Sled Dogs!

I walked to see the sled dog show in the park today. It was interesting to see how excited the dogs were about the prospect of pulling the sled and how fast the sled was on the gravel – it really takes off at breakneck speed. The dogs are so powerful that when the handlers get them to hook them up to the sled they grab them by their neck and haul them up so only their two hind legs are on the ground – all four legs would be too much power to keep from being dragged around by the dog.

Before and after the demonstration you can visit the dogs. There were puppies – obviously adorable. There was also one dog that had the most beautiful long legs and proud body stance. It made me think of an animated dog in a movie which I can’t quite place – I got flashes of it heroically standing on top of a stony overlook with a city below. I couldn’t get enough of this dog.

One dog was playing a game where it would try to flip its upside down food bowl right side up on the gravel, this would take a while, and then it would flip it upside down again. These dogs were clearly smart. They are so smart that it is a dog in a certain position on the sled team’s responsibility to make turns with a delayed reaction after the turn order is given and the lead dogs respond to prevent the sled from tipping over. They learn to do that by experience – if the sled tips over it means you have to stop, and these dogs want to go!

Pictures: Horseshoe Lake; Wildflowers