Bring A Little Iditarod to Your Dog



Definitely NOT a sled dog



My dogs (two Whippets) would totally HATE running the Iditarod.  For one thing Whippets are sprinters, not long distance runners, and for another there is SNOW involved.  The only way they would be anywhere near the race is if they were tucked into the sled bag, wearing a parka, booties, and a snood, covered in blankets and on a heating pad. With a hot water bottle.  And someone slipping them warm snacks.

This gives me a chance to show off my dogs for you all.  That is Sophie (FC Dreams on the Sofa, OTRM, Fch, SRM) there in the red jacket.



Sled Dog



When I was in Anchorage two years ago, I had a chance to go to the WildRide Sled Dog Rodeo.  This is daily summertime event that Dallas Seavey (2012 Iditarod winner) and his family put on to raise money for their mushing kennel.  It was a really fun evening with both dinner and a show.  Aside from the great dinner, Dallas Seavey himself was there to give some background on the history of sled dogs, telling stories of his experiences on the trail, and then showed off the enthusiasm and athleticism of some of his dogs.  Dallas visited with each table during dinner for about 15 or 20 minutes, and I have to admit I completely monopolized him when he got to our table (I didn't feel too bad since I heard one of the kids at the table say "So the Iditarod is a race? With dogs?")  We talked about sled dog breeding and he told me that mushers have attempted to breed Whippets and Greyhounds into their racing teams, but that they tend to have the dominant genes when it comes to coats.  Apparently short, smooth hair is not a plus on a sled dog. 



Snacks



Rudy Demoski, Sr. ladles out food for his team





We also talked a lot about dog food.  Dogs running a long distance race like the Iditarod can consume up to around 10,000 calories per day. During this race, that translates into about 2,000 pounds of food for one team for the entire race. Meat is the main ingredient, including things like salmon and turkey skins but other fats, oils, dry dog foods and vitamin supplements are also included. Many of them use a commercial kibble/hot water mix to make a soup for the dogs as an appetizer and then give them the good stuff. The dogs are fed at each checkpoint but they also get snacks every few hours. Before the race, mushers ship food and gear to points along the trail through the race committee so it is waiting for them at checkpoints.  They typically only carry enough for one or two meals and snacks with them while out on the trail.



Should you want to give your dogs an bit of the Iditarod experience and support the Last Great Race on Earth, check out these yummy treats available in the store at the Iditarod store

Your Sled Dog will LOVE these treats! You get 3 great flavors: Bacon & Cheddar, Peanut Butter & Honey and Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato. Our Iditarod Sled Dog Treats are all natural, no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors and made with natural, human-quality ingredients. Bacon & Cheddar: We start with a wheat and corn-free recipe and add nitrate-free bacon and cheddar cheese to make these crunch snacks absolutely irresistible. We shape the dough into medium-sized bone shapes and bake them to perfection. Peanut Butter & Honey: We start with wheat and corn-free recipe and add peanut butter and real peanuts. Then we add real, natural honey, shape the dough into medium-sized bone shapes and bake them to perfection. Dogs LOVE these treats! Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato: Our Grain-Free dog treats were one of the first baked dog treats to contain zero grains. Why no grains? Some dogs are sensitive to cooked grains, so we use garbanzo bean flour as the base to these delicious treats. Lamb broth and sweet potatoes round out this simple, hearty recipe that would make Grandma proud! Medium bone shape. Extra crunch. Domestic U.S. shipping included in price.