Togo (dog) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Togo

Leonhard Seppala with sled dogs from his kennel – Togo is at far left. Other dogs from left to right: Karinsky, Jafet, Pete, unknown dog, Fritz
Species	Canis lupus familiaris
Breed	Seppala Siberian Sleddog
Sex	Male
Born	1913
Died	December 5, 1929 (aged 16) Poland Spring, Maine
Resting place	Stuffed and mounted body, displayed at the Iditarod Trail Headquarters Museum in Wasilla, Alaska. Togo's skeleton is mounted separately, and is in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Natural History.
Occupation	Sled dog
Known for	1925 serum run to Nome
Owner	Leonhard Seppala
Parent(s)	Suggen x Dolly (Import)
Offspring	Togo (II), Kingeak, Paddy, Bilka (and others).
Appearance	Dark grey, black and brown coat (Agouti) of medium length with light undersides and patches. Grew to ~48 lbs in adulthood. Large front paws, wide muzzle, and damaged right ear which can be used to identify him easily in many pictures. Brown eyes.
Named after	Tōgō Heihachirō
Awards	Most Traveled Dog In Alaska, Champion Trophy Winner In Nome, Record of Longest and Fastest run in Serum Drive, The Most Heroic Animal of all Time

Togo (born 1913 – died December 5, 1929) was a brave and smart sled dog. He was the main leader for Leonhard Seppala's team during the famous 1925 serum run to Nome in Alaska. This amazing journey helped deliver medicine to save people from a serious illness.

Even though Togo covered the longest and most dangerous parts of the trail, his story wasn't widely known at first. Another dog, Balto, got more attention because he ran the very last part of the relay. But Togo was a true hero, showing incredible strength and intelligence. He even saved his team and musher (the person who drives the sled) more than once! Dogs from Togo's family line helped create the modern "Seppala Siberian Sleddog" and the Siberian Husky breeds.

Togo's Early Life and Training

Togo was born in 1913. His parents were Suggen, a former lead dog, and Dolly, a Siberian dog. He was named Cugu, which means "puppy" in the Northern Sami language. Later, he was named after a Japanese admiral, Tōgō Heihachirō.

When Togo was a puppy, he was often sick and needed special care. This made him very bold and a bit wild. He was seen as a "troublemaker" at first. Because he didn't seem like a good sled dog, Seppala gave him away as a pet when he was six months old.

A Puppy's Determination

After only a few weeks, Togo showed how much he loved his original team. He jumped through a closed window and ran several miles back to Seppala's kennel! This impressed Seppala, who decided not to give him away again.

Togo still caused some trouble. He would break out of the kennel and try to clear the way for Seppala's team by chasing other sled dogs. One day, he got into a fight with a much bigger dog and was badly hurt. After he recovered, Togo stopped attacking other dogs. This taught him an important lesson about staying clear of other teams.

Becoming a Leader

When Togo was eight months old, he proved he was meant to be a sled dog. Seppala was on a long, overnight trip. He tied Togo up to keep him from causing trouble. But Togo broke free and followed the team for miles, even sleeping near Seppala's cabin.

The next day, Seppala saw Togo and realized why his dogs were so excited. Togo kept trying to play and distract the team on the way back. Seppala decided to put him in a harness just to control him. To his surprise, Togo immediately calmed down and started pulling. Seppala kept moving Togo closer to the front of the team. By the end of the day, Togo was running as a lead dog with another experienced dog named Russky.

Togo had traveled 75 miles on his very first day in a harness! This was amazing for such a young dog. Seppala called him an "infant prodigy" and knew he had found a natural-born leader.

Togo's Amazing Intelligence

Togo quickly became a full-time lead dog, often running alone at the front. He showed incredible intelligence and strength.

One time, while crossing the frozen Norton Sound during a terrible storm, Seppala told Togo to turn to avoid a crack in the ice. Togo suddenly stopped and rolled backward into the team. Seppala went to scold him, but then he saw why Togo had stopped. Just six feet away was an open channel of water that Seppala couldn't see from the sled. Togo had saved them all from falling into the freezing water!

Later, on the same trip, the team was stuck on a large piece of ice that was too far from shore. Seppala tied a rope to Togo and threw him towards the land, hoping Togo could pull the ice closer. Togo understood and pulled hard, but the rope broke. Without any command, Togo jumped into the icy water, grabbed the broken rope in his mouth, wrapped it around his shoulders like a harness, and pulled the entire ice floe with his team to shore.

Togo became one of Seppala's most special dogs. They had a strong bond that lasted Togo's whole life. When the famous Serum Run happened, Togo was 12 years old and had been a lead dog for seven years.

The Great Race of Mercy

In 1925, a serious illness called diphtheria spread in Nome, Alaska. Medicine was urgently needed. The medicine was sent by train to Nenana, Alaska. From there, it was carried by a relay of 20 mushers and over 100 dogs. They traveled a total of 674 miles (1,085 km) to Nome.

Togo and Seppala's team ran 170 miles (274 km) east from Nome. They met the team carrying the medicine near Shaktoolik on January 31. Seppala had planned to go even further, but they met earlier than expected. After getting the medicine, Togo and Seppala's team turned around and ran another 91 miles (146 km) to Golovin.

In total, Togo's team ran over 261 miles (420 km) through some of the most dangerous parts of the trail. The temperature was around -30 °F (-34 °C), and strong winds made it feel like -85 °F (-65 °C)!

During their return trip, they crossed the open ice of the Norton Sound. It was night, and a snowstorm made it impossible to see. But Togo bravely guided the team to a safe shelter at Isaac's Point by 8 PM. This saved his team from certain danger. After traveling 84 miles (134 km) in one day, they rested for six hours.

The next morning, the temperature dropped to -40 °F (-40 °C), and winds reached 65 mph (105 km/h). The team ran across breaking ice, following the shoreline. They then climbed Little McKinley Mountain, which is 5,000 feet (1,500 m) high. After reaching Golovin, Seppala passed the medicine to another musher, Charlie Olsen. The medicine was then passed to Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog, Balto, who completed the final leg of the journey.

Togo's Lasting Legacy

In October 1926, Seppala, Togo, and their team went on a tour across the United States. They visited cities like Seattle and New York City. Large crowds came to see Togo at stadiums and stores. Togo even appeared in an advertisement for Lucky Strike cigarettes! In New York City, Togo received a gold medal from the famous explorer Roald Amundsen.

After the tour, Togo retired to a special kennel in Poland Spring, Maine. There, he lived a comfortable life and helped start new lines of sled dogs. His offspring became the foundation for the "Seppala Siberian Sleddog" and the Siberian Husky breeds we know today.

In 1928, a book called Togo's Fireside Reflections was written about him. Seppala even helped Togo "sign" some of the books by inking his paw!

Death and Recognition

Togo lived a long life for a dog. He was 16 years old when he passed away on December 5, 1929, due to joint pain and partial blindness. Many newspapers wrote about him, calling him a "Dog Hero."

After his death, Seppala had Togo's body preserved. For many years, it was displayed in a museum in Vermont. Later, students in Alaska campaigned to bring Togo back to his home state. Today, Togo's preserved body is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska. His skeleton is kept at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.

The National Park Service shared that in 1960, Seppala said, "I never had a better dog than Togo. His stamina, loyalty and intelligence could not be improved upon. Togo was the best dog that ever traveled the Alaska trail."

Togo's bravery and intelligence earned him lasting fame. In 2001, he finally received his own statue in New York City. The popular fictional detective Nancy Drew even named her stray terrier after him in her 1937 novel, The Whispering Statue.

In 2011, Time magazine named Togo the most heroic animal of all time. They wrote that while Balto often gets credit, Togo did "the lion's share of the work." His journey was the longest and included the dangerous crossing of Norton Sound, where he saved his team.

Film Adaptation

A movie about Togo's amazing efforts was made by Walt Disney Pictures. It was released on December 20, 2019, on Disney+. The actor Willem Dafoe plays Leonhard Seppala, Togo's owner. The dog who played Togo in the film, named Diesel, is actually a direct descendant of Togo from 14 generations ago!

See also

In Spanish: Togo (perro) para niños