Do we have any mushers here?

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by megensmom

I would love to have a whole team of them but they are very expensive. I lucked out and got Sugi for free because the lady was going on a super long vacation. She gave me his paperwork and included was her bill of sale for $1200. I talked to the breeder and she will sale me a pup if I we are going to have a team for $800 which is a lot of cash. We picked up the Malamute/Husky mix pup from someone who got him and tried to keep him inside an apt.he began tearing up the place. He is between 35-45lbs easy and he is only 4 months old and that isn't fat weight he is slender(my son says he has a figure) He puts on weight real easy so we have to watch him.
In fact all our dogs have been given to us. There are so many that need homes and many people get these dogs thinking its so great to have a Husky since they live in Alaska but they don't do their homework and then when the dog gets bored and into trouble they either sale it or take it to the pound. The big dogs are just our type,racing dogs are easier to get but there is something to be said about going out in the dog area and cuddling up with a big mushy love bug. And they really do keep us hopping. I would say we spend 4+hrs a day with them and making sure they are taken care of and have plenty of attention and exercise.

I don't know which cost is higher, the food and care of the dogs or the time required to take care and train them... But in the long run, if you are a dog person, it is all worth while when they are pulling you down a winter trail. I sponsored a couple of guys for the Iditarod a few years back, and they sell good pups for a fair amount of change. Both had won in years past so they are able to ask top dollar for their line. Some musher's wont' buy dogs from a kennel that they can beat in a race....

Funny how all the PETA people complain about mushing the dogs, they have no clue to how excited the dogs get before a training run (or don't care). They go what you would call just plain "Nuts", when they get hooked up to hit the trail and love it.

Some other friends live out about seventy miles up the Kantishna River area and use to use dogs for coming and going to town, getting firewood, hunting and the like. They had to quit because of the Politics in fishing, they couldn't afford to feed the dogs commercial feed instead of salmon caught on the river.

[megensmom]

That is a shame they had to stop with the dogs. Darn government won't stay out of anything. I have been lucky to get into the inside scoop on free meat for the dogs,so that is really nice and many people have given me salmon from last year for them. That does help with the dog food budget. And we are lucky that our neighbors have 2 older sons that if we want to come to town we can just pay them for their time and they take really good care of the dogs. But there is always something to be done with them either cleaning,cooking for them,repairing stuff,and exercise but it is something we like so we don't complain.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by megensmom

That is a shame they had to stop with the dogs. Darn government won't stay out of anything. I have been lucky to get into the inside scoop on free meat for the dogs,so that is really nice and many people have given me salmon from last year for them. That does help with the dog food budget. And we are lucky that our neighbors have 2 older sons that if we want to come to town we can just pay them for their time and they take really good care of the dogs. But there is always something to be done with them either cleaning,cooking for them,repairing stuff,and exercise but it is something we like so we don't complain.

It is a lifestyle that is really different. If you make it to Nenana, would be glad to intoduce you to some of the former Iditarod and Yukon Quest winners that live here.

[megensmom]

Looks like it is dog house building time again. We picked up a team dog today he is 1/4 Inuit dog and 3/4 Malamute. Thank heavens for transfer sites we have gotten most of our dog house wood from there.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by megensmom

Looks like it is dog house building time again. We picked up a team dog today he is 1/4 Inuit dog and 3/4 Malamute. Thank heavens for transfer sites we have gotten most of our dog house wood from there.

Need a picture when you have time, after building the doghouse....gosh..glad I have little ones compared to them...but they are so cute......