Quote Originally Posted by Glacier

The public perception of mushing is bad enough already.

Mushers used to carry whips and poles,
but the practice has been banned in all races and I don't know anyone who still uses them in training.

I already spend a great deal of time convincing people that sled dogs aren't forced to run, beaten, that they aren't vicious dogs who will attack them on the trails ect.
Tehya will learn to focus eventually!


Hard to believe "the public perception" is negative towards mushing -
but you're in a better position to know than I am.
WHIPS would seem overly extreme to me - I'm shocked to know they were used on dog teams.
The POLE seemed like a *phunn* idea to me - I didn't know people actually carried them and
USED them - seems like a LOTTA Bother to get Fido's attention!

I joke about my Mom's "Dope Slaps" that I grew up with - she wasn't a bit timid about
giving out a "Dope Slap" to the back of my head in a grocery store or other public place -
and I'm positive it was a generally accepted "practice" of loving mothers faced with
an unacceptable behavior from their offspring.
I'm in no way suggesting that YOU EVER abuse your FurKids in the name of "training"!

Sorry to have hit a tender nerve.



/s/ Phred