Dallas Seavey has taken over the lead, while his father Mitch has fallen out of the top five, lagging at Takotna checkpoint while the leaders have progressed through Ophir. Four mushers (Gatt, DeNure, Steves, and Koenig) have scratched. The five mushers at the top of the standings are:
1 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 02:21
2 Noah Burmeister
Bib 39 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 05:52
3 John Baker
Bib 66 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 06:02
4 Robert Sorlie
Bib 37 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:24
5 Jeff King
Bib 61 OUT OF Ophir
AT 03-09 08:50
Category Archives: Dog Activities
Iditarod 2016: Standings as of 8 March @ 3:30 pm Eastern
The lead mushers are all clustered around the checkpoint at Nikolai. Brent Sass has broken into the lead, and is the only one to have left the checkpoint thus far. Many people are expecting the Seaveys to go 1-2 this year; they are currently running 3rd and 4th, but it’s very early in the race.
Here’s the order for the top five as of late this morning in Alaska.
1 Brent Sass
Bib 32 OUT OF Nikolai
AT 03-08 10:57
2 Nicolas Petit
Bib 12 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 08:41
3 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:05
4 Mitch Seavey
Bib 19 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:23
5 Wade Marrs
Bib 33 IN TO Nikolai
AT 03-08 09:28
How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow?
KTUU is reporting that seven rail cars full of snow had to be brought into Anchorage from Fairbanks for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod this year. (Global warming: myth or reality??) Continue reading How do you start a sled race when there’s no snow?
Iditarod 2016 Race Standings as of 3/7/16 @ 3 pm Eastern
From the official website of the Iditarod:
1 Nicolas Petit
Bib 12 IN TO Rainy Pass
AT 03-07 08:22
2 Dallas Seavey
Bib 16 IN TO Rainy Pass
AT 03-07 10:32
3 Aliy Zirkle
Bib 13 OUT OF Finger Lake
AT 03-07 07:01
4 Kelly Maixner
Bib 17 OUT OF Finger Lake
AT 03-07 07:10
5 Jason Mackey
Bib 67 OUT OF Finger Lake
AT 03-07 07:22
Ready…Set…Go!
The 2016 Iditarod starts in about 30 minutes. Check out the official race blog, which details the last-minute preparations at Willow Lake as mushers gather for the official start.
Scott Janssen will be first out of the chute at 2 pm Alaskan (6 pm Eastern). He will be followed by another sled every two minutes until the 85th contestant, Martin Koenig, leaves at 4:48 Alaskan time.
Don’t worry about Mr. Koenig, though. Each competitor has to stay extra time at one of the check points, equivalent to the amount of time they got to leave ahead of the last sled. For example, since the first musher is 2 hours and 48 minutes ahead of the last, the first one will be held at a way point for 2 hours and 48 minutes. The 2nd to last musher will be held only 2 minutes because he’s only 2 minutes ahead of the last guy.
Check back daily for an update on the standings, and be sure to explore the official Iditarod site for tons of information about the race.
Please note: I’m using stock photos because I don’t have permission to use photos from the real race. What’s interesting to me is that most of the dog teams are made up of mixed-breed dogs. I always picture Malamutes and Huskies running the race, as shown in movies. However, most of the mushers seem to prefer mutt-i-grees.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Iditarod 2016 Ceremonial Start
I wish I had known this earlier, I would have given you advance warning. For the first time, the Iditarod ceremonial start is being live-streamed FOR FREE at Iditarod.com. Take a few minutes and check out these powerful working dogs and their handlers. The last racer is scheduled to take off at 1:04 pm Alaskan time, which is 5:04 pm in the East.
The actual timed race will begin on Sunday at 2 pm Alaksan time (6 pm Eastern). I’ll be bringing you the standings every day until it’s over – usually about 10 days.
One of the problems for planners this year has been the lack of snow, leaving a very icy trail. We’ll have to see how that impacts the race as it progresses. This being an even year, they are taking the Northern Route, which one would assume would mean more snow.
The live stream broadcast is really a good idea, I think. For all of the haters who think the dogs are being forced or whipped to do something they don’t want to do, this shows that the dogs CANNOT WAIT to get started. There are, in fact, people holding them back until it’s their turn to go.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Programs that encourage kids to read to animals
I have a friend who takes his dock-diving champion dog Thor to local elementary schools every week to help kids learn to read without the fear of a listener making fun of them when they stumble over words. One of his students told him that she brought her reading grade from a D to a B since reading to Thor.
Recently, the ASPCA’s ProBlog ran a feature on this topic. Here’s what they had to say: Continue reading Programs that encourage kids to read to animals
Saturday Survey: Who Should Have Won Best in Show at Westminster 2016?
By now, we all know that the expert judge chose CJ, the German Shorthaired Pointer, as this year’s Best in Show. If you had been in his position, who would you have picked?
[poll id=”91″]
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Westminster 2016: Best in Show Winner
The moment we’ve all been waiting for! The 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Best in Show is…drum roll please…
The German Shorthaired Pointer, CJ!
(You’ll have to imagine the trumpet fanfare in your own head.)
Reserve Best in Show goes to the Borzoi, Lucy, who will fulfill the duties of the winner should the need arise.
Thanks for joining doggies.com for all the highlights of this year’s show.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Westminster 2016: Best in Show Competitors
The line-up for the all-important Best in Show Competition:
Hound Group: Borzoi, Lucy
Toy Group: Shih Tzu, Panda
Non-Sporting Group: Bulldog, Annabelle
Herding Group: German Shepherd Dog, Rumor
Sporting Group: German Shorthaired Pointer, CJ
Working Group: Samoyed, Bogey
Terrier Group: Skye Terrier, Charlie
My pick to take it all is the German Shepherd, Rumor, although the Skye looks strong, too!
And the winner is…coming up next!