#Mushing

[dogfancier]

Elizabeth Ricker and her huskies, from an article she wrote on women in mushing published in the AKC Gazette in 1930. At the time, Ricker had partnered with Leonhard Seppala to establish a line of Siberian huskies in Maine.

[tonichelleak]

Dallas Seavey at the Ceremonial Start and ReStart of Iditarod 52. Dallas. Seavey. The kid that believed he was on a trajectory for an Olympic career and not a dog mushing one. Oh, sure, he was like many others of his generation who not only grew up in the presence of many great mushers - all the while helping his dad build a successful racing kennel - but one who watched Iron Will and tried to recreate many of the scenes from the movie... but as he often told tourists - he had no desire to make it his life like his dad had.

Then injuries sidelined his Olympic wrestling dream (was on his way to making the 2008 USA team) so he came home and continued helping his dad build monster teams.

After a while running the puppy team just wasn't enough. Puppy teams are competitive and if you know Dallas even a little bit you know the dude is extremely competitive.

He studied like he was working on a Masters Degree. No one knows the science and stats of the race more than Dallas. Guarantee it.

He won his first title in 2012, then again in 2014, 2015, 2016... took a break after his second place finish in 2017 (we won't rehash the whys) and came back in 2021 to win it again (granted the shorter "Gold Loop Trail" - thanks Covid - but he battled the Rainy Pass Pony Mafia so it still is a huge accomplishment). His '21 race meant he tied for most wins, sharing that record with the legendary Rick Swenson. Swenson was one of Dallas's childhood heroes... and Dallas had broken or tied just about every record Rick had.

This year, Dallas won number six. He is the winningest Iditarod Champion.

It wasn't easy. In November he and two of his handlers took teams out on a training run. His handler running many of Dallas's top dogs was hit by a snow machine. Dogs were killed, some injured with career ending, life altering injuries. The mushers were physically all fine, but mentally... mentally it took a while to feel "normal" on the runners.

Dallas borrowed dogs from his dad to make a competitive Iditarod team, it wasn't ideal - but he'd done it before. The Ceremonial Start and ReStart seemed to go on without an issue. Crowds cheered the musher on and he quickly slipped into the routine.

Monday of race week rolls around. Dallas' birthday. Early that morning an aggressive moose plowed into Dallas' team, the only thing for the musher to do was dispatch the moose. If you've followed the race you know what happened next. Dallas did not properly gut out the moose, one of his dogs was injured but it wasn't noticeable right away (dog is fine now), he was penelized for the improper dressing out of the moose. Dallas was not going to win.

Then things changed in the second half of the race. Teams who decided to try to outrun Dallas who was already dealing with time penalties pushed too hard, too long, too soon. Dallas caught up. And then Dallas did what Dallas does.

And now Dallas Seavey is the only six time champion in the history of the race.

That's a wild ride. (see what I did there? no, oh, well.... you can find out what I mean here.)

To view high quality photos, or purchase, click here.

For more see ReittersBlock.com

[tarisbackyard]

Doing some research rn trying to figure out the logistics of Snake keeping 50 dogs for mushing, and the more I learn the more insane it seems.

Apparently Twin Lakes (where he lived) is inaccessible by car, you apparently can only get there via plane or on foot. In the briefing tapes he mentions that he was gonna attend the Iditarod, which only allows for a maximum of 16 dogs per sled. What was he planning to do with the spare dogs? How did he plan to get to the race site?

Did maybe multiple of the dogs just happened to have fresh litters? Was he planning to bring several dozen puppies along? Was he planning to get all of the puppies adopted out within a month before the race was supposed to start? Was he just gonna leave the other dogs behind for like up to three weeks?

Also, considering that he was probably living via hunting and foraging, how much hunting would he have needed to do to keep so many dogs fed??

What the FUCK are the logistics here?

[littlepawz]

Dogsledding under the northern lights.

[rhiannatruex]

ummmmm what the HECK my dogs are SO COOL.

this was the baby’s first ever race, and our first time ever placing and receiving a ribbon!! the turn out was huge for this race so that made placing feel even more special.

they both ran so well, best I’ve ever seen. Bjork found her stride & finally understood the word “onby” lol. we did two successful passes (without being passed, also a first!!!)

Im so proud of them both, I cried when we got our ribbon. their reward was ordering their custom colored harnesses! (and a yummy meal with lots of treats)

[darkwood-sleddog]

November 3, 2024

[workingflooff]

I don’t really post about this on here, but when Finn isn’t a service dog, he’s a part-time husky. I joined a sled dog club recently and it’s been a lot of fun.

[guiltyidealist]

Togo (2019) gifs, courtesy of Movies in Short on YouTube

[snowicangel]

I want, a partner so bad. Pspspsps pretty boys.. pspspsps pretty things cmhere cmhere...

[wolfslayer]

photo credits

[losech]

It's now abuse to work a dog in a sport it wasn't explicitly bred for. Got a breed that loves to do something that's not part of the historical use? Tough shit you can only do the thing the breed was originally developed for, nothing else. Clearly you didn't do your research and should have gotten a different breed, even though the breed you have fits your lifestyle and the breed the opinionated thinks you should have does not.

This is probably not the first time someone has had that hot garbage take, but it's hilarious to watch them double down on their stupidity.

Mushing is an incredibly inclusive sport, arctic type dogs are not the only ones that should participate. Many breeds that have nothing to do with mushing have gone into the development of sleddog lines specifically because the arctic breeds did not have what those mushers wanted.

The mushing Border Collies are fine. They love it, they excell at it. I've personally handled the dogs and seen them race, there is no abuse whatsoever in allowing those dogs to run (and beat professional sprint teams, they're that good)

[kinda-tired-ak]

Finally got some snow after a dry and dusty October!

[tonichelleak]

Iditarod 52 Rookie Connor McMahon at the ReStart in Willow, Alaska. Connor's race ended prematurely in the best interest of his dog team. Connor was known by fans as the happiest looking musher throughout his entire race and the hope is we'll see the musher try again soon. To view high quality photos, or purchase, click here.

For more see ReittersBlock.com

[trans-duckling]

To Become a Pack: Akino, Shiba & Urushi

“I’m here to ask for your help” he said, maintaining a calm posture. “I’m a Konohan shinobi and I know you were, too.”

“We still are” a high voice came from his right. “Our loyalty should not be taken lightly.”

“Of course” Kakashi quickly corrected, “I apologize.”

“How did you find us?” another voice asked in front of him, this one lower.

“I have a very good sense of smell” he explained, risking to add afterwards: “And I think you wanted to be found, too. You’re ninken, I doubt it was an accident that I saw you several times, am I wrong?”

---------------------------------------------------------

It's time to complete the pack!

This chapter contains some drama and brings back some sadness, but not in the sense of Uhei's and Bull's chapters, you'll see!

My intention with this was to give Akino, Shiba and Urushi a different past from the others; for them to have a good experience with a bad outcome and now having to find their own way.

It is a rather long chapter, even when I cut some scenes that I found that were too much, but I hope you enjoy it anyways!

With this I only have one more chapter left + the sort epilogue, so exciting :))

[homebrewstims]

Qimmiq - The Canadian Esk*mo on Expedition | Documentary Film sled dog (VOSTFR/EN)

Just a few shots from a 1.5-minute segment of this 20-minute-long video!

Though this isn't my footage, I took the time to make the gifs. See my terms of use BEFORE you reupload!

[tommillerca]

After we finish our evening bikejor loop, Dnipro gets rewarded with a few minutes of Jackrabbit Rodeo. Sorry about the analog horror vibe with the shaky cell phone holder.