Dogsled racing, squee!

[Heart of Sword]

Who here races their dogs/runs dog sleds when it snows? I'm starting this winter with my insane new dog I got from the pound a couple of weeks ago, Bandit Misao (hehehe...it means bandit of chastity, fidelity, honor, and faith...and it's the name of that cool bandit in Rurouni Kenshin), a lab/greyhound/something-else mix. I'm so excited! *squeeglomps poor dog*

So...anybody dogsled? ^_^

Pictures of my precious Misao...

[SnowLeopard]

I'd like to, but I lack the dog and the snow.

[Ducky]

I had a sled dog (Punky) in middle school and I started to train her. She pulled me on my bike and stuff .... but I didn't get her fully trained before I ended up at mum's and she ended up at dad's and then being giving away because she repeatedly threatened my baby sister.

Sledding seems like it would be awesome, do you have the equipment and stuff to train your dog for it? have you done this kinda thing before? just curious about your prior experiance with the sport... there's an anual sled race in my home area and we've watched it a few times.

[sunet]

oooo, heart of sword, my friend has a sled dog named Misha that looks soooo much like your Misao!! ^^

well this is my first winter in canada & my friend (they have 7 sled dogs ) said that she might teach me how. ^^

[agasfas]

Dodsled racing! Never done it . Would be kind of cool to participate in one or just watch. Though here in Texas we lack one important ingredient... Snow.

Perhaps we can rent out a ice skating ring and have the dogs try to pull a sled on that... Get ready for some Slipping and sliding.
*agasfas's sled hits the wall hard tipping it over*

[Esoteric]

What's snow?

[ShiroiHikari]

I'm gonna move this to the Sports forum~

[Gypsy]

I know a lady that raises teams of sled dogs - they're pretty, but they're also a little mean. They can't be indoor dogs because they won't get used to the elements. She was telling me that other than training them, you really can't bond with them. The only one that you're really supposed to form a bond with is the lead dog, and then pick another dog out of the team for like a back-up. Anyway, I thought it was interesting and as much as I don't get into winter sports, dogsledding looks like a lot of fun.

[Heart of Sword]

I know a lady that raises teams of sled dogs - they're pretty, but they're also a little mean. They can't be indoor dogs because they won't get used to the elements. She was telling me that other than training them, you really can't bond with them.

That's actually not true and isn't good for the dogs. To get dogs used to the elements, you take them out whenever possible. People who run sled dogs sometimes run their house pets. You do have to get your dogs used to snow, but that doesn't mean they have to be stuck outside and you can't all be friends.

Bandit Misao knows how to pull...so...she'll be good at this. *flies behind Misao like a kite while the happy dog runs around the field*

[Gypsy]

She raises purebred teams to sell to professional racers, so she probably knows what she's doing. I'd have to ask her about it to know any more. And while leaving pets out all winter isn't good for them in the least, dogs that are not pets live outside year-round even here in Maine - hunting dogs for example.

[termyt]

(Sorry for grave-digging and all but...)

You sled race, Heart? That is too cool. How's it going? Will I ever see you in the iditarod?