SLED DOG SPORTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

The Sleddog Sports Association of Southwestern Ontario

would like to welcome you to our 3rd Dryland Dog Derby.

For many of you this will be your first time seeing this type

of event, we would like to offer you some guidelines to help

you enjoy your visit.

 

Feel free to visit the designated areas and take all the pictures

you want.  Please use caution when walking around from

spectator’s area to the food and vendor booths. Eager teams

are very excited on their way to the starting line-up.

 

Please ask the owners or handlers before approaching any of the dogs. Most of the drivers will be very happy to introduce you to their team dogs and answer all your questions. Just remember that it takes a lot of work to get the team ready for the race and up to the starting line, so at this time drivers may not have time to stop and talk to you but will gladly answer all your questions after their run.

 Please, leave your pets at home and keep your children close at hand.  Eager dogs, ready to run, may leap or rear-up in anticipation, and it would be unfortunate to have an accident that was the fault of neither dog nor child.

Lines connecting the teams and chains attached to tied-out dogs can be dangerous to a child.

Sled dogs are trained racing dogs and not house pets, and you should never feed them or offer them anything unless the owner has said that it was all right.

  Please keep in marked designated race trail viewing areas when watching the races. If you are too close you might distract the dogs and even cause them to leave the trail, which could result in injuries or the disqualification of that team.

These dogs love to run, just as a house pet might like to go out on the leash or dig up the neighbor's flower garden. Although they might look tired after a race, they are very happy animals. They know they have done well and take great pride in themselves. The only time a sled dog is unhappy is when he is not with the team.

 We hope you enjoy the races and if you do, be sure to tell others about your day. It is one of the few sports where men and women compete on an equal basis and their teammates are their best friends.