Pursue a life of self-sufficiency and travel across Alaska or other frozen landscapes. As you build skills, confidence, and experience you may choose to focus your efforts into raising a competitive dog kennel for long-distance or sprint racing.
First job: Dog handler or whatever you can do to support your extended time in the outdoors with dogs.
Professional Nomad:
Aliy Zirkle
- 2000 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Champion
- 3-time second place winner in the Iditarod
- 2-time recipient of the Leonhard Seppala Humintarian Award for exemplary dog care
Must Read: Aliy Zirkle: The Trail Less Traveled
Take a Virtual Next Step:
Sled Dog Central connects dog mushers with one another. This one-stop informant includes resources for building mentorships, buying and selling gear, race news, and everything else dog mushing.
Mushing Magazine is the “Magazine of Dog Powered Adventure.” It houses great articles, podcasts, and a collection of links to professional dog musher blogs.
The Sled Dogger aims to support, promote, educate and inform all aspects of 4-Season Sled Dogging from novice to pro and the fans alike.
Veterinary Technician Training Schools—Explore vet training schools across the country
Suggested Reading
How-To
Everything I Know about Training and Racing Sled Dogs
by George Attla
Published in 1972, it remains the sled dog bible, but for a hefty price tag of $85.95
Dog Driver: A Guide for the Serious Musher
by Julie Collins and Milki Collins
An excellent resource for new mushers, published in 2013. This book was intended as a manual and as such it covers a wide spectrum of topics to educate the would-be serious musher on their journey.
Winning Strategies for Distance Mushers
by Joe Runyan
For the musher ready to take their kennel to the competitive level or for anyone looking for inspiration, this book by former Iditarod Champion, Joe Runyan, is chock full of valuable information.
Dog Care
Field Guide to Dog First Aid: Emergency Care for the Outdoor Dog
by Randy Acker
The Experience
by John Balzar
This novel documents the 1998 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. Balzar takes the reader on a compelling journey that puts them in the minds of the racers and paints a picture of competition in the frozen north.
Bonus: the documented race happened to be Professional Nomad Aliy Zirkle’s rookie race.
For Juniors
Iditarod Dream: Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska’s Jr. Iditarod
by Ted Wood
Relates the story of a 15-year old boy and his dogs as they prepare for and run the 158-mile junior Iditarod Race
For Li’l Ones
by Joan Jackson, illustrated by Robert Ferrin Gilmore
An uplifting, true story of Elim, a four-month Alaskan husky that joins champion musher Jeff King’s team and learns about hard work, goal setting, and determination.