Sprint Racing Sled Dogs of Snow Country Kennel
Training Our Dogs To Race
Snow Country Kennel is a limited class sprint racing kennel, the type of dogs we run are primarily Eurobonds but we do still have some older Alaskans. We compete in both snow racing and dryland racing. The dogs are prepared for racing through a stable training program which ultimately starts in September, with lots of play time in the summer to keep the dogs active all year. Serious training starts in September usually because that is when the temperatures begin to drop. To ensure the dogs safety we follow the 120 rule (humidity + temperature ) we do not run dogs when it is above 120 because then the dogs are at risk of over heating. Once it does cool off enough to run the dogs are hooked to a 100 pound three wheeled rig in 4 or 6 dog teams. We start out pretty slow around 15mph the focus of rig training is to build muscle not speed. If a dog is pushed to run to fast with out the proper conditioning it is more likely to get injured or quit running because it is being asked to do to much. Everything must be fun and positive for them. After the dogs have some time to build muscle and work on their base conditioning they are transitioned to training on a quad/4wheeler. On the quad we can train bigger teams and still maintain control because the quad is too heavy for the dogs to pull with out motor assistance. If some one decides to chase a deer into the woods we can stop all eight dogs without being dragged after them. After the dogs are going about 3 to 4 miles the ones who will be dryland racing start to get some dryland practice in. Mandy has been dryland racing for 2 years, She races in scooter and bikejor classes and hopes to go to the IFSS world championships this fall in Bristol. Drake the youngest likes to compete in canicross at regional events, he is quite a good runner and hopes to compete in the World Championships also once he is old enough. Forest also would like to try dryland racing this coming fall.
Once enough snow to run sleds on arrives the dogs are broken down into what are going to be that winter"s race teams. So the dogs get put into the teams with the dogs they will compete with at races. Training becomes more class specific and focused. Each team training for the distance they will race. Conditions also play a factor in how far the teams will train day to day. If the trail conditions are not good for longer runs then they will get trained shorter or if they are not good for fast runs they will get trained slower or vice versa. Northern MI gets a daily dumping of snow so trails must get groomed for 1 to 2 hours before every training run. We try to train the dogs 4 days a week so the dog can perform at their best. Races can get pretty tight, some times races are won or lost by mere seconds. The goal is to have a dog team that is not only fast but that also does not make mistakes, the leaders have to be quick thinking, steady, and fearless with a good solid team to back them up.
Dogs usually race competitively from the time they are a year old till they are 7 or 8 years old. Because they are in such good shape all their lives they stay healthy and active for a very long time. After the dogs lose their top end speed, around 7 or 8 years of age, but are still good for running, just not as fast, they are used to train new mushers or puppies. A lot of Snow Country Kennels older dogs go to Jr. mushers looking to get into sled dog racing. They are good safe solid dogs that will keep the kids safe on the trails! Puppies are usually harness broken in a team at 8 months but not raced till they are a year old. They are exposed to harnesses and pulling before they are 8 months, through canicrossing and the pulling of small weights, but nothing that could stress their joints.
To see a dog you have raised from a puppy become a beautiful amazing athlete is one of the most rewarding experiences. Its a sport that requires a lot of work, time and money but its oh so addictive for dogs and musher. The dogs honestly love running, they love their mushers and it just makes it all worth it!
Race results can be checked out at: www.isdra.org
Snow Country Kennel is a limited class sprint racing kennel, the type of dogs we run are primarily Eurobonds but we do still have some older Alaskans. We compete in both snow racing and dryland racing. The dogs are prepared for racing through a stable training program which ultimately starts in September, with lots of play time in the summer to keep the dogs active all year. Serious training starts in September usually because that is when the temperatures begin to drop. To ensure the dogs safety we follow the 120 rule (humidity + temperature ) we do not run dogs when it is above 120 because then the dogs are at risk of over heating. Once it does cool off enough to run the dogs are hooked to a 100 pound three wheeled rig in 4 or 6 dog teams. We start out pretty slow around 15mph the focus of rig training is to build muscle not speed. If a dog is pushed to run to fast with out the proper conditioning it is more likely to get injured or quit running because it is being asked to do to much. Everything must be fun and positive for them. After the dogs have some time to build muscle and work on their base conditioning they are transitioned to training on a quad/4wheeler. On the quad we can train bigger teams and still maintain control because the quad is too heavy for the dogs to pull with out motor assistance. If some one decides to chase a deer into the woods we can stop all eight dogs without being dragged after them. After the dogs are going about 3 to 4 miles the ones who will be dryland racing start to get some dryland practice in. Mandy has been dryland racing for 2 years, She races in scooter and bikejor classes and hopes to go to the IFSS world championships this fall in Bristol. Drake the youngest likes to compete in canicross at regional events, he is quite a good runner and hopes to compete in the World Championships also once he is old enough. Forest also would like to try dryland racing this coming fall.
Once enough snow to run sleds on arrives the dogs are broken down into what are going to be that winter"s race teams. So the dogs get put into the teams with the dogs they will compete with at races. Training becomes more class specific and focused. Each team training for the distance they will race. Conditions also play a factor in how far the teams will train day to day. If the trail conditions are not good for longer runs then they will get trained shorter or if they are not good for fast runs they will get trained slower or vice versa. Northern MI gets a daily dumping of snow so trails must get groomed for 1 to 2 hours before every training run. We try to train the dogs 4 days a week so the dog can perform at their best. Races can get pretty tight, some times races are won or lost by mere seconds. The goal is to have a dog team that is not only fast but that also does not make mistakes, the leaders have to be quick thinking, steady, and fearless with a good solid team to back them up.
Dogs usually race competitively from the time they are a year old till they are 7 or 8 years old. Because they are in such good shape all their lives they stay healthy and active for a very long time. After the dogs lose their top end speed, around 7 or 8 years of age, but are still good for running, just not as fast, they are used to train new mushers or puppies. A lot of Snow Country Kennels older dogs go to Jr. mushers looking to get into sled dog racing. They are good safe solid dogs that will keep the kids safe on the trails! Puppies are usually harness broken in a team at 8 months but not raced till they are a year old. They are exposed to harnesses and pulling before they are 8 months, through canicrossing and the pulling of small weights, but nothing that could stress their joints.
To see a dog you have raised from a puppy become a beautiful amazing athlete is one of the most rewarding experiences. Its a sport that requires a lot of work, time and money but its oh so addictive for dogs and musher. The dogs honestly love running, they love their mushers and it just makes it all worth it!
Race results can be checked out at: www.isdra.org
A Little Bit More Info
Sprint Racing
A lot of people think of distance racing, rugged terrain and the Iditorad, when they think of sled dogs. But that is because the Iditorad gets the most attention from the media. There are actually a lot of other types of racing you can do with dogs, sprint being one of them. In sprint racing the trails are typically a lot shorter and smoother but the dogs run a lot faster than distance dogs. Usually a sprint racers goal is to average 20 mph. In the 6 dog class the race will typically be between 6 and 7 miles. Many classes are usually offered at sprint races, 10 dog, 8 dog, 6 dog, 4 dog, skijor and Jr. classes. the shortest trail for Jr.s will be 2 to 3 miles and the longest would be about 10 to 13 for the 10 dog class. Dryland racing in the fall is also part of sprint racing, they are also typically very short, even shorter than winter races because the mushers are still trying to get their dogs in shape. They tend to be between 2 and 5 miles depending on the class entered. In dryland racing a 4 or 6 dog team is races on a three or four wheeled rig, 1 and 2 dog classes are raced on bikes and scooters. Canicross is where a runner is pulled by a single dog.
A lot of people think of distance racing, rugged terrain and the Iditorad, when they think of sled dogs. But that is because the Iditorad gets the most attention from the media. There are actually a lot of other types of racing you can do with dogs, sprint being one of them. In sprint racing the trails are typically a lot shorter and smoother but the dogs run a lot faster than distance dogs. Usually a sprint racers goal is to average 20 mph. In the 6 dog class the race will typically be between 6 and 7 miles. Many classes are usually offered at sprint races, 10 dog, 8 dog, 6 dog, 4 dog, skijor and Jr. classes. the shortest trail for Jr.s will be 2 to 3 miles and the longest would be about 10 to 13 for the 10 dog class. Dryland racing in the fall is also part of sprint racing, they are also typically very short, even shorter than winter races because the mushers are still trying to get their dogs in shape. They tend to be between 2 and 5 miles depending on the class entered. In dryland racing a 4 or 6 dog team is races on a three or four wheeled rig, 1 and 2 dog classes are raced on bikes and scooters. Canicross is where a runner is pulled by a single dog.
Eurohounds
Eurohounds are a hybrid sled dog that is not limited by breed standards, because they are not a recognized breed that is ever evolving and cant be registered. They are bred for performance so are usually a very sound durable dog with few genetic health issues. Typically they are bred for sprint racing although they have been bred into some mid distance racing blood lines as well. They are a cross between an Alaskan Husky, English Pointer or German Short Hair and a bit of Greyhound. The pointers that are used the cross are imported from Europe. They are imported from Europe because pointers are used as pulling dogs. It started off as hunters would ski into the woods with his dog and have the dog pull back the game, this evolved into a sport called Pulka, then skijor and eventually racing the pointers on a sled in a team. All three are competitive sports in northern Europe today and growing in the USA. Alaskan Huskies are not Siberians although many of the dog go back to Siberians some where in their blood lines. Alaskan huskies are descended from Native village dogs plus any thing else that was crossed into the line to produce a dog that pulled. Such as the Siberian being crossed into the gene pool in the 1900s many other breeds had been crossed in over the years especially during the Alaskan gold rush when many people from southern states where rushing to Alaska to make their claim. Distance mushers race Alaskan huskies quite often. In the 60s and 70s when sprint mushing began to break away from distance mushing and really became its own style of racing the dogs evolved once again and sight hounds began to be crossed in such as Greyhounds and Saluki to produce a faster lighter boned dog that was still durable and liked to pull. These sprint bred Alaskans where then crossed with the pointers in the late 1990s early 2000s and the Eurohound revolutionized the sprint world with a new style of dog once again. The cross basically makes a "super" dog. They are both fast and powerful and can accomplished speeds and endurance combined that neither the Alaskan Husky or a purebred pointer could do on their own.
Eurohounds are a hybrid sled dog that is not limited by breed standards, because they are not a recognized breed that is ever evolving and cant be registered. They are bred for performance so are usually a very sound durable dog with few genetic health issues. Typically they are bred for sprint racing although they have been bred into some mid distance racing blood lines as well. They are a cross between an Alaskan Husky, English Pointer or German Short Hair and a bit of Greyhound. The pointers that are used the cross are imported from Europe. They are imported from Europe because pointers are used as pulling dogs. It started off as hunters would ski into the woods with his dog and have the dog pull back the game, this evolved into a sport called Pulka, then skijor and eventually racing the pointers on a sled in a team. All three are competitive sports in northern Europe today and growing in the USA. Alaskan Huskies are not Siberians although many of the dog go back to Siberians some where in their blood lines. Alaskan huskies are descended from Native village dogs plus any thing else that was crossed into the line to produce a dog that pulled. Such as the Siberian being crossed into the gene pool in the 1900s many other breeds had been crossed in over the years especially during the Alaskan gold rush when many people from southern states where rushing to Alaska to make their claim. Distance mushers race Alaskan huskies quite often. In the 60s and 70s when sprint mushing began to break away from distance mushing and really became its own style of racing the dogs evolved once again and sight hounds began to be crossed in such as Greyhounds and Saluki to produce a faster lighter boned dog that was still durable and liked to pull. These sprint bred Alaskans where then crossed with the pointers in the late 1990s early 2000s and the Eurohound revolutionized the sprint world with a new style of dog once again. The cross basically makes a "super" dog. They are both fast and powerful and can accomplished speeds and endurance combined that neither the Alaskan Husky or a purebred pointer could do on their own.