The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race: Straight From the Dog’s Mouth

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a sled dog? Here is an excerpt from Couch Slouch’s journal, a member of Spoons Grabilovitch’s sled dog team in the 1,150-mile Iditarod Trail race across Alaska.

Source: Seattle P-I
By NORMAN CHAD

Day 1: Before the race, they check out our teeth, tonsils, eyes, heart, lungs, joints and feet; you’d think we were trying to take out a $10 million life insurance policy… I hate urine tests. Why don’t they ever test the mushers?

…I can’t stand the starting ceremony in Anchorage every year. The crowds are too big. On the other hand, it’s the last chance we get to see fire hydrants for quite some time.

Day 3: …There’s that old expression: If you’re not the lead dog, the view doesn’t change. Like I’m not tired of staring at Sasha’s backside all afternoon… I’d wag my tail, but it’s so cold I can’t feel it anymore.

Day 5: Spoons says we have to be “tougher” than the other teams so we sleep without heaters. If I’m man’s best friend, I’d hate to see what he does to his enemies… I’ll say this though. They go around picking up my poop all day long, so you tell me who’s got who on a short leash.