Iditarod: A Tough Journey for Dogs

[meandnature]

haha this PETA guy havent seen a real animal in his life!

[pwwise]

Beautiful doggies. Those dogs love to run. If anyone has ever known a Husky they know. No one in PETA have owned a Husky or have owned a dog. So they wouldnt know. And where is PETA during Spay/Neuter season? I dont see their money being spent to help the real animal abuse. I do see them spending thousands on protesting the Iditarod. Where are their priorities?

[J88Wolf]

*Facepalm* PETA, why do you lie so much?

[Wolf251982]

Awesome Dogs!

[nswe2002]

this is not abuse at all! I was just in Skagway Alaska and went to a mushers camp and I was afraid that it was going to be like greyhounds but it was the exact opposite. The musher loved all of his dogs like crazy! I asked if they are adopted out when they retire and he said he would never get rid of any of his dogs..they are truly his babies. I believe the happiest dogs on this planet are ones with jobs, that includes sled dogs!

[ThePolarguide]

Some mushers punish really hard their dogs. It's as well true that in some kennels they kill the dogs who doesn't work well or the ones who are in panic when they are with the harness. But the most of them, the most, enjoy running so much. It's the only thing they want to do, and if you see some races the dogs, after running 50 or 60 milles, they shake the tail and they just want to keep going. During generations, centuries, huskies just want and enjoy the run. I've been working in kennel.

[SuperMotzinator]

What a wuss.  Its not abuse

[boppy1998]

that ugly dude talking about it being torcher for dogs is an idiot he knows nothing about dogs

[DiamondTeee]

PETA strikes again... they wine worst than any dog.

[jgowee]

It amazes me that people want to take the animal and spirit out of these dogs. Those that believe dog sledding is animal cruelty have no understanding of sled dogs and clearly do not understand anything about a dog's body language. It should be obvious when a dog is excited, happy, and eager vs. when a dog is frightened, in pain, etc. Sled dogs never appear to be anything but happy and more than eager to pull. Too ignorant to recognize something as simple as body language, shut your PETA yap.

[jgowee]

It amazes me that people want to take the animal and spirit out of dogs. Those that believe dog sledding is animal cruelty have no understanding of sled dogs and clearly do not understand anything about a dog's body language. It should be obvious when a dog is excited, happy, and eager vs. when a dog is frightened, in pain, etc. Sled dogs never appear to be anything but happy and more than eager to pull. Too ignorant to recognize something as simple as body language, shut your PETA yap.

[SemperFiAgilityCrew]

Mushers don't kill their dogs for being too slow. They usually rehome them to a rec team or retire them. Get your facts straight PETA.

[MacCairnie]

These dogs have better lives than any city dog. It's a bit wilder, and a bit more dangerous, but they absolutely love to run- it's in their genes. You really can't stop them sometimes- if the musher falls off, they keep on going; if the musher throws the brake down, they'll keep on going until they're forced to stop. Try watching a husky in a city, who only gets to walk a couple kilometers every day- they go nuts.

[Rokufox]

I've seen sled dog races and know people who raise them. They aren't at the starting line looking depressed and hurt...they're like "OMFGLOLZ I WANT TO RUN I LOVE TO RUN RUN RUN RUN OMG I WANT TO RUN RUN RUN RUN!!!!". Somehow I don't think anyone is "forcing" them to do something that they clearly are going to break someone's arm pulling the straps because they want to run so bad. I knew a guy who had the dogs run off without him commanding them. They wanna run THAT bad.

[lizzy665]

PETA has clearly taken the word "ignorant" to a whole new level. Do they even KNOW ANYTHING about sled-dog racing? I doubt it.

I've been to Alaska and I've SEEN how the sled-dogs are trained, raised and treated. These dogs were born to run.

Would you rather have your dog stuck in a 10x10 meter backyard to run in and be miserable for his entire life, or be constantly at risk of danger but be happy running wild?

Personally, I would've picked the latter.

[str8outtatexas1]

what's the big deal about racing a bunch of dogs? there's nothing athletic about it if your a human. it's a bunch of dogs pulling a guy on a sled. wow. but i guess if you live in places that host the event it's a "cool" thing to do.i just don't see anything great about watching dogs pull a guy on a sled.

[Telindra]

As with everything some humans wont treat their animals well, and they will force them with pain and fear to run until they can't run anymore... But it wouldn't be fair for those people that do care and are considering their dogs safety and welfare to be punished, the dogs who loves to pull and run would be punished as well if this sport where to be forbidden due to some idiots not behaving properly. Taking measures to prevent injuries etc is another thing, animal cruelty? No.

[MakoBlaze911]

more dogs die in peoples back yards every week than in iditarod history.ok,there may be a small % of mushers out there who are cruel,but that doesnt mean every musher is.its more cruel to keep em cooped up in the back yard. people say this is like fighting them,but unlike mushing,fighting dogs is wrong,teaching them to rip eachother to bits,and wen u lose ur thrown in the "used" pile and beaten or shot.the only reason huskys excist is to race,its what the wer made for and its in their blood.

[JackHyaku]

@MakoBlaze911 actually just make things simpler...

Dog fighting is illegal period. Same as cock fighting, but most dogs would fight each other regardless... either because they want to gain a higher rank (Alpha) or they just hate being the one who doesn't get enough attention.

So lets keep the irrelevance to a minimum xP

[MakoBlaze911]

@JackHyaku 1.yeah,dogs fight,im not 2, i kno that.but people train them to kill for money and people to watch,its the owners fault if there dog want to gain dominence (srry for bad spelling) theres a difference between dogs fighting on the street for the higher rank,and dogs tearing eachother in a ring for people to make money off,watch and bet on.and who the fuck cares if its illegal,people still do it.

[OhMySavy]

unimaginative and oversensitive people ruin everything adventurous, exciting and fun that there is left in this world.

[TheBestNameOutNow]

I want to punch that PETA guy right in the face. These dogs do this because they want to and it's just a part of them.

[BruceWalters]

PETA killed 97 percent of the animals in its care in the year 2009.

PETA killed more animals in 2009 than dogs died in the entire history of the Iditarod.

[gmarte12]

yeah... what's the hell is PETA's problem?!???

i am with everyone here, we should continue IDITAROD even if dogs die. these dogs were made to run...

and while we are at it, we should allow dog-fighting...

boxers and other dogs out there are made to fight... yeah, they love it!

and while we are at it, i think we should allow people to eat dogs.... just like cows, chicken and other animals.. why can't dogs be eaten if cows and other animals could be butchered? is this some kind of dog racisM?

[gmarte12]

@mushrgrl

you know i had to search for my comment since i didn't think people responded to comments that are months old.... anyway, i will indulge.

so, please see my comment and read it at least 5x. then take Sarcasm 101 at your local community college, get an A, then read my comment 5 more times... then maybe you will agree with me...

[gmarte12]

@mushrgrl nice of you to sign your name in your comments. from someone who is better than you. whohoooo!!!!

[gmarte12]

@mushrgrl

it sure is. and may this be a lesson for you (or an education for you which i will give for free without you having to take loans and stuff since you seem uneducated yourself). never get into arguments with people who loves dogs, especially with someone who loves to comment using satirical or sarcastic language to convey a point.. anyway, off to bikejoring

[angiek723]

I have a siberian husky and we live in an awesome warm climate. She LOVES to run and run and run and run. I literally have to catch her when shes running at the dog park. It is in her blood, it is a part of their breed. They were breed to be family orientated as well as companions for the natives on the trail. Siberian Huskies have been sled dogs from the beginning. The dogs that are in the Ididarod are hybrid dogs. Most are mixed just for this purpose these dogs are breed to do this. they <3 it

[diemfive77]

Stop the "idiotarod". This is not the 1800's.

[arcticwanderer2000]

The guy from PETA makes me laugh. PETA was brought to court for cruelty to animals in South Carolina because they were collecting healthy animals for adoption and killing them within minutes. PETA kills an average of 5-6 animals a day during the same time period the Iditarod loses that same amount in a 2 week period.

[HybridFights]

PETA can shove it! =D

[SatineFallenHellsing]

Yeah it's wrong to spank and hurt the dogs, but also PETA makes it out to be a blood bath. The fact is that sometimes things happen, the mushers and their dogs face the same dangers the Inuit tribes face. Moose, sled mobiles, and other dangers like that are a very real part of the terrian. It sounds like PETA needs to go out and experience it. Instead of talking out their arse as they are want to do.

[priestof1]

you got a holes everywhere that can only show emotion from beating what it is they care *if you want to call it that" about. i want to believe most the people would lay their lives for these dogs. the race originated i think due to a inuit racing meds to a town with huskies. i have huskies, they are awesome dogs and they love to go full speed. they can also be great house dogs lounge and play. i love the breed

[sadie30788]

what the hell happend to the dogs ear at

4:08-4:10 frostbite or did another dog bite it off? if i ever get to do this race it will be about my dogs and compleating the race and not how fast i got to the end

[efuggetta]

What the hell is "spanking" a dog? If you're hitting an animal, you're abusing him.

[MajesticWolfRunner]

so a guess people who spank their children are child abusers then. is that what your saying?

[emily071988]

Animals are not meant to bend to your will. Forcing an animal to do things that are unnatural to them and hitting them to make them do it is abuse. If you tried to make your 3-year-old run a race and he didn't want to do it and you hit him for it, that's wrong. It's the same thing with these dogs.

[dmarks18]

so these dogs love to race yet they wont leave the checkpoint until someone punches and whacks them... hmm i say stop the ABUSE.

If someone wants to run dogs for fun go ahead but why put them through a race that could potentially kill them. I think its some serious bulllshit this ididarod competition.

[Avalikia]

Obviously that particular guy's dogs didn't want to move at that particular time, and he shouldn't have mistreated his dogs. But that doesn't mean that every team needs to be beaten out of every checkpoint or even that it's ever happened before or since that instance. You can't assume so much by the stupid actions of one person.

[akracer22]

I used to own and race sled dogs. They LOVE what they do, and will run forever IF they WANT to. I agree that anyone who mistreats their dogs should be severely punished, but PETA and HSUS have nothing but their agenda to keep. Next time you talk to a PETA or HSUS member, ask them how much of their fundraising money goes to SAVE animals. They even go so far as to have animals taken away from their owners and then have those animals put down. That's calling the kettle black.

[jazzthriller]

@akracer22 I completely agree. I know someone who has sled dogs for a resort and those guys LOVE to run. The serious mushers out there know how to take care of their dogs and to them, the dogs are their family or their kids. People get hurt in the olympics and are there people protesting that? not as much as this. Those dogs were bred to run their hearts out and they do. If a musher mistreats the dogs or overworks them then yes, something should be done about it.

[solexgirl12]

Dogs die of obesity every day. These guys are in such good shape that many will live past 14, easy. We keep all our old dogs and lots of times the 9, 10 year olds will free-run on 25-mile runs behind the sled. Not because we force them to; why would we? They run because they are so upset when they are left at home. I really enjoy following racing even if we only run recreationally. Kudos to Iditarod dogs and their intelligence and stanima!

[gilliangirl1]

It's abuse. Of course those people won't admit it, it's there fame and fortune that's at stake. Animals DIE in those races. 'Nuff said.

[neodymium1982]

You're an idiot.

[akwoof]

Animals die in back yards! Animals die when their people allow them to run loose and unsupervised. Where is PETA and HSUS in the low cost spay and neuter debate? Nowhere!

[wittai]

dogs is a humen frend

[altfseven]

dan mathews and PETA are nothigng but noise polution and if you donate your good money to there inflated salaries please google Pen and teller Bulsh*t PETA

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

I think it's just that these people are born to raise the dogs to race, and they impose their will on the dogs since the dogs can't talk. But even if they could who would listen to them? They'd probably be talking about bacon all day anyway.

[neoserenity333]

HAHAHH, bacon...