Seward: Iditarod Doggies of the Seaveys

Dan Seavey has been mushing ever since he came to Alaska in 1963. His love for history led him to study the old Seward-Iditarod-Nome trail. This interest turned into a passion, and in 1971 Dan began working with Alaskan heroes like Joe Redington, Sr., Tom Johnson, and Gleo Huyck to put on a race across Alaska. After two years of hard work, Dan took to the trail with eleven dogs as one of thirty-six mushers in the very first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1973.

People think that the Iditarod was started to honor the dogs who rushed to get diphtheria medicine to Nome in the 1920s.  While that is the reason that the race ends in Nome, that isn't the reason why the Iditarod started, which was to rekindle the interest in dog sleds.

Dan's son Mitch and his grandson Dallas have both won the Ititarod. The family truly loves their dogs and the racing. They share their knowledge of the race,their love of the dogs, and all that is involved in racing with tourists thought their program, Seavey's Iditaride. For $69, I met and petted many of their 70+ dogs including three 5-week-old puppies, learned more about the race, the training of the dogs, equipment, etc. and also rode o a sleigh for two miles as a large group of dogs vied for the opportunity to pull us.

Iditarod Map

There is a town called Ititarod in the middle of the race:.

Spencer, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very mature.  I was surprised to learn later that he was only 21 years old.  He arrived at the Seavey's 3 years ago and started working shoveling dog poop and now is a trainer and one of two non-family employees who is with the Seavey's year round.

Dog and I greet each other

We had a small group, so it was easy to hear and be involved.  We soon found out that The Alaskan Husky is a "mutt" breed and each breeder takes the characteristics that s/he most wants to create the dogs that are needed, including a love of running and pulling a sled.  Most racing dogs are 50 to 55 pounds, much smaller than we had figured.  May are bred with bushy tails too so they can curl up and wrap them around their faces in the cold weather and breathe through them, thus warming the air before they inhale.

Doggie Greets Boy

Doggie by Crate/Kennelsg

The dogs are close enough to be social but not too close.  They each have their own kennels.  In some places they are made of wood but near Seward, it is too moist.

Some wait quietly  to be picked and expectantly while others jump impatiently.

and others stretched

Raring to Go!

a bit off course--training time

Standing up for the photo

Nice scenery along ride

Good Work, dogs!

The one that Spencer is not petting is his own dog who sleeps in his home with him.  He really loves all the dogs a lot!

Many of their dogs are in another, much colder site.  All the older dogs will be there for the colder weather.  There their train in snowy conditions.  Their diet while in training consists of a cup of high protein kibble (not available in regular stores) and 1/2 lb. of frozen meat in the mornings with another cup of kibble and frozen fish at the end of the day.  The frozen food is great for their teeth and the staff catch much of the meat/fish.

Been doggie kissed!

Dog tired (but happy) after run

Then we got to see the puppies.  Three were born about 5 weeks ago.

Mom and pups

Of course we got to hold them and they were really precious!

Mom and pup

Spencer showed us the accessories used by dogs (and humans) while racing.

Booties

Booties are very important, and they go through thousands during the race.

Leg Bandage

Extremely Warm Coat

Fully Dressed

Human Boots for Iditarod

Iditarod Parka + Woolverine to protect face

Sled that won 2004 Iditarod Built by hand by winner Seavey

Sled Brakes

The brakes are not much help if the dogs do not follow the command to stop.  The dogs are so energetic that the brakes would not be of much use if the dogs were not obedient!

There was a malamute at the site, that was found nearby.  The did try to train him but he wasn't much of a sled dog.  He does like the site, however, and has been borrowing this dog house on occasion.  We verified that he wasn't Chinook.

Spencer told us a lot more about the care of the dogs and I wrote good notes, but they are in Seattle and I am not!  When I get back, if I have time, I'll try to add to this entry.  I love dogs, and I was especially happy to see this place and hear the story of the dogs and the Iditarod.