Hi Boys and Girls,

The Iditarod starts in 2 weeks.  I’m so excited.  I can’t wait.  I hope you are going to have as much fun following the race as I am.  Have you picked a musher to follow yet? What are your classrooms doing to get ready for the race?

I’m going to write several short posts to try to answer some of your questions.  Thanks for all the great comments and questions.  I will answer as many as I can directly in the blog but sometimes, a question is asked more than once or is of a topic I think would interest lots of readers.

Abigail asked about the positions on a dog team.  There are 4 different positions on a dog team.  A dog can rotate positions and doesn’t always stay in one place.  The dogs in the front of the team are called “lead dogs”.  That’s what I’m hoping to be but it takes a lot of hard work to lead a team.  Lead dogs are usually fast runners.  They set the pace and they have to listen and follow the musher’s commands.  They also have to be able to read the trail and sometimes have to make quick decisions.  The musher can’t always see what’s ahead of the team so it’s the lead dogs’ job to go around danger, or stop the team.  It’s a very important position on the team.  Teams usually have more than 2 lead dogs and they rotate the lead dogs into the other positions.  Some dogs are better on hills while others may be better on ice or crossing rivers.  A musher will use the dogs that are the best or most comfortable with the trail and weather conditions.

Behind the lead dogs are the swing dogs.   Swing dogs are usually lead dogs or lead dogs in training.  They are responsible for swinging the team around corners.  This is the position I’ve started running in.  I’m learning my commands by listening to my human and then watching what the lead dogs do. 

Following the swing dogs are the team dogs.  Team dogs make up most of a big dog team like the ones in the Iditarod.  Any dog can run as a team dog.  Many teams rotate their dogs into the team position. 

Next are the Wheel dogs.  Wheel dogs are placed right in front of the sled.  They have the most physically demanding job and are considered the powerhouse of the dog team.  Usually, but not always, Wheel dogs are the biggest and toughest dogs on the team.   I think my brother Slate should be a Wheel dog.  He’s so big and strong. 

Next time you see a picture of a dog team, figure out what position each dog is in.  Each position is very important for the team.  Just like with any sports team, all the dogs and the musher have to work together to be successful. 

Well I’m off to do my kennel chores.  Next time I’m going to talk about humans dressing for the cold weather.

Till our trails meet again,

Gypsy