Some recent AK photo's

[allforcats]

And the dogs do not sleep in bed indoors with their human partners. For one thing, indoors would be too hot for them; they need the cold outdoors, otherwise they'd get sick. And for another, how would you fit 14 or 30 or 70 dogs in a bed? :-)

Also, they're not "puppies", they're grown. Mushers will run a puppy or two beside one or two good teacher adults on simple, short runs, but not long-distance runs or races, because puppies don't yet have the physical requirements or the knowledge and experience to enjoy and run well.

If you do some Googling on the subject, you'll find that sled dogs are, as Rance said, bred to run and pull and can't think of anything they'd rather do, and are also bred for physical and emotional happiness in very cold temperatures. You wouldn't put a polar bear or caribou into a heated human bed at night, would you? Same with sled dogs.

"Happy"? Have you ever seen film, like on Animal Planet or the Travel Channel, of sled dogs being harnessed to a sled? Notice they're jumping and barking, and their eyes are clear and bright, and their tails are wagging all over the place? Notice how all their heads are up and their bodies are erect and eager? If you are ever in a dog yard when the dogs know they're about to pull, you prolly won't be able to stop yourself from laughing and laughing because of their joy that fills the air!

Sled dogs aren't pets, in the usual American sense of the word. They are partners, a very different concept, right?

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by allforcats

And the dogs do not sleep in bed indoors with their humans. For one thing, indoors would be too hot for them; they need the cold outdoors, otherwise they'd get sick. And for another, how would you fit 14 or 30 or 70 dogs in a bed? :-)

Also, they're not "puppies", they're grown. Mushers will run a puppy or two beside one or two good teacher adults on simple, short runs, but not long-distance runs or on any kind of intense races, because puppies don't yet have the physical requirements or the experience to enjoy and run well.

If you do some Googling on the subject, you'll find that sled dogs are bred to pull and can't think of anything they'd rather do, and are also bred for physical and emotional happiness in very cold temperatures. You wouldn't put a polar bear or caribou into a heated human bed at night, would you? Same with sled dogs.

"Happy"? Have you ever seen film, like on Animal Planet or the Travel Channel, of sled dogs being hitched to a sled? Notice they're jumping and barking, and their eyes are clear and bright, and their tails are wagging all over the place? Notice how all their heads are up and their bodies are erect and eager? If you are ever in a dog yard when the dogs know they're about to pull, you won't be able to stop yourself from laughing and laughing because of their joy that fills the air!

Trust me, I am extremely happy to hear that. I live in Miami, FL. Alaskan sled dogs are not what I see every day nor am I a die hard fan of this sport.

I am totally ignorant on this subject so I must thank you for the explanation. Maybe to you football is a violent sport and people get hurt and die too, but it's still popular and the players can't wait to get the chit kicked out of them.

When I said "puppies" I meant it the same way anyone would call a full grown cat, a kitty. Heck, a tiger is a kitty!

[allforcats]

Yeah, vpcats, from the way you worded your questions I figured you are as much a "bleeding heart" about animals as I am!! Hey, lookit both our handles -- cats!!

I used to feel about sled dogs the way you have felt, until I hung around dog yards near Fairbanks and Juneau, and actually saw and heard and felt how the dogs themselves feel about their lives, and really "got" how happy they are being who they came to this life to be. And then I paid a lot of attention to the way mushers talk about the dogs, and to the dogs, and how the dogs talk to the mushers. The whole experience really is a partnership of equals who all benefit by being with each other and working together.

Yay cats!! :-)

[warptman]

That would be a sight to see if someone trained cats to pull a sled. I'd pay to see that.

[warptman]

Oh, by the way, we should keep this topic on photos of Alaska, not a peta sight.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by warptman

That would be a sight to see if someone trained cats to pull a sled. I'd pay to see that.

LOLLLLLLLL.. When you do, please take a picture to post here!

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by warptman

Oh, by the way, we should keep this topic on photos of Alaska, not a peta sight.

What is a peta sight?

[warptman]

PETA, People Eating Tasty Animals

[Manmountain]

Originally Posted by warptman

PETA, People Eating Tasty Animals

very un P.C. Wartpt,


We need to get you in some sensitivity training--- the guvernUment has just what you need---

[emleav]

Your pictures are AMAZINGLY beautiful!! I went up to AK for a summer a few years ago, and went alot of the places you have pictures of!! Brought back tons of memories!! Thank you!!