Dog mushers will be busting out the bikes and scooters this weekend for the first Hot Hounds race of 2009.

The Chocolate Claim Mud Puppy Derby includes a one pet dog, one mile category; a one sled dog, one mile race; a two sled dogs, two miles run and a two mile, formula one event using four to 12 dogs.

All four races will be held off the South Klondike Highway on Saturday, starting shortly after 6 p.m.

Besides the formula one race, mushers are free to use any un-powered method of transportation.

The course features a wooded trail, with a some up and down hills to keep racers on their toes. In addition to the hills, mud also might play a factor in the final results.

Two minute intervals separate each rider.

The Mud Puppy Derby is open to all members of the Dog Power Sports Association of the Yukon.

Membership in DPSAY costs $15 and allows a musher to take part in any one of the 44 races put on by the organization.

There are currently five hot hounds races scheduled for the summer, which is an increase of two from last year.

Each racing category costs $10 to enter with all of the proceeds going towards the Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer winter poker run. The last dog mushing poker run was sponsored by Air North and Yukon Brewing.

Jonathan Lucas, one of the organizers of the hot hounds race series, said dog mushing in the spring and summer is challenging in a different way then it is with snow.

"It's just short, fast and furious," he said. "So you tend to shoot around the trail as fast as you can and the dogs really enjoy it. They come out and go racing, which is what they are bred to do."

He said one of the advantages for mushers, besides the exercise, is providing good leader training.

"They (the dogs) have to want to run in lead to be there and if they do then it's great," he said. "If you have a dog that wants to run in lead, but if you want to give it plenty of practice in a small team, there's no pressure. There's no dogs behind it, they are just side by side and running on a marked trail."

A potluck BBQ will follow the race and the top three times in each category are guaranteed a prize donated by the Chocolate Claim. Prizes will be certificates.