Each January, in the depths of a cold winter, our small town holds a winter festival to encourage townspeople to step outdoors, as well as bring economic activity during a slow season.  This is accomplished with a variety of events; one of which is an Iditarod race.In years past, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the prowess of the mushers and the extreme loyalty and strength exhibited by their sled dogs as they blindly race forward in the bitter cold; the lead dog only wanting only to please his musher and the rest of the team only wanting to follow the lead dog.In speaking with some of the participants, it became apparent that the common element for success boils down to one thing: The lead dog.  Sometimes called the Alpha, the lead dog is crucial as he follows the musher's commands and encourages the remainder of the team to mimic his stride and pace.  The lead is always the strongest dog. The relationship between the musher and this dog is paramount to a successful...(Read Full Post)