hi all just wondering about your views on sled dog racing do you think it would be right or wrong to ban this. i myself am not convinced one way or the other at the moment as there are strong aruments for and against in this perticular case.what are your views.....

why do they want to ban it?? its what the dogs were made to do!!!

Didn't realise this was even an issue

Any trained sled dogs I've ever seen only really 'come alive' once the harness goes on.

They'll be talking about banning sheep dog trials next

Yes its quite a big issue in one part of alaska at the moment this is where they hold one of the biggest sled races each year. I am not totally convinced that they should ban the race but there is some evidence that animal rights activists ect say cant go unnoticed like how many dog are fed drugs to enhance them for the race and the numbers that have died either during or shortly after the race form exhaustion ect. On the other hand there are peple that think the race bennifits the dogs as this is truly what they live for and when they come alive so its a toughie??????

If the accusations are true then I'd say it would be more beneficial all round if a trustworthy governing body were to be set up and random drug tests were used as in the athletic and horseracing worlds.

Surley for such big events there would be vets and animal welfare charities etc to oversee no dog was mistreated in the name of competition?

I really know nothing about it but it seems that people who know little or nothing about a particular breed should not be the ones making the decisions about their future... we all know where that can lead, don't we?

i tink one of the governing bodys involved is actually a governing body for the breeds of dogs

"They'll be talking about banning sheep dog trials next "

Wishfairy....they already are!!!!!! :(

yes it does sound a step to far this time dosent it ...maybe even fishing will be next on the lists.

The fishing debate has been going on for some time now.

you are out of date devonpoppy....fishing has been targeted by animal rights activists/terrorists for many years :(

you are jokeing right.....well it appears im out of date...see no knowing where it will all end....everything has a knock on effect.

What on earth is wrong in using a dog for the purpose it was designed to do? In itself it isn't cruel, so no problem!
:)

I think that from what i can gather that the basic argument is that perticularly in this race that the dogs are quite often pushed beyond the boundries. hope that helps

there is a difference in doing what its bred to do---and being pushed too hard in a competition, where the dogs needs etc arent taken into account-except for what they need to get them to win, ---i understand the argument, as doing a job theyd take it steady, stop when need be etc, in a race theyre probably pushed far too hard,

Is this about the Iditerode (sp?) the endurance sled race they have every year? If it is I think there is good reason to change the race but not necessarily ban it altogether, both dogs and people can and do die taking part, they have many replacement dogs at each stage of the event with vets checking all animals fitness to contiune etc. Wasn't it Louis Theroux who did it as part of one of his show's last yr or someone like that on the telly?

yes thats the race i myself didnt see the television programme on it but i no that many people thought that it was controversial because it was felt that a lot of the safety... vets ect was all a play for the cameras an not the real reality of it year in year out. like i said i didnt see it so i dont know but ones thing for sure many more of the dogs have died than humans throughout the history of this race.

Surely it makes more sense to ban the people who abuse the sport, rather than the activity itself?
:)

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Sounds more like PETRA causing trouble as usual to me!

would a dog run if it dident want to?
Same thoughts on horse raceing they wouldent run unless they love it . ok so people say people whip them to do it. answer is no a horse would rear up and bolt not run perfectly theres your answer:D

you make a good point i once said something similar to another person when i first found out and there reply was that the dogs didnt no any better because they had been brought up and bred to do this???? whatever that means i am not quite sure but i see no direct harm in the racing.

who knows the thing is calling for ban on such things as sled races. i can see the knock on affects that banning it will cause. so for something such as racing to be banned maybe seems a step to far

Admin edit: OT subject has been removed. Please keep this thread on topic. Thank you

Ok whoa whoa stop....as they say to sled dogs as there really is only voice commands:rolleyes:

If you are going to make sweeping statements then please please back up your comments with facts...........Devonpoppy thats a lot of posts for a first timer....and a few emotive subjects slipping in

Plus some responses really aren't based in any fact :-(

If you want info on the Iditarod I can give you loads of sites to visit. Both ones by PETA and ones by people who have run the race.

Do you know nearly every year there is one UK Musher in there?

Do you know how many dogs start the race per team, the veterinary checks before during and after they race...that every dog has info carried with the Musher in a vet book. That it is not in their interests to 'drop' a dog. That qualifiers have to be run before the race. That most of the Mushers time is spent caring for the dogs. That there are mandatory 24 and 8 hour layovers.

Do you realise in Alaska that trap lines are still run and dog teams still work for a living? That they are still used as transport in many of the Villages?

Do you even realise:-) that there are three different sleddog races in the UK this weekend with upwards of 200 different teams competing? It's a like a secret world out there you know :D

please dont get me wrong im not arguing the case was just stating some of the reasons that have been listed on other post sites for the race being pertitioned ban..i myself have said all along i dont lie here nor there im sitting on the fence as they say will check out the sites though thanks...

yeah you sit on the fence, but always make sweeping statements, I hope the barbwire off the fence scratches your ass

I know only what i have read about the Iditarod, which is that some dogs have been pushed too hard and died. Not sure exactly what else..... I guess it may be comparable with the Grand National - and the arguments for and against it.

Lindsay