Sled dog races in Idaho

The Idaho Statesman reports on a couple sled dog races in Central Idaho this month.

Fairfield is hosting the Soldier Mountain Quest on Friday and Saturday, and Stanley is home to the Dogtown Sled Dog Rendezvous on March 13.

Sled dogs, especially competition teams, are athletes. They prepare for competitions by pulling a sled and musher on multi-mile training sessions many days per week. In the summer, the dogs maintain their aerobic fitness and strength by pulling carts along roads. Canine athletes eat a high-octane diet consisting of protein and fat.

Typical breeds found in dog sledding events include Alaskan malamutes, Alaskan huskies and Siberian huskies. A breed developed in Idaho is the Targhee Hound, an Irish Setter and Staghound mix named after the Targhee Mountains

Read the full story: Sled dogs in action are quite a sight

Photo from Idaho Statesman

Climate change prompts rise in sled-dog vacations

The Washington Post reports on the strangely growing trend of dog-sledding vacations. Travelers head to the northern reaches of Canada and Scandinavia to sit on sleds and be pulled by teams of furry dogs:

"Dog breeders and tour operators said the rising interest comes in part from the bull market for environmentally friendly vacations. 'There is a kind of beauty in it -- it's environmental, and the down-to-earth part of it attracts people,' said Kenth Fjellborg, a [Swedish] dog breeder who said he takes at least 5,000 people on dog-sled tours a year, up from 200 people in the early 1990s."

Read the full story: Dog-sledding, like climate, heating up