Customer Reviews

Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way: Unconventional Sled Dog Secrets of an Alaskan Iditarod Champion, Vol. 1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

An excellent book from a dog driver that has forgotten more than most people will ever know. Its an honest account of one mans training techniques and his views on the training techniques used by others.
Reading it is like hearing him speak it, its not a fluffy, cotton wool wrapped sanitised account, its a down to earth, this is how it is type of read, and all the better for it I say. Written with a sense of humour that can be fully appreciated by anyone that has ever been behind a dog team.
A brilliant book that made me laugh out loud (especially the chapter on Velcro). Worth every penny and even better the second time you read it, which you will.. I can almost guarantee it.

"You have to whack him good...If you are going to bother with this its got to sting."
Unbelievable that an Iditarod champion would actually encourage people to beat their dogs with a 3 foot by 1/2 inch stick to get them to pull! Sorry I cannot recommend this book. It's called animal abuse. Here's a clue Mitch - if the dog doesn't want to pull then perhaps instead of beating him you might simply replace him with another. (Yes, I drive dogs so I know a little about motivating an animal but only through non-violent techniques.)Best of luck Mr. Seavy in this year's Iditarod. If all goes well perhaps a race official will see you doing this and you will be disqualified and/or suspended. (Hopefully both.)
PS. Does Ramy Brooks ring a bell?

Book provides excellent and detailled advice from a professional musher. Covers all sections of mushing. Especially - but not only - recommendable for beginners. Written with good humor.

Mitch Seavey knows how to train dogs, and even though this book is a 'good read' for any mushing fan, he goes 'all out' in sharing his ideas of what works and what doesn't in training sled dogs for distance racing, particularly the Iditarod. Reading it is like sitting in a room in Alaska chatting with Mitch. If you like to 'talk dogs', you'll love this book.

There are sadistic elements in the book. As another reviewer mentioned, Mitch Seavey tells people to beat dogs who misbehave. He also advocates that people perform an act that could easily result in a dog's paw getting burned. Seavey says to trim the hair on the bottom of the dogs' feet even with their pads to prevent ice balls from forming. He says that after you've trimmed the hair you need to 'candle' their feet, or singe the ends of the hair that you trimmed. Seavey wrote: "My boys are always looking for faster ways to do their chores. I suppose that is why they started using a propane torch to 'candle' dogs' feet. That in turn explains why, upon entering the shop one winter's day, I observed the back half of my best leader apparently going up in flames. This gives a whole new meaning to the term, 'Put the dog out, son!" Singing the hair is totally unnecessary and puts the dog at grave risk for having his paws burned.

Mitch Seavey tells people to punish their dogs for not eating everything in about 30 seconds. He wrote: "If the dog doesn't eat everything in about 30 seconds, do not just leave food laying around thinking he may eat more at a later time. Take the food away. Give the dog only clear water the next day and half rations the following day. Resume regular feeding the fourth day." This is harsh punishment.

On page vi, there's a photo of dogs going up a hill that has a 45 degree incline. The caption says, "Fourteen dogs pull the four-wheeler up a hill in first gear with the motor off." On page 81, you'll read these words from Mitch Seavey: "If you drive your truck up the hill in four-wheel-drive, then the 16-dog team should be able to pull a 300cc four-wheeler up it. Make them pull it up there, step by step, creeping up hill until you level out and speed up." He goes on to say that by forcing dogs to pull a 300cc four-wheeler up to the top, "you are teaching the dogs that there is no obstacle or situation that arises, no circumstance under which they are allowed to stop pulling forward."

Seavey calls the dogs "running, pulling, machines," "knuckleheads," "bums," "lunk-heads," etc. He has no empathy for the dogs he punishes so harshly.

The author's thanking his English teacher was a nice disclaimer, but this seems to be less of a book about the wonders of the Alaskan wilderness or preparing for the challenge of sled dog racing than what happens when a foul-mouthed "good-ol-boy" takes a tape recorder along on a sports outing for some competitive bashing (aka "bonding"). Any fresh information about sled dog racing is most often sandwiched between synonyms for "you're stupid," "but you'd be too dumb to do this..." and "excrement." Congratulations are due the author for his accomplishments within the sport of sled dog racing, but not for this book.