PETA is at it again - Page 2

The Iditarod is probably the most scrutinized dog event in American history. There are more AR people in Alaska during this race than there are dogs in the race. Every year a few dogs die on the trail.

Sometimes dogs die on the Iditarod because of some physical issue that was not apparent, that a grueling race brings out. The dogs love to run. They are completely thrilled to do it, like a good Schutzhund dog can't wait to hit that sleeve. They start whining in excitement when the musher makes the turn off the highway to the training trails. Even my GSDs love to go skijoring. (A dog or two or three in harness pulls a person on skiis.) When I finally get all outfitted for mushing with my dogs, I believe they will be just as excited to do it. There is a lot of misunderstanding even from fairly knowledgable regular dog people concerning mushers. For instance, many mushers feed a slurry of food and water three times or so a day to their dogs, and the dogs do not get heated water bowls, etc. I've had people point out to me how terribly abusive this is. The mushers do this because, when the dogs are out in the cold for long periods, they tend to not want to drink as much water as they should. But they do want to eat, so they are tricked into drinking more water than what they would on their own. This is good for their health. I started adding a lot of water to my dogs' food myself, even though all of my dogs get to spend, at the very least, half the day in a heated house. Then there is the chain thing. How horrible chains are! But dogs that are on chains, (attached to a rotating arm that lets them roam 360 degrees) who can just stretch and touch noses with other dogs socially, tend to be more calm, happy, and not be fence fighters. Also, many of these dogs would rather sleep on top of their dog house in ten degrees weather than be inside the warm house with the family. Dogs that have doggie doors and who are allowed to do what they want, make this decision for themselves. It is frustrating for those who are NOT mushers and want a family pet inside with them and not out in the cold on top of their dog house. I took an accredited class on Mushing at the University of Alaska in Anchorage (UAA). It was great fun! The two culmunating activities were to mush a team of Iditarod-bound dogs by ourselves (each person in the class) for about a mile and a half, and to go to the studios of a famous Alaskan artist, Jon Van Zyles. Both activites were fantastic.

The general public CAN NOT BE EDUCATED !!!! and Yes that is MY opinion on it. I see too much of the idiocy of the GP every single day in my job. dumb dumb dumb people out there let me tell ya,, don't beleive me go volunteer at a shelter for 2 weeks solid, then you will see. It would be great but it won't happen... good example "Pit Bulls" there's your sign !!

Well if they can't be educated, they need to be exterminated then. This is the downfall of the US in my opinion. We all know it all, so no room to be taught something. It's rediculouse and if we give up teaching, we have already lost.

You bet Veronica! Those sled dogs LIVE to pull

Remember when you go to the polls to vote who the people are that support not only PETA but that type of mentality. There are tons of PETA's out there that love to take a few isolated situations and blow them up as the norm, then get laws passed that defy common sense. Remember Luisville ? If you continue to vote for the air heads that look at everything through a microscope and fail to step back and look at the big picture then you get what you get. PETA and all the other over the top advocacy groups will always be there trying to get everyone to look at things through their peep hole. Education is a part of the answer, but not the only one. We need to be educated as well, then use that education. How many wrote emails to the Louisville Kentucky Chamber on Commerce back when that issue came up on this message board???? If you did then great. If not then don't gripe.

Olskoolgsds is correct. None of us can afford to turn our backs on any of this and think - let the other guy do it or it's an AKC problem and AKC sucks. The situation in Louisville is a good example of something that many may have figured they'd stay out of since it was only about AKC shows and so what if they can't be held anymore. Not a big deal. Don't get me wrong, most AKC people would feel the same way about something they would perceive as only affecting those of us with imports, most of them wouldn't do anything to help preserve Schutzhund either. Sorry to say that attitude is very wide spread and is self-defeating. BSL and PETA's covert activities intended to stop dog sports is everyone's concern.

Veronica, you are a real dog person. Everyone should ride in the basket of a dog sled, it is such a thrill. I felt as if I were traveling at 100 MPH and I was only there as a passenger. Van Zyles is a fabulous artist, isn't he? There is no tougher breed than an Alaskan Husky. They are fondly called the screaming weasels of the world of dog racing. They feel no pain and by the time they show the mushers they are sick, they are dead. Deaths on the trail are often the results of inhalation pneumonia. If dog vomits during a night run the musher seldom sees that - these dogs move their bowels and urinate while running. The pre-race exam in extensive, an EKG, blood work, but no one can predict what will happen during the race. A musher I know owned an Alaskan that was disemboweled in a dog fight. When the owner broke up the fight the injured dog got up and ran to the house standing there bleeding profusely. She had not passed out due to shock. Her owner wrapped her abdomen with saline soaked gauze and vetwrap and took her to the vet where he sewed her back together. The vet was astounded when she quickly came out of surgery and was back on her feet. It is believed that this is the same drive a wild animal exhibits in a pack environment to mask it's illness or weakness in order to survive. Ain't dogs wonderful animals?

They sure are Blitzen. I love huskies too, I wish they made better pets. They are a hardy breed and as close to wild as you can get and still be domestic. They do live to run or mush just as a GSD should live to serve in it's chosen way.

Alaskans do not make good pets, 4pack, you are right about that. I've alwasy been somewhat of a dog nerd and have long been fascinated with and try to learn and understand all I can about survival characeristics in all breeds. I love to watch GSD's do protection work and I would probably get into herding if Blitz were a clear headed dog. Watching a GSD manage a large herd of sheep or doing bitework just blows me away. I'm easy to entertain LOL.