Veteran Sled Dog Protests Owner Trying to Give Him a Break: 'Let Me Go'

A recent video of a senior sled dog begging to get back in the reins wowed viewers with his work ethic.

While on a long and snowy trek with her sled dogs, TikTok user @celine.delang noticed one of the dogs needed a break. The 12-year-old dog is no stranger to running long distances. He's what the owner calls a "veteran." But even the best of the best need a break.

They were nearing mile 15 when the owner decided the dog deserved a rest and placed him on the sled with her. However, a December 4 video shows he didn't want to stay there while the rest of the dogs continued running.

His owner held him back with the leash, but the Siberian husky couldn't sit still. He was crying to be let go. All he wanted to do was run again.

The caption reads: "Sleddogs never get tired, even when they are old."

A TikTok video shows a sled dog on a forced break. The dog cried to get back out with the other dogs. A TikTok video shows a sled dog on a forced break. The dog cried to get back out with the other dogs. @celine.delang/TikTok

The sled dog's determination to get back out on the course shows how dedicated these canines are to the job, which started thousands of years ago.

The American Kennel Club says sled dogs likely evolved in Mongolia about 35,000 to 30,000 years ago, but people didn't start using these dogs to pull sleds until about 3,000 years ago. The most common dog breeds used for sledding include Samoyed, Alaskan malamute, Siberian huskies and Chinook.

Sled dogs historically served as a means of communication and transportation before evolving into racing dogs. Now, these dogs serve recreational purposes too, although some still help with transportation in rural communities in Alaska, Canada and Greenland.

Newsweek reached out to @celine.delang via TikTok messaging for additional information.

The clip had amassed over 808,000 views, 75,700 likes and 211 comments as of Friday.

"He said, 'I don't need a break. Let me go,'" wrote one viewer. A second added: "I don't think he understands he's supposed to take breaks."

Another commented: "A great dog owner! You notice that one needs a break even though Mr. Superman here wants to keep going."

Someone had the perfect comparison: "It's like being at the beach wanting to run to the water but ur mom has to put sunscreen on u."

Others worried it was the dog's adrenaline and not his wanting to get back on the trail.

The owner responded: "If he was tired he would lay down, this is a very athletic dog who has run his whole life a lot more miles than he does now."

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