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Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum Catalogue No. 82-37-1

This is the story of how a dog helped save a small Alaskan town...

In 1925, diphtheria swept through the small Alaskan town of Nome. Located 2 degrees south of the Arctic Circle, Nome was home to 455 Alaskan Natives and 975 European settlers.  Between November and July, the port into Nome on the southern shore of Seward Peninsula in the Bering sea was icebound and inaccessible by steamship. During this time the only link to the rest of the world, was the Iditarod Trail, which runs 938 miles from the port of Seward to Nome. Several months before the winter of 1924-1925, Curtis Welch, the only doctor in Nome, ordered more diphtheria antitoxin. Dr. Welch had discovered that the batch at the 25-bed Maynard Columbus Hospital had expired. Unfortunately, the shipment did not arrive before the port closed for the winter. Within days of the last ship leaving the port, Dr. Welch treated a few children for what he first diagnosed as tonsillitis. Over the next few weeks, the cases on tonsillitis grew and four children died. Dr. Welch began to get concerned about the possibility of diphtheria.

By mid-January, Dr. Welch made the first official diagnosis of diphtheria in a three-year old boy; the child later died two weeks after displaying the first symptoms. The next day a seven-year old girl died.  Realizing that an epidemic was imminent, Dr. Welch called Mayor George Maynard to arrange an emergency meeting. A quarantine was immediately implemented. Despite this, there were over 20 confirmed cases of diphtheria and at least 50 more at risk by the end of the month. Without antitoxin, they believed that the  mortality rate could be close to 100 percent.

Since no plane or ship could reach the isolated town, a unanimous decision was made to use multiple dogsled teams to transport the medicine across the dangerous land. Though Balto often gets the credit for saving the town of Nome, it was Togo, a Siberian Husky, who led his team across the most dangerous leg of the journey.

Named after Heihachiro Togo, a Japanese Admiral who fought in the war between Russia and Japan (1904-05), Togo was the lead sled dog of Leonhard Seppala. Seppala was a Norwegian breeder and racer of Siberian huskies from the Chukchi Inuit stock of Siberia. Togo was dark brown with cream, black and grey markings. He had ice blue eyes and weighed about 48 pounds at maturity. As a puppy, Togo developed a painful throat disorder that caused Seppala to lose interest in him. Eventually Seppala gave Togo up for adoption. Togo refused to be parted from Seppala and his teams and later escaped his adoptee's home by jumping through a window. A troublesome and mischievous puppy, Togo harassed Seppala's teams when he was harnessing up a team or whenever they were on a trail. To keep him calm, Seppala harnessed Togo in one of the wheel position directly in front of the sled. Through his journey to take a miner to Dime Creek, Seppala moved Togo up the line until he was sharing the lead position with the lead dog, named Russky. During his first day in the harness, Togo ran over 75 miles, a distance unheard of for an inexperienced young sled dog. By the time Togo led his team over 261 miles during the Great Race of Mercy to deliver diphtheria anti-toxin, he was 12 years old. Though Balto received the credit for saving the town, to those who know more than the Disney story, Balto is considered the backup dog. Balto ran 55 miles, while Togo's leg of the journey was the longest and most dangerous. Togo retired in Poland Spring, Maine, where he was euthanized at the age of 16.  Following his death, Seppala had Togo custom mounted. The mounted skin was put on display at the Shelbourne Museum in Vermont. Today, the mounted skin is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska  following a campaign by Alaskan students to return Togo to Alaska. The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University houses the skeletal remains in their collection.   What Makes Togo an American Hero? Despite rough beginnings, Togo saved the lives of thousands of people. In 1960, Seppala said that "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."

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Last updated: April 19, 2023

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Togo (2019)

Was togo sick when he was a young puppy.

Yes. The Togo true story reveals that as a young puppy Togo required excessive care from Leonhard Seppala's wife Constance. Early on, it was believed that the individual attention led to his rowdiness and mischievous behavior.

Where does the name Togo come from?

Willem Dafoe's character states in the movie that Togo was named after the underdog Japanese admiral and naval hero Tōgō Heihachirō. In researching the Togo fact vs. fiction, we learned that this is indeed true. Admiral Heihachirō was known for his success and victories in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), among other conflicts.

Did the real Togo jump through a glass window to get back to Leonhard?

Yes. The true story behind Togo confirms that as a result of his relatively small size, illness, and bad behavior as a young puppy, Leonhard Seppala decided that Togo was not sled dog material and gave him away to be a house pet when he was six months old. The real Togo spent a few weeks at his new home before he jumped through the glass of a shut window and ran several miles back to Leonhard's kennel. Impressed, Leonhard decided to keep him. After Seppala gave away Togo to be a house pet, Togo broke through a glass window to get back to Seppala and the pack.

Why was Leonhard Seppala chosen to help with the 1925 Serum Run to Nome?

Leonhard Seppala's experience and fame as a champion dog musher are why he was chosen to drive a sled dog team in the Serum Run. Seppala had immigrated to Alaska from Norway when his friend Jafet Lindeberg convinced him to come work for the mining company he started in Nome. Seppala became interested in dog sledding during his first winter in Alaska when he became a sled dog driver for Lindeberg's company. In 1914, he competed in the All Alaska Sweepstakes, a sled dog race. His career took off when he won the Sweepstakes the following year, beating experienced musher Scotty Allan by two hours. The victory is depicted as a flashback in the movie. Seppala also won the All Alaska Sweepstakes in 1916 and 1917, before the race was canceled until 1983. Champion dog musher Leonhard Seppala (left) circa 1925 and actor Willem Dafoe (right) as Seppala in the Disney Togo movie. Photo: Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Library and Archives

Was the diphtheria threat to Nome really as bad as it's portrayed in the movie?

Yes. In the winter of 1924-1925, a diphtheria epidemic was threatening the town of Nome, located on the southern Seward Peninsula on the northwestern coast of Alaska. After four children took ill and died, the town's only doctor, Curtis Welch, eventually diagnosed diphtheria in three-year-old Billy Barnett, who died just two weeks after the onset of symptoms. The next day a seven-year-old girl was diagnosed and Welch tried to give her expired antitoxin (all that was on hand) in hopes that it would work, but she died several hours later. Welch had ordered more diphtheria antitoxin from the health commissioner in Juneau, but the port closed for the winter before the shipment arrived. Desperate, he sent radiotelegrams to the other major towns in Alaska and one to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C., pleading for help. His telegram is pictured below. Even with a quarantine in place, more than 20 people had been diagnosed with diphtheria and many more were at risk. The small amount of diphtheria antitoxin (8,000 units) Welch had on hand had expired and had become ineffective. Without a fresh batch of antitoxin, it was estimated that the disease would claim the area's entire population of approximately 10,000 souls. The exterior of Maynard Columbus Hospital in Nome between 1913 and 1934 (top) and in the movie (bottom). The real-life hospital was a bit bigger than the hospital seen in the Disney film. Photo: University of Washington

Why didn't they fly the diphtheria antitoxin to Nome?

Flying was relatively new at the time and winter flight was still largely untested. It was only in the previous February that the first airmail flight in Alaska took place. Nome is clear across the state from Fairbanks, a flight distance of approximately 521 miles. The only planes they had were water-cooled aircraft from World War I, which didn't perform well in cold weather. Temperatures across the Interior were at 20-year lows. It was −50 °F in Fairbanks. The polar night also meant that there were limited hours of daylight to fly.

Why is diphtheria so deadly?

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, often by way of direct contact or through droplets in the air (sneezing or coughing). Symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and include a fever, sore throat and weakness. Diphtheria can attack healthy tissues in the respiratory system. Dead tissue then builds up in the throat or nose, forming a thick, gray coating dubbed a "pseudomembrane". This membrane (visible below over a patient's tonsils) covers healthy tissues in the throat, nose, tonsils and voice box, causing a croup-like cough, as well as severe difficulty breathing and swallowing. This can lead to death from asphyxiation. In advanced cases, diphtheria can also cause the neck to swell, in part due to swollen lymph nodes, resulting in a condition nicknamed "bull neck" (visible below). Left: A membrane of dead tissue covers a diphtheria patient's tonsils. Right: A swollen neck (also referred to as bull neck) is visible in a child with severe diphtheria. Diphtheria can affect other organs if the toxin spreads through the blood. This can result in deadly complications of the heart, kidneys and nervous system. Heart failure, kidney failure, and paralysis are possible, and as many as 50% of those who are not treated die.

Did Leonhard Seppala and his wife have any children?

Yes. In researching the Togo true story, we learned that in real life Leonhard and his wife Constance had a daughter named Sigrid, who was eight years old at the time of the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. She too was at risk of being stricken with diphtheria.

How old was Leonhard Seppala's dog Togo when they embarked on the Serum Run?

When Leonhard Seppala and his lead sled dog Togo began the relay to transport diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Togo was 12 years old, which is practically ancient for a sled dog. By that time, he had already been a lead sled dog for seven years. Leonhard Seppala and Togo in real life (left) and the movie (right).

What dog portrayed Togo in the movie?

As we investigated the Togo fact vs. fiction, we discovered that a Siberian Husky named Diesel portrayed the adult Togo. He had two stunt doubles, Hugo and Mackey, who were lead sled dogs from Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours in Alberta. Snowy Owl provided all of the adult sled dogs used in the movie. Various dogs portrayed Togo as a puppy, including RipTide (Ripley) from Evelyn Ely's pack. The dogs who play Togo throughout the film often needed to be colored to match Diesel, the adult Togo.

How far did the sled dog teams travel with the serum?

The diphtheria serum was first transported by train from Anchorage northward to Nenana, Alaska. A relay of 20 sled dog teams then traveled a distance of 674 miles from Nenana to Nome. Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog team led by Togo traveled 340 miles roundtrip to pick up the serum and start bringing it back, eventually handing it off to Charlie Olson's team. The map above shows the journey of the diphtheria serum, first by train from Anchorage to Nenana, then by dog sled from Nenana to Nome.

Were the conditions Leonhard Seppala and Togo traveled in really as bad as what's seen in the movie?

To a large degree, yes. Leonhard Seppala and his sled dog team led by Togo spent three days traveling 170 miles from Nome to Shaktoolik to pick up the diphtheria serum on January 31, 1925. The true story behind Togo reveals that the temperature was approximately −30 °F with gale force winds making it feel like −85 °F. Like in the film, Seppala almost missed musher Henry Ivanoff, who had been in Shaktoolik in case Seppala didn't arrive. Ivanoff had just left Shaktoolik with the serum. They encountered each other while Ivanoff was untangling his team on a trail outside of town, at which time Seppala took possession of the serum. He immediately began the trek back across Norton Sound without pausing to rest. The conditions on the return trip were even worse. Seppala and his team again traversed the exposed open ice of Norton Sound, which was breaking up. This seems to be exaggerated a bit for the film. The darkness and a blizzard also made it impossible for Leonhard Seppala to see where he was going. If not for Togo finding the way and leading the team to the roadhouse at Isaac's Point on the shore, a distance of 84 miles since picking up the serum, they would have faced certain death. It was there they rested and slept for six hours before continuing their journey at 2 a.m., heading into another bad storm. The real Togo (top) and the movie Togo (bottom). During the night the temperature dropped to −40 °F with 65 mph winds. They headed inland and climbed 5,000 feet to cross Little McKinley Mountain. After coming partway down the trail, they reached the roadhouse in Golovin, completing their leg of the relay. Seppala gave the 300,240 units of serum to Charlie Olson and his sled dog team. Olsen in turn later handed it off to Gunnar Kaasen, who completed the final stretch with his dog Balto leading his team.

Did any mushers or sled dogs die during the Serum Run?

Many of the 150 dogs who took part in the 1925 Serum Run to Nome lost their lives, mainly due to exposure. While none of the mushers lost their lives, several of them succumbed to frostbite, including Charlie Olson and Gunnar Kaasen, who completed the final two legs of the journey. Kaasen, who was in charge of Balto, suffered frostbite to his fingers after strong winds blew his sled over. The bundle containing the serum was knocked out and he dug with his bare hands in the snow to find it. The bestselling book The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic tells the story of the 1925 serum relay to Nome.

What colors was Togo?

After he reached his adult weight of only about 48 pounds, the real Togo had a brown, black, and gray coat that made him look constantly dirty. While only black and white photos exist of Togo when he was alive, Leonhard Seppala had him custom mounted after his death at age 16. His mounted skin is currently on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska. History vs. Hollywood visited the headquarters in 2013 and captured the photo of Togo displayed below. His skeleton is in the Peabody Museum of Natural History's collection at Yale University. The real Togo's mounted skin is on display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska.

Was Togo unfairly overlooked by the press, with credit instead going to Balto, the lead dog who finished the Serum Run?

Yes. Togo was the true champion of the Serum Run. His journey through white-out storms and twice across the unforgiving Norton Sound was by far the most perilous leg of the run. It was also the longest by roughly 200 miles. Despite doing most of the work, the credit instead largely went to the Gunnar Kaasen-controlled sled dog Balto, who completed the last, 55-mile stretch of the Serum Run through a blizzard. Balto was given a statue in New York City's Central Park later that year and Hollywood immediately turned Balto's journey into a movie titled Balto's Race to Nome . Gunnar Kaasen and Balto would come out on stage after each screening and receive great applause. Balto later inspired a 1995 animated movie that was loosely based on his story. On an interesting side note, despite Gunnar Kaasen being the musher that guided Balto, Leonhard Seppala owned both Balto and Togo. This is accurately depicted in the movie. Seppala felt that Balto was not good enough to put on his own team for the Serum Run. In fact, Gunnar Kaasen had to pair Balto with another lead dog, Fox, for the final push into Nome. It's true that newspapers didn't mention Fox because they felt the dog's name would be confusing. Despite Togo running roughly 200 miles more than Balto, Gunnar Kaasen and Balto (pictured) got the media attention because they were the pair that finished the relay and arrived in Nome with the serum. Disappointed over the media's failure to acknowledge Togo's heroism and accomplishment, according to Gay Salisbury's bestselling book on the serum relay,  The Cruelest Miles , Seppala commented, "It was almost more than I could bear when the newspaper dog Balto received a statue for his 'glorious achievements'." This isn't to say that Togo was completely ignored. Seppala, Togo, and a team of dogs went on a victory tour in the lower 48, making various stops, including in Seattle, California and New York City. Seppala and Togo were featured in a Lucky Strike cigarette campaign. A chewing gum collector card was also issued featuring the pair. The card can be found on eBay or through various collectors.

Did Togo live out the rest of his life with Leonhard Seppala?

No. Unlike the movie, Leonhard Seppala eventually decided that he wanted Togo to live out the remainder of his life in comfort. He said goodbye to Togo and gave the dog to fellow sled dog musher Elizabeth Ricker , who lived in Maine. "It was sad parting on a cold, gray March morning," recalled Seppala, "when Togo raised a small paw to my knee as if questioning why he was not going along with me. 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." It's true that before he died Togo sired puppies. Elizabeth Ricker and Leonhard Seppala established a kennel at Poland Spring Resort (which her husband's family operated) to breed Seppala sled dogs. Still today, mushers and Husky owners try to trace their dogs' lineage back to Togo. To learn more about the final years of Togo's life, watch our video How Disney Changed Togo's Ending . Left: Togo is pictured sitting next to musher Leonhard Seppala. Right: The pair as depicted in the movie.

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The True Story Behind Disney’s ‘Togo’

Think Balto saved Nome, Alaska, on his own? Think again. A new family-friendly movie finally gets a legendary dogsled run right.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

In the winter of 1925, a deadly illness struck the city of Nome, Alaska . The nearest stores of medicine were hundreds of miles away, across the state’s snowy interior. But you’ve heard this story. The 1995 movie Balto immortalized it for a generation: the eponymous   dog rallied the team that brought the lifesaving serum through the Alaskan wilds, heroically saving the city’s   children. Since 1925, Balto has earned universal acclaim, legions of fans, and a commemorative bronze statue in New York City’s Central Park.

But Togo , a new movie   that hits the Disney+ platform on December 20, corrects the historical record in favor of an underdog. As it turns out, Balto was just one of more than 100 pups who made that lifesaving dogsled relay to Nome possible. Balto did lead the canine team over the final 55-mile stretch of the journey (he was still leading the pack when it arrived in the city itself). But a different dog, Togo, ran more than double the distance of any other dog on the team and led it through some of the riskiest spots.

Togo , which stars Willem Dafoe, promises to chart the life of the historically overlooked pup who made the crucial delivery of medicine possible. For all the true dogsledding  aficionados out there, we broke down the real history of Togo and Balto’s now legendary run to Nome. 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/HMfyueM-ZBQ

The saga began when a doctor diagnosed the first case of diphtheria, a deadly illness, in a young boy in Nome in January 1925. The city, located approximately 150 miles   south of the Arctic Circle, had a population of just under 1,000. Diphtheria was called the “strangling angel of children,” because it releases a toxin that shuts down its victim’s windpipe. Young children were especially vulnerable to it. 

In the winter of 1925, Nome had a supply of antitoxin, the serum then used to treat diphtheria, but it had all expired. (A vaccine was later developed that has virtually eliminated the disease.) The town’s single doctor and four nurses watched helplessly as a three-year-old boy died, soon followed by a seven-year-old girl. They worried that the fatality rate for those infected would be 100 percent. Several years earlier, a flu epidemic had killed off half of Nome’s indigenous population.

Nome’s medical team put out a call for help—and found that the nearest supply of serum was in a storehouse outside Anchorage. Trains could bring it to within around 700 miles of Nome, and the team hoped bush planes could take it from there. But that week, record-setting cold weather and gale-force winds swept across Alaska, grounding the only rickety planes in the area. 

The people of Nome realized that sled dogs would have to carry the 20-pound package of medicine to their city through the storm. It was the only way.

Enter our story’s hero: Togo, who was already a champion racer by 1925 but whose running days were largely behind him. He’d been born a smaller-than-average puppy in 1913 but quickly distinguished himself as a sled dog, running 75 miles his first time in a harness. According to Gay and Laney Salisbury’s The Cruelest Mile , a 2003 history of the serum run, Togo was a living legend among Alaskan dogsledders, “a natural-born lead dog.” Although Togo was 12 years old in January 1925, he was still fast and strong. He was tapped to anchor the serum relay team.

“He was the best dog [owner Leonhard Seppala] had at navigating sea ice, and would often run well ahead of the team on a long lead in order to pick out the safest and easiest route across Norton Sound or other parts of the Bering Sea,” the Salisburys write.   That talent served Togo well on the serum run: at one point, the intrepid pup led the team across 40 miles of Bering Sea ice in the face of an oncoming storm.

No single dog deserves all the credit for saving Nome. To deliver the antitoxin, more than 20 mushers and 100 dogs carried the medicine from a train line near Fairbanks (where temperatures hovered around minus 50 degrees), along the Yukon River, over a frozen bay, and finally along the Bering Sea coast. Still, Togo was arguably the team’s most impressive canine in sheer distance—he ran more than 350 miles total, more than any dog in the pack—as well as heroics.

Viewers of Togo might assume its most cinematic moments are the product of Hollywood’s creative license, but they would be wrong. In one dramatic scene, Togo has reached shore, but the sled with the medicine has gotten stuck on floating ice on the other side of a frigid channel of water. In a feat of athleticism and frankly un-doglike ingenuity, Togo grabs the lead rope in his mouth and pulls the sled ashore. This—and we cannot stress this enough— actually happened .  

Here’s another moment in the flim that seems too good to be true but is:   Because of Togo’s diminutive size as a puppy, his owner once gave him away to a family to keep as a house pet. Within weeks, Togo had had enough of domestic life. He broke through a window and ran back to Seppala’s sledding kennels, a scene that occurs early in the movie.

Did the serum run to Nome need a reboot? We came to Togo skeptical, but now we’re sold: the original Balto film left out the journey’s most interesting character.

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Togo and Balto

When I introduce the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race™ to my students, I use an article, The Story of the Iditarod Trail , for them to read. I watch them reading it to themselves or to their partners, and, it never fails, they perk up and recognition glows on their faces when they read about Balto in that article. They say, “I know Balto!” because they’ve read a book or seen a movie about him.

Togo and Balto were the lead dogs on Leonhard Seppala’s and Gunnar Kaasen’s teams which helped deliver antitoxin to Nome in 1925 to stem a diphtheria epidemic. Both dogs were Siberian huskies, a breed brought to Alaska from Siberia by William Goosak, a Russian fur trader. These dogs were smaller and leaner than the huge dogs being used at that time to pull freight sleds delivering mail, supplies, and bringing out gold in Alaska. Their nickname was not very complimentary—“Siberian Rats”. The Siberian husky breed was officially recognized in 1930 by the American Kennel Club, and many sled dogs today descend from Seppala dogs.

Roald Amundsen planned to use Togo and his teammates for a North Pole expedition which was cancelled. Seppala continued to train and race the dogs, and in 1925, was called upon to run a long leg of the route to deliver the diphtheria antitoxin.  Togo led the team the longest distance, 260 miles, while other teams ran distances of 25-40 miles.

Balto, another Siberian husky owned by Gunnar Kaasen, led the last team to carry the medicine into Nome. Whiteout blizzard conditions and snowblindness forced Kaasen to rely heavily on the 3 year old dog’s abilities. ( Source: http://www.shca.org/shcahp2d.htm 9.11.10).

Read more about Togo and Balto at these sites.

http://www.litsite.org/index.cfm?section=Digital-Archives&page=Land-Sea-Air&cat=Dog-Mushing&viewpost=2&ContentId=2561

http://www.litsite.org/index.cfm?section=Digital-Archives&page=Land-Sea-Air&cat=Dog-Mushing&viewpost=2&ContentId=2559

After his death, Togo was preserved by a taxidermist and is on display at the Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. In December 1925, a statue of Balto was unveiled in New York’s Central Park. Determined that Balto would also be on display in Alaska, Kim Raymond searched, located, and arranged shipping of a second Balto statue to the Iditarod Headquarters in 2009.  Togo’s statue stands in New York City also, at Seward Park.

These photos are of Togo, Balto, and a replica of the leather harness that Balto wore. I am holding it at Jon and Jona VanZyle’s house in Alaska. Jona worked at the Cleveland Museum in Ohio at one time. The museum owns Balto who was preserved by a taxidermist after his death. Jona found the harness in a collection of items the museum holds from the time when Balto and other team dogs lived at that museum. She had a replica made of the harness which is surprisingly heavy.  It fits around the dog’s neck and behind the front legs, encircling the torso. Today’s sled dog harnesses are very lightweight and made of webbing which fits along the dog’s back and sides.

My dog, Morgan, is modeling a more modern type of harness. It is a little big for her, but she shows how a harness fits. By the way, a lot of people ask me if she pulls a sled. The answer is “No”. I rescued her about three years ago from our animal shelter, and while I’ve taught her gee, haw, straight ahead, and on by commands, we just go for FAST walks! (say jee, it means right; haw means left)

Mushing on,

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Togo, born on October 17, 1913, was a Siberian Husky known for his significant role in the 1925 serum run to Nome as the lead sled dog for musher Leonhard Seppala. Despite facing challenges and covering vast distances, Togo's contributions were initially overshadowed by his fellow lead dog, Balto.

In his early life, Togo was perceived as a troublemaker but demonstrated loyalty by rejoining Seppala's kennel after being considered for adoption as a pet. Recognizing his potential, Seppala trained Togo, who emerged as an exceptional sled dog. During the 1925 Serum Run, Togo and Seppala covered 261 miles, enduring extreme temperatures and perilous conditions. Togo's leadership and a courageous swim through ice floes on Norton Sound played a crucial role in the team's survival, despite Balto receiving more attention.

Following the Serum Run, Togo retired to the Ricker Kennel in Poland Spring, Maine, contributing to the 'Seppala Siberian' sleddog line and the broader Siberian Husky gene pool. Togo died on December 5, 1929, at 16 years old.

In 2011, Time magazine honored Togo as the most heroic animal of all time. His tale reached the silver screen in the 2019 film "Togo," with Willem Dafoe portraying Leonhard Seppala and Diesel, a direct descendant, embodying the legendary sled dog. Togo's legacy is celebrated with statues, including one unveiled in Poland Springs, Maine, in 2022, marking the place where he spent his final years.

• Togo (film trailer)

Sled dog who ran in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

Can you list the top facts and stats about Togo (dog)?

Summarize this article for a 10 year old

Togo (1913 – December 5, 1929) was the lead sled dog of musher Leonhard Seppala and his dog sled team in the 1925 serum run to Nome across central and northern Alaska . Despite covering a far greater distance than any other lead dogs on the run, over some of the most dangerous parts of the trail, his role was left out of contemporary news of the event at the time, in favor of the lead dog for the last leg of the relay, Balto , whom Seppala also owned and had bred.

Deemed at first a mere troublemaker, before being identified as a natural leader and puppy prodigy by Seppala, Togo had already shown extreme feats of dedication and endurance as a puppy, and as an adult continued to show unusual feats of intelligence, saving the lives of his team and musher on more than one occasion. Sled dogs bred from his line have contributed to the 'Seppala Siberian' sleddog line, as well as the mainstream Siberian Husky gene pool. [1]

Togo. The Legend.

Musher: A person who controls a team of dogs pulling a sled over snow.

White-out: A weather condition so severe that the features of the terrain are indistinguishable due to uniform light diffusion.

In 1925 in Alaska, a serious bacterial infection known as diphtheria threatened the town of Nome. An epidemic loomed, and serum would be required to prevent the inevitable deaths.

There was, however, one major problem. The only available aeroplane was unable to take off due to the low temperatures. It was then decided that there was only one solution. A relay of sled dogs and mushers would attempt to deliver the medication. The teams were made up of 20 mushers and around 150 dogs and became known as the 1925 Serum Run.

The distance that needed to be covered was intimidating for a start. Six hundred seventy-four miles (1085km) to be precise. To put this distance into perspective, for UK readers, this is further than the entire length of the UK. The distance of  Lands End to John O’Groats is 603 miles(970km)  Every relay team would have to meet at a pre-arranged destination in order to hand over the cargo of drugs. This would take place in temperatures that are unimaginable to most of us. Minus 85F!!

Just to make life more difficult, the teams had to endure gale force winds which occasionally became hurricane force, plus whiteouts. For this enterprise to succeed, it would rely on the dedication of the mushers and the training of their dogs. The entire journey took 127.5 hours, and not a vial of the medication was lost or broken.

An Annual Celebration

This extraordinary feat is now celebrated with the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the mushers who even received letters from Calvin Coolidge, the President of the United States of America.

Sadly one of the most amazing episodes in Alaskan history was then mired in recriminations as the media, needing a hero, decided to use the final musher who delivered the serum and his dog Balto as the object of their story. This was made worse as it is generally accepted that the lead dog that was in the team that actually delivered the serum was not even Balto but a dog called Fox, but the media, it appears, preferred the more exotic name Balto.

The media totally ignored the contribution of the Alaskan native mushers who covered two-thirds of the distance but as Edgar Kallard, one of the mushers, commented. “It was just an everyday occurrence as far as we were concerned.”

Of course, they were all heroes who collectively saved lives, both mushers and dogs, however, if a hero was required, then without a doubt, this accolade was due to Togo who at the time was a vastly experienced 12-year-old Siberian Husky.

Being a lead dog, he was the best of the best, and on one occasion, he had steadfastly refused to obey the command to move forward, only for Leonhard Seppala and his mushers to find that directly in front was a huge crack in the ice. Had not Togo stubbornly declined to move the entire dog team and Seppala would have drowned a horrible death under the ice.

A second event was even more remarkable. Stranded on a broken piece of ice, the only way out was for Togo to be released with a rope in his mouth and tow the entire dog team and Seppala back to safety. Unfortunately, the rope snapped. Togo jumped into the freezing water, grabbed the rope turned himself over twice this creating an improvised harness and dragged the entire team to safety.

The average length of the serum run for each musher was under 40 miles, and the longest distance was 53 miles. However, the stretch covered by Togo was 91, was done in blizzard conditions, over the most treacherous terrain, with constant white-outs. What is not appreciated is that Seppala and his dog team travelled a further 170 miles to be in position for the handover, which brought his distance to 261 miles, well in excess of 200 miles more than any other team. All this time, Seppala had as his lead dog the 12-year-old Togo.

It should be understood that a sled dog bears little resemblance to a pet. These dogs are tough beyond our understanding, and a lead dog in particular also has to be highly intelligent and be able to cope with any emergency. Not only are they highly trained, but their survival instinct comes to the fore when problems arise. In the same way that a Newfoundland dog instinctively knows what is expected and doesn’t always need instruction, a Siberian Husky sled dog, who is also a lead dog, is unique in his ability to instantly react to a dangerous situation.

In the conditions that they live in, you can’t just call 911 and wait for help.

Such were the conditions that some of the mushers suffered frostbite and a small number of dogs sacrificed their lives to complete the journey but saved countless human lives, most of which would have been children.

In the modern vernacular, the greatest are now called a G.O.A.T.

Greatest Of All Time

Mohammed Ali, and Madonna, to name but two. Though there will always be debates as to who was the greatest in any sport or endeavour, however, in the world of sled dogs, there is very little disagreement. The greatest of all time was Togo.

This dog is immortalized in the 2019 movie Togo starring Willem Dafoe, which is based on the 1925 Serum Run.

“Afterwards I thought of the ice and the darkness and the terrible wind and the irony that men could build planes and ships. But when Nome needed life in little packages of serum it took the dogs to bring it through.” Leonhard Seppala

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Togo, the heroic dog.

A wonderful story that mustn’t be allowed to fade away.

A week ago, I wrote a post called Sticks and Stones .  Towards the end of that post, I mentioned Togo,

In 1925, a ravaging case of diphtheria broke out in the isolated Alaskan village of Nome. No plane or ship could get the serum there, so the decision was made for multiple sled dog teams to relay the medicine across the treacherous frozen land. The dog that often gets credit for eventually saving the town is Balto, but he just happened to run the last, 55-mile leg in the race. The sled dog who did the lion’s share of the work was Togo. His journey, fraught with white-out storms, was the longest by 200 miles and included a traverse across perilous Norton Sound — where he saved his team and driver in a courageous swim through ice floes.

and added that I would write more about Togo.  Here it is.

The Wikipedia entry reveals:

Togo (October 1913 – December 5, 1929) was the sled dog who led Leonhard Seppala and his dog sled team as they covered the longest distance in the 1925 relay of diphtheria antitoxin from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, to combat an outbreak of the disease. The run is commemorated by the annual Iditarod dog sled race . Annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Togo was a Siberian Husky, his coat was black, brown, and gray, and he weighed about 48 pounds (22 kg). Seppala’s lead dog during the 1914 All-Alaska Sweepstakes, and was a precocious leader. At the time of the serum run Togo was twelve years old.

Within that entry, under the sub-heading of the Great Race of Mercy is this,

The first batch of 300,240 units of serum was delivered by train from Anchorage to Nenana, Alaska, where it was picked up by the first of twenty mushers and more than 100 dogs who relayed the serum a total of 674 miles (1,085 km) to Nome. Togo and Seppala traveled 170 miles (274 km) from Nome in three days, and picked up the serum in Shaktoolik on January 31. The temperature was estimated at −30 °F (−34 °C), and the gale force winds causing a wind chill of −85 °F (−65 °C). The return trip crossed the exposed open ice of the Norton Sound. The night and a ground blizzard prevented Seppala from being able to see the path but Togo navigated to the roadhouse at Isaac’s Point on the shore by 8 AM preventing certain death to his team. After traveling 84 miles (134 km) in one day, the team slept for six hours before continuing at 2 AM. Before the night the temperature dropped to −40 °F (−40 °C), and the wind increased to 65 mi/h (105 km/h). The team ran across the ice, which was breaking up, while following the shoreline. They returned to shore to cross Little McKinley Mountain, climbing 5,000 feet (1,500 m). After descending to the next roadhouse in Golovin, Seppala passed the serum to Charlie Olsen, who in turn would pass it to Gunnar Kaasen and Balto.

A web search for ‘Togo’ including a mention on a website called Find A Grave that has this,

Birth: Oct., 1913 Death: Dec. 5, 1929, Poland Spring, Androscoggin County, Maine, USA A sled dog for Leonhard Seppala. In 1925, When a diphtheria out brake happened in Nome Alaska. Seppala, Togo and a team of dogs ran to Nenana. He ran 10 times the distance of a average sled run. However another dog named Balto got nearly all of the fame. After the run, Seppala sold Togo to a friend in Poland Spring Maine were Togo was euthanized on December 5th 1929. He was stuffed and was put on display at Yale University. He was eventually moved to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Museum in Wasilla Alaska, where he is today. Burial: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Museum, Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, USA

Magnificent!

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11 thoughts on “ Togo, the heroic dog ”

Another tear filled read Paul. And wow what a distance through such extremes of weather. Wonderful share thank you Sue

It is an amazing story, one that underlines the deep and ancient bonds between dogs and man.

Great Story! Thanks for sharing.Paul…motivation for us two legged folks to go the extra mile for our brothers and sisters of the human race! Blessings to you and yours! mag

Thanks MaryAnne, Paul

I think if anyone ever truly connects with a dog or any animal for that matter… they will know what unconditional love is…. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story…. Take Care… )0( maryrose

MaryRose, thank you and thanks for subscribing to the blog. Have to warn you that not all the articles are about dogs but, hopefully, the theme of integrity is never far from the surface. However, over the week-end standards drop badly! 😉

that’s okay….I never know what my blog will be about from moment to moment… I will look around more this weekend….I have to go to work in a bit….. after humpday/no fun day…the weekend is usually a free for all or freefall? lols… Take care )0( maryrose

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The Sled Dog Relay That Inspired the Iditarod

By: Christopher Klein

Updated: May 16, 2023 | Original: March 10, 2014

The children of Nome were dying in January 1925. Infected with diphtheria, they wheezed and gasped for air, and every day brought a new case of the lethal respiratory disease. Nome’s lone physician, Dr. Curtis Welch, feared an epidemic that could put the entire village of 1,400 at risk. He ordered a quarantine but knew that only an antitoxin serum could ward off the fast-spreading disease.

The nearest batch of the life-saving medicine, however, rested more than 1,000 miles away in Anchorage. Nome’s ice-choked harbor made sea transport impossible, and open-cockpit airplanes could not fly in Alaska’s subzero temperatures. With the nearest train station nearly 700 miles away in Nenana, canine power offered Nome its best hope for a speedy delivery.

Sled dogs regularly beat Alaska’s snowy trails to deliver mail, and the territory’s governor, Scott C. Bone, recruited the best drivers and dog teams to stage a round-the-clock relay to transport the serum from Nenana to Nome. On the night of January 27, 1925, a train whistle pierced Nenana’s stillness as it arrived with the precious cargo—a 20-pound package of serum wrapped in protective fur. Musher “Wild Bill” Shannon tied the parcel to his sled. As he gave the signal, the paws of Shannon’s nine malamutes pounded the snow-packed trail on the first steps of a 674-mile “Great Race of Mercy” through rugged wilderness, across frozen waterways and over treeless tundra.

Even by Alaskan standards, this winter night packed extra bite, with temperatures plummeting to 60 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Although every second was precious as the number of confirmed cases in Nome mounted, Shannon knew he needed to control his speed. If his dogs ran too fast and breathed too deeply in such frigid conditions, they could frost their lungs and die of exposure. Although Shannon ran next to the sled to raise his own body temperature, he still developed hypothermia and frostbite on the 52-mile leg to Tolovana before handing off the serum to the second dog team.

With moonlight and even the northern lights illuminating the dark Alaskan winter days, the relay raced at an average speed of six miles per hour. While each leg averaged 30 miles, the country’s most famous musher, Norwegian-born Leonhard Seppala, departed Shaktoolik on January 31 on an epic 91-mile leg. Having already rushed 170 miles from Nome to intercept the relay, Seppala decided on a risky shortcut over the frozen Norton Sound in the teeth of a gale that dropped wind chills to 85 degrees below zero. Seppala’s lead dog, 12-year-old Siberian Husky Togo, had logged tens of thousands of miles, but none as important as these. Togo and his 19 fellow dogs struggled for traction on Norton Sound’s glassy skin, and the fierce winds threatened to break apart the ice and send the team adrift to sea. The team made it safely to the coastline only hours before the ice cracked. Gusts continued to batter the team as it hugged the coastline before meeting the next musher, Charlie Olson, who after 25 miles handed off the serum to Gunnar Kaasen for the scheduled second-to-last leg of the relay.

As Kaasen set off into a blizzard, the pelting snow grew so fierce that his squinting eyes could not see any of his team, let alone his trusted lead dog, Balto. On loan from Seppala’s kennel, Balto relied on scent, rather than sight, to lead the 13-dog team over the beaten trail as ice began to crust the long hairs of his brown coat. Suddenly, a massive gust upwards of 80 miles per hour flipped the sled and launched the antidote into a snow bank. Panic coursed through Kaasen’s frostbitten body as he tore off his mitts and rummaged through the snow with his numb hands before locating the serum.

Kaasen arrived in Port Safety in the early morning hours of February 2, but when the next team was not ready to leave, the driver decided to forge on to Nome himself. After covering 53 miles, Balto was the first sign of Nome’s salvation as the sled dogs yipped and yapped down Front Street at 5:30 A.M. to deliver the valuable package to Dr. Welch.

The relay had taken five-and-a-half days, cutting the previous speed record nearly in half. Four dogs died from exposure, giving their lives so that others could live. Three weeks after injecting the residents of Nome, Dr. Crosby lifted the quarantine.

Although more than 150 dogs and 20 drivers participated in the relay, it was the canine that led the final miles that became a media superstar. Within weeks, Balto was inked to a Hollywood contract to star in a 30-minute film, “Balto’s Race to Nome.” After a nine-month vaudeville tour, Balto was present in December 1925 as a bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled in New York’s Central Park.

Seppala and his Siberians also toured the country and even appeared in an advertising campaign for Lucky Strike cigarettes, but the famous driver resented the glory lavished on Balto at the expense of Togo, who had guided the relay’s longest and most arduous stretch. “It was almost more than I could bear when the ‘newspaper dog’ Balto received a statue for his ‘glorious achievements,’” Seppala remarked.

The serum run was Togo’s last long-distance feat. He died in 1929, and his preserved body is on view at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. After the limelight faded, Balto lived out his final days at the Cleveland Zoo, and his body is on display at the Cleveland Natural History Museum. Since 1973, the memory of the serum run has lived on in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which is held each March and is run on some of the same trails beaten by Balto, Togo and dozens of other sled dogs in a furious race against time nearly a century ago.

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Premium Content

• HISTORY & CULTURE

When a deadly disease gripped an Alaskan town, a dog saved the day—but history hailed another

The movie Togo recounts an act of heroism in the midst of a frightening outbreak. Here star Willem Dafoe describes putting a face to the modest man at its core—and, almost a century on, why Togo finally gives one underdog its due. 

It sounds like something Jack London would make up. In the teeth of winter, a deadly disease strikes the children of a tiny Alaskan gold-rush town—pinned between the frozen sea, and a snow-swamped wilderness. The residents’ only hope: a sketchy plan to relay vials of treatment from a distant railhead hundreds of miles over mountains, across frozen inlets and through a storm. By dog sled.  

But the fable is no fiction. The 1925 Serum Run, as it’s known to those who know it, was an event of enough significance to merit a statue in New York’s Central Park— a space it shares with 29 other artistic commemorations, amongst them renderings of Christopher Columbus, characters from Shakespeare and Alice in Wonderland and a memorial to John Lennon.  

It is a statue of a dog, burly of build and heroic of poise with polished edges where children love to clamber on it. To those who see it as more than a canine climbing frame it’s a testimony to loyalty, tenacity and duty for the greater good. The name of the dog, carved into the base of the statue, says Balto. It should probably say something else.

This story of somewhat misappropriated heroism—and one that is the very definition of triumph over toilsome odds—forms the foundation of Togo , a 2020 movie that tells a familiar story, but with some unfamiliar names. One is that of the eponymous hound that perhaps deserves to be the one cast in bronze and clambered on; the other is his owner, a Norwegian immigrant and failed gold prospector-turned dog breeder named Leonhard Seppala.

Neither name is known enough, not least to Willem Dafoe —the actor who signed up to play Seppala in what would be an elemental step into the world of a man he was yet to know. “I knew the basic story of the serum run,” he told National Geographic (UK) . “The story of Leonhard Seppala and Togo, not so much. Usually when people know the story they know Balto.” The question is, why?

Terror in isolation

High on the western coast of Alaska on the Bering Sea, Nome is a frontier town built on gold and the fur trade. Founded in 1901, it’s closer to Siberia than the state’s biggest city, Anchorage. And this remote position would present a nightmare scenario when in 1925, a disease began to grip the town’s children. It was too late by the time officials discovered it wasn't a severe bout of tonsillitis; it was diphtheria.  

A contagious bacterial infection that attacks the upper respiratory system and causes tissue swelling in the throat, diphtheria can be deadly. So it proved in Nome, when in late December, two Iñupiaq children succumbed to the disease when it was found the tiny hospital’s only stock of antitoxin had expired. By January 24, four children were known to have died—with more presumed in the surrounding native Alaskan communities. In a telegram to Anchorage, Nome’s doctor Curtis Welch implemented a quarantine, and sent out a call for a million units to be sent—asserting that an ‘epidemic of diphtheria is almost inevitable.’  

The fact this outbreak wasn't unprecedented made it all the more terrifying. “Within Alaska history, the 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome was but one in a series of area and Alaska-wide epidemics,” says David Reamer , a historian and writer for The Anchorage Daily News —who has written extensively about diseases   in the state’s history . “Nome and the surrounding Native villages were by far the Alaska communities hardest hit by the 1918 to 1919 influenza pandemic —the ‘ Spanish flu .’ Hundreds died in the region, including babies who froze to death still held by their mothers who had succumbed to the influenza ,” he says. “This horror, only seven years prior, was well within living memory—and certainly in the minds of residents as they watched the diphtheria spread among their children.”

Amidst some of the worst winter conditions for decades and temperatures at a 20-year low, it became clear to the town authorities that transport of Alaska's small supply of antitoxin by conventional means would be too slow or impossible before the disease ravaged the town. The port was frozen, and planes couldn’t operate safely in the cold, let alone land. Without any other way of bridging the formidable 674-mile gap between the railhead at Nenana and Nome—a route that typically took mail couriers a month—they turned to a dog breeder and champion musher named Leonhard Seppala.  

Seppala’s own story spanned many miles. A Norwegian immigrant, ‘Sepp’ had originally travelled to Alaska to prospect for gold , under the employ of a gold mine. Disillusioned by the work, he became its superintendent—tending water ditches and ferrying freight and passengers between camps by dog sled, and a ‘ pupmobile ’ designed to run on the rail track.  

“It’s a character from a certain time in history” says Dafoe, whose turn in Togo as the physically-uncanny Seppala won wide acclaim . “He reminds me of men I knew in my life, like my father. People said he was a very pragmatic guy. Not taciturn, just pragmatic. It’s that frontier spirit—you’ve got to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you’re self-reliant, you’ve got to learn things. [And] you’ve got to take care of yourself and not take charity from anyone else.”  

Stimulated by the work and tasked by default with the training and upkeep of the mine’s dogs, Seppala found his calling. Thanks to a connection to the mine’s entrepreneurial proprietor , Seppala was commissioned to train and condition a team of sled dog puppies for an attempt on the North Pole from Alaska, by Norwegian Explorer Roald Amundsen . As the shadow of World War One loomed, the expedition was abandoned—and the dogs intended for the expedition were gifted to Seppala.  

  Competitive sledding was a natural collateral activity to anyone who worked with dogs—both the Alaskan malamute, or husky (a corruption of esky, short for Eskimo) and the slighter Siberian dogs brought to Alaska by the Chukchi in 1908. Prized for their endurance and intelligence, the dogs’ stamina and propulsive gait made them the perfect engine for crossing difficult terrain. The dogs intended for Amundsen were Siberian huskies, and now – in possession of his own dog team – Sepp began to compete in Alaska’s competitive races. Beginning in 1915, Seppala won three consecutive All Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408-mile clearway run from Nome to Candle, following the route of the telegraph line. Seppala’s wins were credited to his lighter-framed dogs – ‘Siberian rats’, as other mushers would sorely describe them. That, and the instincts of the dog in the lead harness, which for Seppala, would soon belong to one in particular.  

The original underdog

Named—eventually—after   Heihachiro Togo , a heroic Japanese admiral, Togo was born in 1913, and in the sled dog stakes didn’t initially show much promise. With a mottled colour that made his coat appear grubby, he was nursed by Seppala’s wife Constance as a puppy due to a throat condition: circumstances that may have resulted in both his smaller build, wilful disposition and a deep-rooted loyalty to his owner. Togo would frequently escape confinement to race after Seppala when he was conducting training or errands. Considered a nuisance, when given away at seven months old to a female friend as a companion, again Togo escaped and returned home. At this point Seppala noticed a back-handed virtue of the dog: his determination, and knack for finding the shortest distance between two points .  

Dafoe believes the Norwegian saw something of himself in the dog. “Seppala was quite determined. He was physically small, he was an immigrant, and he had some disappointment in his life.” He says. “So that kind of paralleled his projections onto Togo, who was kind of a non-starter. He was too small, he was unassuming, he was undisciplined, he was basically dubbed a failure. Maybe he did identify with that.”

Seppala, though perhaps a poor gold prospector, certainly eventually found his own winning niche. “I think it’s always very helpful when you’re playing a character who has a very central action, or expertise, or passion, or profession,” says Dafoe. “I always feel like the way into characters is learning how to do what they do, or address yourself to their mindset in the most practical way that you can.”  

For Togo, this meant taking the reins—and gaining physical insight into Seppala’s chosen profession. “You think, that looks pretty simple… a guy sitting on the back and the dogs do all the pulling…” he laughs. “But it’s a bit more complicated than that. It requires knowing the dogs, finessing the tension on the line, dealing with the discomfort, the cold, about balance, about reading the terrain—it’s about lots of things. It really takes a tough character.”  

Tired of Togo’s constant escapes, Seppala eventually let him run with the team—first at the back, then further up the line until eventually the lead, where the dog hit his stride. In Gay and Laney Salisbury’s   The Cruellest Miles , Seppala is quoted as saying that in Togo he ‘ had found a natural-born leader… something I had tried for years to breed .’ The two would become inseparable—and in the coming years on various expeditions on the trail, would save each other’s lives.

The ‘Great Run of Mercy’

By the time the diphtheria outbreak struck, Seppala was now famous across Alaska as a musher, known as the “king of the trail”—with the wily, diminutive Togo his equally venerated lead dog. On the evening of January 24, 1925, Seppala was called on by Nome’s authorities to spearhead what would, in the hyperbole of the many subsequent headlines, become known as ‘the Great Run of Mercy.’ With the 1300 mile round-trip from Nome to Nenana unrealistic for one team, the vials of diphtheria antitoxin, the only 300,000 units in Alaska, would be relayed by sled dog teams from Nenana to Nome via the mid-point of Nulato—both sections still a round trip of over 600 miles.    

The dangers were considerable. With Seppala charged with the most treacherous sections of the intercepting leg from Nome, he would be forced to negotiate the coastline of Norton Sound— with the chilling nickname ‘the ice factory’ . A day-saving shortcut across the frozen sound was the most hazardous section of the trip, beset with high winds and unstable ice floes that were razor-sharp underfoot. It was a leg most knew—including Seppala – that only he, with Togo’s instincts for danger and terrain, could manage. But even this was a tall order: Togo by this point was 12 years old.  

Seppala set off on January 27th. In the event, as the outbreak and conditions worsened, unbeknownst to Seppala the already long-odds plans were changed en route—often at considerable risk of a missed rendezvous at the rustic cabins, or ‘roadhouses,’ which were the trail’s only respite. Additional mushers and teams were added to relieve the strain and speed up the transit of the vital medication – ampules, wrapped in fur padding, and sealed in a metal container—as the Nome outbreak worsened.  

(The rugged past and fragile futures of Alaska's roadhouses.)

The relay from Nenana progressed faster than expected. By chance Seppala intercepted the serum from a musher named Henry Ivanoff outside Shahtoolik—and turned back for Nome in worsening conditions.

Temperatures were in the region of -35 C (-31 F), with wind-chill a murderous -65 C (-149 F). Seppala would would often rely on Togo’s instincts when he couldn’t see the way ahead due to spindrift, oncoming wind and deep snow. Due to total exhaustion of both he and his dogs, Seppala was forced to stop at Golovin—with 78 miles left to go to Nome. Since leaving the disease-stricken town, by this point his team had by that point covered a total of 261 miles—including two crossings of Norton Sound on sketchy ice. A musher named Charlie Olsen then ferried the antitoxin to within around 50 miles of Nome, where Gunner Kaasen was waiting with a team of 13 dogs—led by Balto.    

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The resulting fame of Balto, along with musher Kaasen was an unfortunate, though unwitting, outcome.  

The 674-mile transit of the antitoxin took five and a half days—a world record, and one watched by a public on tenterhooks. This was emphasised by the recent adoption of the radio by middle America, all of which made the story of the serum run a dispatch-by-distance phenomenon. In Nome, as few as five or as many as seven died – though numbers of Native Alaskans outside the town were not recorded, and probably numbered far higher. Nonetheless, it was clear a far greater toll had been miraculously (and slenderly) avoided. The story became a sensation—and so did its heroes.  

Everyone wants to be useful somewhere. I think this was his moment where he felt this was something he had to try to do. Willen Dafoe

Balto was the dog that led the final leg to Nome and allowed Kaasen to actually deliver the antitoxin, on February 2. A simple look at the mileage would have put any misplaced credit into context: Balto and Fox, with Kaasen, covered either 50, 53 or 55 miles   – sources vary – whereas Seppala, with Togo, carried the serum for 91 miles over much more technical and hazardous ground. In total, door-to-door Togo ran 261 miles; Balto just over 100.  

But the public wanted a lightning rod and, being the photogenic shore upon which the wave of Nome’s relief fell, the press ensured Kaasen and Balto were it. Theirs were the images that graced the front pages of the newspapers , and their names that passed into history—eclipsing not only Togo and Seppela, but 18 other people and some 150 dogs who played a part on the relay. “In broader terms, Balto's fame obscures the other mushers,” says David Reamer, “including many Alaska Natives whose contributions are far more forgotten.”  

A dog finally gets his due

Kaasen and Balto’s leg wasn’t without heroism: though modest in miles, conditions were so bad Kaasen, who was sledding through the night, could barely see the dogs. At one point his sled flipped, necessitating a bare-hands search in the snow for the antitoxin package for which Kaasen suffered frostbite .    

Nevertheless, the competitive Seppala wasn’t happy at the adulation piled on Balto. Though he owned, reared and trained the dog Kaasen used in his team, Seppala maintained Balto was a ‘scrub dog’ in comparison to his beloved Togo—and that anyway Balto had been a joint lead on those final miles with a dog named Fox. The New York Times furthered the confusion in 1927, when it reported ‘Balto Not Nome Hero Dog’—before naming Fox as the true hero of the Serum run. With no mention of Togo at all, the rest of the brief report was dedicated to the supposed whereabouts of Balto.  

The latter had recently taken a cruel turn. Following the serum run, in addition to his Central Park statue , amongst much else Balto was presented with the key (shaped like a bone) to the city of Los Angeles, starred in a film, and toured the lower US states to an adoring public. But when Kaasen tired of the melee and wanted to return to Alaska, Balto and his fellow dogs were sold—by whom isn’t clear—to a vaudeville sideshow. Here he endured poor treatment until a fundraising effort secured care for the dog at Cleveland Zoo , where he lived out the remainder of his life.  

Truth vs fable

Given Balto's name has enjoyed fame, books, statues and an animated feature film – in which the dog was voiced by Kevin Bacon – Alaskan historian David Reamer is pleased to see the new film go some way to set the record straight. “The movie manages to correct a historical injustice without becoming bogged down in minutiae,” he says. “The story certainly didn't need any additional drama.”  

The serum run also inspired the most celebrated dog sled race in the world, the Iditarod – which covers a similar route between Nome and Nenana, before continuing south to Anchorage. Togo’s bloodline continues in the Seppala Siberian huskies , while the dog himself today lives at the headquarters of the Iditarod in Wasilla where the 107-year old hound (his fur was mounted by Seppala after his death) stands in a glass case. Both dog and race hark back to an era of Alaskan history where the sled dog was the key to humans’ survival in the wilderness. ( See vintage photos of sled dogs .)

“Alaskan literature is filled with stories about natural-born lead dogs like Togo… with an almost uncanny ability to size up obstacles.” Wrote Gay and Laney Salisbury in The Cruellest Miles . “Without such dogs, many Alaskans believe, Alaska could not have developed.”

In addition, the run itself had another legacy, one that undoubtedly saved many thousands or even hundreds of thousands of lives in the ensuing generation. “At a time when supplying the much needed antitoxin was simply not feasible via air or sea—coupled with the determination and tenacity to save the children of Nome—the story of the dog sled relay propelled the necessity and importance of vaccination,” says Dr Basil Aboul Enin of the London School of Hygiene and   Tropical Medicine . “It’s a story that continues to echo in the annals of public health history.”  

The issue around Balto's Central Park statue also continues to echo. A Change.org petition to replace Balto's statue with one of Togo was started in late 2019. Elsewhere in New York, a small 2001 statue of Togo that stands in New York's Seward Park—named in honour of the   U.S. Secretary of State, who purchased Alaska from Russia in 1868 —was recently relocated to a more prominent position, as part of a rejuvenation of the space.  

As for the movie, Willem Dafoe is confident the tale of Seppala and Togo goes further than simply righting the usurping of an underdog. “It’s going to mean different things to different people, like anything. I guess the main thing is about opening up to where you fit in the world,” he says. “The interdependence between us and nature, us and animals… so it leads to kind of a better way of living and a greater understanding of what we’re here for.”

Of Seppala himself, Dafoe adds: “Everyone wants to be useful somewhere. And I think this was his moment where he felt like this was something he had to try to do. I think he had no choice.”

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The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race. The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race. The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race.

• Ericson Core
• Willem Dafoe
• Julianne Nicholson
• Christopher Heyerdahl
• 455 User reviews
• 45 Critic reviews
• 69 Metascore
• 1 win & 4 nominations

• Leonhard Seppala

• Constance Seppala

• Mayor George Maynard

• Dr. Curtis Welch

• Sally Burdett

• Charlie Olsen

• Sarah Foley

• Jafet Lindeberg

• Henry Ivanoff

• Gunnar Kaasen

• Scotty Allan
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Unfortunately, the original serum package only contained enough serum for 30 doses and there were already 28 cases of children and adults stricken with Diptheria, and new cases were coming in. A week later, on the 8th of February, nine of the original mushers together with twelve others had to do the entire relay all over again. Neither Balto, Kaasen, Seppala nor Togo was involved in the second run. The second relay took 36 hours more to complete.
• Goofs In the film, Togo and Balto both have blue eyes, and so do many other huskies in the film. Some huskies also have heterochromia. The real Togo had brown eyes, as did the real Balto, and the Siberian Husky didn't develop its blue eyes until around the 1940s.

Leonhard Seppala : Come, my pups!

Leonhard Seppala : Are we to fear ice now?

Leonhard Seppala : He, which hath no stomach in this fight, let him depart.

Leonhard Seppala : His passport shall be made, we would not die in that dog's company!

Leonhard Seppala : Old dogs forget, but he who would remember with advantages what feats he did that day.

Leonhard Seppala : Then shall our names, familiar in his mouth as household words-Seppala, the driver.

Leonhard Seppala : Sally, Molly, and Reverend Togo, great Togo in lead!

• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: D23 Expo 2019 Extravaganza (2019)

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• December 20, 2019 (United States)
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• Runtime 1 hour 53 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Nome serum run lead dog's bloodline still alive in New York

According to a lengthy story by the New York Times , the bloodline of Togo, the lead dog in Leonhard Seppala's famous 1925 Nome serum run team, is still alive and part of mushing.

The tale begins with Winnie, a direct descendant of Togo, who pulls double duty as a racing dog and a show dog.

Siberan huskies are often called "Slowberians" because they're not as speedy as the huskies of mixed origin comprising most elite Iditarod teams, but Winnie works as a lead dog in races around New York, and she's the top-ranked Siberian husky nationwide when it comes to dog shows. This week, she'll be competing at the Westminster Kennel Club show in Madison Square Garden.

The Times report then moves into the rather depressing story of what happened to Seppala's team after it received international fame for its role in the life-saving effort to carry emergency medical supplies to Nome during a diptheria outbreak:

Read much, much more, here .

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

Screen Rant

Togo true story: what the disney+ movie changed & got right.

The Disney+ original movie Togo is based on the remarkably untold true story about the 1925 serum run, but how much of the film is accurate?

Togo   tells the remarkable true story about the real canine hero behind 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska – but how much of the Disney+ original movie is actually true, and how much of it was fabricated or exaggerated for the big screen? Directed by cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Ericson Core, whose other credits include the 2015  Point Break  remake and the Philadelphia Eagles inspirational drama  Invincible , the film stars Willem Dafoe as real-life dog sled musher Leonhard Seppala and follows his pooch team as they embark on the bulk of the heroic rescue mission.

Following an outbreak of diphtheria in the isolated town of Nome, local officials elected Seppala to lead the charge for gathering antitoxins and returning them to Alaska. The journey in itself would require Seppala complete a 600 mile roundtrip on his own, an unbelievably demanding task, given that his lead dog, Togo, was 12 years old. In the end, a relay system was implemented to help ease the effects of the journey on Seppala's team, and a grand argument  Togo   makes is that Balto, the dog who has been celebrated as the hero of the serum run for nearly a century, and his fame were nothing more than a result of luck and good fortune.

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With that said, another grand part of the film is dedicated to Seppala's roller coaster relationship with the titular pup. In this way,  Togo  is a surprisingly sweet and spiritual film about two partners nearing the end of their life journey together. Here's the true story behind all the elements of  Togo – before, during, and after the 1925 serum run – and how much of the Disney+ movie was fictionalized.

Togo As A Puppy

As depicted in Disney+'s  Togo , the titular pooch had a very sickly youth and required the excessive care and attention of Seppala's wife Constance ( portrayed by Julianne Nicholson ). As a professional dog breeder and racer, Seppala's relationship with the dogs he worked with was exactly that: strictly professional. That being said, the rather small dog, on top of being constantly sick and having an infamous string of bad behavior as a young puppy, was more of a nuisance than anything else. So, in order to better the herd of dogs he was developing for competition, it is true that Seppala gave Togo away to a neighbor when the puppy was six months old.

Remarkably, the second part of this plot line was also true. Seemingly fed up with the domestic lifestyle after only a few weeks, the titular pooch escaped his new home and ran several miles back to Seppala's kennel. And not only did Togo escape, but, as was seen in the film, he jumped through a closed glass window to get back to his original owner. This insane level of dedication helped contribute to the dog's name, which was based on the Japanese admiral and naval hero Tōgō Heihachirō, as well as his place at the forefront of Seppala's team.

Once there, Togo led his musher's team to victory at the All Alaska Sweepstakes during Seppala's second attempt in 1915; beating the second place and experienced racer Scotty Allan by two hours. This first victory is depicted in  Togo  as a flashback, but Seppala also won the All Alaska Sweepstakes the two following years in 1916 and 1917.

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The 1925 Serum Run

The situation driving Disney+'s  Togo   – the 1925 serum run – was as dire as it was depicted in the film. In the winter of 1924-1925, a diphtheria epidemic was threatening Nome; the town's only doctor, Curtis Welch (portrayed by  Game of Thrones ' Richard Dormer), finally diagnosed the cause of four children's deaths as such and quickly alleviated the town's only available antitoxins – which themselves were expired and thus ineffective. Welch immediately ordered more antitoxin from the health commissioner in Juneau, but the port had closed for the winter before the shipment arrived. Afraid that the disease would affect the 3000 natives in the surrounding area, he sent telegrams to the other major Alaskan towns (in the film, it was Christopher Heyerdahl's character Mayor George Maynard who did this) and to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington D.C. asking for help.

Even with a quarantine in place, more than 20 people had been diagnosed with the disease and many more were at risk. Unfortunately, flying was a relatively new technology at the time, and postal flight during a brutal winter season had hardly been tested. So the decision was quickly made by the town's leaders to elect Seppala, the Norwegian immigrant and sled dog driver, to lead the solo expedition to gather and bring back antitoxins to Nome.

As portrayed in the Disney+ film , the weather was no friendly factor to the mission. Throughout the trip, the temperature was approximately −30 °F with gale force winds making it feel like −85 °F. However, Togo and Seppala's team didn't have to endure the brutal conditions by themselves. By the time the antitoxins had made their way to the Nome, nearly 20 sled dog teams, compromised of more than 100 dogs, had done their part in delivering the medicine the 674 mile distance between Nenana, Alaska and Nome. That being said, Togo led the charge on the majority of the trip; he and Seppala's dog sled team, as the film's final cards say, ran over 250 miles.

Togo also took charge of some of the most dangerous portions of the trip. Watching  Togo , it'd be easy to chalk up some of the more intense or dramatic sequences during the serum run as Hollywood's attempt to amplify the excitement of the story. But that's not true. In real life, after crossing the rapidly breaking Norton Sound, Togo leapt to the shore by himself and almost single-handedly pulled the sled ashore. Again, this actually happened.

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But once Seppala and his team had leaped over that last substantial hurdle and climbed the 5,000 feet across Little McKinley Mountain, they completed their leg of the journey. From there, Seppala handed off the 300,240 units of serum to Charlie Olson's team who, in turn, handed it off to Gunnar Kaasen, who completed the final stretch of the journey with Balto leading the team.

What Happened Afterwards

As seen in  Togo , Balto was the dog who got the vast majority of the credit for the serum run instead of Seppala's lead pup. That same year, Balto was given a commemorative statue in Central Park, and over half a century later, was also given his own tributary animated film.

Though Togo's more-than-earned fame was largely swept under the rug, Seppala, Togo, and a team of dogs went on a victory tour in continental United States, making various stops in Seattle, California and New York City. They were also featured in a Lucky Stripes cigarette ad campaign as well as on a chewing gum collector card.

Unfortunately, while Disney+'s  Togo  ends on the happy note, with the dog and the musher living out the rest of their days together, this is one of the few things the movie gets wrong. In real life, Seppala and his wife gave Togo away to fellow sled dog musher Elizabeth Ricker, who lived in Maine.

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Togo (dog) facts for kids

Togo (1913 – December 5, 1929) was the lead sled dog of musher Leonhard Seppala and his dog sled team in the 1925 serum run to Nome across central and northern Alaska . Despite covering a far greater distance than any other lead dogs on the run, over some of the most dangerous parts of the trail, his role was left out of contemporary news of the event at the time, in favor of the lead dog for the last leg of the relay, Balto , whom Seppala also owned and had bred.

Deemed at first a mere troublemaker, before being identified as a natural leader and puppy prodigy by Seppala, Togo had already shown extreme feats of dedication and endurance as a puppy, and as an adult continued to show unusual feats of intelligence, saving the lives of his team and musher on more than one occasion. Sled dogs bred from his line have contributed to the 'Seppala Siberian' sleddog line, as well as the mainstream Siberian Husky gene pool.

Great Race of Mercy

Death and posthumous recognition, film adaptation.

Togo was one of the offspring of former lead dog Suggen and the female Siberian import Dolly. Early pedigree records are inconsistent in his birth year, including those kept by his breeder Viktor Anderson and his owner, Seppala; most sources published list his birth year as 1913, but no other form of consensus exists on his exact time of birth. He was named Cugu [tso`go], which means puppy in Northern Sami language, and later after the Japanese Admiral, Tōgō Heihachirō . Initially, he did not look like he had potential as a sled dog. He only grew to about 48 pounds (22 kg) in adulthood and had a black, brown, and gray coat that made him appear perpetually dirty.

Togo was ill as a young puppy and required intensive nursing from Seppala's wife. He was very bold and rowdy, thus seen as "difficult and mischievous", showing "all the signs of becoming a ... canine delinquent" according to one reporter. At first, this behaviour was interpreted as evidence that he had been spoiled by the individual attention given to him during his illness. As he did not seem suited to be a sled dog , Seppala gave him away to be a pet dog at 6 months of age.

After only a few weeks as a house pet, Togo jumped through the glass of a closed window and ran several miles back to his original master's kennel. This devotion to the team impressed Seppala, so he did not try to give him away again. However, Togo continued to cause trouble by breaking out of the kennel when Seppala took the team out on runs. He would attack the lead dogs of oncoming teams, "as if ... to clear the way for his master". However, one day, he attacked a much stockier malamute leader and was mauled and severely injured. When he recovered, Togo stopped attacking other teams' lead dogs. This would eventually prove a valuable early experience, as it was difficult to teach a lead dog to keep a wide berth of oncoming teams.

When Togo was 8 months old, he proved his worth as a sled dog. Seppala had been hired by a client to transport him quickly to a newly discovered gold claim which would be an overnight round trip for the team. Unable to spare extra time dealing with the young Togo's antics, Seppala tethered him inside the kennel with instructions left to not let him free until he and the team were well and gone. A short while after Seppala had left, Togo broke free of the tether and jumped the kennel fence, getting his paw caught in the process. A kennel handler noticed and cut the dog down from the fencing, but before he could grab him, Togo took off to follow the team's trail. He followed them through nightfall and slept, unnoticed, near the cabin where Seppala was spending the night. The next day, Seppala spotted him far off in the distance, and understood why his dogs had been so keyed up. Togo continued to make Seppala's work difficult on the return trip to the kennel, trying to play with the work dogs and leading them in "charges against reindeer ", pulling them off the trail. Seppala had no choice but to put him in a harness to control him, and was surprised that Togo instantly settled down. As the run wore on, Seppala kept moving Togo up the line until, at the end of the day, he was sharing the lead position with the lead dog (named "Russky"). Togo had logged 75 miles on his first day in harness, which was unheard of for an inexperienced young sled dog, especially a puppy. Seppala called him an "infant prodigy", and later added that "I had found a natural-born leader, something I had tried for years to breed."

Togo began training, and after a few years filled the lead dog position nearly fulltime, often running in single-lead, without a partner. His prowess as a leader consisted of many impressive feats of intelligence and endurance, documented by writers and historians through accounts by Seppala himself. One such occasion was during a crossing of the Norton Sound in a deadly northeast gale; Seppala had ordered Togo to turn in order to avoid a crack forming in the ice, and immediately after doing so Togo abruptly stopped and somersaulted backwards into the rest of the team without being commanded to stop moving. When Seppala arrived at the front of the team to scold the dog, he discovered that Togo had bailed not on the trail, but to avoid an open, growing water channel less than 6 feet from the team which was not visible from the sled, having saved all of them from nearly drowning in the freezing water. Another impressive feat was during the same trip across the Sound. When arriving at the shore of the Bering Sea, the ice floe the team was on top of was too far from land for them to cross or Seppala to jump over. He hitched Togo in single lead with an anchor in the ice and tossed him across to pull the ice closer to the shore. Togo understood and dug in, however the line snapped, suddenly leaving Seppala and the team stranded. Without guidance or prompting, Togo leapt into the water, took the broken line in his mouth, spun around to wrap it around his shoulders twice fashioning a makeshift harness, and pulled the ice floe to shore, his team with it.

Togo went on to become one of Seppala's most treasured dogs, a close and mutually beneficial relationship that would continue to the end of Togo's life. At the time of the historic Serum Run, he was 12 years old and had been a lead dog for 7 years.

In 1925, in response to an epidemic, the first batch of 300,240 units of diphtheria serum was delivered by train from Anchorage to Nenana, Alaska , where it was picked up by the first of twenty mushers and more than 100 dogs who relayed the serum a total of 674 miles (1,085 km) to Nome.

Togo and Seppala ran 170 miles (270 km) east from Nome to just outside Shaktoolik , where they met the serum relay coming the other way on January 31 (Seppala had expected to go all the way to Nulato and back alone). After the handoff, they returned another 91 miles (146 km) to Golovin where they passed the serum to Charlie Olsen's team, having run over 261 miles (420 km) across some of the most dangerous and treacherous parts of the run in total. In total, the team traveled 260 miles (420 km) from Nome in three days. The temperature was estimated at −30 °F (−34 °C), and the gale force winds causing a wind chill of −85 °F (−65 °C).

The return trip crossed the exposed open ice of the Norton Sound. The night and a ground blizzard prevented Seppala from being able to see the path but Togo navigated to the roadhouse at Isaac's Point on the shore by 8 PM preventing certain death to his team. After traveling 84 miles (134 km) in one day, the team slept for six hours before continuing at 2 AM.

Before the night the temperature dropped to −40 °F (−40 °C), and the wind increased to 65 mi/h (105 km/h). The team ran across the ice, which was breaking up, while following the shoreline. They returned to shore to cross Little McKinley Mountain, climbing 5,000 feet (1,500 m). After descending to the next roadhouse in Golovin, Seppala passed the serum to Charlie Olsen, who in turn would pass it to Gunnar Kaasen and Balto .

Aftermath and legacy

In October 1926, Seppala, Togo, and a team of dogs went on a tour from Seattle, Washington to California ; Seppala and Togo drew large crowds at stadiums and department stores , and even appeared in a Lucky Strike cigarette campaign. In New York City , Seppala drove his team from the steps of City Hall along Fifth Avenue and made a pass through Central Park . The team appeared multiple times at Madison Square Garden, which was being managed by Tom Rickard, formerly of Nome, and where on December 30, Togo was awarded a gold medal by Roald Amundsen .

In New England , they competed in several dog sled races against local Chinooks of Arthur Walden and won by huge margins. The success of Seppala's races and the celebrity afforded to the dogs and mushers by the Serum Run, allowed Seppala to begin a Siberian dog kennel and partnership with Elizabeth M. Ricker in Poland Spring, Maine . Togo was left to live at the Ricker kennel to enjoy a life of luxury in his retirement from sled work, and was bred over the next several years, laying down the foundation for the modern Siberian sled dog breeds, known as the "Seppala Siberian Sleddog", and the Siberian Husky .

In 1928, Elizabeth M. Ricker, of Poland Spring, Maine, wrote and published the book Togo's Fireside Reflections . Seppala inked Togo's paw and helped Togo sign some of the books.

After several years of retirement at the Ricker Kennel in Poland Spring, Togo was euthanized by Seppala on December 5, 1929, at 16 years old because of joint pain and partial blindness. The headline in The New York Sun Times the next day was "Dog Hero Rides to His Death" (Salisbury & Salisbury, 2003), and he was eulogized in many other papers. After his death, Seppala had him custom mounted. The mounted skin was on display at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne Vermont. Alaskan students started a letter campaign to return Togo to Alaska. Today the mounted skin is on display in a glass case at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska . The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University has his skeleton in their collection.

The National Park Service notes 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 reputation earned him enduring fame, but only in 1997 got for the first time a statue, although sitting alongside Balto's statue at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo . In 2001, he finally got an individual statue, but of a minor size initially at New York City's Lower East Side and later moved to Seward Park. The popular fictional teen sleuth Nancy Drew named a stray terrier after him in the 1937 novel The Whispering Statue . The dog appears in most of the Nancy Drew novels.

In 2011, Time magazine named Togo the most heroic animal of all time:

"The dog that often gets credit for eventually saving the town is Balto, but he just happened to run the last, 55-mile leg in the race. The sled dog who did the lion's share of the work was Togo. His journey, fraught with white-out storms, was the longest by 200 miles and included a traverse across perilous Norton Sound — where he saved his team and driver in a courageous swim through ice floes."

A film adaptation about Togo's efforts was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and released on December 20, 2019, on Disney+ . Willem Dafoe stars in the film as Leonhard Seppala , the owner of Togo. Principal production on the film ran from September 24, 2018, to February 2019 in Calgary . Togo was portrayed by dog actor Diesel, who is a direct descendant of Togo 14 generations back.

• This page was last modified on 20 February 2024, at 11:47. Suggest an edit .

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True Story of Togo the Sled Dog

Author WDF Staff | Last updated: Apr 27 2023

17.03.2021.

If you like dog movies, you most probably heard the story about Balto when you should, in fact, hear the story about Togo - the sled dog. Togo was part of a 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska, and while Togo had the most significant role, Balto has got the credit. Today you will learn the true story of a true hero - Togo the sled dog.

Who was Togo?

Togo is best known for his leading role in the Nome serum run of 1925. He leads the team of sled dogs through a blizzard and treacherous terrain to deliver the much-needed diphtheria medicine. This is a dog that lived in Balto’s shadow until finally, the legendary musher, Leonhard Seppala , told the world the fantastic story of Togo, the sled dog .

Togo was a Siberian Husky that had a black, white, and grey coat. He appeared to be dirty, and his owner, Leonhard Seppala, didn’t have much hope for him when the dog was born. The puppy was always sick and was constantly up to no good. His misfit character got him in trouble wherever he went.

Togo received plenty of attention and medicine to get better from Leonhard Seppala’s wife, Constance. Everyone believed that Togo would be a weak dog, and he reached only 48 pounds, which is not enough for a sled dog. Constance and Leonhard Seppala decided to give Togo away to be a pet since his future didn’t look promising.

Little did they know Togo, the sled dog, had different plans. His instincts told him he was not going to be a pet. He was sure about his led dog destiny. Togo jumped through a closed window of his new owner’s house and ran back several miles to get back to Leonhard Seppala’s kennel. The Seppala family was so impressed they decided to keep Togo. However, his reckless behavior didn’t stop there.

Togo’s young behavior

When Togo was still a 6-month old, he returned to his original owners. However, his behavior was still getting him into trouble. Leonhard Seppala bred sled dogs, and he was one of the best. He took his dogs for a run and sled training each day, and whenever he went out, Togo used to follow them and attack the leading sled dogs. Once, he attacked a leading large Alaskan Malamute . That was a huge mistake, and Togo was nearly mauled to death. Luckily, Togo survived, and after that incident, he stopped attacking other sled dogs. It ended up being quite a valuable lesson.

First sled dog assignment

Leonhard Seppala had no idea what to do with Togo. Togo would break out of his kennel as soon as Seppala was gone with the other sled dogs, and he wouldn’t settle until they returned. One day Leonhard Seppala was hired by a man that heard about a spot where gold could be found. They needed to leave immediately, and it would be a whole-night trip. The Seppala sled dogs had to take the man to the digging site, and Leonhard had no time to deal with Togo’s antics.

When the moment of departure arrived, Seppala ordered his kennel handlers to keep Togo locked and tethered inside the kennel until they left. Moments after the sled dogs started their assignment, Togo broke free and tried to jump the kennel’s fence. His paw got stuck, and kennel handlers had to help him get free. Before the handler could grab him, Togo broke free and started running after Leonhard Seppala and the other sled dogs.

He caught up with them that night and slept unnoticed close to Seppala’s tent. It wasn’t until the next morning that Leonhard noticed his dog in the distance. Wherever they ran, Togo followed. Of course, Togo was up to no good again. When the sled dogs rested, Togo tried to play with them. He ran with them all the way to the digging site and back. All through the trip, Togo tried to lead the sled dogs to chase reindeer!

Leonhard Seppala had no chance of getting Togo to behave, so finally, he decided to put a mushing harness on the 8-month Togo. Togo immediately felt calm. He ran with the sled dogs for more than 75 miles , which was unheard of in such a young sled dog. After that, Leonhard Seppala said Togo was an “infant prodigy,” a natural-born leader he has tried to breed.

One of the most popular sled dogs was the Alaskan Malamute. If you want to know more about them, check out this article - 7 things you must about Malamutes .

Becoming the best sled dog ever

Togo started training, and after a few months, he was a leading dog. Leonhard Seppala was deeply impressed with the dog and couldn’t believe he had such an amazing leading sled dog. Togo proved himself over and over. He kept his leading position with intelligence, bravery, loyalty, and stamina.

Saving lives

Togo, the sled dog , became a legend in Alaska. Leonhard Seppala talked to historians and journalists that wanted to hear stories about Togo. He mentioned two exciting anecdotes from their runs. On one run, Togo had his usual leading position, and when Leonhard noticed a crack forming in the ice in front of them, he ordered Togo to turn left. After a short run, Togo stopped dead in his tracks and started pulling the rest of the sled dogs back. His owner went up to him to scold the dog when he noticed a massive crack in the ice. Togo stopped the whole team from dying a horrible death.

The second anecdote Seppala told them about was getting stranded on a broken bit of ice. All the dogs were with him, and the ice started pulling away from the shore. They were at the edge of the Bering Sea, and he had no way of saving himself and the rest of the sled dogs. He could only think of throwing Togo on shore with a rope to pull them back. It seemed the dog immediately understood what his master wanted.

However, while the dog was pulling the rope, the rope snapped. Togo, the sled dog, jumped in the freezing sea, grabbed the snapped rope, and turned around two times to make an improvised harness. He swam back to the shore and pulled Leonhard Seppala and the rest of the sled dogs to safety.

If you can’t decide between Alaskan Malamutes or Siberian Huskies, maybe this article can help - Malamute vs. Husky .

1925 Nome serum run

At the time of the famous serum run, Togo was 12 years old. He had been a lead sled dog for 7. He was still in his prime, strong as ever. His bravery and intelligence lead Leonhard and the rest of the dogs through blizzards and difficult terrains most of the way. Although Balto was praised because he was the lead dog when they came back, nothing would be done without Togo, the sled dog legend .

At the end of his life, nearly 30 years after Togo’s death, Leonhard 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 legacy

Togo retired after years of being the best sled dog. He and his owner Leonhard Seppala toured the country, and they drew huge crowds everywhere they went. Togo was even featured in Lucky Strike cigarette’s campaign. His statue is located in Seward Park in New York City. Togo’s bones are in the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. His skin is located in a glass case at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters museum in Wasilla, Alaska.

The most valuable thing Togo left behind is his bloodline. After he stopped being an active sled dog, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ricker of Poland Spring, Maine, where Togo retired, started breeding him. He started one of the best lines of sled dogs in the world. The line is still very popular and sought after. The line is called the " Seppala Siberian Sleddog " line.

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Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

How far can a dog travel in a day?

PUBLISHED: June 22, 2021 | UPDATED: October 18, 2023

Depending on the breed’s breed, age, features, and agility, you can expect different endurance levels. Though the speed and endurance of dogs decrease with age and health challenges, you will still discover that even two other breeds of the same age and health will have different levels of endurance. For this reason, persistence can largely depend on the genetic predisposition of a dog, while other factors such as age and health challenges matter less.

So, how far can a dog travel in one day?

How far a dog can travel in a day will depend on the age and breed of the dog. A small and active dog can travel for between 5 and 6 hours a day, which equals between 12.5 and 15 miles a day. Larger dogs may be able to walk further, but older and small dogs likely can walk less. 

What factors determine your dog’s travel range?

When it comes to pet travel , the following factors will largely determine how far your dog can travel as well as their hiking skills;

Age and health

• Personality, and
• Trail or travel path difficulty. 

Age and health are the two most important factors that can determine how far a dog can travel. Neither a young puppy nor an elderly dog will travel as far as a young dog. Your one-year-old dog is not ready for long treks and hiking because the bones and joints are still soft, and long walks may harm their health. A dog that is older than a year can trek longer distances with proper training and some rest.

Similarly, a dog that is over 10 years will likely suffer significantly if they trek long distances. Long distant travels will affect older dogs’ knees and joints just how it will affect smaller dogs.

The breed also plays a critical role in this situation. While some species are built for combat and sports, others are built to lay on the couch all day. Breeds built for hunting and herding, including the Collies , terrier, Labrador, poodle, and Pitbull, will work longer distances than the brachycephalic breeds that can only walk for about 30 minutes at a time.

Pugs and French Bulldogs , for instance, have breathing issues; even with training, they may still be unable to travel long distances. Many dog breeds now have flatter noses to deal with breathing difficulties, and these are capable of traveling longer.

Humans who lack stamina will develop muscle aches just a few minutes or about an hour into traveling. This situation also occurs in dogs. Dogs may find it difficult to express how they feel when they are hurt from the stress of taking long walks.

Dogs bred for combat, and sporting events have good stamina by nature than those bred for a companion. Breeds with natural energy will suffer grievous consequences if they don’t exercise regularly; hence they are excited to take long walks, especially when hiking. Building stamina is attached to the continuous burning of excess energy, which is also great for dogs bred for stamina.

Personality

Just like humans, dogs have different personalities that can affect their mood. Some dogs will prefer to lazy around all day, and some are eager to move about and scavenge for exciting things along many routes.

You may want to socialize with your dog , especially if it is not the outgoing type. Dogs will eventually want to meet new friends, enjoy lots of adventures and even smell new stuff out there.

Even after extensive pieces of training, some dogs may still be unable to keep pace with you; hence long walks may not just be the thing for them. If you have a dog that does not want to travel long, you should get a backpack carrier, so you can occasionally carry the dog when traveling.

Travel route difficulty

The extent to which your dog will travel may also depend on the ease or difficulty of the travel route. 

If a travel route gets steeply and rocky, the dog may not cover much distance, just like humans will do. It would be best if you kept this in mind when hiking with a dog.

You may want to choose the right trail that is comfortable for your dog to travel on if you don’t want them to lose interest. Don’t take your dog through rocky and densely forested paths.

Dog breeds to consider for longer travel time

The question of how far a dog can travel often shows up most for smaller dogs. Researches have shown that most small and active dogs will travel for between 5 and 6 hours at a time. With proper training, a small dog can travel more than this, several days in a row.

An average dog of small to medium size should cover up to 2.5 miles an hour, which may not be possible for most larger and older breeds.

The most active dog breeds that will probably travel for the longest time include; The miniature Poodle, Jack Russell Terrier, Dachshund, Miniature pincher, Pomeranian, Corgi, Papillion, Mutts , Norwich Terrier , and Yorkshire Terrier.

It is good to choose a dog breed that can travel for a longer time, but you still have to consider specific and unique breed needs when making your final choice.

Training a dog to hike and travel for longer times is essential, especially if you love the outdoor lifestyle. You should start slowly with 10-15 minutes of walk in a day, and you can extend this by few minutes daily. Pay attention to the endurance levels of the dog, an excited dog that is still interested in walk may want to explore more.

You should know your dog is exhausted when their walking pace gets too slow and may even make gestures for you to carry them. Once your dog can walk up to 3 hours at a stretch, you can start taking them on a day-long travel trip always.

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Understanding Your Dog's Travel Capacity: How Far in a Day?

It's a question many dog owners ask themselves: "How far can my dog travel in a day?" Understanding your dog's travel capacity can be crucial for maintaining their health and happiness. Whether it's for daily exercise or planning a lengthy hike, knowing the distance your furry friend can cover without becoming exhausted is essential.

Dog Endurance: Not All Dogs Are Created Equal

One of the most critical factors in determining your dog's travel capacity is their breed and size. A Yorkshire Terrier won't be able to cover the same distance as an Alaskan Malamute, for instance. Larger breeds generally have more stamina, but there are always exceptions. It's important to take into account the unique traits of your specific breed.

Canine Travel Distance: Age and Health Matters

A dog's age and overall health also significantly impact their travel capacity. Younger dogs generally have more energy and can travel longer distances than older dogs. However, excessive exercise can be harmful to puppies whose bodies are still growing. On the other hand, senior dogs may have joint problems or other health issues that limit their mobility.

Understanding Dog's Daily Exercise Needs

Every dog needs daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. However, the amount and intensity of this exercise can greatly vary. Some dogs are perfectly content with a leisurely walk around the block, while others need several miles of running to burn off their energy. Understanding your dog's individual exercise needs is a key part of assessing their travel capacity.

Dog's Walking Capacity: Listening to Your Dog

While there are general guidelines for how much exercise different breeds need, every dog is an individual. Some dogs may be able to travel farther than others of the same breed, while others may struggle. The best way to determine your dog's walking capacity is to listen to them. If your dog is panting heavily, lagging behind, or showing signs of discomfort, it's time to take a break or head home.

Canine Energy Levels: Nutrition and Rest

Just like humans, dogs need proper nutrition and plenty of rest to maintain their energy levels. If your dog is going to be traveling long distances, make sure they're eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of sleep. It's also important to bring water and snacks for your dog during long walks or hikes to help keep their energy levels up.

Understanding Dog Behavior: Know the Signs of Fatigue

One of the most important aspects of understanding your dog's travel capacity is being able to recognize the signs of fatigue. If your dog starts to slow down, pant heavily, or even limp, these are clear signs that they've reached their limit. Pushing your dog beyond their capacity can lead to injury or serious health issues.

Dog Health and Fitness: Regular Check-ups

Lastly, regular check-ups with your vet are crucial. They can provide insight into your dog's overall health and fitness level. Your vet can also provide advice tailored to your dog's breed, age, and health status,

A Practical Guide to Dog's Travel Capacity: Paying Attention to the Details

Keeping an eye on the small details can often be the most valuable tool in understanding how far your dog can travel in a day. Being attentive to your dog's behavior, responses, and signs of fatigue is crucial to recognizing their limits.

The Environment's Impact on Canine Travel Distance

The environment in which your dog is traveling can drastically impact their endurance. For instance, a dog might be able to run for miles in a cool, shaded forest but quickly become exhausted in the hot, midday sun. The terrain also plays a significant role. Walking on flat pavement is much different than hiking up steep, rocky trails. Always consider the environmental factors when determining your dog's travel distance.

Seasonal Effects on Dog Stamina

Different seasons bring different challenges. In the hot summer months, your dog can quickly become dehydrated and overheated, which reduces the distance they can safely travel. In contrast, the winter months can pose risks of hypothermia or frostbite, especially for short-haired breeds or smaller dogs. Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable conditions for extended travel with your pet.

Dogs with Special Needs: Every Dog is Unique

Dogs with special needs may require additional considerations. For instance, dogs with arthritis may struggle with long distances or rough terrains, while dogs with heart conditions may tire quickly. Always consult with your vet if you have concerns about your dog's ability to travel, especially if they have known health issues.

Training for Longer Distances: Building Your Dog's Stamina

If you're planning on embarking on longer journeys with your dog, like backpacking trips or long hikes, it's essential to build up their stamina gradually. Just like humans, dogs need to train to increase their endurance. Start with shorter distances and gradually increase the length of your walks or hikes. Remember, consistency is key; regular exercise will help boost your dog's stamina over time.

The Role of Mental Stimulation in Canine Travel

Physical exercise isn't the only factor in determining how far your dog can travel. Mental stimulation can tire a dog just as much as physical exercise. New smells, sights, and sounds can be exciting but also exhausting for your dog. If you're traveling in a new area, your dog may tire more quickly due to the mental stimulation .

Understanding your dog's travel capacity is a balance of recognizing their physical limits and accounting for their mental needs. By considering all of these factors, you can ensure that your dog is both happy and healthy in their travels. Remember, every dog is unique, and what works for one dog may not work for another. Always listen to your dog and respect their limits.

Every dog-owner bond is a journey. By understanding and respecting your dog's travel capacity, you ensure this journey is as enjoyable and rewarding as possible for your four-legged friend. After all, the goal isn't to travel far—it's to travel together.

Responsible Dog Ownership: Balancing Exercise and Rest

When determining how far a dog can travel in a day, it's essential to strike a balance between exercise and rest. Dogs, like people, need downtime to recover after exertion. Overworking your dog can lead to exhaustion and increased risk of injuries.

Importance of Hydration and Nutrition in Canine Travel Distance

Hydration and nutrition are key factors in how far your dog can travel. Ensuring your dog has a well-balanced diet rich in essential nutrients will give them the energy they need for extended activities. Moreover, keeping your dog hydrated is crucial. Always carry enough water for both of you when venturing on long walks or hikes.

Canine Gear for Long Travels

If you're planning on covering long distances with your dog, the right gear can make all the difference. Invest in a comfortable harness that distributes weight evenly across their body. There are even dog backpacks available where your dog can carry their own water and snacks. However, always make sure the pack is not too heavy for your dog.

Involving Your Vet in Your Dog's Exercise Plan

Always consult with your veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog's exercise regimen, especially if you're planning on increasing their travel distance. Your vet can provide guidance based on your dog's breed, age, size, and overall health. This can help prevent any potential health issues and ensure your dog's safety.

The Emotional Aspect of Canine Travel

Finally, while understanding how far your dog can travel in a day is a largely physical consideration, it's crucial not to overlook the emotional aspect. Your dog's mental well-being is just as important as their physical health. Ensure your dog is enjoying their travels. If they seem distressed or uninterested, it may be best to cut the trip short or try a different route or method of travel. Remember, travel and exercise should be fun and enriching for your dog.

In conclusion, understanding your dog's travel capacity is an exercise in attentiveness, understanding, and adaptability. It's about more than simply knowing how many miles your dog can walk or run. It's about understanding your dog's needs, both physical and emotional, and making informed decisions that ensure their health, happiness, and well-being. So, next time you lace up your walking shoes or pack your hiking backpack, remember: your journey isn't measured by the miles covered, but by the shared experiences and memories created with your furry friend.

The Fi's Dog Collar: An Ideal Companion for Your Canine's Travels

When it comes to monitoring and understanding your dog's travel capacity, one tool stands out from the crowd: the Fi's Dog Collar. This high-tech piece of canine kit brings together the latest in GPS and activity tracking technology, making it an invaluable resource for conscientious dog owners.

Fi's Dog Collar: Advanced Tech for Dog Owners

One of the standout features of the Fi's Dog Collar is its state-of-the-art location tracking capabilities. Using GPS, GLONASS, and other satellite systems, the collar can provide real-time location tracking, which is perfect for adventurous dogs who love exploring.

Fitness Monitoring Made Easy

But the Fi's Dog Collar offers more than just location tracking. It's also an advanced fitness monitor. With its built-in activity tracker, the collar provides key insights into your dog's daily activity levels. By monitoring your dog's exercise routine, you can better understand how far your dog travels in a day, helping you adjust their routine for optimum health.

Ensuring Safety With the Fi's Dog Collar

The safety features on the Fi's Dog Collar are unparalleled. The collar includes a feature that sends alerts to your smartphone if your dog leaves a designated safe area. This is particularly helpful for ensuring your dog doesn't wander too far during your outdoor adventures or escape from your backyard while you're away.

Durability and Comfort Combined

Designed with ruggedness in mind, the Fi's Dog Collar is built to withstand all the rigors of an active dog's life. It's water-resistant, making it perfect for dogs who love to swim, and its robust construction means it can handle everything from an intense hike to a playful romp at the dog park.

At the same time, comfort isn't compromised. The collar is designed to be comfortable for your dog to wear for extended periods, meaning it won't interfere with their daily activities or their ability to travel long distances.

In Conclusion: A Smart Investment for Dog Owners

In summary, the Fi's Dog Collar offers an exceptional blend of location tracking, fitness monitoring, and safety features. Its durable, comfortable design makes it an ideal choice for dogs that travel long distances daily. By providing real-time data and key insights into your dog's travel habits, the collar becomes a valuable tool in understanding and improving your dog's health and wellbeing. It's more than just a collar; it's a smart investment in your dog's future.

Discover the Fi Collar