Sled Dogs | Life Below Zero

For Andy and Kate, their Alaskan sled dogs are their companions, workforce, transportation, and livelihood.
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Life Below Zero follows six people as they battle for the most basic necessities in the state with the lowest population density in the United States. Living at the ends of the world's loneliest roads and subsisting off the rugged Alaskan bush, they battle whiteout snow storms, man-eating carnivores, questionable frozen terrain, and limited resources through a long and bitter winter. Some of them are lone wolves; others have their families beside them. All must overcome despairing odds to brave the wild and survive through to the spring. And when spring arrives in Alaska, rising temperatures bring mounting challenges as they work to prepare for yet another winter.
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Sled Dogs | Life Below Zero
• Sled Dogs | Life Below...
National Geographic
/ natgeo

[@marythompson5045]

Specifically, Huskies are notorious for being runaways and wanderers. It’s literally bred into them to travel long distances. It’s written in their DNA. An unhappy Husky is one who doesn’t have a job or enough exercise. These dogs are living the dream and the HUMAN doubters are only projecting their own point of view onto a species not like themselves. So very human of us to do...

[@jarrypason9884]

Hello Mary how are you doing today.

[@0xalbic]

Dogs thrive when they're given jobs to do that's what they were bred to do and they enjoy it look at their faces when they run... a poor dog is a husky stuck in an apartment in Ontario

[@FUreplygirl]

People used to say the same thing about slaves.

[@ken45y]

Same with horses.

[@0xalbic]

FUreplygirl lol thats a joke right

[@ken45y]

Aless PB No...I used to train racehorses and you can tell when they get competitive. Point them towards the track and their whole body language changes. I am sure the same with these dogs and what they do.

[@PlainsPup]

FUreplygirl This is nothing like slavery. Before a run, the dogs are raring to go. Once they're pulling that sled, they're quiet and enjoying themselves. Working dogs love what they do, and pet dogs love staying active. I feel sorry for show-bred dogs who can't do anything but look the way some people think they're supposed to.

[@gunsup0331]

A working dog is a happy dog. They dont give a shit if the job is to catch a frisbee or pull a sled. You can just see in their body language they really want to "do the thing". Its not like hes got a whip lol purely verbal encouragement

[@Sukijopa]

B.S. Yes he DOES have a whip. AND, dogs like to run. After being kept on a short chain most of the time, any dog would be happy and enthusiastic to be released. It's kind of like the "law enforcement" K9 teams. When the dogs are not being tortured on the "training" field (hanged to unconsciousness, kicked, helicoptered, slammed to the ground, etc.) they are kept in solitary confinement. That is so that when the dog's torturer comes to take him out of his loneliness (dogs are social pack animals), the dog is initially happy just to get out of solitary confinement. The abusers/liars have it all figured out.

[@starligtanderson5486]

Sukijopa | so I'm guessing you feel the same way about service dogs to then

[@tritchie6272]

He sounds like some PETA type nut to me!

[@User-nu6km]

A working prostitute is a happy woman.

[@wintershock]

Starligt Anderson they probably don’t feel the same about service dogs because they get a break at the end of the day or get multiple breaks if they are guid dogs. Service dogs are taken well care of and their owners care about their well being. Dog sledding is way different though.

[@anandg519]

Amazing dogs dedicate their whole life for their humans.

[@kuvvatberdiyev3015]

And amazing person dedicate his whole life to Allah

[@baxterboi2792]

@@kuvvatberdiyev3015 What’s that got to do with dogs?

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

Only if you dedicate your lives to them. They have an amazing capacity for love.

[@IlkanAli]

You mean humans forcing dogs to dedicate themselves their whole life

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

@@IlkanAli You win stupidest comment award for the day.

[@NorCal415]

Having a pack of sled dogs is like having your own little pack of domesticated wolves who follow your commands and protect you instead of trying to kill u. Ain't that neat? Dogs are pretty cool creatures.

[@LisaCupcake]

Sled dogs aren't wolves.

[@jaybrookestone3119]

Lisa67 huskies and most dogs in general are pack animals, they are referring to the loyalty and hierarchy of a wolf pack

[@cellogirl11rw55]

@@jaybrookestone3119 While dogs are pack animals, the packs they form aren't very much like wolf packs. In fact, they are more like a gang than anything else because they are constantly competing for dominance, whereas with wolves, dominance is firmly established.

[@nadiar6848]

Huskies aren't the protective kind of dogs

[@CabinDweller]

hahah instead of trying to kill you. Well thank goodness!

[@siriusblack7714]

I visited a dog sledding place in fairbanks alaska with my mom. These dogs are unreal. It was like -25 degrees that day and the dogs are just outside leashed to their pole in the freezing cold with only a little doggy house they each had. But they seemed perfectly fine and comfortable.

[@matthewjay660]

Man's best friend. These are bad-ass dogs.

[@pdxbound81]

It's incredible how strong they are and how far they can run. And they are beautiful. It's like looking at a wolf.

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

They actually are like 3 or 4th in the dog world from wolves. And they are an ancient breed more than 4 thousand years old.

[@alisea..7250]

For the idiotic people here. The dogs are born and WANT to run......thats why they act crazy when they get hooked up to the sled. Also the dogs have thick and warm coats and are bred that way so they don't need to come inside. The dogs are treated well and are fed and treated with great care so they can keep running.

[@gingerisevil02]

Queen of dad jokes did they tell you that?

[@arkoraa]

@@gingerisevil02 no, it is common knowledge for everyone who owns a Spitz breed

[@mynameisgladiator1933]

@@gingerisevil02 Let me guess, you voted for Hitler in 2016.

[@Sukijopa]

The dogs are kept on short chains most of the time, when not in use or in training, so OF COURSE they are eager to run. I know it is a foreign concept to animal exploiters to stop the self-serving actions with the dogs, and all the defensive chatter, and just give the dogs options, and see what THEY would like. That doesn't mean sabotaging the 'experiment' by cranking your heater up to 80 degrees. It means really thinking about THEM for a change.

[@rahmamira4829]

Why dont you just let them run without enduring all the pain? People are not stupid nowadays anyone can type "sled dog cruelty" and "sled dog abuse" to see what cruelty you all been hiding behind all these "everything is okay dogs are happy" acting.

[@xxdemisucksxx]

When you're a good boi but also a cold boi 2:22

[@Tio683]

They look so happy when they run!!!! Love seeing them being so excited❤️

[@Aria339]

I have been asking myself if I should respond to some of your concerns about sled dog racing. The Siberian Husky was bred to work and race. The Malamute was bred to haul sleds filled with equipment, food, etc. There are many areas in Alaska that you cannot get too in the winter except by sled or now they also have the snow mobiles. Most of the Alaskan Huskies has up to 1/4 wolf in them and some of them will bite you as well. My father started sledding at the age of 8 and by age 10 was in his first sled dog race in Canada. He had many Seppala dogs, the most famous one was Timmie of Gatineau who was a single lead dog and pure white. I remember Timmie as a little girl and he was so beautiful and he truly loved training and racing. I would play with him too. We were lucky enough to have a lot of land whereby we kept most of the dogs in our backyard. The entire area was all fenced in so we could let them loose and go away for the day. They all had nice boxes and long chains so they could run around in their own area and also jump up on the box where we would put their dinner. In the summer, starting in late April, we put all the dog way up into the woods. They had no boxes but would dig big holes in the dirt to make their beds and the earth was cool as well. We were lucky enough to also have a stream up there to dam up and that is where we got their water. We had probably 40 dogs with 2 litter of pups each year. When I got older, it was my summer job to take care of all the dogs and the mom with their new pups. It was a lot of work for a small girl. Feeding, watering, cleaning up around all the dogs, preparing hot meals for the weaned puppies who would be put up into a huge pen, loose, plus hauling water up there as well. None of these dogs were ever ever abused. My father at this time raced throughout New England and Canada. Eventually, he started getting into the Alaskan breed and sad to say many of those dogs he bought had been abused. You could just tell from the way they acted when you would approach one of them. With lots of attention and love, their personalities all started to change but one thing I learned early on, never ever let one go. We would probably never find them. If any of you would like to learn more go to Google and type in Leonhard Seppala. He was born in Norway and played a part in the run to Nome, Alaska. He had a lead dog at one time who was quite famous and his name was Togo. Enjoy!

[@robinhood5951]

Cool story but you are in no way related to the owner of Togo, you have quite the imagination though I'll give you that.

[@Aria339]

Don't understand your comment about my imagination nor does it matter. I never ever said I was related to Seppala. Togo was Seppala's lead dog in the run to Nome. I have meet Seppala and he was on his way to (it was either Connecticut or New York) to put Togo on display. When Togo passed, Seppala had him stuffed and in fact he showed us Togo who was in the trunk of his car.

[@robinhood5951]

Yea my husky's great great grandfather was Balto.

[@wintershock]

Aria339 just gonna say that you can get somewhere other than using sled dogs. Ski-doos exist.

[@madelynmcinnis761]

@@wintershock some ski doos break down

[@desireelucido6458]

Who's here after watching TOGO? #2019

[@aftaabtupsy5425]

Me

[@Rawat9999]

Me

[@devitadartias]

Togo 😍😍😍💖

[@christinasuhadi]

Me! 😁

[@Adrian_T19]

Hahah me

[@jj8594]

Beautiful, strong, reliable dogs! Indeed, man's best friend! Take good care of them.

[@amyferguson8258]

Sled Dogs= HEROES They saved the children in 1925 Nome, Alaska. Truly amazing animals!

[@Bambiiii9569]

so glad to see the happy and proud look on these cuties' faces hope they are treated with much love and care which they totally deserve

[@yuvrajvedvyas7047]

Beautiful animals.Man's true friends.

[@marilyncourtney9567]

Huskies are awesome and hardworkers love them all.

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

I have a Siberian Husky and when he is at a full run I can barely hang on to my industrial recumbent bike. His speed is amazing. Greetings from South Florida. Not a dog you can train really he just figures things out on his own.

[@donlightfoot9608]

Such beautiful creatures.

[@yakigesher-zion7289]

Dogs are the most precious and wholesome creatures on earth

[@louis8644]

After watching the TOGO trailer KZbin: you need this too 😅

[@sigiloXXX]

This video has a long shelf life. It never gets old. Unlike doggos who eventually die but I hope they've passed on their genes to the next generation. Our 4 rescue dogs have gone over the rainbow. Hope they all meet.

[@marloncampbell4708]

Amazing! Beautiful dogs with a caring knowledgeable trainer.

[@TheYukonnahanni]

As Young Ones ourselves growing up in the North , we we taught to Run & Train our young Siberian Huskies by the time they were 5 months old .. never before that age .. EVEN THOUGH , THEY WANTED TOO !! But it is in their D.N.A. TO RUN !!! There was times , that , some of the other older Huskies would chew them off their traces & take THE PUPS Running !! As the Powers that be , Oh !! this is the Truth !! We would have to jump into a 4/4 & track them down , they were running !!! with the Pups !! Once they heard Us , they would head off into the Bush & Run along side of us !!! Once the Pups became Fatigued , the others stopped & just sat down , licked the Pups .. Brought them down , to us , sat beside the River .. Pawed the Young , not to drink to fast .. The Run WAS OVER Ah , the Nature of these Wonderful CREATURES !! Pure LOVE !! So many Valuable Lessons can be learned from them ~~~

[@tritchie6272]

The absolute best way to preserve animal's is to make them useful to humans. To me the dogs in this video look healthy and happy.

[@jackiesmall3804]

So precious

[@momma2bubbas]

Such beautiful dogs.

[@DavidDuMusic]

1:29 "You look so excited!" *clearly has why-do-I-have-to-go face*

[@trippin9899]

I think that's the joke.

[@l3ubba308]

Do they not have sarcasm where you're from?

[@ax3247]

A dog's face expresses no feelings. Their bodies do. They are not humans.

[@olenickel6013]

@@ax3247 Not really, especially with Huskies, they can emote quite a lot with their faces, too. But you have to learn how to read it, live with dogs and get to know them.

[@ax3247]

@@olenickel6013 I have always lived with dogs. They communicate using body language and a limited set of sounds.

[@manningm2011]

I have mixed feeling about sled dogs because they spend much of their lives separated from each other and tethered on short chains. However, scenarios like this make me more optimistic that sled dogs can still receive enough socialization, mental stimulation, exercise, and companionship to live happy lives.

[@joshbutler2312]

huskies are our favorite dog breed! Very nice looking dogs here

[@prajwalkb539]

Josh Butler Siberian huskies are communists ,they hate capitalism 😁

[@gboy1301]

If anyone has a husky or any type of husky breed try putting that dog in a harness and going on a long board for a ride so how much they would love it compared to their walk around the block

[@davidscott5595]

They are so happy to be running. My border collie could never hold up to this.

[@manictiger]

Border collies are half the weight of these sled-pullers. Of course it couldn't hold up. Collies herd sheep.

[@insanitygamer8820]

Got to do some dog sledding in Canada, I've never seen a human be as excited for their job as sled dogs are.

[@CabinDweller]

haha I did that with two pups of mine, so much fun to watch them chase the team. That is until they get right INTO the team and get all tangled up. "Heyyy we want to be with our buddies!!!" LOL

[@jarrypason9884]

Hello Cabin how are you doing today.

[@TheYukonnahanni]

Thank-you

[@TheHunter1841]

awesome the dogs love it

[@eastereggersforlife5908]

@@wintershock it seems like you havent done your research

[@anakruger2412]

OMG I love howling so much.... I loved watching them howl. So great. :D

[@rachelschumacher9261]

Yeah, I love listening to their howling. It's so calming.

[@jarrypason9884]

Hello Ana how are you doing today.

[@theegyptiansisters1383]

Wow the best sled dogs on the planet

[@twentyfirstof3921]

They are cool and cute at the same time.

[@gabizmij8297]

I love seeing these dogs working and running and helping out like they were made to do, its so sad to see the companies that use them just to make a profit off of tourist.

[@foxmacnamara8809]

Definition of "Teamwork"

[@HuskyHavenYT]

Hike! Gee! Haw! Woah! I know the commands! I cant wait to be a Musher! Siberian Huskies are just amazing!

[@tlingitwarrior1457]

HuskyHaven ohhh so that's how u spell lol

[@TJBEATS97]

Such good doggies

[@nyautotradersleasing7290]

I love dogs

[@roguex9469]

Hopefully Jack's welcome into the sled pack isn't as rough as Balto The Wolf Dog's was. 🤣

[@adoredeath69]

Fav movie

[@gaetanasusani6350]

Fantastico!!!!!!!GRANDE Jack!!!!!!!!

[@gregsmith7828]

they love running, and the cold. just not extreme wind

[@camillacallegarini]

Siberian Husky is my favorite dog breed!

[@22.NUU.DRU.22]

And the dogs LOVE this, wagging tails while on the sled = happy pups :) you know this though

[@cosmogirlteri]

that's amazing!

[@silverexplosion]

I have a Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Malamute. I live in Minnesota, our winters are cold, but summers get very hot, sometimes 90 degrees in July and August....so you must keep them in AC, or in the shade with a fan blowing on them.

[@Kasonas]

+silverexplosion Same with my Samoyed. Summers are hard on us, because we love being outdoors. But I have to keep her in the shaded woods by cool streams, and even that not too long.

[@lightningdragon2322]

AWESOME!!!

[@alpha5664]

I can't wait to move out to Alaska

[@mortzon5681]

A dog is mans best friend, and this video proves it.

[@huiting2864]

Omg so cute😆😍😍😍

[@kattykillfish]

elan broke down good thing I have a dozen huskies

[@Wanderpupil]

How incredible to lead dog , will never forget the tracks even hundreds of miles away, they can still run with zero visibility. .

[@snarrsibs8056]

Awesome dogs 🐶 💕

[@ridingoffintothedistance7659]

This makes me so jealous where I live right now it is 102 degrees out 🙀

[@ShadowTheDemonWolf77]

You can still own a husky, I live in Utah and it gets almost as hot as 102 degrees and my neighbors own a Siberian husky.

[@ridingoffintothedistance7659]

***** oh i was talking about the snow. I never get snow in California. I already have a husky :)

[@ShadowTheDemonWolf77]

Omg you're SO lucky x3

[@trippin9899]

It's cruel to keep an animal bred for cold climates in places with hot climates all year round anyway.

[@Sukijopa]

Are you jealous of the dogs or of the mushers? Because as a person, you can always choose what you want, but the dogs don't get a choice, and they are always the ones who suffer and die for the selfish choices of people.

[@1456Sassy]

Andy treats his dogs a lot better than those on Yukon men do! You can tell by looking at these dogs, they're healthy and happy! They eat that attention up getting loved on! The ones I saw on Yukon men are starving and abused!

[@ferns2738]

yesss! people need to understand theres a difference between this and tourist attractions

[@chiefthesiberianhusky]

Awesome!

[@tee8795]

Great video. that proves how man's inadequacies are dependent on the endurance of these dogs ( and their willingness to cooperate). It's been proven the dogs can reprogram" their bodies' responses to stress, something humans can't do.

[@runarfaber7177]

Amazing!!!!

[@music9556]

so cute love my husky shepp she looks like a sled dog

[@sarahnorthrup5986]

Jack is so cutee

[@arkprice79]

Buck from the call of the wild made an amazing sled dog

[@lastprophet9904]

who is here after Togo ???

[@Maaztig]

Me!

[@alankritakumar2268]

meeeeee

[@cleocruz9688]

mee too

[@hennessy4666]

We humans shoud be more greatfull to have such loyal animals by our side.

[@rubylalmuanpuii274]

I came here after watching the film...Togo 🐺

[@dipakbharvad172]

It's amazing 👌♥️ from India 🇮🇳🙏

[@bennybratsch]

Good dogs

[@kyrahinata5136]

I remember the movie,the zero below

[@nomivix]

I love reading ur weird but true books at school

[@lzalab2286]

Togo got me here 😃

[@frdwes]

this is why they were bred

[@loner_wolf6614]

Togo trailer brought me here. Too unreal till it became real.

[@sumic2395]

Just watched "The Call of the Wild" film. Anybody else?

[@tommyjohnason3041]

here dude😂😂

[@yogeshkumar66]

I am here because of BAlto

[@paulllu9069]

yogesh kumar Togo is better

[@ashcoco1583]

Omg and we see these poor dogs here in India where it's 100 degrees plus. So sad 😞

[@michaelhayes8989]

There coats cool them down to, it gets hot af in alaska

[@williamstacey1464]

Like you know what a Corvette drives like... lol

[@lara_xy]

Bawled my eyes out watching togo

[@PotatoheadAsh]

i wish i could sled but i live in Texas and Tennessee. When i'm in one state it snows like a blizzard, when i go to the said state, there is no snow at all... i hope i can sled one day, get my own big plot of land where there are horses and just breed dogs and train them.

[@Odo-so8pj]

They are built for this.

[@janree75]

The dogs obviously love to pull and love their owner. My concern is what they are doing 90% of the rest of the time: tethered to a short chain. Yes they love to run, but do they love to spend most of their time tied to one place.

[@somethingabstract3735]

They are very prone to running off due to their high wanderlust

[@ferns2738]

that is enough exercise for a dog, they are exited animals and can easily overwork themselves running off to see something

[@clairecats2769]

I hope they have rest. They seem happy together, their beds are small

[@tamizharasan1857]

Super

[@amandacousins928]

I’ve never done this sport

[@blindingshadow3463]

Granite the dog is a legend.

[@surgingdrago4023]

I wanna live in the Yukon and that’s how I wanna live

[@michaelfulton8972]

Well maintained machines are reliable

[@theorganicsage4544]

3:17 LMAOOOO

[@donnaann8943]

Could have shown this PERFECT video to my third grade class, except you cuss in it. Dang it!

[@supernova4867]

You can always give them a fuck you and goodbye

[@kev2fuego]

Just a tip, but, you could use a program to bleep it out and then keep using it through the years by saving it in a folder

[@Kaydearm]

i know right

[@karlawinder5177]

Edward Tang 5

[@karlawinder5177]

Donna Ann ,,p9 0

[@aftaabtupsy5425]

Togo brings me here

[@strangerpainter]

Its so nice to see people who treat their dogs right, there are so many bad examples. Please dont EVER go on a dog sled tourist tour. those animals do not necessarily have a good life.

[@ferns2738]

yesss! people in these comment don't seem to see the difference between tourist sledding and this.

[@willp4680]

I'd I had to live out here in the frozen sticks I would have a ton of doggos too.

[@Tmhen]

Snowmobile would make life so much easier.

[@marcelotunala2492]

I’m reading Sled Dog School book with my 6 years old daughter. It was being wonderful watching this video with her when suddenly a BIG bad word came out (3’17”). NetGeo, thanks for providing short videos like that but please take care the swearing 🤬!

[@magnifiresrealm]

Jack Man :)

[@broncharis]

Something tells me the snowmobile broke on purpose