Hello Boys and Girls,
Here is an interesting question from one of the hundreds and hundreds of schools that are following the race and writing to us. It is a good question, so I wanted to answer it in an article to make sure everyone gets to know the answer.
Good Morning Zuma,
Here in Brewster, New York it is 8:15 in the morning and my class has a question for you. We have noticed that some of the mushers are not running with the 16 dogs they all started with. What happened to the dogs that are not in the race anymore? Where do they go when they are out of the race and how do they get there? Also, is there a certain number of dogs that each musher must have when they cross the finish line?
We are really getting excited about what is going to happen next and who will win!
Thanks
The mushers start with 16 dogs on the team. When a dog is unable to continue the race, the dog does not keep running with the team. It stays behind at a checkpoint. The dog that is left behind is called a ‘dropped dog’. Dropped dogs are called that because they are ‘dropped off or left’ at a checkpoint.
Dogs are left a checkpoints for any reason. Most reasons are simply because the dog may have a slight injury or the dog is tired and needs more rest. Sometimes the dog is just having an off day. Some of the dropped dogs are just not working as a good team member.
Each checkpoint is staffed with veterinarians who examine all of the dogs. The vets talk to the mushers about their dogs. The vets write information about the dogs into a little notebook that each musher must carry with them during the race. That notebook is given to the vets at the next checkpoint.
When the musher leaves the dog at the checkpoint, the dog is in the best care. Each checkpoint has veterinary staff. The vets make sure the dogs get meals, water to drink, plenty of rest, and special care if the dog has an injury.
Small bush planes, called the Iditarod Air Force, visit the checkpoints. The ‘dropped’ dogs are put on the planes and flown back to Anchorage or to Nome, which ever is closest or the best place for the dogs to go.
Most of the time, the slight injury a dropped dog may have is not even noticeable by the time the dog arrives back at the Millennium or in Nome. The vets and dog handlers take good care of the dogs at these locations. Before long, the dogs are picked up by handlers and on their way back to their ‘home kennel’.
To answer your last question, a musher must have at least 6 dogs in line when they cross the finish line.
Today, I’ll be visiting the dog lot at the Millennium. I will take pictures of the dogs who have come back from the trail. Watch for those pictures later today!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
38 Comments
We found your article very interesting. We love hearing from you. We are reading your articles each day. We are so happy to know that the dropped dogs are well cared for. Thanks for your valuable information.
Lots of tail wags,
The third grade class at Hope!
This is a very good arctil about the mushers .I think you are a very cut dog and am very exiced about the iditarod winner.
its me AGAIN i was woundering what dogs in and dogs out meaning and also do mushers have dogs they can get out if one is ingerd well thats my question so
peace out homedog
Dogs in are how many dogs arrive at a checkpoint, dogs out are how many dogs a musher leaves a checkpoint with!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
hi my name is Ava. i am wondering how long were you reporting for the iditarod?i love the iditarod. i am study Aliy Zirkle she is in 12th place.
love,
Ava
OH, I’ve been reporting for many years! What fun it is each year. Keep cheering for the mushers!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
you’re the best zuma
can you send me a picture of you because i really dont know what you look like
How old do you have to be to join the Jr. Iditarod?
Jr. Iditarod mushers are 14-17 years old.
what do the dogs eat while they are on the trail?
Hello to all you cool canines! We are writing from Miss Ploeckelman’s fifth grade class in central Wisconsin. We have been learning so much about the Iditarod, and we are following the 2009 race closely! We also have a few unanswered questions we were hoping you could answer for us. Here they are: Do the mushers each have a favorite dog? Can the mushers borrow other people’s dogs or do they have to be the owners of the dogs on their team? How do the mushers pick names for the dogs? Do you get nervous before a race? Do you ever see bears and wolves during the race? Thank you for the great entries you have already written and thank you in advance for answering our questions! We look forward to reading your response!
hi my name is allison and i am in brewster, New York and just want to know if why do the dogs have a blanket on in the pictures
ok bye lots of tail wags
We have 2 questions for you: Winning lead dogs always have yellow flowers placed around their necks. Is there any reason they are yellow? Also, are metal sleds better than the wooden ones?
Thank you!
is it hard to type
This article say they must finish with 6 dogs. When I looked it up for my sons (our school) today the link we found said the minimum number of dogs to finish with is 5. Has this been changed recently or why the difference? Thank you for your time.
The rule is that you must have 6 dogs on line when you finish the race. You can read the race rules by going to the http://www.iditarod.com website and clicking FOR MUSHERS. Then click the rules.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
What is usually won for 1# plase in the Iditarod
Hi zuma do you like to type? today we got to make scimshaw it’s like you carve in to the soap you can make like booties and a paw somekids in my class typed to your friends ;
How did you teach the dog to type?
your dog friends are really cute!!!!!!
When I see pictures of you,you look so cute!Look foward to winning!
Lots of tail wags,
Lauren
I watched Balto the other day
Hey, Zuma, what is your favorite part about the Iditarod? Write back!
i love you Zuma!!! you look so cute!!! i love dogs too. my musher is karin hendrickson and im in the 5th grade with my class. i was wondering. what means stop in the languge they use?
hi im back! do you think i can teach my cats to mush?
-kendra
Lance Mackey rules
Dear Zuma, how cold does it get at night there?
You can go to: http://www.iditarod.com/race/weathercenter.html to get the latest weather information.
Dear sanka, were do you live?
Dear sanka, how old are you in dog years?
Dear Zuma why do you like to write about the race
Dear Zuma at what time does the sun set
Dear Zuma how old are you in dog years
Hello Zuma! In the pictures that I see of you are sooooooo cute! My 5th grade class is looking forward for Lance Mackey winning. How do you think he is doing? Do you know if he will stop at Elim (the checkpiont he is about to reach) and rest? Well, I hope you are doing good too! Bye! Please write me back!
We have followed the race closely and have two questions about the race. What took so long for Jeff King and Hans Gatt to get to Koyuk? Jeff is one of our mushers! What is the difference between a musher being scratched and being withdrawn? Thank you for telling us so much about the race.
Dear Zuma,has any inguries to any of the sled dogs in this years Iditarod?
There are veterinarians at every checkpoint. Dogs who have slight injuries or dogs that are tired stay at the checkpoints with the veterinarians.
Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
i was studying lance macky who got in first place this year
Dear zuma,
what colors are dog booties do they have to wear them the whole entire time of the race?
Good Questions. Dog booties come in all colors. The dogs do not wear them the entire race. There are times when the trail conditions are good and booties are not needed. Also, mushers will take the booties off during rest times. The dogs will then get dry clean booties before they start down the trail again.
If the first musher goes first at some time and an hour later another musher goes wouldent the first person to go win? isnt it oviose that the first person to go win? and how many dogs are on a sled?
Simone
Hi Simone, You asked a good question. It’s hard to explain but the time difference is taken care of at the 24 hour mandatory race. The last person to start the race is the only one who has a 24 hour rest. The person who left just before them rests for 24 hours and 2 minutes. The next person rests for 24 hours and 4 minutes. The first person who left will rest for (and I’m not exact with this) about 26 hours and 22 minutes. I hope this helps. Gypsy