First Families

The first 'family' we ran today was Frita's. Lillen gave Frita great support in lead, followed by Frita's kids, Yuki, Swix and Yepa.

Our second family run was: Ruthie, Buffy, Medio and Josie and 'uncle' Buddy . Buddy tried to chew the line (normal for him), but our biggest challenge was, as usual, Josie. She is so sweet and eager to run, but doesn't want a harness. Ultimately we hooked her with just her collar, but she pulled it and led the team most of the way. The team wasn't fazed by her free wheeling. We know we shouldn't allow it, but she will not be a regular team member.

Landen took the third good team alone. Buffy and Matilda led, and except for resisting a reroute at the front gate, the whole team ran well for him. Zoom and Medio were in swing and

Kiddo and Sherpa were in wheel.

Late day, I went to join my family, granddaughter, Fina, in her pink poodle Hallowe'en costume.

Photo: Oops, you're going the wrong way, Josie.

Snow and Two Coyotes

We had our first large snowflakes with a slight accumulation in the woods yesterday. Driving home with straw, we ran into a whiteout.



At 6PM two coyotes came into the deer feed area. The larger one was limping on a hind leg and the smaller one was agile.

Tamaracks Turn

When the tamaracks turn yellow we know winter is not far off. We have predictions for snow on Monday. Heard that it is 3 degrees in McGrath today (Alaska). Hoping for a good snow winter! (both in Alaska and here)
The tamaracks and pond are on the trail into Michigan. We also had a few inquisitive deer on the trail.

Ten Dogs and Eight Miles in the Rain

Today was a nice run but it was MESSY. We toweled off the dogs and washed the harnesses to get rid of the red residue from the wet ore embedded trails.

We met a truck along the trail , but they pulled off and waited while our ten little pro's ran right by them. Every dog looked good today. They enjoyed some salmon popsicles at the turnaround point.

Dogs in team: Buffy and Matilda, lead; Lillen and Ruthie, swing; Kiddo and Copper, team;
Medio and Sherpa, team; Herman and Quattro, wheel.

Frita's Rocks

This is a photo of one of the houses in Frita's pen. She guards it and adds and removes rocks regularly. Wolfy behavior? Territorial? Are they to retain heat? How can she sleep with them? I remove them and she drags them back. I have decided to leave them in there now (its an extra house) as it must hurt her teeth to manage these huge rocks. She just smiles when I look at it . Maybe they're her substitute "pups"?

Home Team , Kwik! Klip

Not realizing the camera was on video, this was a quick look at Frita's team running at home. We have dragged leaves off the trails since then, but still pretty leafy.

Traveling Team

Eight great dogs to Florence. The grade is a bit rough with many rocks/boulders surfaced after the dry summer, but the dogs enjoyed their six mile run and were still raring to go when we returned. We took another five dog team on a run on our trails.

Dogs run: 1. Buffy, Ruthie, Medio, Matilda, Kiddo, Sherpa, Quattro and Herman. 2. Frita, Buffy, Zoom, Rosie and Copper. A few snafus but for the most part they looked focused and happy, with little stress, if any, from the six mile run. It was about 50 degrees, a bit humid.

The wildlife is active... our pigeon is doing well, but heads due North after she eats (8 AM and 3PM)... we must be a part time home. The nine point buck and a four point were in just before we ran, with nine does and fawns. The field camera got a great photo of the coyote just away from the cabin at 6AM. The kitty who has been visiting did not appear today.

Feeding Dogs : Eagle Pack Products

We feed our dogs Eagle Pack products. All year long they eat Eagle Pack Power and in the winter we supplement with Eagle Pack Ultra. We learned about the reliable value of Eagle at Aliy Zirkle's/Allen Moore's kennel, where they have been feeding Eagle to their Iditarod teams/Yukon Quest teams for a long time.

We supplement with meat and fish soups on winter days . The Eagle Power is not too heavy for summer, we just feed less. Our local feed store is our supply source, Ray's Feed in Norway, MI.

Skinny's Route

Still too warm for hookups, but Skinny has taken to running on a long lead off the ATV, sniffing all the great coyote /deer/raccoon/fox/turkey smells along the trails. He has a route that he follows twice a day. Sometimes he's joined by other dogs running along. (Skinny's penchant for running off has his free runs limited.) It gives him great exercise, is easy on his hindquarters and he reminds the critters, with great enthusiasm, that he's still the main guy around here.

The coyote sometimes leaves 'gifts' at various trail crossings along the route and Skinny reciprocates.

Martin is not quite so interested in running this way, and he gets too warm in this weather, so he comes out on a long lead without the ATV (since he is the main guy, too ). 71 degrees at 7PM yesterday.

Snow in Alaska, but too warm here

The leaves are falling but the temps are still too warm for longer dog runs ... today up to 65 and through the weekend. The Willow/Wasilla areas in AK are getting snow, lucky dogs.

We are taking short runs around here, and some short ones on outer trails. Photo is yesterday on the Brule River.

Doing some one on one leader training , it was Sherpa's turn yesterday. Lots of wildlife and dogs are scenting along the trails. The wiley coyote is showing up daily.

Watering Holes

This is a pond on our favorite trail into Michigan. As we ran by, I was eyeing it for a route into the water for the dogs, but it is too steep. It was a bit too warm as they were dipping into the red puddles (iron ore in the trail). There is another lake along the way that I might check out today (sans dogs).

Six Dogs, Six Miles

We intended to stay on our trails yesterday, but it was such a perfect day for running that we let them go out the gate and down over the river into Michigan. They loved it and you could almost here them saying, "Hooray!" as we left the gate. We met a few ATV's along the trail, people who were interested in the dogs and the autumn leaves were beautiful.

The two big bucks (9 point, six point) came in at 7PM, later than usual. "Our" pigeon is still with us.

Photo: Lillen and Buffy, lead; Medio and Sherpa, swing; Copper and Quattro, wheel.

Landen, handler.

Racing dogs, racing pigeon!

We washed our windows last week and ended up attracting this homing pigeon that day.

We didn't know s/he was a pigeon in training until we did some sleuthing to find its owner.
S/he took up residence on top of a dog crate under our deck (next to the deer corn can).

Now each day, s/he shows up for breakfast and supper. We located the owner just yesterday.

He knows this is his bird by the coloration of the leg bandings... green for his young pigeons, newly in training; orange for another i.d. The owner suspects this bird was derailed (possibly slightly injured) by a hawk. Yes, we have a frequenting of hawks, including today. The owner is about twenty miles from us. The coyote was here yesterday morning too.

So, we have instructions to capture the pigeon for its owner. These, so far, are not working.
We are awaiting further instructions. In the meantime, we are enjoying this entertaining bird

(while Skinny licks his chops, literally, since it seems to have an affinity for him).

Can you imagine doing this with racing dogs? Take them thirty miles away; release them and meet them at home. Pigeons do it (if no interference). They wear a band that effects a recording of its time of return. No, not for my huskies would this ever work. But the birds are amazing.

We hope s/he gets to go home, but if not, a new leader? Think not, but s/he surely is fun.

Back to business tomorrow, hooking up teams . First team out tomorrow is: Buffy, Ruthie,

Medio, Sherpa, Herman and Kiddo. Second team out: Buffy, Matilda, Zoom, Sherpa and Copper. Such is the plan for now.

Sled Dog Safaris

Sled dog safari rides are available for adults and children over the age of ten. For children under the age of ten, we have a kennel visit geared to younger visitors. Grandparents have enjoyed bringing their grandchildren to visit. And grandparents have learned to drive sleds, for sure.

Our trails are also available for hiking or cross country skiing when we are not running with dogs.

Safety for visitors and dogs always takes priority.

Reservations required: 715.528.4456 or email: windypups@yahoo.com