Alot of mushers have summer and winter kennels. Some of the Iditarod mushers go more south for the summer and open up thier kennels for tours and cart rides. Mushing isnt just a winter sport they train the dogs all year so they dont get lazy. In that one picture theres a thing that looks like a merry-go-round that is like a treadmill for dogs they can run around and pull it and when anyone get gets tired they can jump up into their doghouse and enjoy the ride. The bowls on the side of the houses are probably for water so it stays clean.
My aunt went to Jeff King's kennel and she really likes animals and she had only positive things to say. She was suprized because she was also expecting it to be a little harsh. One of the major critics of the Iditarod lives in Miami and bases all her facts on a 90 minute tour thorugh Jeff King's Kennel, which is one of the really nice ones with heated dog barns...., theres a section on that at Sunhusky.com too. I got the chance to go to a musher's summer kennel in Alaska last year. there was maybe 35 dogs including the litter of puppies. It was cleaner and smelled better than many peoples backyards. Remember these dogs get the best food and medical care because the dogs ARE the most important part of mushing.
That www.sunhusky.com site is good, it explains all the critics claims. Go there you'll learn alot.
What most people dont know is that "culling" doesnt mean to kill unwanted dogs it means they dont breed them beacause of a unwanted trait like low endurance or thin coat. These dogs are kept as pets around the kennel or given to other people who just do mushing as a weekend hobby.
What i'm trying to say is you shouldnt make up your mind and sterotype something you have never tried or know little about.
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