Quote Originally Posted by Twisterdog View Post
I didn't quote Marty as starting the controversy, did I? Check my post again.
I dont need to recheck your post, I rolled my eyes because you contributed to an imagined controversy.



And that's not right, either. One wrong does not justify another.
I didnt say it was right, nor did I try to justify chaining a dog to a tree. But wait, Marty isnt talking about chaining dogs to trees is he? Properly chaining a dog isnt inherently any more evil then keeping one kenneled its whole life.

I don't live around professional mushers, so I obviously am not an expert on the topic. The person we really need to ask is Glacier. But a hundred dogs? Really? Is that common? Sorry, but I do NOT consider someone who owns a hundred staked-out dogs a good example of why chaining up dog is ok. How can a hundred dogs ever be "well-socialized" when they are chained up alone? Why would anyone ever need to own a hundred dogs to run a sled team? Again, not claiming to be an expert on sled dogs, but that sounds like a terrible situation to me.
I live in the Home of the Iditarod, Ill try and get some pics from professional mushers dog yards in the area.

My understanding of the need for a large number of dogs is limited but here we go anyway...

Not every race is going to run the same team, shorter races will run dogs that sprint, longer races will run dogs that have endurance. Not every pup is going to be suited for racing, I dont know how many mushers have their own breeding program but I would bet about half do. As for socializing, I cant say but some of the larger mushers have volunteers and interns who help take care of the dogs upkeep and socializing. Some kennels also do mushing tours for tourists winter and summer, if a kennel does 4 or more tours in a day Ild assume they wouldnt run the same team for every tour day in, day out.


Since this thread is about chaining, I cant say that chaining a dog with water, food, proper shelter, and plenty of attention is any worse then a dog kenneled under the same conditions.