Necessities

Mushing Necessities = __Healthy Dog Team __ =

The type of dog that is most commonly used when mushing is the Alaskan Husky. In the past they used malamutes and bigger dogs for power, but now they have realized that Alaskan huskies can be the most efficient dog to use when mushing and racing. A team is usually made up of 12-16 dogs, and the team must finnish the Iditarod with at least 6. Mushers spend a lot of time bonding with their team, and trust between the musher and their team is essential to successfully finnishing the race. Without dogs, there would be no race!

Certain supplies is needed to keep many dogs healthy and happy: -food -booties (for their paws) -harnesses -shelter for home -space! -a bond with their owner/musher =__Corr ____ect Clothing __=

Mushers dress in many layers. The first layer is not cotton, but a type of fabric that takes moisture away from the body -you don't want to be wet. The second layer is still staying away from cotton, and is usually something that covers the neck. The third layer should be a big jacket that fits over all the other layers, and after that a "shell" layer that protects from water, wind, and weather.(Snow suit) Wear socks that are loose enough so they don't cut of the circulation, and big warm mittens, not gloves. To keep the head warm, wear a balaclava with holes at the mouth and a hat on top of that. Then wear goggles to protect your eyes. Dressing right is essential if you are planning to successfully make it across Alaska in the winter! 
 * In the picture above, the musher **
 * is very nicely dressed, and won't get **
 * cold. **

=__Food to Survive __=

The dogs need a very energizing diet to run for so long, and for so many days. Mushers generally give their dogs some sort of meat or fish, by making it into paste, freezing it, and at checkpoints thawing it out and feeding it to them. The dogs need 10,000 calories of food per day, and in the whole Iditarod consume 2,000 pounds of food. They eat at checkpoints, and are fed snacks every hour or so. As for the mushers, they eat vacuum packed food so it stays preserved, and they also eat at checkpoints. 

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