Portraits

This is Evalina. She nearly died when she was born, was shifted aside by her mother on a 90 degree day. She was virtually lifeless and we massaged her, fed her milk replacer for 3 days and now she is a 'wild thing'. She met the porcupine yesterday. Usually shy, I wish I had been there to see her 'meet' it as she's more likely to hold back , although she runs with wild abandon. She has trouble with other dogs and needs to be shifted from pen to pen as she gets too dominant for any of them to tolerate for long. They seem to sigh when they see her coming to 'visit'. Being that she only had five quills, perhaps she just reached out toward it and then moved back.
Cute little gal.

Free running and Good News! and Porcupines :(

First, the good news!! We think we have a handler coming for the winter, a young woman from California who is interested in sled dogs. More on this as it happens! Wow, will be great !

We're enjoying my daughter and granddaughter right now, wish the weather were better for them, but nice to have them here.

Free running is the only way for fun right now as this snow looks 'good', but it is wet and has an underbase of ice and mush. It's good to be a dog in this stuff as humans need Yaktrax for the hidden ice. It has prettied up the pens a bit if it doesn't all melt (which at the moment it is doing). This is Medio, in lead, Zoom, Kiddo and Sherpa . Lillen and Yo are looking on.

No sleds yet, wow, very late! No ATV either as too slippery. The dogs are running in families and they love it. Of course this is a 'training' that they can get out and run free. This will require some retraining once we can run hooked up again.

Another drawback is that Evalina ran off and met a porcupine yesterday. Just 5 quills, we were lucky, as I was able to remove them, whew! Not a good weekend to have to call a Vet.

Herman

Herman is a quiet but tough young male dog. He is first in line for food, but knows he is tied while feeding. He hangs back and lets the others go for free runs first and then he takes his turn. He's a great wheel dog, easy to harness, never quits or tires.

Yaktrax

This is the weather for Yaktrax. The pens are so icy from rain and foot prints frozen in them that this morning the dogs were having trouble running in their pens. Twenty dogs came out to play in different combos. This is Buffy outrunning pals Medio and Rosie. They are competitive and cheer from in the pens, awaiting their own turns to 'win'.

Winter Wonderland

Finally, snow, again! But, high 30's tomorrow could make this awfully messy.

This is just after dogs' breakfast this a.m., still pretty. Just the beginning of many footprints today. :) If yesterday's rain had been snow, we would be buried! This is about three or four inches , at most.

Merry Christmas, 2006! Snow!

Merry Christmas, 2006!

This has been a busy year for our kennel. We had excellent training and while we hoped for two races, because of an accident in our racing family, we had just one race. But it's not all about racing for us, anyway. We enjoy training and running with the dogs, giving them great days. Any racing is a plus. This year we are looking at, possibly, two races again. (Yes, I know I said, no more races, last year... ha ha!)

Photo: Liller, recovering in her 'required' coat on the front porch , with Sulatna's required ramp, as well.

This fall has been challenging, mostly with weather and dog health related issues. Several dogs are still recovering from surgery,illness, which requires extra attention and trails have been either too slippery or muddy (or full of hunters) for safe ATV training. But we did get some good miles prior to deer hunting. Now the dogs are all READY for some action again! Now we need some more people! as well.

This timeout is for Christmas and then we HOPE to be back to 'normal'. This morning , after a DELUGE of rain like I've never seen before, yesterday, (lakes in pens), there is a snow cover and it's still snowing. Of course, that means I get to make trails and shovel out pens in addition to all that must be accomplished on the day before Christmas Eve , ho ho! I don't think the temp is cold enough for the 'lakes' in pens to be frozen, so we will have a wet day, as well.

Wishing for all, a Merry Christmas! and lots of good days for dogs and people , alike, in 2007!
Wondering if weather will come back to 'earth' this year?

Racing Season

http://www.dogsled.com/sheep-mountain-150/index.html

Race season is on, in some places. This is the link to the Sheep Mountain 150 mile race in Alaska. There are fifty great teams.

We're looking at a race close to home (in Antigo) on January 27th, probably just one team.
Anyone want to race it?? Anyone want to be a handler?? Room and not so great, board, (bread and peanut butter) for a handler :) But guaranteed lots of furry face hugs.

Busy front porch

Since we've been having rain (mud) several of the dogs share the front porch... Skinny, Liller,
Sulatna's ramp, for in and out without stairclimbing, and this is a photo of Buddy, visiting his pals on the porch. Liller had some problems with her stitches so she is back to house rest. Sulatna is still on 'bed rest'.

It's good to see Buddy looking so well as when he first arrived as a rescue he was losing his fur, he was skinny, had mange, had wounds and was limping severely. Now his fur is beautiful and he only limps once in awhile (colder weather). What a handsome guy!

Aliy's team out of Willow last March

Happy dogs enroute to Nome!

Patience, Patients! Dreaming of Alaska.

Still have two patients recovering here. Sulatna goes outside on a leash about every four hours.
She's doing very well , but would like her stitches removed. That will occur on December 20th, so it's a bit of a wait for her. She is running in her dreams.

Liller is in her recovery pen, running laps (try to stop her!) Still no answers on Skinny, who is still not eating.

The weather is rain, slush, mud this morning. It has been sunny and 40's and now will be in the 30's with rain/snow mixes. We'll all be happy to see cold temps return.

Attaching a photo we took outside of Willow Restart of Iditarod last year, just for fun, to see dogs and snow :) Noah Burmeister's team from Nome.

Sulatna update

We received the histology report yesterday and Sulatna's bandages were removed.
The tumor is malignant and is called a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Good things are that it is slow growing and that it was outside the abdominal wall. Not so good, is that not all could be removed and that this type of tumor does usually regrow.

This is a link to info on this type of tumor in dogs:http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/72219.htm

Another good thing is how many walks we get with her under the moon, on the starry, snowy trails and she enjoys every walk. She wants to run, but is restrained for 21 days. She does not like the E collar that is necessary to keep her from licking the incision . I have ordered a new type of safety collar that allows better vision, more freedom, etc.

Snowing, then warmup

It has been snowing, intermittently, for a few days. Yesterday the windchills were below zero and the winds were bitter. The dogs have been enjoying sausage soup at bedtime. But, Saturday we are due for temps near 40 degrees.

Sulatna is due for a vet check this afternoon. She is an excellent, although sad, patient. She is only allowed upstairs and she misses her basement den. She will be restricted in activity for 21 days. For a free running, happy spirited dog , this is a major adjustment. We do not yet have the histology report on her mass removal.

The other current house dogs are also responding well to the tight quarters and furniture barriers separating them from each other. The Christmas tree will have to wait as, at the moment, that corner is a hospital ward for Sulatna.

Tough and smart Liller (in photo) is one of the restricted house dogs. She will be very happy to rejoin her family soon. They are posturing for dominance in her absence and I've moved them around a bit. She'll sort it out when she's back to health. The good news is that her most recent surgery results showed no more malignancy.

Update on Sulatna

Sulatna had her surgery yesterday and the prognosis is uncertain. It was a large soft mass that was growing and we will await results from the lab. She was stable post surgery and I will drive to Green Bay to bring her home today (accompanied by snow!). She is such a pretty, sweet girl, I couldn't resist taking this photo prior to leaving yesterday in early a.m. We had just gone for a walk under the full moon, down the snowy trail . Her blue eyes do not show up in this photo but they are bright and so intelligent. Yesterday was a long day awaiting results.

Sulatna Surgery

Sulatna is scheduled for surgery today for removal of an unidentifiable large growth in her rib cage area. While first analyses determined it to be a possible hematoma, it has not absorbed and has grown. This will be extensive surgery for her. Her doctor is driving her to the surgery at an out of town referral center. Pretty nice! Sulatna is twelve years old.

The photo is of her playing with one of the Santa toys she 'shares' with Chena.

Herbie Nayokpuk, In Memoriam

Herbie Nayokpuk passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2006. This is the Anchorage Daily News article: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/8462792p-8356725c.html

Herbie Nayokpuk, The Shishmaref Cannonball

As a newcomer to Iditarod a few years ago, I was thrilled to meet Herbie Nayokpuk and his wife, Elizabeth. I had read many stories about Herbie as a racer and was just happy to have an opportunity to speak with them.

Now Herbie is in a race with life, having suffered a major stroke. This is an article from The Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/iditarod/hall/story/8456726p-8349721c.html

Herbie said an Inupiaq prayer at Susan Butcher's funeral in September. I'll find a photo of Herbie and Elizabeth that I had taken and post it later.

Three dogs to veterinarian

Yesterday was a vet day. Liller (11 year old main leader) went in for her 2nd mammary surgery (a major lump, but good prognosis). This tough gal is , at the moment, sleeping on her blanket in the house. She has a very dense coat and is, in her previous owner's words, a 'forty below dog'. Of all of my dogs, she and Skinny are most 'village tough'. They are the parents of the pups. She is not ,willingly, a house dog, but seems to be doing ok.

Skinny (ten year old main leader) also went to the vet for his chronic cough. We wanted to rule out, among other things, blastomycosis, and he did have blood work, but looks more like an asthmatic problem. He has been on Temeril P which has been a major appetite booster for him, but, off of it, he has no appetite, so will wait to see the results. He's also in here on his bed.

Sulatna (photo) has to be referred to the University system hospital and will need surgery for her large growth, a major surgery (which may be a strangulated lipoma). She is twelve and retired and beautiful . She is very sensitive and it will be very tough on her (and therefore, on me). She is also in here on her bed. And, of course, Chena, is in here on her bed. They're all doing well , side by side, and, surprisingly, only meant my getting up once in the night for them.

That was a forty mile round trip , twice, yesterday, so today we'll stay home.

Thanksgiving 2006

The deer enjoy their feast along with the rest of us!
There were five of them, all does.

Opening Day

A few years ago a fawn lost her mother and she hung around Martin's pen all summer. Since then we've had a fawn born back there with Solo protecting it (we wondered if it were 'our' doe) and when the shooting starts ,the does gather behind the dog pens.

This is one from yesterday. After I took this photo a few white tails sprung up in the trees. I hate to scare them and was sorry I took the photo, but a few minutes later there was the doe still standing there. It must feel like a safe zone to them and it is. The dogs were upset on and off all day with the loud shots that seemed so near to them, but all was safe here.

Ten dog finale to fall training

With a nice ten dog , seven mile run, we ended the fall training season , because of rifle deer season. The dogs all looked great today. It will be two weeks before we can go out again, so they'll get a little bored. We have nice depth in dogs, just need a little more depth in humans to run with them!

Retiree Rescues

Five of these six dogs came here as rescues. They love to run together in the fields. Five of them are aging with some health problems, but they are great companion dogs. Three of these in the photo have lived here ten years.

Over the years we've taken in nine dogs as rescues. That does not include the sled dog retirees to whom we've been able to give an active and loving home. While people say the dogs are lucky to be here, it is really we who are the lucky ones, many times over. Giving a home to a dog who has been abandoned or lost or abused is some of the most rewarding dog experience one can have.

Giving a lifetime retirement home and to be able to continue to run with wonderful retiree sled dogs who are beyond their abilities to race big races anymore, is amazing. As always, I say, I wish they could talk. I learn something every single day from them . It is a marvelous gift to be able to live with these incredible athletes in their retirement (in my retirement) and to be able to continue to let them run.

All in a dog's day

Today was crammed full. Days always begin with feeding and/or souping 38 dogs. Then I clean the pens and haul the waste. Today was dishwashing and bootie washing day. Various dogs free run while I do these chores. Part of this is hauling water to all dogs with pails, since hoses now are put away for winter.

Then I loaded the truck for the dump, hauled the garbage, went to WalMart for supplies and then to the vet's office to consult on seven different dogs. I headed home with three packages of medicine and three appointments for dogs.

Once back here, even though it was warm (40 degrees) I decided to run my trails with a few dogs that hadn't run. There are two young brothers (Tsunami and Yeti) who are a handful for me alone, but I did take them out. They were way too excited though, to go together, so I only put Tsunami in the team. His mother, Frita, led with Medio , and Quattro ran in wheel. It was a difficult run, at first, but finally they got into it. (Tsunami has paw in bowl in photo).

The second run was a five dog team and went very well and fast. All superstars in the making :)
(Ruthie, Buffy, Rosie, Medio, Herman).

Then because of hunting season this would be the last day for awhile for trailwalks so we took six dogs for a walk together. Evalina runs like a rocket and she must have snagged a blackberry bush as she came back with a bleeding tongue, but other than that the dogs had a great time.

The day ended with water and treats for all.

What we watch

On a run like this, we have a lot of things to watch. I usually check their gaits, how they match up, at what speed they go from a trot to a lope (each dog), if they keep their heads down, ears back (listening), who takes the command first, correctly, etc. Ysterday we eased from 8mph, to 9mph, to 10 mph and then to 11 and 12 mph. The moisture kept the dust down well.

When we return we record the miles and the observations, making it a bit easier to setup teams as we go through the year. In this photo, the real veteran is Lillen... black dog in swing (behind the black leader, Ruthie). We are just starting up so they are working hard, but Lillen is relaxed, yet alert. (Herman and Quattro in wheel, Medio with Lillen, swing, and Buffy, Ruthie, lead).

For instance, yesterday Liller and Matilda were running with well matched lopes at 11mph, an efficient gait. The wheel dogs seem to be tiring faster than usual and I'll be checking the bungees and the length of hookup to see if I can make it a bit easier for them.

The Orange Coats are Coming

Getting last miles before the rifle deer season. It began a few minutes ago in Michigan (one mile away). The first blast caused the dogs to howl and Skinny must have seen a running deer from the front porch as he was wild with excitement . They usually bound through here on both opening days (MI and WI).

We can't take the trails after the openers until at least Dec 1st. The season begins in Wisconsin on Saturday and it surrounds our 80 acres like a war zone. The dogs are getting their last miles for a few weeks now. All dogs will have blaze orange ribbons on their collars just in case they leap a fence . They have been known to do that when the rifles blast nearby.

Yesterday we ran two six dog teams, each 6.4 miles. Two dogs did run both runs for 12.8 miles
(Ruthie and Medio). This photo is of young Matilda , her first time in lead with her mother,
Liller . Liller has a very dense coat and it take a long time for her to shed out (as she is here).

Matilda was so excited to run out the gate in lead, yiping as if to say, "Look at me, I'm in lead!"
She responded well to commands although she needs a lot of work on them.

Racing Lineups

Just checking on the lineups for the races in the UP200 weekend.
http://www.up200.org/

So far, for the UP 200, there are 40 signups , plus 3 on the waiting list.
For the Midnight Run, there are 41 signups.
For the Jackpine 30, there are nine signups so far. Our kennel has Bib 4, with driver to
be determined.

This is our team at the Start last year. Our kennel has raced in three Jackpine 30 races, highest finish in third.

Day after the big snow

The dogs seem happy to have snow. We ran some of the trails with the Skandic today.
It's a bit early, though, as 40's predicted for next week. It helps to have the snowmachine out to make walking paths as well as trails.

Lillen likes to supervise everything from her pen or out on trails with me.

What a difference a day makes!

We accumulated about 8 inches of new snow within a short period of time. The power has been off and on about seven times. All dogs have new straw and seem to be happy about this fluffy stuff that kept me shoveling gates and making paths .

Sulatna, retiree

Sulatna, a dear retiree who is a house dog, always enjoys checking out the dog yard.

As sweet as she is, vibes she sends out have young ones submitting, rolling over, as soon as they see her coming. She has an elegance and runs faster than any dog , with ease. She's playful and loving as well.

Great leader, Skinny

Skinny has a few health problems, age ten, and he grieves each time we leave the yard without him. Today we let him lead out, first team, first dog. He is responsive, eager, tough and smart.

A deer (doe) came to the edge of the trail, leaped across right in front of them, and he just kept leading right down the trail, not a flinch. Didn't even look at it as it ran off. He's been many miles over the Alaskan mountains/forests and I wish he could talk.

We ran 1.7 miles.

Frita's Family

11.09.06
Today was the day to run dogs who have not run. Tomorrow will be the same.

Frita's family is a bit of a hodge podge... Big Yepa, Bigger Swix, small Yuki, small Zoom, Big Yeti,
Big Tsunami and Big Yo.

Frita can't run long with her bad hip, but she is an excellent leader and runs so happily.
In the hookup, Yepa, who is usually quite good, ate the leader tug line. Strike One! I replaced the tug. She pulled out of harness. Strike Two! (still going). She growled at Yuki. Strike Three and Out. Everything is training.

Swix who seems like a huge, but very sweet, elephant compared to the others, ran in wheel. We ended up with amicable Medio in lead with Frita , Yuki alone in swing, and Swix alone in wheel. It was a good , but short (for Frita's hip) run. (1.2 miles) Swix did pull out of harness early but ran with it as it was.

Alaskan Photos

This is a link to June Price's wonderful , often updated, photos from Alaska. They cover sled dogs, Iditarod, the great Alaskan scenery... thanks for sharing your link, June. What a great way to travel there !

June has published articles and photos for Iditarod and is the initiator of the large Idita-Support Group. She moved lock, stock and barrel from Florida to Alaska. Many of us love to stay tuned to Alaska through her photography and writing.

http://sunhusky.com/photos/

Latest Cabela's link, thanks, June!

June Price of Alaska does some great photos of Alaska and I'll ask for her permission for her link. This is a link she provided to the Cabela's latest article on Jeff King's innovations.
Always something interesting on Cabela's site. Worth a bookmark, for sure.

http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/coverage_2007/cov07_nov6_01.html

Camping on Chena River

This is another older photo, but brings back good memories of a great time. Aliy and Kaz Zirkle offer great trips after Iditarod, or, as in this case, in November.

Snow in Alaska, two degrees; up to 60? here today

This is a photo of four of us in Two Rivers,
Alaska, November of 2001 (not sure on year).
We had just returned from camping on the Chena River with , left, Kaz Zirkle, me, Eunice and Aliy Zirkle. We had taken off under a full moon at frigid temps and had a wonderful time with the dogs. I believe the temps were minus thirty over that night, minus twenties as we ran dogs that week.
Checked yesterday and five inches of snow in Two Rivers. This a.m. two degrees and light snow. Hear the have just 5 inches on ground, so slippery for ATVs and not enough for sleds.

Two different worlds, at times, other times temps fairly similar to ours. Today we expect to get up to high fifties, even 60 degrees, too warm to run, doggone!

Deer in road

Ruthie and Buffy (four year olds) led us swiftly by the deer carcass, out and back, no problem.

Click on photo. A good training 'tool', trail distraction.

Liller's family, near Florence

This photo is taken about 3 miles from the kennel, at our turnaround. There was no trail at the turnaround but these dogs are so trail savvy that they just made the turn in the same place as last year's. The iron ore grade doesn't seem to be as bad on their feet this year. Only one hole in a bootie. It has been graded but there are deep! holes in mid trail, have to watch for them. Another plus was that shy Medio showed no reaction to traffic on his 12.6 miles of running. (Liller,* Buffy,* Medio,* Kiddo, Sherpa, Herman) * back to back 6.3 mile runs.

Out of the Gate

Getting out of the gate was the biggest challenge on this 6.3 mile run. Buffy hesitated on the 'haw', altho Ruthie was ready. All summer they know the gate is closed and we don't go that way. Once on the railroad grade/trail they were very eager to run. It was cool and windy (29 degrees). We ran into two dead deer carcasses, one in mid trail, but "pick it up" and they ran right past like pro's... good dogs. On the second run I brought a shovel and moved the carcass off the trail.

Two teams: Buffy, Ruthie, Kiddo, Medio and Quattro; LilleR, Buffy, Kiddo, Medio, Sherpa and
Herman. Kiddo, Medio and Buffy had 12.6 miles, all others, 6.3 miles. It was 29 degrees, sunny but windy/cool. Liller (age 11) set a great pace and showed no signs of tiring. I kept them at mostly 9mph, some 10/11, and near the deer, 13mph.

These were all of the same family(siblings and Mom, and granddaughter) and have sprint and distance lines combined.

Time for new scenery on runs

No, this isn't this year, it's a run with ten last fall and we need to get to this before the rifles come out for deer season. The dogs love our trails, but they are getting a bit bored with the usual routes and need a change of pace. Hopefully we'll get 'out of the gate' today or soon.

Our trusty leaders who can be relied on to listen on the critical turns 'out there' are not able to run the distances, so Buffy will be on for taking commands, along with Ruthie. Looking for someone who wants to get 'cold' with me on that open long run . (Nineteen degrees this a.m.)

Drove to get a ton of dog food yesterday and unloaded it. Whew, glad to have another month's supply. It's a 200 mile round trip, so takes most of a day away from dogs.

Cougar sites in Michigan

These are two links to the new DNR sites for cougar spottings in Michigan.

This is the one to help identifying a cougar presence.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_43573---,00.html

This is a general article on cougars and the Michigan DNR efforts to learn/educate about their presence.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153--155021--,00.html

Dryland Racing

The first dryland races were held in Pearson, Wi this past weekend. It included cart races,
ATV's (without motors), canicross (dog in harness on skijor belt) and other.
See Sled Dog Central for results , Wisconsin Trailblazers .

http://www.sleddogcentral.com/results07/lower48/midwest/pearson_wi.htm

Photo of 1st Hallowe'en Team

Black dogs, not black cats. Good dogs.

P.S. 57 snaps on the trail cam (only 24 to a film), so will take that in.

Hallowe'en in Harness

Today was a bit hectic, almost as if the dogs knew it was a day to be excited and look for treats.

The first team was really excited to go , but it took a few stops (with the brake on)
to actually get going. They had been leaping and screaming and three of the five were tangled at takeoff. We ran 3.1 miles with the first team. Since it's up and down good hills, these are equivalent to a six mile run, I believe. (Lillen, Sherpa (who was moved to wheel), Zoom, Medio and Kiddo). Their treats were chicken and salami.

The second team (in photo) took off so smoothly I was actually about a mile into it when I realized I was daydreaming. A deer leaped out but the dogs didn't flinch. What a dream team (for today anyway). We ran 2.6 miles because Liller was tiring, although willing to go on. (Liller, Ruthie,Buffy, Rosie and Herman). Their treats were salmon and salami.

Miles are slow to accumulate but the continued hookups are good incentive for the dogs.
There were a few nice free runs for other dogs. Tomorrow we'll get Frita's family harnessed.
Frita has a bad hip, but she's a great leader and loves to run with her 'kids'.

Interesting story on grizzlies in Anchorage and around

http://www.adn.com/outdoors/craig_medred/story/8356365p-8251821c.html

This is an interesting story on not only grizzly bears in Anchorage /city areas, but also on bear behavior in general (and human behavior).

Another good run; moose on the loose

Today we had a fairly uneventful five dog run for 3 miles. There were a few tangles to start but the youngest ones behaved best. Medio was in 'hunt' mode which challenged Buffy. He won't be in lead next time. I would have run more, but the sun came out and the temps went right up.
Buffy was very responsive in lead. She is well trail trained and is learning that I ask her to take different routes from her usual.

This is a link to the local paper showing a cow moose in the neighborhood. That road is about two miles through the woods from the kennel. The only place I've ever seen in moose has been in Alaska. This is an oddity, thankfully. Not sure is they're as aggressive here. http://www.florenceminingnews.com/main.shtml

Racing Registration

I just sent in the registration for the Jackpine 30 , for February 17, 2007.

This is last year's team, Liller, left in photo , and Buffy, right, in lead; Ruthie and Kiddo in swing, and Martin (white) and Quattro in wheel.
And Julia driving the team.

Of these, probably Buffy, Ruthie, Kiddo, Quattro and possibly, Martin ,could be on this year's team.
Only warm temps and age would keep Martin out of it. He was a Quest finisher (champion team) so this was probably a fun run for him (thirty miles).
They're all great dogs!!

Lillen and Sherpa leading, Martin , wheel

Two six dog teams, short runs

Nice runs with two six dog teams. Sherpa (not quite two years) ran in lead with Lillen and did very well. Lillen can be tough with other females but Sherpa followed Lillen's rules, apparently, as they did very well together.

Martin ran in wheel for his first run and he's a super trooper. Skinny ran lead with Buffy and was absolutely done after just two miles, even though I kept them at 7-8 mph.

Zoom ran her first run of the year and was a good little willing dog (Frita/Martin daughter).
Matilda had another flawless run. Ruthie probably got the best ratings for the day, head down, focused, run, run in swing.

Photo is of Skinny, Buffy (lead); Ruthie, Matilda (swing); Herman, Quattro (wheel). Amazing how the look alikes are hard to i.d. even a day after I have hooked them up.

In between weather

We've had some days with just enough snow to make it slippery, in the pens, on the trails.
Today we have just slightly more than a dusting , but hope to run some small teams. The leaves on trails freeze and make downhill trails, with a bit snow cover, slippery.
Usually the snow cover goes by noon, as in this photo.

Carabiner overkill

Was just thinking about the carabiners and bungees. We use two bungees in case one breaks, and three carabiners, to assure that the lines will not come unhooked. All of this is useless when a dog eats the line. I will still use them, especially for big teams, but covered cable line or new
"iron" rope is best for lines.

This is Sherpa, not Buddy.

Always learning; dogs, the teachers

We had two nice runs yesterday. But I was hooking up alone and they were crazy to run.
First team was all young ones, again. First fall runs for some.

On the 2nd run, Buddy in wheel, alone, ate the gangline (not cable, of course), in take off, and was being dragged by the necklines. I had the ATV with a brake, luckily, but in those situations one has to think fast.

I couldn't release him, he was the wheel dog and I couldn't let the dogs ahead of him loose (bird hunters, don't want them running thru the woods, and dogs could have been hurt, all hooked up). Would never do that intentionally. Forgot my extra quick release, as well.

I took the extra tug line (hooked to his harness) and the extra neckline (hooked to his collar) and attached them, making a temporary gangline. You can only do this if it's one dog, running alone in his position, of course. Maybe I knew this at one time, but I re-learned yesterday.

I had this gangline made in three colors specifically for my helpers so one can quickly identify where the tangle is... green, neckline, red , main line, blue tug line. Yesterday it helped me.
My thoughts: "RED! that's the gangline!"

Most dogs learn early not to eat the lines, but Buddy is a rescue and I don't know how he ran the UP200 with his penchant for eating lines. Since I was hooking up alone, I couldn't watch him and take off too. Of course, alone, I wasn't fast enough for him and in his haste, he ate the line. He may only get to run when I have a helper.

Pretty interesting how much Sherpa and Buddy look alike, both from outside the kennel, but they have a common ancestor, wayyyyy back, Tennessee from Joe Redington, Sr., early Iditarod days.

Miles and speed, easing in

Well, so much going on and have to get miles. My first team today is young ones, so they wanted to pick up the pace and go further.

Buffy was a **star** in lead today, Yea, Buffy! Medio, a hunter, pulled her off the trail , twice, heading for birds, and each time I said, "no, gee over", and Buffy, without EVEN a tangle, pulled them back on the trail, good girl! I like running small teams because I can watch everyone.
She also did one great 'haw over', so she can do it! Once Rosie was hooked up, she stopped eating her harness and focused well.

Sherpa, wheel girl, is not quite two and she was, by far!, the easiest hookup today. I usually hookup back to front . Started with Herman in wheel and he was so excited he nipped my face with his teeth. He went back on the line for a bit.

Put Sherpa in wheel and she was A+ , stood still, waited. Next I hooked up Buffy and Medio in lead as Herman was still nuts. Finally had to turn on the motor so they'd line out. When I'm not running the older , savvy, polite leaders (Liller, Lillen, Frita and Skinny (not so polite, but savvy), the hookup is chaos, especially by myself.

But we did it and ran three miles. Herman was still wound, should have run another three miles, but it was a bit sunny and I ran them at 11/12 mph so enough for them. The lineout photo is on the return and they were all doing well. They had their salmon water and went back to think about the next time.

The good life; the dog life

This is definitely the good life! with dogs!

Photo is of Skinny (aging Skinny ) lying down, Buffy (full of steam) in lead; Medio and LilleN, (as not LilleR), in swing, and Kiddo/Quattro (sisters) in wheel. Skinny loves to be the main man and gives it his all. Skinny is Dad to all of these, but Lillen.

Julia will be back soon to train and then we'll have some larger teams running. We need to do some more leader training. Always had good leaders, and now they are aging/aged.

Ruthie team

This is Ruthie and Medio in lead, Frita in swing (bad hip) and Martin's great daughter, Yepa, in wheel. Yepa used to be very shy and reluctant to come out to be hooked up. Now she screams in harness (we hook up back to front and she was first hooked up) and she is STRONG.... a good wheel dog, for sure.

First Snow

Looking good

Finally, today is Sunday, October 15th... our first runs. Of course, we ran short and only ran two teams (ten dogs), but we gave them all hope! All the dogs were cheering as we took off and returned.
The first run leader honors went to Skinny and Buffy. Skinny was happy to be chosen, for sure, as was Buffy. Skinny, one more time, demonstrated how well he listens and leads. Buffy was having fun but wasn't taking commands too well. Skinny, our champ, has aged and will not lead in a race, but hopefully he can help us train.

The second team was led by Medio and Ruthie ( we were going to let Frita lead but she was too
skitzy with Ruthie, so she ran in swing). Frita did take the commands better than either Ruthie or Medio , so in her heart she was leading. However, Frita's bad hip will preclude her being able to lead. Hopefully, she can also train.

Kiddo and Quattro both run left now, so will not be able to pair them anymore (wheel dogs), but even though they ran tightly left together, they had a good time.

Weather

This is a link to photos in The Anchorage Daily News of flooding around the Valdez and Seward areas. Rain has forced closure of highways and the flooding is significant.

http://www.adn.com/news/environment/story/8293460p-8190025c.html

We have our first dusting of snow and icy roads. The dogs all have fresh straw and are
energized by this change in weather.

More trails

This is on the wilder back of the 80... some dens back there that we try to not disturb.

Trails

"Two roads diverged in the woods,
And, I,
Chose the one less traveled by,
And it has made all the difference."
Robert Frost

This quotation is from memory, so apologies if it is not 100%, but I think of it as I run/walk trails with dogs. It certainly is 'less traveled' to be out with dogs, and it does make all the difference. It's a great life.

Photos are of a free run last night . Timber is a dog who came as a rescue... he prefers to live alone, but is very compatible on walks (on leash). I've met various wild creatures with him and he's always protective but not uncontrollable. He's an odd mix... heeler, boxer, corgi, husky, I was told. He does not like to run in harness, period, so he is a companion.

Well, now!, snow is forecast for Saturday (next ) so I will get out my mattress spring and drag some trails today, as the deep cover of maple leaves is very slippery when ice/frost/snow covered. Every day that my ten year old Polaris ATV is still working is a 'gift' as it's been a real workhorse. We have the larger Arctic Cat to fall back on, but the little one is my favorite. We save the Cat for training runs, mostly.