Anyone know if John Suter, the guy who ran standards in the Iditarod, is still mushing poodles? Have people come to the conclusion that this was a form of poodle abuse or was it a legitimate way to prove the breed's versatilty? (I'm the owner of a one-year-old standard, and I'm I'm fascinated with the preconceptions people seem to have about the breed).

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

Answers

Yes, it was a true form of dog abuse. Northern breeds have a double coat and repel water (ice and snow that melt on the coat). The dogs with coats of the husky type only are now allowed to race. The poodles would be frozen to the snow and straw over night on the trail. They have hair like humans, and the body heat melts the snow to soak the dogs, as it would you. Dogs raised for this sport are tied to a dog house out in the elements of Alaska. No matter what breed or cross. No matter what time of year. Poodles have such great heart, they want to please the owner/master and if that meant pulling a sled for weeks to complete this race, well, they actually completed the course at least twice over the years that I remember. That alone is proof of heart. The humane authorities stepped in, John Sutter was not going to win the race with those poodles. I read a report he took on the project just to prove an outlandish point.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2000

Anyone know where I can find a picture of the Poodle Team? Please email me. :) peace_seeking@hotmail.com Summer

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2001

I have seen an ad running lately in fashioinable magazines showing a team of white/cream standards in continental cut hooked up to a sled. Is this what you are speaking about? I thought it was a funny ad, only because of the absurdity in poodles in show-clip mushing!!

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2002