Consequently to an upsetting post from a visitor at the Cannington Sled Dog Race, the sled dog community felt the need to respond. Unfortunately the blog comments being moderated our responses are not being posted. We are hoping that our voice will get heard through the grape vines (or the magic of web linking) through this blog.
http://www.beyondthedogdish.com/2014/01/cannington-dog-sled-races.html
I understand from her blog and photos that the www.beyondthedogdish.com author is as much of a dog lover as we are. We also understand that her perception of the dogs well being at the event might have been flawed by good intent. I understand her perception as I have been there; I have witnessed sprint sled dog races for the first time at some point and I can tell you that I wasn't to sure what to think. Saying that I didn't jump strait to judgement. Call me naive but I tend to want to find the good before the bad in people, so I fed my curiosity with more time in the dog yard. I am quite disappointed that www.beyondthedogdish.com author didn't take time to ask questions and talk to mushers, we are friendly people and so passionate about our dogs that we could talk about care, training, racing, dog loving...about each of our pup and there particularities on and on and on.....
Like you www.beyondthedogdish.com author, my first time at a sled dog race (and a few more, until I got to know more about sled dogs and races) left me with mixed emotions, but I didn't leave it to that. I now really enjoy the mushing world, I found there people with who I could share my passion for dogs and the outdoors.
Let me explain to you our reaction to your post.
Races are very intense environments, unfortunately its also what the public sees first and the most of racing kennels. We know, and like I said, understand that the public gets an awkward feeling from what they see in the dog yard. It's loud, intense, some dogs are nervous, some mushers are nervous, there is poo, there is pee, there is slobber.... all and all it can be overwhelming and worrisome for the non initiated. This is unfortunate because I can tell you that the great majority of mushers have there dogs care at the top of there priorities. A simple uninformed post like yours can be very damaging for our sport and for the dogs. Races are very strict about dog care. Not only the race authorities are looking out for the dogs but each musher is looking at the other. Race events are reunions where we get to see and judge each other, its actually a great mean of moderating what goes on in dog mushing. Beyond each others spying eye, preparing for races requires top notch care for our dogs. We can't force a dog to work, and definitely can't force a dog to work up to its athletic limits. Preparing a dog to race means working with him so he wants to do so, that means providing it with the best care. An unhappy or unfit dog can't perform. There is no point including a hurt or sick dog on a team as it will slow down the team and a musher is best to race with less dogs than doing so. Saying that, it's best to have a full team and not have sick or injured dogs; we go on and beyond for our dogs to be at there best. Each dog has its little particularities and a good dog musher will make sure to cater to each of the needs of each of its dogs because that's how you get them to perform and because we enjoy and take pride in seeing our dogs being happy. Can you understand how upsetting and frustrating it can be to get the kind of comments you made considering how much we care?
One of the dogs you pictured as a "unhappy dog" is actually from one of the fastest team in Ontario. You don't become the fastest team by abusing your dogs or having unhappy dogs. I think the most upset person from your post was the young man who that dog belongs too. He works, breathes and lives for the dogs. Maybe if you had questioned the musher about that dog you would of found out why the dog was giving you the impression of being unhappy. Maybe you would of found out that the dog is part greyhound and greyhounds tend to have there tail tucked between there legs. Maybe he would of told you the dog is tense in anticipation of running.
My dogs, when there turn comes to race, become extremely tense. They love to run, they just want to go and the biggest stress in there life is waiting for there turn to run. Here's what the public will see during that anticipating period. A dog shaking to the tip of every hair, ears set back, back curled, tail between there legs with the odd whimper and scream. All they are expressing is passive excitement. Even though it looks much more joyful and sweet to see the dogs jumping around of excitement it is much better to have them keep calm; we avoid unnecessary exhaustion and chances of injury. I teach my dogs to keep calm through positive reinforcement, beating them up or getting mad at them would only diminish there will to race. So you might of seen my dogs looking miserable; if you asked, you would of found out what was really going on.
I could go on and on about what you may have perceived wrong but I think the best would be that you come back to a sled dog race and talk with the mushers, I haven't met a racing musher yet that doesn't like to brag about his dogs and tell about there training and care. You might find us slightly defensive but you need to understand that we face biased, uninformed judgement a lot and it is upsetting considering how much of our energy goes into making sure our dogs are well. Oh...and the one thing we hate even more than uniformed judgement is rotten apples, most mushers have no tolerance for dog abuse.
Please, come back to a race and meet us and our dogs.
This upcoming weekend on Saturday many of us will be in Marmora for a race at the snowfest.
PS: We love seeing photos of our dogs and your pictures are beautiful. Even the photos in which you saw upset dogs, my eye sees beauty; of a yellow alaskan looking forward to a race; a hound/alaskan mix which has the look of a dog staring at its owner, maybe expecting an upcoming meal or to get harnessed; a calm and content husky feeling its endorphin rush after a good run.
I will let other mushers comment as I know many have been upset by your post and feel the need to defend the care we provide to our dogs. Don't take any of this as personal attack, we do understand your concerns but we have to be able to respond and explain how your perception may not have been reality.
