Central Oregon sled dogs train tirelessly for upcoming event
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Last year, Bend musher, Jane Devlin took 5th place in the Warm Lake stage of the Idaho sled dog challenge. This year, her and her dogs are preparing for a different result. Her team of 9 dogs has been practicing at Paulina Peak.
Even before they hit the snow, the dogs know this time of year is their “season”, and they start getting excited. Like athletes, they get special treatment and training. The dogs were in town today to see their personal chiropractor. Devlin says, while she often places, she races to have an adventure with her dogs.
Jane Devlin, local musher said “Winning the competition, to me, is about humans. I'm about the dogs. The dogs just want to have fun. They don't care if it's a race. They're just excited. They love being around. The other teams go in new places. What's around the turn and that's what I love, is just watching their spirits doing what they love. And that's why I'm out there. ”
Devlin occasionally runs into people out on trails who don’t know how to react to a pack of sled dogs. Communication is key, call out loudly and make yourself known. The dogs are trained to stay on the right and let people pass. The goal is to keep everyone safe while enjoying the snow.
