How many dogs are in an Iditarod team?
The maximum number of dogs to start the race with is 16. The minimum number mushers can start with is 12. The mushers usually finish with between 8 and 12. The remainder of the team is dropped off with the vets at the checkpoints along the way. The reasons for dropping the dogs vary from sore wrists and shoulders to a common cold. If a dog is not feeling well or has a minor injury, it is not only in the dogs best interest but also in the mushers because teams can only travel as fast as the slowest dog.
