Is dog sledging cruel?

Question

My friend thinks it is cruel but I think the dogs enjoy it!

Answer 1

You mean sledding, across country and not in an extreme race be alright. People should sled more. A dog was made for a particular business and when hes not doing that business anymore they actually do not adapt well. Sleds are fine healthy fun exercise.

Answer 2

I think that most people who sled with dogs take very good care of them, love them and keep them healthy. I don't believe it is cruel because some dogs are working dogs and are made for certain activities. I have meet a husky that was used to sled, he was retired at this point of his life but he seemed like a great dog and loved his owner and the owner loved him! The dogs seem to thrive for doing what they do and to them it is natural. I believe that it is only cruel when people mistreat the animal or plan to terminate them after they work them.

Answer 3

Dogs love having a job and purpose. I guess your friend thinks dogs love just laying around the house getting fat. No what is cruel is a bored dog.

Answer 4

I prefer to use a proper sledge, as I have tried both short and long haired breeds.. both of which add considerable drag to the process due to the thickness of their coats..... But just for the record.....Typically dogs with a 'stubbed' tail offer the best control as there is no 'drag' due to the lack of tail. Dachunds are great for slaloms, whilst speedier breeds include the boxer....

;-)

...in all seriousness tho

Actually I think the dogs really like it, you see them skateboarding, surfing...poking their heads out of the windows cars.. I think they love the adrenalin rush the same as we do..... dogs naturally want to speed !!!!

Answer 5

i thinks its not cruel some dogs need special training for sledging
some dogs can be seriously hurt

Answer 6

Absolutely not!! Dogs love and respect exercise. Dogs are workers and when they know they're doing a good job they get high on adrenaline. It's the same as when you take them for a walk on leash. If you don't control them they try to pull you along, just like they do when they are pulling a sled. Dogs love feeling like they have a purpose in life, and if they feel that pulling this sled is their purpse, they will keep pulling until it kills them. As long as you don't let them get to this point they will feel completely satisfied with their lives. Just don't overdo it to the point where they're hyperventilating, and they'll be happy. If a dog is serving his master (or alpha dog) he will be content with his life!!

Answer 7

Animals don't have verbal thinking, they act on their emotions and they do feel enjoyment, satisfaction or whatever from certain activities. Those are just emotions; we dress them up with words and assume our species is more advanced by doing so.
Dogs get excited when they're put into harness, and if they didn't like it they would have to be dragged there reluctantly, like when you take them to the vets!
Saying dog sledging is cruel is like saying its cruel to use a border collie to round up sheep. They're bred for it and as a result both breeds get bored and can go insane if kept as pets.
Pet border collies and sled dogs don't always adapt well to being kept in a house all day with nothing to do, when they've been bred to run for 70 miles a day. I think its cruel to keep them as pets with nothing to do, then wonder why they stray or go neurotic.

Answer 8

I personally think it's cruel but when we were in Alaska and my friends all doing it, and the dogs seem happy and quite excited, almost like--they can't wait to take you for a ride.

Answer 9

no. the dogs enjoy it. they're also bred for the cold. dogs are also naturally pack animals and so they enjoy the team.

that's the answer to your question in a normal situation. I'm sure there are some racers who overwork their dogs or don't have the proper equipment or training. that can be said for anything. but, no, I don't think the act itself is cruel by any means.

Answer 10

Not as cruel as taking a dog bred to do arduous work & keeping it in house with no opportunity to burn off its energy. One of the reasons why there are so many neurotic dogs.