Leonhard Seppala and Togo. Togo was born in 1913 in Alaska and seemed, from the start, like he wasn't destined for a career as a useful sled dog, or even a beloved pet. He was undersized, sickly, sharp-tempered, and relentlessly defiant. As a puppy, he chewed through harnesses, constantly bullied other dogs, routinely escaped confinement, and refused even basic obedience commands. Togo seemed like a lost cause. He exhibited none of the behaviors or traits that the best sled dogs normally possess. Leonhard Seppala, one of the most respected sled dog trainers of his time, deemed him untrainable and gave him away. Togo responded by doing what he would do repeatedly as a youngster: he escaped and found his way back home to Seppala and his wife. The dog was nothing short of a juvenile delinquent with a host of ongoing problem behaviors. And he wasn't anything special in the looks department either; some even said he looked perpetually dirty. As Togo matured, his "flaws"...
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