Are you laughing at Erha? He has been to the Olympics!

When people mention Huskies, they always associate them with derogatory attributes such as "stupid", "dumb", and "naughty"; little do people know that "Erha" was once a participant in the Winter Olympics.

There have been dog sledding events in the history of the Winter Olympics, and Huskies, generally referring to Siberian Huskies, are one of the most common sled dogs. In addition, Samoyeds, Alaskan dogs, Eskimo dogs, Greenland dogs, Russian Laika dogs, Chinook dogs, etc. are also often trained to pull sleds.

There are no hard jobs, only brave dogs! | Jacob W. Frank / Wikimedia Commons

Huskies, Samoyeds, and Alaskan dogs are even called the "three stupid sled dogs" - but this name is obviously unfair to them. Since we know that they are excellent sled dogs, why can't they be called the "three heroes of sledding"? You know, as former Olympic athletes, sled dogs are much better at running in the snow than you and me. And it is precisely because of this ability that Huskies have become "house-wrecking huskies" today.

Dogs at the Olympics

In 1932, dog sledding appeared in the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA. Each team had 6 sled dogs, which had to pull the sled carrying the athletes for 40 kilometers; if a dog was injured during the competition, it could be carried by the athletes to the finish line.

40 kilometers is almost the same distance as a human marathon, but for sled dogs, it is nothing. During the competition, the sled dogs once reached a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Unfortunately, the dog sled competition only appeared once in the Winter Olympics, and dogs have no chance to enter the Olympic arena since then.

In 1932, dog sled racing appeared in the Winter Olympics｜LA84.org

How fast a sled dog can run depends on the distance it runs and the weight it carries. In harsh off-road conditions, sled dogs can maintain an average speed of 6 to 7 miles per hour (9.7 to 11 kilometers per hour). With a pulling force of 85 pounds (39 kilograms) per dog, a sled dog can travel more than 90 miles (145 kilometers) in 24 hours. In short-distance races, sled dog teams can even reach speeds of 50 kilometers per hour.

Although there is no dog sled event in the Olympics anymore, sled dog enthusiasts still organize sled events of different sizes. Sprint races usually last for 1 to 3 days and the distance is within 100 miles (161 kilometers); long-distance rallies are more than 1,000 kilometers. The most famous race is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race held in North America, which covers 1,868 kilometers. The faster teams can usually complete the race in 8 to 10 days.

A team from 2007, they had to race in the ice and snow for about 10 days｜ra64 / flikr

To run in the ice and snow, you need to be able to run and endure the cold. It is reported that Huskies can withstand extremely low temperatures of -59 degrees Celsius.

However, don't leave your Husky in the snow. In fact, the tolerance of sled dogs to low temperatures depends on their health, coat condition, age and environmental shelter (housing); and members of a sled dog team will "huddle together for warmth." Therefore, if you keep a Husky as a pet in Northeast China, it is not recommended to let it live outdoors in the cold winter. If it is really not allowed to be kept indoors, at least provide it with a windproof, cotton-padded doghouse outdoors, and provide it with plenty of food and water.

Take a break when you are tired｜herepup.com

How to Become a Sled Dog

Able to gallop on the snow, sled dogs have physical fitness different from ordinary dogs.

First of all, their body oxygen transport capacity is very strong. An excellent sled dog can transport 4 to 5 times more oxygen than an adult; a trained sled dog can even transport 8 times more oxygen than an ordinary person. In addition, people have bred sled dogs to be very greedy through the "multiple meals" feeding method. During long journeys, sled dogs need to eat every 1 to 1.5 hours (including snacks) to ensure that the energy they consume can keep up with the energy they consume. In addition, sled dogs also have webbed paws, that is, there is a membrane between the toes, which is more conducive to walking on soft or muddy surfaces.

Webbed Paws Like This | healthyhomemadedogtreats.com

As for physical strength, excellent Alaskan sled dogs can adapt to exercise quickly. When stress hormones increase and cells are damaged, they consume energy stored in the muscles, and this process can even adapt while moving. The actual effect is that when running, sled dogs can adjust themselves almost without stopping to rest; humans need to stop and rest, and then continue to exercise after the body recovers. This characteristic gives sled dogs the ability of "super long endurance".

Sled dogs with super long range｜Markus Trienke / Wikimedia Commons

However, just having the two necessary qualities of cold resistance and physical strength does not necessarily mean that one can pull a sled.

For a dog to become a sled dog, especially a professional competition-level sled dog, a very important condition is that it likes to pull a sled. We all know that as a shepherd dog, the Border Collie is born to like to gather moving things. When facing a flock of sheep or other small animals, the shepherd dog will instinctively run around and gather them together, rather than rushing into the flock to attack a sheep. Similarly, sled dogs think that pulling a sled is the most exciting thing for them. When breeders select excellent sled dogs, they will pay great attention to retaining the gene of "high enthusiasm for work". Some dogs even want to start running reflexively after putting on the sled straps.

Go for it! | Frank Kovalchek / Wikimedia Commons

Although sled dogs kept as pets do not have the top physical strength of competition-level sled dogs, their "work enthusiasm" cannot be ignored. So, when you leave them at home all day, perhaps "destroying the house" can be a way for them to consume their excess energy. When a Husky starts to destroy the house, it just reflects the characteristics of the owner who is too lazy to train and exercise.

Sled dogs also have legends

Sled dogs have not only been Olympic athletes, but also have legendary inspirational stories, such as the movie "Antarctic Adventure" adapted from real events. In the movie, the Antarctic expedition team was forced to leave the base due to bad weather, and the sled dogs had to stay alone at the base. In the following months, the sled dogs showed an amazing desire to survive and overcame many difficulties. When the expedition team returned, 6 of the 8 sled dogs were still alive.

Stills from Antarctica Adventure

In the movie, when sled dogs survive in the Arctic, there is always a dog as the leader. In a sled dog team, there is indeed a "leader dog", which is usually the smartest and most capable dog. It can understand the owner's instructions and lead the sled dog team to complete the instructions. However, the leader dog of the sled dog team is different from the alpha dog (leader) of the wild dog pack. The alpha dog is usually a healthy, strategic, and top-notch male dog, just like the wolf king in a wolf pack; while the sled dog leader is not limited to gender. In the absence of human intervention, the number of dogs in a dog pack is usually 5 to 10, and in some areas it can reach 20 or more. They do form a disciplined small society and complete collective hunting behaviors.

"Antarctic Adventure" is based on the true story of a Japanese expedition in 1957. However, the ending of the original story is much more cruel. The expedition team returned to Antarctica a year later, and of the 15 sled dogs in the expedition, only two Sakhalin Huskies survived.

Sakhalin Huskies pulling a sled, 1895 | Ivan Nikolaevich Krasnov / Wikimedia Commons

The two miraculous dogs are named Taro and Jiro. How they managed to survive in the harsh environment of Antarctica without human intervention is still a mystery. Therefore, when the Japanese movie "Antarctica Story" tried to restore the real events, the two miraculous dogs' road to survival could only be added with human imagination. People speculate that the reason why Taro and Jiro survived may be because they were still puppies when they arrived at the Antarctic base and were more able to adapt to the Antarctic environment. Moreover, when they were left alone in Antarctica, they did not completely rely on the food stored in the base. They may have mainly survived by hunting penguins and seals, and may even feed on seal feces.

In any case, the two sled dogs survived in Antarctica and met the expedition team that returned to Antarctica a year later. Unfortunately, not long after, the younger brother Jiro died during an expedition. His body was made into a specimen and preserved in the National Science Museum in Ueno, Tokyo, along with the famous legendary dog ​​"Hachiko". The older brother Taro later returned to Japan and lived until the age of 15. After his death, his body specimen was collected in the Museum of the Faculty of Agriculture of Hokkaido University.

Jiro's specimen on display in the museum｜Musashi/Wikimedia Commons

Author: SamKakeru

Editor: Mai Mai

This article comes from the Species Calendar, welcome to forward

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