Iditarod Update 8/11/22

Hard races are inevitable. While we don’t know all of the details of Ryne’s race, we do know that she’s an extremely respected musher within the world of sled dogs. That’s because her dogs’ physical and mental health take priority over competition, and yet, she’s still a contender. Ryne’s decision to scratch from the race at the McGrath checkpoint represents that truth. 

Before I came to the Ryno Kennel, I’d been talked at by men with experience running and racing dogs. Talk based around a big question: “How do you get a dog to pull a sled when it doesn’t feel like it?” The answers to this question are why there is so much controversy surrounding the sport of mushing. 

As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, my first job at the Ryno Kennel was to take dogs on a walk — untethered, joyful dogs, running off-trail through the woods. This was Ryne’s indirect answer to that controversial question. If a dog doesn’t feel like pulling a sled, then it’s just a dog, and we should do our best to make sure it’s a happy one. 

From what Ryne’s told us about the race, the dogs were more than ready to keep moving down the trail at every checkpoint, regardless of any aches or pains they felt. If you’ve ever been around sled dogs that want to get going, you know how hard it is to keep them waiting. When Ryne decided to scratch, she was looking at a team of happy dogs, but what was best for their physical health was for them to come home. With responsible racing, that’s just the way it goes.

Happy dogs: Sherlock, Dracula, Oryx, and Faff all enjoying their well earned rest at Tyler and Kelsey’s house. Belle has rights to the couch as an old Ryno Kennel retiree.

Good girl, Faffers.