“SUN DOGS will melt the coldest heart. ONE MUSH!” – Jimmy Buffett
The feature documentary SUN DOGS chronicling the struggle and adventure of the founding of the Jamaica Dogsled Team will be released on DVD by Palm Pictures, October 2, 2007. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the DVD on our website, www.jamaicadogsled.com, will go to the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as they already do from the sale of our tours and merchandise at Chukka Caribbean Adventures.
Susie Rogan answers the question: What Makes a Good Sleddog?
Ever wondered what makes a dog a good sleddog? A good sleddog has many important traits, but these 7 top the list for what Alaskan Huskies are bred for: 1. Endurance 2. Mental attitude and a will to run 3. Mental strength under pressure: they keep running when the going gets tough 4. Strength: but this is not the most important trait by any means - you want a strong dog but they actually do not have to work that hard for the main part, they just need to keep going at a reasonable effort level. 5. Friendliness: Myth Buster - despite what you read in White Fang or Call of the Wild, sled dogs are bred to be friendly and not to fight with other dogs. The last thing you need out on the trail is a dog that creates injuries with other dogs or which intimidates other dogs into not working. Also, there is no way you would keep a dog that bites people or is not interested in bonding with his or her musher because the relationship between the dog and the musher is critical when things get tough. The dog carries on because he or she trusts her musher and feels a bond. A dog that does not care about the musher will quit when it's not fun anymore. 6. Good eater: This is incredibly important - dogs on the trail in a race like the Yukon Quest or Iditarod consume between 10,000 and 14,000 calories PER DAY! That is 5 to 7 times what an adult human will consume in a day. Dogs that are about the size of a child (45 to 65 pounds) eat about 6 of an adult's breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day for 10 days! To accomplish this amazing feat, they are 'snacked' about 12 times a day, plus 'fed' 3 or 4 times a day, eating a meal about every hour and a half on average. If they are picky eaters or slow eaters, they won't get a chance to eat these meals and they will not make it to the finish line. 7. Good feet and coat
2007-2008 Schedule & Results
DRYLAND SPRINTS (Damion Robb) Cannon Falls, Minnesota – Byllesby Dryland Classic, 4-Dog Rig Class, October 20-21, 2007 – Results: In his first-ever race, Damion Robb finished in 2nd Place
Pearson, Wisconsin – Dirty Dog Dryland Derby, 4-Dog Pro Class, October 27-28, 2007 – Results: Damian Robb finished in 3rd Place
Brainerd, Minnesota – East Meets West Dryland Challenge, 4-Dog Pro Class, November 17-18, 2007 – Results: Damian Robb finished in 1st Place
SNOW SPRINTS (Damion Robb) Kinross, Michigan – Kinross Classic Sled Dog Race, 4-Dog Pro Sled Class, January 5-6, 2008 – Results: In his first race on snow Damion Robb finished in 7th Place
Kalkaska, Michigan – Kalkaska Winterfest, 4-Dog Pro Sled Class, January 19-20, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 10th out of a field of 32 teams
Haliburton, Ontario – Haliburton Highland Dogsled Derby, 4-Dog Pro Sled Class, January 26-27, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 11th out of a field of 19 teams
Land O’ Lakes, Wisconson – Winter Festival/Three Bear Winter Sled Dog Races, 4-Dog Pro Sled Class, February 2-3, 2008 – Damion Robb finished 11th out of a field of 23 teams
Kearney, Ontario – Kearney Dogsled Races, 4 or 6 Dog Sled Class, February 9-10, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 10th out of a field of 28 teams
Merrill, Wisconsin – Pine River Run, February 16-19, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 8th out of a field of 24 teams
Bemidji, Minnesota – 35th Annual Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Challenge, February 23-24, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 5th out of a field of 15 teams
Duluth, Minnesota – Snowflake International Skijoring Classic, 4 Dog Sled Class, March 1-2, 2008 – Results: Damion Robb finished 7th out of a field of 23 teams
SNOW -- LONG DISTANCE YUKON QUEST QUALIFIERS (Newton Marshall) Dawson City, Yukon – The Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race, March 27-28, 2008 (210 miles from Dawson City, Yukon Territory to Eagle Alaska and back) www.thepercy.com – Results: Newton Marshall finished 7th out of a field of 15 with a time of 24hrs and 44mins and received the Sportsmanship Award.
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