This week’s episode of the Good Dog Pod features Meredith Mapes, a successful musher. Judi Stella, Head of Standards and Research at Good Dog, joins Laura in interviewing Meredith. Meredith lives in Alaska, breeds sled dogs and has competed in the Iditarod! How cool is that?

Meredith’s journey with sled dogs began at the age of six, during a girl scout meeting. She trained, and won the first race she ever ran - at six years old.

In Alaska sledding isn’t majorly common, let alone in the rest of the US. Meredith shares her background in breeding sled dogs, how she keeps them active, and how she keeps all of her dogs mentally stimulated. Here is a brief insight to what is covered in the episode:

How many dogs do you run on a team? You can run any number of dogs. You can start recreationally with your poodle or lab! Meredith runs 12-16 dogs in a race. 

What goes into breeding sled dogs? They are bred for what they do, not for what they look like. Dog mushers have the same general goals when breeding: they are trying to breed smart, fast dogs with tough feet. For distance mushing your dogs need to have a good coat to remain warm. Sprint mushing dogs are bred to have a shorter coat, so they don’t overheat when running fast. And finally: dog’s need to have a strong head and drive. They need to withstand days of racing, so dogs need to be mentally tough. 

Interested in knowing how much food sled dogs must consume to maintain their high energy? Give the episode a listen to find out!