About the musher: Shawn McCarty, Ely, MN (USA)
Do you allow your racing dogs to have pups?
Yes one of my best leaders is at home pregnant hopefully with her future replacement.
How old should a dog be before you start to train them to be on the team?
Nine months to a year seems like a good age.
How old were you when you started putting together a team/kennel of dogs?
I was 23 when I started working with dogs
Do you really say “mush” to your team? If not, what do you say to tell them to go and to stop? How about commands to turn?
I say alright to go, whoa to stop, gee to turn right and haw to turn left
What made you decide to become a dog musher?
Not really sure
If I was going to become a musher, what is the most important thing I would need to know?
It is a huge commitment.
What has been the scariest situation you’ve ever been in while mushing?
I beat my boss in a race once and thought he might fire me.
What do you feed your dogs? Have you ever tasted dog food? Would you taste it if you were dared?
Mink and Inukshuk. I have tasted the kibble, it isn’t bad the mink I have not tasted, and I probably wouldn’t.
Are you good with other animals?
I’m not sure I am good with any animals.