Dog Team

[Wicked Dark]

If the houses are too big they lose their ability to trap body heat. And the white one looks like he's in the transport box on a truck or trailer. If you're going to haul all the dogs at once each box has to be small and from what I've seen they scoot into them willingly. There's a park near where I live that encourages dog team drivers to practice there and run the dogs in all weather. I've talked to some of the people and dog abuse is not something they're acquainted with. I can't imagine people who run trap lines with dogs, say, abusing them either. And a working dog like that isn't a pet, either, so it's different. It's a pretty symbiotic way of life when you run dogs for survival.

[Bambi]

WD is correct- the smaller the house the better retention of heat. These are working dogs so their lives are different then our pets. I am not sure what happens to the dogs when they can no longer work.

[Marko]

Only an animal lover who doesn't understand the use of dog teams in the arctic. Nearly worth their weight in gold, these dogs are very well treated and any good team dog loves what it does and so it isn't exactly slavery. Excellent portraits all.

That's possibly true and if they are well treated that makes me happy. Hard to tell that from these pics though...at least for me.
Either way, of course don't stop posting.

[Wicked Dark]

Next time I catch a team practicing I'll take pictures. They should be gearing up now. It's funny to see them pulling little carts.

[Mad Aussie]

Knowing about the body heat thing sure makes it more pleasant. Seen docos and movies ... no doubting the sled dogs love what they do!

[LusciousWebb]

Gorgeous image, the poor dogs look starved though?!?

[Hillbillygirl]

Love that first image.
As for all the worriers out there. Believe me, these dogs are very well taken care of. Probably more so than a large percentage of their Southern cousins. These animals are their tools, and without them they have no livelihood, and therefore no means to survive. They are fed a very high calorie diet, so no fears of starving either.

[DNPhoto]

Thanks for all the posts! Yes, the dogs that I've seen are well taken care of. It can be hard to see them outside in -40 but they are better able to deal with the cold than we are.