dozens of cross-breedings, in-breedings and line breedings have been tried. Some breeders work within a recognized breed, seeking to refine that breed’s natural talents; others select the fastest and strongest or whatever dogs come to their attention, caring more about performance than good looks or a fancy pedigree.

Racing With Poodles

In 1988 John Sutter of Chugiak Alaska ran a group of Standard Poodles on his Iditarod team. Three of these dogs made it the 1,100-miles to Nome for a thirty-eighth finish out of fifty-two starters. Although the fifty-below weather did not bother them, the Poodles did have trouble with snowballing in their hair and several were dropped due to foot problems. In training Sutter discovered that while Poodles do not have the inherent desire to pull that huskies have, their intelligence and willingness overcome the drawback.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Dog Training Denver | Dog Doctor Radio | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Duluth Dog Works | Minnesota Dog Works
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Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and a musher racing under the banner Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com