As a 90’s kid, I grew up watching the cartoon movie Balto as many times as I could get my parents to rent it from Family Video. I dreamed some day of mushing my own sled dog team, never realizing many years later it would be a reality. In the 2023 racing season in Northern Wisconsin we ran our first 6-dog team in the Sportsman Class. We have come along way from our first 2-dog competition in Merrill, WI at a Wisconsin Trailblazer’s race. Though 2-dog is a wonderful competition in its own right and very beginner friendly, we have found our passion in the 6-dog class! We honor this tradition of GSPs not only because the dogs love it, but to strengthen our bond working together as a team.
While there are certain considerations to be made with GSPs in competition, such as proper foot wear and custom harnesses GSPs are overall proving they are here to stay in competitive Sprint Racing. Some are being cross bred with Northern Breeds or other Hound type dogs to produce purpose-bred sport dogs.
The dogs that come from these crosses are amazing athletes to watch! At Sutherland Shorthairs, we have chosen to compete with pure bred GSPs because of our passion for hunting as well as mushing. To have a dog that can go between a day in the field and a day on the trail, for us, is a treasure.
Despite what some public opinion may be, one cannot force a dog to pull a sled, bike or person. The dog either has the desire to run or it does not. Part of our mission in our breeding program is to produce dogs that have a desire to pull in harness. Momma Jazz was a natural mushing prospect from a young dog, often in spite of my ignorance of training sled dogs. She has maintained a desire to take the line out and is one of the strongest members of our team. She has passed this ability down to her offspring who have taken to harness with ease.
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German Shorthaired Pointer Breeder, Musher and Enthusiast in Wisconsin