Togo was THE greatest sled dog of his time.Togo was a  sire to many great dogs, and is belived to be one of the best sires of the breed. Almost all modern huskies can trace thier lines back to Togo. An agouti husky with blue eyes, Togo was owned by L.Seppla, and excellent musher and Husky breeder in his day. Togo was all but well behaved in his puppyhood. This little puppy even got in a fight with malamutes and escaped with a hurt ear.He was given away as a house pet , but Togo didn't last. He destroyed the house and was given back to Seppla. Togo was unexpected greatness,(a natural-born leader) despite his champion father and well bred mother. Togo constantly was escaping and trying to catch up with the dog teams Seppla took out.

         He finnaly proved his greatness to Seppla and turned out to be the (by far) best lead dog Seppla ever bred/knew. Togo won the Alaskan Sweepstakes 3 times in a row and won just about every other race he ran in. He was a champion! Then came the cry for help in Nome. The Great Serum Run had begun! With Togo in the lead, Seppla raced his team of 'Seppla Siberian sled dogs' to the place where the serum was waiting. Then, the team quickly moved out. They dropped it off to the next musher in the relay. After a rest, they headed back for Nome. In the middle of the way, Togo and Seppla met with the current carrier of the medicine. They two mushers decided to have Seppla caarry on with the medicine, as his champion dogs were no match for the other's dogs.

       Seppla proudly raced the serum to the next checkpoint, where that next musher brought it to Balto's musher, Gunnar Kassen. Kassen was Seppla's assistant, and had seen something special in Balto( who was assined to pull wieght, not race) and chose him for the lead dog. As soon as Balto's team got the serum, they were off! But the next checkpoint was dark, and the musher was asleep. So, Balto's team carried on, and into Nome, where it was 5:30 in the morning. Reporters and citizens were confused in the sudden rush of stardom of Balto, and mistook Togo's race record and fame for Balto's. Balto recived ALL the credit, while Togo actually did the most work. Balto had a good rest of his life, wallowing in fame and fourtune, while Togo got none.Togo was awarded an award in front of a small crowd, but that wasn't enough to top Balto's fame. Balto had a 20-muinite silent film made about him, called Balto's Race to Nome.

      Togo's Body has been poorly preserved, as the second museum to aquire the mount let EVERY visitor pet the body! That eventually made the fur thin and fall out, and the dog's body looked like a starved and unhealthy husky.Then, finally, the mount's current owner saved Togo from unimmaginable damage and decay. His body is now preseved and displayed at the Itidorad Trail museum. Balto's Body is nothing less than perfeclty preserved ( except for his coat color, which has faded to a brown due to intense exposure of light) . You can see Balto's mount at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. An 8-muinite, continusly rolling, film shows news clips (silent) from Balto's big events.

       Don't get me wrong, Balto was still a doggie hero from what I've learned! But the most suprising fact I have found out (from several reliable scources) is that Balto was NOT part wolf! The movie threw children's and adult's book authors off and helped create the "part wolf-part husky" rumor. I am NOT saying I dislike the movie, because it's one of my favorites!

Now thinking about it, I agree with other members that, in spite of all thier differences, ALL the dogs of the Great Serum Run were heroes in some way, and that they were just doing what they were told. I just think that Togo should have gotten recognized more, and that people should give him credit for what he acomplished! I still love Balto: don't be offended! I just want to put all I know and have learned about Togo here so that people can , in turn, learn about this wonderful husky! 

Do you agree? Please comment!

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134 visitors have seen this article (32 this week)

Balto'sDaughter, December 03, 2007 at 03: 00 Member

I highly disagree Togo might have made a bigger distance. But Balto was the one who brought the medicine back, and he had a bad past that had everyone thinking he would be bad at the sled dog thing. But he proved everyone wrong!!!

Dark Eyes, December 03, 2007 at 03: 26 Member

I agree with balto girl.I once read a book about Togo and it said that he did more of the run but balto is Known more for it because he crossed the finish line. But still balto rocks!

Sikaro, December 03, 2007 at 06: 57 Member

well, I'm not sure, but some other articles say Togo ran the farthest, but Balto was put through to worst of the weather. the storm in the movie i believe was accually a true event, So togo may have done more running, but Balto had more work to do. But I do agree that Togo should get a little recognition.

harpier, December 03, 2007 at 16: 05 Member

I consider that every single dog in the serum run was a hero.

Rex and Soul, December 03, 2007 at 18: 33 Member

All the dogs in the serum run did Nome some good. Togo may be ran farther and saved his team from drowing, but Balto crossed the finish line, faced the worst weather known to Alaska and saved his team from the Topkok river.

THE BEAST, December 03, 2007 at 20: 43 Member

I absolutly agree with harpier, every dog that helped Balto and Togo are heros.

Aleu45, December 03, 2007 at 23: 09 Member

Harpier's right. All the dogs that even ran the serum run were true heroes.

Kavik, December 04, 2007 at 00: 31 Member

Does it matter? The dogs probably didn't even know who was famous or who did what, they only did what their job was. Balto crossed the finish line, faced harder weather too. Togo was great, and so was Balto, but I bet neither of them even understood what all the commotion was about, only that they ran many miles through storms, and they were safely home.

tala the whitewolf, December 04, 2007 at 08: 47 Member

balto and togo are both great heros!!!!!!

Balto'sDaughter, December 04, 2007 at 14: 16 Member

Every dog was a hero but Balto ran through teh toughest terrian, crossed the finish line, and ran throuugh some very seirous subfreezing blizzards. I read that two dogs froze to death on Balto's team in a blizzard. Do you think Steele in the movie is supposed to pose as Togo, but univerisal just gave the dog a different name?

kelev, December 04, 2007 at 17: 38 Member

This is a well written article, bravo! Much better then some of the drive by acticles I have seen here. Now about hat you pointed out, I think I have to agree with you and Sami-the-dixiefan. The dogs probably didn't care who was the hero, but you are right in the fact that Togo was the one who went the longest distance.

Balto'sDaughter, December 04, 2007 at 18: 45 Member

Does anybody think that Steele in Balto was posing as Togo?

SouthPaw, December 07, 2007 at 02: 46 Member

I disagree. There were other dogs that worked hard to get the serum to nome like togo. Balto however was not born into a champion family nor did he race and win national sweetstakes. He had to work for what he had. He was thought not to be good enough for sledding but balto showed that he could run and that he loved to do it and in the end saved the town of nome. Togo may have been a champion but Balto was the hero.

Wolf_Bassist, December 15, 2007 at 04: 58 Member

From what I've heard, it sounds to me like whoever made the final delivery would have been declared a hero. If Togo had made the final run onto Front Street in Nome, he would more than likely have been the hero.

Wolf 'Fang' Princess, December 18, 2007 at 23: 40 Fan News editor

Good article. Balto is a TRUE hero. Togo is just as good as Balto so he's a TRUE hero too!!! I should write an fanfic about both dogs!

Riley, December 24, 2007 at 21: 29 Member

I'm starting to get tired of people hating on Balto because they believe that Togo was a better dog and hero. I know that the real reason is because Seppala was angry that his favorite dog (favorite being the key word), Togo did not receive as much credit as his least favorite (least favorite being two more key words) dog did. Yes, Togo did lead the team that traveled the farthest during the storm. Props and kudos to him. But Balto is considered the true hero for lots of good reasons: 1) He was the dog that lead the last team home with the medicine, saving hundreds of deathly ill children. 2) He managed to find his way home in complete white-out conditions without any help from his musher. 3) He was considered a "scrub dog" who was basically worthless, and proved to the entire world that he was SO much more than that. It is unfortunate that Togo is known as the "forgotton" hero, because what you guys don't realize is that he actually hasn't been forgotton. I have been on about a million different Balto sites, and talked to tons of Balto fans, and all the sites and fans knew a lot of facts about Togo. He has definitely NOT been forgotton because everyone knows about him, and I bet all the residents of Nome who know about Balto know about Togo too. There are even statues of the two dogs laying right next to each other. Please stop hating on Balto and realize that Togo has actually NOT been forgotton. Thankyou

byo0211, December 29, 2007 at 05: 03 Member

I know he maybe cute but this website is about BALTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

baltowolf758, January 04, 2008 at 03: 29 Member

All of those dogs were heros! Balto and Togo pretty much have the same fame I know alot of people who love Togo.but still GOTTA LOVEM BOTH!!

baltowolf758, January 04, 2008 at 03: 32 Member

And plz dont be hating on Balto he was a very loyal doggie..AND SOOO CUTE!!!(Only I actully think the real Balto was cute...)

Wolf_Bassist, January 04, 2008 at 19: 01 Member

If you've ever watched Alaska: Big America on the History Channel, you would have noticed that in the segment that covered the serum run, Balto and Togo both became national celebrities. And with all the references to Togo on practically every Balto-related website/web-page, Togo clearly has not been forgotten.

jerseycaptain, January 28, 2008 at 21: 57 Member

Riley, you REEAAAAALLY need to drop this whole "stop hating on Balto" nonsense. Southpaw, they ALL were heroes. But Balto was NOT the only hero. That is a foolish thing to say.

jerseycaptain, January 28, 2008 at 21: 59 Member

You really did a great job here, Balto's_Girl!

Pippy the sleddog, February 12, 2008 at 00: 32 Member

Some things.... annoy me. NOME'S hero Not Alaska's... good article

jerseycaptain, February 13, 2008 at 14: 55 Member

Oh I disagree, Pippy. Not only Nome's, but ALSO Alaska's AND far beyond that. You really think that Togo's (or Balto's) popularity are limited to just Nome?

halomaster, February 27, 2008 at 07: 14 Member

I totally agree with everyone is some ways... all of the dogs were heores... but the leaders togo and balto went through the most... being a leader requires a lot more then just being a sled dog... togo should have a monument in central park, new york city just like balto does... i love em both... can anyone give me a really good site with a lot of photos and information on the journey and the dogs lives?

Balto's_Girl, March 09, 2008 at 01: 44 Member

yes. PLEASE, Riley. STOP WITH THE "balto haiting" thing!!!!

simbafan32, March 14, 2008 at 17: 04 Member

i agree cause i read the book

Saphire Wolf {Star}, April 11, 2008 at 23: 09 Member

ATTENTION-- If you have a comment on " stop hating Balto" nonsense I keep getting, than don't comment at all! ONLY POSITIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!

Saphire Wolf {Star}, June 08, 2008 at 00: 31 Member

*** Big news everybody!!!! Type in "Togo dog" in Google images, and my pic comes up on the FIRST PAGE!!!!!! ****

Dakota The Black Wolf, June 26, 2008 at 16: 11 Member

They are all heros to nome, and THE WORLD! YEAH!!! (but Balto did, actually had a really bad past and future unlike togo, but they are still my favorite heros though!)

Saphire Wolf {Star}, July 14, 2008 at 13: 57 Member

thank you so much everybody! ^^

Blackwolf123, October 30, 2008 at 10: 22 Member

I say Balto (to me) is better than Togo.

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