Dear Zuma, Hi, we are Mrs. Earl’s students at the Hanover Street School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. We are keeping a pretend journal and write each day to you in it. We write about different things like what to pack in our sled, moose on the trail, overflows, etc., We were wondering if you have ever raced in the Iditarod or any other race? What is it like to be a canine reporter? It looks very busy trying to keep up with all the musher news. We are having a reading race at the same time as your mushers are moving across Alaska. We have first and second place winners already in our class. Please write to us. From, Mrs. Earl’s class
Dear Boys and Girls,
I am not a racing dog, I am a K-9 Reporter. If I were in training to pull a sled, I’d have no time to write any articles!
What exciting projects you are doing! Keep up the good work! I know you have learned a lot this year!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Dear Zuma and Libby, We like to read your reports. We have a few questions for you. Do the mushers ever put headlights on the lead dogs? How do the mushers know where the trail is? How do they find the trail if they miss it? When do mushers decide the dogs need booties? THanks, Mrs. Nye and Ms. Tyl’s classes
Hello Boys and Girls,
Thanks for sending the questions. Mushers don’t put headlights on the the lead dogs. The mushers know where the trail is because there are trail markers all along the trail. In the night, the headlight or headlamp shines on the markers and there is a reflection. When a musher can’t find trail markers, the musher knows the that they might be off the trail. Mushers put booties on a dog’s feet when the trail conditions might cause foot problems for the dogs. Many mushers have booties on a good amount of the time during the race.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
10 Comments
Hi i’m darian and i’m from Glen Rose Intermediate. We have been learning about the iditerode and the mushers. We each hand pick two mushers in our class.I got Allen Moore,and Karin Hendrickson,they did not get good places,but at least they finished and thats all that matters.I got a question,what do you put on the dogs feet to make it feel better?Do the dogsget to sleep at night or do they keep going?I have many more questions,i stop there.Please write back,your friends at Glen Rose Intermediate
Hi Darian, the mushers may use different things but it’s usually a salve or ointment that is massaged on the dogs feet. The teams rest throughout the race day. If they are running in warmer weather, you will see the teams running at night and resting during the day. A lot of mushers run on a 6 hour run/6 hour rest schedule. Hope that helps. Gypsy
Is racing in a dog sled hard?
Racing sled dogs takes lots of training. Every sport is hard. Every sport takes dedication. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Is it hard to be K-9 repoter? What do you do there?
We like what we do so that makes it easy and fun. First we have to find a story to write about. Then we do research to help us include good information. Then we reread and edit our work. Sometimes we read the other K9 reporters stories before they are posted. We help each other out whenever we can. Once we have a story and pictures that we like, we post the article for you to read. Thanks for writing. Gypsy
how is zuma doing is she ok i wanted to now about her so much. how are yall doing up there is it freezing. zuma i wanted to ask a qustion. were yall all right now is zuma ready to go hame and rest. I told my mom i wanted a photo with zuma on it in my room. well i have to go now hope you right me back
Hello! Zuma here, I am fine and so is everyone else! Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Is it hard to be special k-9 reporter? Is there a secret k-9 society? If there is what do you do?
We don’t have a secret society! We enjoy what we do, so that makes it easier.
Zuma is a fast dog and good dog and I wish I could have him. I would feed him every day I would also take good care of him.I also bet he would be fun!!!!!
how are you doing? How is Zuma doing? Is it frezzing up there? Is it bad up there?
Thanks for the email. I am doing fine. Today, (Monday) it got up to 42 degrees, so I would say right now in this part of the state, it is pretty warm! Spring is on the way. Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
Do you wish you could talk?
I do talk- dog talk but it’s still talking. I bark and howl and let my humans know what it want or need. They are very good at understanding dog talk. Thanks for writing. Gypsy
how is your life? taking it smooth? Do you want offspring?
Thanks!
How did you get so good at typing?Is it possible to train a normel dog to typ?
We all went to a special K9 journalism school. It takes a lot of practice for us to learn to type.