Lifestyle

Lifestyle

The lifestyle of a competitive musher is very different from how most people live for many reasons. Here are some main differences in their lifestyle from someone who is not a musher, and someone who is. A musher can't live in a "normal" society because... -Where they live needs to have plenty of space for many dogs. -It may not be the most convenient location (not close to grocery store, gas, station etc..) -It is helpful to live close to a good trail, to train for races and exercise the dogs. -Many places where dog mushers live are Alaska, Canada, Montana, Minnesota, and Northern Europe. (usually places with snow in the winter to train) -A competitive musher's lifestyle is very centered around their dogs, training for races, and bonding with their team.
 * As you can see above, these mushers live in a place where their dogs have plenty **
 * of room to run, and enough space for all of them to sleep. In many urban areas, **
 * you would never be aloud to have this many dogs, and definitely would not have **
 * enough space to properly exercise a competitive dog team. **

=__Mushing Career __=

More than 50 mushers enter the Iditarod each year. Mushers have a very strong bond with their team of 12-16 dogs, and their professions mostly include giving tours, teaching about mushing to people who are interested, giving speaches about their experiences, and selling dogs. Only very experienced mushers are allowed to participate in the Iditarod, and they train very hard in the summer and winter in preparation.

=__Family Life and Friends __=

Growing up on a dog farm, or far away from regualar civilization can be a very different way of living then many people are usually raised. Children have a strong understanding of the sport, and have experience and a bond with the dogs from a young age. Every day work is put in to care for all the dogs, and many mushers hire people to help care for the dogs as well. You may wake up to 50 howling dogs if you have the chance to stay at one! Many mushers know each other, and some even stay together to improve their mushing skills and to help each other.

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