Sled Dog Day 2025 is on Sunday, February 2, 2025: What is a famous incident from the past where a sled dog (or dogs) saved the day?

Sunday, February 2, 2025 is Sled Dog Day 2025. Sled Dog Day Sled Dog Day is observed

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What is a famous incident from the past where a sled dog (or dogs) saved the day?

The 1925 Diptheria Epidemic in Nome, Alaska. The antitoxin was transported from Nenana to Nome by a series of dog teams in relay.

Two famous names from that event -- Leonhard Seppala, with Togo (lead dog), and Gunnar Kassen, with Balto (lead dog).

Plenty of info on the web...if you're really interested, read "The Cruelest Miles" by Laney and Gay Salisbury

Just a stunning retelling of the story.

The Iditarod is a loosely-based celebration of the Serum Run, and covers part of the same trail used by the relay teams.

ADD: Mutt Lover is right -- Kassen and Balto got the credit, because they made the last leg into Nome with the serum. But their run was not the longest of the relays, nor the most dangerous. IMO, the credit should go to Seppala and Togo, who ran the longest distance in record time, and crossed Norton Sound in the process. :)

Yeah, I get excited about this stuff.

what is the best sled dog for racing?

what is the best sled dog for racing?

The best sled dog is the Alaskan Husky. Its a crossbred dog not a breed.

"The Alaskan Husky is not so much a breed of dog as it is a type or a category. It falls short of being a breed in that there is no preferred type and no restriction as to ancestry; it is defined only by its purpose, which is that of a highly efficient sled dog. That said, dog drivers usually distinguish between the Alaskan Husky and “hound crosses”, so perhaps there is informal recognition that the Alaskan Husky is expected to display a degree of northern dog type. Specializations in type exist within the breed, such as freighting dogs (Mackenzie River Husky Malamute), sprint Alaskans (Eurohound), and distance Alaskans. Most Alaskan Huskies have pointy ears, meaning they are in fact classified as a spitz-type dog.

The Alaskan is the sled dog of choice for world-class dog sled racing sprint competition. None of the purebred northern breeds can match it for sheer racing speed. Demanding speed-racing events such as the Fairbanks, Alaska Open North American Championship and the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous are invariably won by teams of Alaskan huskies, or of Alaskans crossed with hounds or gun dogs. Hounds are valued for their toughness and endurance. Winning speeds often average more than 19 miles per hour (31 km/h) over three days' racing at 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 km) each day.

Alaskan huskies that fulfill the demanding performance standards of world-class dogsled racing are extremely valuable. A top-level racing lead dog can be worth $10–15,000. Alaskans that fail to meet the performance standards of the musher who bred them often go on to be sold to less competitive mushers, allowing them to continue to run."

To find a breeder just do an internet search for kennels that breed sled dogs.

Find breeders that are mushers and are particpipating in races.

The strongest of the sled dogs is the Alaskan Malamute.

Here is a link to a kennel who is quite unique, as they are racing with teams of Purebred Siberian Huskies (Including the Iditarod) and have had dogs on their teams that are also breed ring Champions.

sled dog racing???????

sled dog racing???????

That would be kind of like me (fat, old, out-of-shape smoker) renting a pair of shoes and entering the Boston Marathon.

The folks that run the Iditarod LIVE sled dog racing... every day, all day, all year 'round. If you want to do this, first you move to Alaska...

Also on this date Sunday, February 2, 2025...