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Run doggies, run
Playing general catchup ... I had family in town this weekend: my brother, his wife and their 1-year-old baby, my nephew Brody. Turns out Izzy-dog loves babies, and she spent the weekend trying to lick him to death, and enduring his ear-pulling and tail-grabbing with remarkable stoicism, in much the same way that she does with Lucky. Both dogs have been sleeping nonstop ever since the baby left. Even Lucky is worn out, and he spent most of his time actively avoiding the baby.
Speaking of dogs, the North American Open sled dog race was this weekend.
Dog handlers hitching up the team before the race.
This is a sprint race, where speed is of the essence. The dogs are very different-looking from the more heavyset, thick-furred dogs that are used in the Iditarod. They look more like greyhounds, with narrow waists and long legs, built for running more than pulling. In fact, some of them are actually crossbred with speed dogs like greyhounds and Salukis.
The musher is helping out his handlers. Most of the racers have at least one handler for every pair of dogs. And you'll see why they need them in a minute...
This is how they keep the dogs from running away before they're ready: the sled is tied to a snowmachine (snowmobile for you people outside Alaska). There are also handlers spaced along the team to hold the dogs.
This is downtown Fairbanks, by the way. They closed off 2nd Avenue and trucked in snow to provide a good surface for the start. The race course loops around Fairbanks and comes back to downtown again.
The dogs are ready to go!
More sled doggies. They come in all colors.
Aaaand... they're off!
Speaking of dogs, the North American Open sled dog race was this weekend.
Dog handlers hitching up the team before the race.
This is a sprint race, where speed is of the essence. The dogs are very different-looking from the more heavyset, thick-furred dogs that are used in the Iditarod. They look more like greyhounds, with narrow waists and long legs, built for running more than pulling. In fact, some of them are actually crossbred with speed dogs like greyhounds and Salukis.
The musher is helping out his handlers. Most of the racers have at least one handler for every pair of dogs. And you'll see why they need them in a minute...
This is how they keep the dogs from running away before they're ready: the sled is tied to a snowmachine (snowmobile for you people outside Alaska). There are also handlers spaced along the team to hold the dogs.
This is downtown Fairbanks, by the way. They closed off 2nd Avenue and trucked in snow to provide a good surface for the start. The race course loops around Fairbanks and comes back to downtown again.
The dogs are ready to go!
More sled doggies. They come in all colors.
Aaaand... they're off!
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