2009-07 Alaskan Dogs

IMG_2482-1 We met Comanche in Talkeetna. He's a guide dog for a blind ex-military man who was a POW for 22 years in Vietnam. Comanche is a Timberwolf! Can't say that I've ever met a Timberwolf service dog before.

IMG_7717-1 Chaining the dogs to a post is a common practice. The bucket contains water.

IMG_7720-1 As I said, it's a tough life.

IMG_7726-1 I thought it was interesting that sled dogs are not any particular breed. There are huskies in the mix, but any dog that is willing to work hard and has "heart" can be part of a team.

IMG_7735-1 This is the dog compound in Denali National Forest. These dogs have the life of Riley. They participate in dog sled demos 3 times a day, get petted by visitors constantly, and, on occasion, get to rescue stranded people during the long winter months. Dog sleds are still very much in use in Alaska. These guys, however, do not have to train for the Iditarod!

IMG_7743-1 What beautiful eyes!

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IMG_7757-1 Note that the handlers hold the dogs off of their front legs and they walk only on their back legs from the kennel to the sled. It supposedly helps the handlers control the dogs, who could easily pull the handlers off balance. It looked pretty strange, though, but they assured us that his was normal.

IMG_7791-1 Run, run, run! It's obvious the dogs absolutely love to pull the sled.

IMG_7806-1 Me, pretending to be a "musher". Wish I could have done it for real!

IMG_7847-1 The "dog sled", used for exercising the dogs during the summer months.

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IMG_7863-1 The dogs get hitched up.

IMG_7867-1 After the ride.

IMG_7878-1 Alaska is all about dogs. This is Atilla, who ran the Iditarod five times. The Iditarod is 1,000 miles. The dogs run, on average, 8 miles per hour for 100 miles a day. Amazing.

IMG_7880-1 This is Randy, who ran the Iditarod five times with Atilla as the lead dog. He has 43 (yes, 43!) dogs on his property and offers dog sled rides. And of course, we had to try it!

IMG_7895-1-2 Along the highway in Wasilla, home of Sarah Palin.

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IMG_7917-1 Patience....