New Zealand Dog News

Reviewing the dog news in New Zealand with editors comments. Someone needs to keep reviewing how our dogs are doing in society.

May 28, 2008

Hooked on huskies: the ultimate athlete


The harder the conditions get the more they like it — sled dogs might just be the ultimate animal athlete.

Imagine a race over 1850km — the distance from Invercargill to Whangarei — a 10 to 17-day grind for the mushers and their dog teams as they try to conquer Alaska's icy mountain ranges, desolate tundra and frozen coastlines.

It's called the Iditarod. It's considered the last great race, and it's a long way from there to Invercargill.

In fact, on a wintry Southland morning it's actually too warm for the dogs as they make their way around a wooded track on the outskirts of Invercargill. "Anything above zero (degC) and they start to suffer from heat stress," said Tony Turner, a sled dog aficionado who is giving his prized pack a training run along the Sandy Point trails.

There are 14 Alaskan huskies — a man-developed breed that has overtaken its Siberian cousin in racing circles -- in New Zealand, and Turner owns most of them. MORE>>

Check the rest of the article to see how much it is to put a dog sled team together... you'll be amanzed!!

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