How Do Dogs Keep Warm During Iditarod?

libby-4.jpg Libby Here!

The other day I got an email from a classroom in Texas.  They wondered how dogs can keep warm while running in Iditarod.

My human likes to dress me up.  I have lots of coats and jackets.  The coats just make me look  so much cuter!  Don’t you agree?

Try this.  Stand up.   Look at the clock.  Run in place as fast as you can for one minute.  Did you warm up?  I am guessing you felt a little warmer after running fast for a minute.  That shows us that when we exercise, we are burning calories.  We are ‘warming up’.  I am sure you can think of many examples that show moving warms you up.

Our fur friends who are running the Iditarod have their own special ‘natural’ coat.  They stay nice and warm.  Sometimes mushers do put coats on their dogs.  Sometimes when it is very cold and windy, the mushers cover my fur friends with nice warm blankets.  With straw for a bed and the cuddly blanket, I am sure the doggies get a good sleep.

Sled dogs stay warm because of their own coat and because their mushers take good care of them.

I hope you like the pictures I’m showing you today.  During the race this year, I’ll take some pictures of dogs in their jackets.  I will post them on this website just for you!

Just Spinning Some ‘De-tails’!

Libby

30 Comments

  1. Libby, I think you look so cute in your coat, but just as cute without it! Thanks for writing, I followed your stories last year and this year too! I homeschool in Rome, GA where it is much warmer! I picked Lance last year and he won! I am going to follow him again this year. Bye for now. Your friend, Anson

    Posted by Anson Hackett on February 23, 2009 | Permalink
  2. Do you get cold in the Iditarod?I live in Maine?It is cold here too?
    All the K9 reporters have nice thick fur and undercoats to protect us from the cold. It’s just like you putting on a coat to stay warm in Maine. Thanks for writing

    Posted by Emily on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  3. Do you need help typing?Do you like Alaska.?Do you live near a mountain?

    Posted by Mary on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  4. I like your dogs.Your dog Libby is nice.I live in Main it is nice here too.Your dog is cute.

    Posted by Michaela on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  5. Libby,do you get cold when you are in the Iditarod?

    Posted by MIA on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  6. I think you are really cute!Do you have any Brothers or Sisters?It is sometimes cold up here!I`m 7 years old I live in Maine!
    Please read about all the K9 reporters. We have our bios on the blog home page. It will tell you where we live and about our families. Thanks for writing.

    Posted by Grace on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  7. Do you get cold in the Iditarod?Do you have a good Musher?What is your Musher’s name. You look cute in your red and green coat.

    Posted by Natalie on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  8. Libby you looked so cute in that green and red coat or red and green coat. Anyway i got a few questions to ask you. Here they are ; Did you ever get to go on the red carpet ,and did you ever get to ride in a limo , and did you EVER get to HOST a party ?
    your fan
    Elizabeth!

    Posted by Elizabeth S. on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  9. I am learning about the Iditarod race and Hukies.How many dogs are on the sled? Who is the person who drives the sled?
    Hi, Most Iditarod teams start with 16 dogs. The person on the sled is called a musher. Thanks for writing.

    Posted by Isabel on March 4, 2009 | Permalink
  10. Libby you look so cute in the jacket
    Thank you

    Posted by Elyse on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  11. do the jacket hurt or fell good
    It feels warm and soft.

    Posted by colby on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  12. libby you look so kuot in your jacket
    thank you

    Posted by ariel on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  13. do the boste hret

    Posted by ariel on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  14. hi libby my name is colby is it possible to go from alkska to manie
    Hi Colby, you can travel to from Alaska to Maine by flying or driving. It’s a long trip!

    Posted by colby on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  15. Hi!I am from Maine.I think that coat that Libby was wearing is really cool.
    Thanks for writing. Libby really likes that coat also.

    Posted by Grace on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  16. HAVE YOU WON THE IDIDOROD.

    Posted by CHRIS on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  17. Libby looks really cute in her little outfit and i have a question for you has one of the dogs ever got frostbite? have you ever got frostbite?

    Posted by Hillary on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  18. Hi Libby! We just started learning about the Iditarod today and we’ve had a great time reading through your blog! We have a couple of questions for you:

    Does the winner of the Iditarod receive a trophy?

    How many miles does a team usually go in a day?

    Where do you sleep?

    We’re looking forward to your answers!
    From the Red Jacket Elementary School 1st Graders
    New York State

    Hi 1st graders, You asked great questions.
    This years winner will win $69,000 and a truck
    Daily mileage will be different every day and with every team. It will depend on weather conditions, if they are on flat trail or climbing a mountain, and on the individual team. The teams in the front of the pack will travel more miles during the day than the teams in the back of the pack.
    You can check the daily updates and you will be able to figure out how many miles a team has run during the day.
    Did you want to know where I sleep??? or where dogs on the trail sleep? I sleep in my humans house and have a nice warm bed. The dogs on the trail sleep along the trail in beds made of straw.
    Thanks for writing and have fun following the race.
    Gypsy

    Posted by RJ Elem 1st Graders on March 5, 2009 | Permalink
  19. haha you look adorable i really like that on you! to bad im not there to see you i love huskeys and malamutes. When i grow up i want a dog like you ;)

    Posted by Kyndra on March 6, 2009 | Permalink
  20. LOVE your coat its so Cute

    Posted by amber on March 9, 2009 | Permalink
  21. My name is Lawrence I am the smartest one in the whole second grade in computer class we Went on This Blog Your Best Fan Lawrence!!!!!

    Posted by Lawrence on March 9, 2009 | Permalink
  22. Hi Libby, Love the coat that you are wearing. My class is looking forward to following the Iditarod this year. Have fun and stay warm! Janet

    Posted by Janet Page on March 9, 2009 | Permalink
  23. I think your cute and lovely,but I have a question for you.
    Have ever been in a series situation?
    if so how did you solve it?
    I hope you’ll get back to me .
    love,
    Leena Zeidan

    Posted by Leena Zeidan on March 9, 2009 | Permalink
  24. hi libby,
    I saw that you wrote to someone that the winner gets $69,000 dollars!That is alot!I have a couple questions for you.Do you write articles for the alaska newspappers?our class is learning about the iditarod.
    I hope you write back soon!
    your friend jocelyn,
    Hi Jocelyn, We just write for the Iditarod blog. We do not write for any of the newpapers. Thanks for writing. Gypsy

    Posted by jocelyn on March 10, 2009 | Permalink
  25. I love your artacile.How do you type.I love your picture.What is your favorite outfite. WILL YOU SEND A

    Posted by savannah and alora on March 11, 2009 | Permalink
  26. You are cute wen your owner dreses you what els do you ware? And you need to come to ruskin school.

    Posted by Taylor and Gabby on March 11, 2009 | Permalink
  27. You are cute wen your owner dreses you what els do you ware? And you need to come to ruskin school.sind a pictur of your favorite cined of your alfit. Please take of your dog.Who are you named after and who named you.I love your dog picture.Do you have a dress?And you are cut wen you are drest in your alfit.Who are you and your dogs?WHO DO YOU TYPE?Your ouner is cool.

    Posted by Taylor and Gabby on March 11, 2009 | Permalink
  28. I love Libby does she race?

    Hello, no, I am not a racing dog. I’m too little and I’m just a little dog. I am a K-9 Journalist!

    Posted by Andrea on March 14, 2009 | Permalink
  29. Hi Zuma and other dogs i’m writing about Nigel it is going to be soo cool!
    Hi, If you would like you can send us your story about Nigel when it’s finished. We will be posting the stories on the blog. Look for them.

    Posted by Allie on March 20, 2009 | Permalink
  30. Hi i’m crystal luv that outfift u r waring !
    Nice u rock see yay later.

    Posted by Crystal on March 24, 2009 | Permalink

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