Physical and Mental Conditioning for the Iditarod

It all starts when they are just puppies. These little bundles of joy seem to simply melt our hearts. And there we are, teaching them skills, earning their trust, and bonding with them. Our goal is to prepare them for the last great race on earth, the Iditarod. Their instinct is to run without stopping. Together, we make a perfect team.

Racing in the Iditarod requires a lot of patience and hard work. Training and conditioning begin as soon as the air is crisp, before the first snowfall. Puppies are groomed to race from the moment they are born. Mushers and kennel owners study each one's individual personality to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Some dogs were just born to lead, while others are made of steel. These huskies usually end up as team and wheel dogs when attached to the gang line. Since they are all raised in a pack, they come to know where they stand and how to operate within the family system. In this way, they work as a team, providing the best result for everyone involved.

Two sets of skills are necessary when conditioning dogs to run the Iditarod. The first involves training, and teaching the pups how to learn. The second requirement is to build muscle and strength in the dogs. A smart dog that can follow orders also needs the physique to do so with ease.

Training the Team

1. Teaching Basic Commands

Puppies are like little sponges. They can learn just about anything, and be eager to learn some more. When they are still just babies, 0 - 6 months old, they need to feel comfortable around people. As people call them by name, they will learn simple commands, like sit, come, and stay.

2. Introducing Equipment

When the pups are about six months to a year old, it is time to introduce them to the harness they will be attached to in the gang line. Each trainer has their own technique for this. One highly recommended way to do this is to line them up next to an adult dog, and take them out on a brief trail run. Adult dogs are great teachers for pups.

Once the dogs have learned the basics, and are comfortable with the equipment, training continues to be reinforced through practice and exposure. Their instincts will guide them, and their loyalty built through training will prepare them for the trail.

Developing Strong Muscles

1. Consistent Exercise

Puppies are bundles of energy. Their muscles are conditioned by virtue of their age. It is important get puppies used to a consistent exercise routine. This is done by creating a schedule, and taking them out on daily walks. It is also done by playing games that help them develop coordination, and athletic ability.

Older dogs, still under a year, need to start hauling things. Their muscles are strengthened when they pull heavy supplies like wood and water from the shed to the house. They need to go on long runs, with and without weighted sleds.

These dogs are still young. Mentally they want to run and play like when they were babies. Discipline plays an important role in preparing them for the race. Taking them on hunting trips is a great way to condition these huskies.

Adult dogs need to build strength as a team. Some mushers hook their dogs up to the front of a 4-wheel drive truck, and let them pull it. The driver of the truck will keep the vehicle going at a speed just slow enough to give the team a good work out.

Adult dogs also need to master sprint and distant running techniques. Continue with hauling and hunting exercises. Make the loads heavier, and have the team take them on longer journeys. Hunting trips may be extended, allowing dogs to mentally prepare their survival skills.

2. Mental Expectations

Sled dog teams need to work together with the other dogs on the team, as well as with their musher. They need to feel confident in what their musher expects of them, and be able to respond accordingly. Most training and conditioning is done at the kennel, and on trails, in familiar surroundings.

Many sled drivers like to expose their teams to their competitors. They enter contests throughout the year, allowing their dogs to get a feel for racing against other dogs. Some of these races develop sprinting skills, while others expose them to long distance running. All of these events teach the team how to respond to competition during the Iditarod.

Conditioning sled dogs to run in the Iditarod is a process. It begins when they are just babies, and continues until they are too old to run anymore. They are born with the instinct and the will to run. Developing the relationship that makes a winning team takes time.