Sorry it's been a few days, folks. Things have been pretty busy - long days running dogs. Aaron is in Nome for his last trip (I'll believe it when I see it!) for the season so Scott has been on the trail 9+ hours per day running 70 mile runs. It's been really warm, in the mid-twenties, and windy so the swamps/flats trails we run in are blown in daily and since we do out-n-backs, Scott has to break trail on the way back as well.
Today was my third time doing the 26 mile trail. Yesterday and today I was thrilled to have Banana's back on my team. I'll introduce him and the other dogs from Sebastian Schnuelle who are here at the end of this post. The great thing is that he's a competent leader! The sad thing is that he had a tricep shoulder injury and is an injury prone dog (his gait) so he's off the main team. There's talk about him going back to Sebastian to do tours...I hope he stays for a while!
Yesterday, the second time I'd done the 26 mile trail, we had a bad time at the turn around. Guess who was in lead...yep: Tyler. I missed the trail, found it and thought the dogs would go cross-country (about fifty feet) to regain the trail. Tyler wasn't thrilled about going off the trail, but proceeded to cross the trail and continue into the field. Now, in the drifts the only place your snowhook (basically, an anchor) will hold is on the packed down trail. Believe it or not, if you walk in the snow and the trail is not visible, you can tell when you've reached the trail - it's noticably firmer.
In the end we made it on the trail and turned around. I was soaked with sweat by then (multiple trips up to correct the leaders) and moved Tyler out of lead...which proceeded to leave me playing swap-the-leaders until Tyler ended up back in lead. Some snowmobilers passed me as I was putting Tyler back in lead and I'm sure they wondered what the crazy dog musher was doing to the dogs! (It was in a wide open field and in that section I switched dogs twice, not to mention trying to give one of the lead candidates several opportunities to STAY AHEAD OF THE TEAM)
Today went better, Banana's amazed me at the blown in turn around and I was so impressed I stopped to praise him profusely. It is a joy to run such a dog! And he's so great for training the younger dogs because he's not pushy or mean. Tyler, meanwhile, ran in single-wheel where I could keep an eye on him. (Wheel - the position closest to the sled).
And now, for the introduction of the Great Alaskan Pastime: Weather watching!
This is no joke, every morning someone asks the temperature and there is a mini-conversation about it: comparing it with yesterday, if it will get cooler, has it warmed or cooled since chores, etc. I have to confess that I've begun to join in these talks...I'm afraid I'm getting acclimated! The colder the weather, the larger the crowd around the temperature gage. We've even gone over to the neighbors (Bill's) to see that it's a few degree's warmer...
Actually, that was a joke...although it is a fact that they are about 3 degrees warmer than us.
When I first got here, Scott told me he was going to get me a temperature gage for my window because one winter he and Aaron called each other every day during a cold spell to compare temps. I still don't have a thermometer, but I check the electric one on the way to the dog yard daily.
There are probably half a dozen regular (non-electronic) gages around the house, kennel and barns, but I was informed that they are there for show and are not trustworthy. During an investigation I found that the one inside the garage reads a lower temperature than the one on the woodshed which doesn't match the one on the tree - which is stuck at -20F. One of these gages is from the Nenana general store and reads: Happiness in Alaska...-50F!
Also, during the cold snap when it warmed up (to -20F), Aaron would call the neighbor 'up the hill' to check the temperature and make sure it wasn't colder there - where they were running.
Apparently, you could make good money off the weather here. In Nenana there is a huge jackpot for the person who can most acurately guess when the spring river ice breakup occurs. The Nenana Ice Classic is the name of this 100 year old tradition.
So now if you are playing a game of Alaska trivia and ask what sport is second to hockey up here, you can answer with confidence: weather watching. If you want to be more specific and really impress your friends, say: temperature calculating.
And now, dog introductions:
Bananas: A cute, blue eyed Siberian Husky looking boy. He led my first team here and was introduced in an previous post. I love his goofy personality - kind of shy, but so sweet! He'll often roll over on his back when he see's me coming to have be scratch his belly.
Maggot: Yes, that's this poor dogs name! He is like a hound dog - short coat, long legs, floppy ears. He also led my first team but is on the main team for now, although he's laid up for a few days due to soreness. He actually doesn't lose tons of weight from the cold weather, which surprised me. He likes to sleep with his bowl, but will come out of his house if you promise to scratch his back!
Skunk: A cute, gray/white girl. She's old, around 11yrs old, but still has lots of energy to run. Friendly and although she's not fast, a great leader.
Saffron: looks like a reddish arctic fox. Small and bushy! She looks really fat with her coat (and she is, being an extremely easy keeper!) but she also leads well. Kind of "in her own little world". She likes Bananas.
Grizman: looks identical to Togo, long coat and all. But he moves amazingly well and is a tough old leader. Scott knew him as a puppy. His best friend is his brother Vasser.
Vasser: what Griz looks like underneath the coat! Smaller and more excitable, but another good leader. Both these dogs are around 8yrs old and getting rather bored of the long runs, yet they have been really happy all fall.
Finn: is a beautiful red dog. He does a little 'happy hop' as you lead him to the gangline. I guess he only leads when he's happy, and he's been leading. He also has a thick, although not long, coat and is built more stocky like Saffron than some of the other dogs here.
Inuk: looks like a malamute cross. He's big, bushy coated and stocky. Another good leader, though, and extremely happy! I believe I overheard that he was a dog Sebastian picked up from the pound. If so, Inuk is even more amazing.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Alaska: the land of extremes
A few days ago it was 42 F and raining...if you do the math that's an eighty degree swing in just two weeks (and most of that two weeks was under zero)! Bill Cotter, after living here for forty years, had this to say: "Alaska, the land of extremes." The trail turned to a sheet of ice and I was dreading the possibility of having to navigate it...
Rainy days seem to be the day for visits. Bill and Leila came over (driving, so the trail wouldn't get punched through) to visit and also to get their second ton of poultry blend (frozen, ground meat) feed. I helped them load it and then went over with them to unload it as well. It got me out of my room and doing something outside, so I was pretty happy. It's much easier than bucking bales of hay!
A day or two later I decided to go over in the afternoon to see Leila and it so happened that she had the same idea and came over here. The sad part is that she must have slipped inside here before I went over there, so I missed her! I got a laugh out of it, anyway, and had a good time talking dogs with Bill and taking Rocky on a walk.
It's taken us all week to get decent trails again - dustings of snow every morning and this morning an inch or two. The Burmeister's had a trip to Anchorage, so it was just Scott and I running dogs this week. It was rather nice to be able to make my own breakfast for a change...I like to get up early and get the day going, but when the Burmeister's are home Scott and I have to eat with them which means breakfast is usually served between 10-11am! Way to late for my liking.
I planned on writing more on my early adventures, but there's so much to write about I think I'll skip it or save it for later and go ahead and introduce Mandy and Hunter Burmeister:
Mandy is Aaron's wife. From what I understand, she used to train all the dogs with Aaron before Hunter, but now she's too busy. We get along fine, but I've realized just how much my mom does...I miss her so much!
Hunter is three and, to be completely honest, he's the most spoiled child I've met. That's made it really hard since at our home you didn't have your way in everything and I'm so thankful for that discipline now that I'm older. You know, they say dogs are a lot like kids: I wonder why people tend to demand more obedience from their dogs than their children? I'll have to think about it on my next run and come up with a philosophical essay for you...to say the least, I've learned some valuable life lessons here!
Not to end on such a note, I'll introduce you to my team. We had a great 22 mile run today and will be moving up to the 26 mile trail tomorrow. I'm so excited about my young leaders, because I'd rather work with them and watch them improve than have Tyler up there messing around - although I have to admite he is doing better now!
In order of how they were run today (lead to wheel):
Coldfoot - a yearling of Aaron's. He's not really hard-headed in lead, but he gets along pretty well with everyone and I think that as he grows up he'll get better. He's very willing to please.
(Little) Ruger - a yearling out of Scott's Pepperjack and a Jeff King dog. He's the super-star of the team and he knows it! On one run he really beat up Coldfoot, and he still bosses him around in lead, but they no longer fight. Just an all-around awesome boy, Mr. Personality. We came back from the run today and he laid right down while I got their after-run treat ready and watched me like, "Come on, we've been waiting FOREVER!" What I like the most about him is how in-tune he is with me. He watches me whenever we stop until I say, "Ok," and we take off.
Tyler - I think I've told you all about him!
Hawkeye - The old point/swing dog. Just melts into the team.
Rocky - My boy! Since being here he's been depressed so I've been taking him on runs and walks to Bill's when I visit them. He'd been running wheel for a while so I thought I'd let him go farther up in the team. His trot looks horrible next to Ruger and Scott's other yearlings who are smooth.
Urchin - A "purebred" Siberian Husky from Bob Chlupach, who's related to Pepperjack. I was very disappointed to meet him at first, since I came here to work with Alaskan's, but he's been a great little leader and is really growing out of that "shy husky" attitude. Always the first to scream to go. I was thrilled that he actually slowed to a trot for today's run!
Trig - Doesn't lead, but is great anywhere else.
Kanuti - Moved her back from the front because she always tries to drag the team to a stop when she goes to the bathroom during the run.
Razz - A Pepperjack son. Probably my favorite moving dog on the team. Sooooo smooth and effortless. He does what Scott calls a "powertrot" the whole run. I hope he matures and gains confidence so he can run lead eventually. Another dog that is awesome because he watches me so closely!
Rowdy - Razz's sister. Barks while we run, just like Urchin. She's just soooo excited! Today's run was the first time she ever trotted for more than a few steps. She is so much like Razz, what can I say? Totally awesome! Too excited for lead, but maybe on the longer runs...
As you can tell, I love my little team. I kind of ignore the older dogs, since they aren't the focus of the team, but every little improvement in the yearlings is exciting!
Rainy days seem to be the day for visits. Bill and Leila came over (driving, so the trail wouldn't get punched through) to visit and also to get their second ton of poultry blend (frozen, ground meat) feed. I helped them load it and then went over with them to unload it as well. It got me out of my room and doing something outside, so I was pretty happy. It's much easier than bucking bales of hay!
A day or two later I decided to go over in the afternoon to see Leila and it so happened that she had the same idea and came over here. The sad part is that she must have slipped inside here before I went over there, so I missed her! I got a laugh out of it, anyway, and had a good time talking dogs with Bill and taking Rocky on a walk.
It's taken us all week to get decent trails again - dustings of snow every morning and this morning an inch or two. The Burmeister's had a trip to Anchorage, so it was just Scott and I running dogs this week. It was rather nice to be able to make my own breakfast for a change...I like to get up early and get the day going, but when the Burmeister's are home Scott and I have to eat with them which means breakfast is usually served between 10-11am! Way to late for my liking.
I planned on writing more on my early adventures, but there's so much to write about I think I'll skip it or save it for later and go ahead and introduce Mandy and Hunter Burmeister:
Mandy is Aaron's wife. From what I understand, she used to train all the dogs with Aaron before Hunter, but now she's too busy. We get along fine, but I've realized just how much my mom does...I miss her so much!
Hunter is three and, to be completely honest, he's the most spoiled child I've met. That's made it really hard since at our home you didn't have your way in everything and I'm so thankful for that discipline now that I'm older. You know, they say dogs are a lot like kids: I wonder why people tend to demand more obedience from their dogs than their children? I'll have to think about it on my next run and come up with a philosophical essay for you...to say the least, I've learned some valuable life lessons here!
Not to end on such a note, I'll introduce you to my team. We had a great 22 mile run today and will be moving up to the 26 mile trail tomorrow. I'm so excited about my young leaders, because I'd rather work with them and watch them improve than have Tyler up there messing around - although I have to admite he is doing better now!
In order of how they were run today (lead to wheel):
Coldfoot - a yearling of Aaron's. He's not really hard-headed in lead, but he gets along pretty well with everyone and I think that as he grows up he'll get better. He's very willing to please.
(Little) Ruger - a yearling out of Scott's Pepperjack and a Jeff King dog. He's the super-star of the team and he knows it! On one run he really beat up Coldfoot, and he still bosses him around in lead, but they no longer fight. Just an all-around awesome boy, Mr. Personality. We came back from the run today and he laid right down while I got their after-run treat ready and watched me like, "Come on, we've been waiting FOREVER!" What I like the most about him is how in-tune he is with me. He watches me whenever we stop until I say, "Ok," and we take off.
Tyler - I think I've told you all about him!
Hawkeye - The old point/swing dog. Just melts into the team.
Rocky - My boy! Since being here he's been depressed so I've been taking him on runs and walks to Bill's when I visit them. He'd been running wheel for a while so I thought I'd let him go farther up in the team. His trot looks horrible next to Ruger and Scott's other yearlings who are smooth.
Urchin - A "purebred" Siberian Husky from Bob Chlupach, who's related to Pepperjack. I was very disappointed to meet him at first, since I came here to work with Alaskan's, but he's been a great little leader and is really growing out of that "shy husky" attitude. Always the first to scream to go. I was thrilled that he actually slowed to a trot for today's run!
Trig - Doesn't lead, but is great anywhere else.
Kanuti - Moved her back from the front because she always tries to drag the team to a stop when she goes to the bathroom during the run.
Razz - A Pepperjack son. Probably my favorite moving dog on the team. Sooooo smooth and effortless. He does what Scott calls a "powertrot" the whole run. I hope he matures and gains confidence so he can run lead eventually. Another dog that is awesome because he watches me so closely!
Rowdy - Razz's sister. Barks while we run, just like Urchin. She's just soooo excited! Today's run was the first time she ever trotted for more than a few steps. She is so much like Razz, what can I say? Totally awesome! Too excited for lead, but maybe on the longer runs...
As you can tell, I love my little team. I kind of ignore the older dogs, since they aren't the focus of the team, but every little improvement in the yearlings is exciting!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Musings from the Trail
Ok, I was seriously going to try to keep this blog strictly "everything sled dogs", but while I'm scooping the yard or out on the trail I can't help thinking about all kinds of things (not always sled dog related) that are worth sharing (at least, I think so!). This is a warning: you may find yourself reading philosophical ramblings in later posts. I find that philosophy (also called your worldview) intertwines everything we as people do in life - whether it's running dogs or writing books...or neither!
First off, as we were hooking up dogs the other day I though Scott made a comment that is quoteworthy. It goes thus: "I know my dogs aren't the best in the world, I just treat them like they are." He truly does treat the dogs like the world-class athletes that they are, and it makes them happy to perform for him.
Another thing I've begun to wonder is why musher's don't take care of themselves as well as they take care of their dogs? Perhaps it's because I've been raised most of my life with a wonderful mom who researched health foods and takes the time to make bread and cheese for all us kids. This year, after being disgusted at how little I felt I could help the dogs when running up hills, I began to run on the mountains at home. It just seems to make sense. After all, we mushers are the other half of the team! If we can't take care of ourselves, dog care suffers!
A funny fact: I'm sure all you musher's reading this have heard about biting a dogs ear, right? For the rest of you, just watch Snow Dogs to see it in action. Well, several weeks ago a dog came in with a bloody ear. I assumed it had gotten nipped by another dog and thought nothing of it. However, we were discussing dog discipline at the dinner table and Scott started talking about how the dog, named Maggot (poor dog, he's really a nice boy!), had continued to ignore his commands and he went up and bit his ear - a little harder than he intended (hence, the blood).
As you can imagine, I blinked and with a laugh, asked if he was kidding. Nope. It is a fact that, when a dog refuses to mind, you can sometimes get their attention really quick by biting their ear. It works because there are a lot of nerves, making it extremely painful for the dog.
Now before you all go out there to bit your dog's ear, please remember to clamp their mouth shut as you do it - so you don't get your ear bitten off! Another tip that Aaron shared is to make sure you only do it in extreme circumstances - that's half the reason it works...
First off, as we were hooking up dogs the other day I though Scott made a comment that is quoteworthy. It goes thus: "I know my dogs aren't the best in the world, I just treat them like they are." He truly does treat the dogs like the world-class athletes that they are, and it makes them happy to perform for him.
Another thing I've begun to wonder is why musher's don't take care of themselves as well as they take care of their dogs? Perhaps it's because I've been raised most of my life with a wonderful mom who researched health foods and takes the time to make bread and cheese for all us kids. This year, after being disgusted at how little I felt I could help the dogs when running up hills, I began to run on the mountains at home. It just seems to make sense. After all, we mushers are the other half of the team! If we can't take care of ourselves, dog care suffers!
A funny fact: I'm sure all you musher's reading this have heard about biting a dogs ear, right? For the rest of you, just watch Snow Dogs to see it in action. Well, several weeks ago a dog came in with a bloody ear. I assumed it had gotten nipped by another dog and thought nothing of it. However, we were discussing dog discipline at the dinner table and Scott started talking about how the dog, named Maggot (poor dog, he's really a nice boy!), had continued to ignore his commands and he went up and bit his ear - a little harder than he intended (hence, the blood).
As you can imagine, I blinked and with a laugh, asked if he was kidding. Nope. It is a fact that, when a dog refuses to mind, you can sometimes get their attention really quick by biting their ear. It works because there are a lot of nerves, making it extremely painful for the dog.
Now before you all go out there to bit your dog's ear, please remember to clamp their mouth shut as you do it - so you don't get your ear bitten off! Another tip that Aaron shared is to make sure you only do it in extreme circumstances - that's half the reason it works...
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Leaders and Commands
Written 12/2/2011
The universal challenge of mushers: finding good leaders.
When I got here and found out there are twenty-two leaders on the race team, and then saw them in action, I was thrilled. At last, I would be able to give commands and have turns taken with ease...so I thought!
I have one "solid" leader, Tyler, who has proved himself to be unreliable - despite the face that I know he knows his gee/haw commands...and he's six years old, there's just no excuse for him not to know them! It's obvious that he's testing me, but I'd have thought he would've given it up by now: after years of working with dogs, I've learned not to give them an opportunity to "get away with it".
I should add a note here: I consider my early dog training lessons with German Shepherd trainer Kat Peterson invaluable. So much of what I learned from Kat and through the Kootenai County 4-H Dog program has become an integral part of the way I work with my sled dogs. I'd not realized it until last spring, when I was teaching it to a younger 4-H'er who had one of my Seppala pups and also talking things over with my younger sister as she trained her collie. Body language is so important with dogs! They cannot be fooled easily.
With that said, I've witnessed two styles of dog mushing up here in Alaska. First, is Aaron's. He gives commands in a voice that is commanding, yes, but it is an angry yell, as if he's mad at the dogs. Then there's Scott's firm but quiet commands - not asking the dogs to "please, please turn" but without the element of disatisfaction with the dogs. After all, have they done anything wrong before you gave them the command?
Personally, I'd rather not raise my voice unless the dogs are doing something wrong. Back with my first dog, I learned how much dogs read our body language and tone of voice. Once the dogs respect you, I don't think most dogs should need much more than a raised voice. Of course, the obvious exception is during a dog fight.
So, with the yearling I like to be able to raise my voice and have them stop doing whatever is unacceptable. My goal is to have the team to a point that they are so focused on me that there is no need for me to scream at them to get obedience. After all, dogs have much better hearing that people!
Tyler is obviously having trouble adjusting to a new driver and style of driving. One challenge to being a handler is disciplining someone else's dog - especially if they require more than a raised voice, having been trained through much rougher handling. In addition, one moment I'm told to be as hard as I need to be on a dog to get it to behave but after the first incident you are told, "...well, he's such a soft-headed dog, you don't need to be very hard on him."
I'm no expert, but I do not believe that just because Tyler has a happy, friendly personality, he automatically has a soft head and doesn't need a firm hand - although I think that a softer type of training will benefit him. When you're out in the beautiful wilderness, who wants to have to scream and shout every command? Certainly the dogs don't appreciate it! I've found that often dogs with good personalities (friendly, happy, seemingly innocent!) get away with the most, puzzling their owners, who say, "But Fluffly is always so sorry for it." It makes me wonder how many times I've misjudged my own dogs? Have I babied certain of my dogs to the point that they've gotten away with more than is acceptable?
On our run yesterday I decided to put Tyler up in lead since it was only our second run on the twenty-two mile trail and I was hoping NOT to have to guide the dogs at every turn (our first time on the trail I'd let the yearlings lead, so they can begin to pick up commands through use). Also, the dogs were a little tired since we'd jumped up miles quickly after the move to sleds - this was their third day running in a row - so it would be good to give them a break from the stress of leading.
We started out well. I succeeded in not bouncing off any trees and the dogs settled down very quickly. I was impressed and pleased that they were begining to settle down whenever we stopped until I said, "Are you ready?" and pulled the hook. This is something I've been working on all fall: to get the dogs watching me and not banging their harness' until I ask if their ready to go. It gives you (the musher) a greater amount of control and peace of mind because you can never trust your hook(s) to hold.
The first few turns we took the same as always, so it was no big deal. Tyler took them with little hesitation, although he always waits to the last second to make it clear that he IS going to take them. But that was just the calm before the storm!
At our first big intersection, Tyler decided to turn Gee (right) - dragging the team and me after him - despite my Haw (left) command. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hook in the snow on the intersection beause it's softer than the trail and so I ended up going through the turn, then stopping and stomping up there to pull him back, turn around the team and get them going in the right direction.
It took me two trips up there to get the team turned around and then Tyler decided we'd just go back the way we came. Of course, that was NOT going to happen! I went back and forth several times to set Tyler on the right trail (you know, the fun game where the leader stays in the right direction until you get back to the sled!).
I feel sure Tyler was trying to lose me in the portage we entered immediately afterward. The dogs had been trotting at a good pace the entire run, but they charged through the twists and trees. (Too bad, Tyler, I was determined to see this run through!)
On the way back, we had a few more episodes of balking at turns (and I made sure to take all the turns and loops possible to work this issue through while he was stuck on the subject!) and then settled into the last three miles of trail, homeward bound. The team was looking so good and, knowing there were no more turns, I was happy. Kind of thinking, "Well, I guess this will end well..." Oh, how often we underestimate the dogs!
One of my dogs, run in team right in front of wheel on this run, has been having an issue passing. He's a bit aggressive and tries to jump at and on the other dogs in the team. However, the last few runs - even when he's leading - he'd been doing much better and I'd hoped we were through the worst of his habit. Alas Tyler, who's never balked or had an issue head-on passing, decided that today he was going to see if he could get away with at least something before we finished the run. So, he balked.
We got through, but I was fuming because my team dog had reverted to his interest in the other team's dogs. Still, I thought, "Oh, well, we're almost finished."
A mile later, we went around the corner into the kennel and Tyler proceeds to jump on poor Todd, completely unprovoked. I went up there and broke it up before any other dogs joined in or someone got hurt, and quickly tied off the team. And so ended our run...
The universal challenge of mushers: finding good leaders.
When I got here and found out there are twenty-two leaders on the race team, and then saw them in action, I was thrilled. At last, I would be able to give commands and have turns taken with ease...so I thought!
I have one "solid" leader, Tyler, who has proved himself to be unreliable - despite the face that I know he knows his gee/haw commands...and he's six years old, there's just no excuse for him not to know them! It's obvious that he's testing me, but I'd have thought he would've given it up by now: after years of working with dogs, I've learned not to give them an opportunity to "get away with it".
I should add a note here: I consider my early dog training lessons with German Shepherd trainer Kat Peterson invaluable. So much of what I learned from Kat and through the Kootenai County 4-H Dog program has become an integral part of the way I work with my sled dogs. I'd not realized it until last spring, when I was teaching it to a younger 4-H'er who had one of my Seppala pups and also talking things over with my younger sister as she trained her collie. Body language is so important with dogs! They cannot be fooled easily.
With that said, I've witnessed two styles of dog mushing up here in Alaska. First, is Aaron's. He gives commands in a voice that is commanding, yes, but it is an angry yell, as if he's mad at the dogs. Then there's Scott's firm but quiet commands - not asking the dogs to "please, please turn" but without the element of disatisfaction with the dogs. After all, have they done anything wrong before you gave them the command?
Personally, I'd rather not raise my voice unless the dogs are doing something wrong. Back with my first dog, I learned how much dogs read our body language and tone of voice. Once the dogs respect you, I don't think most dogs should need much more than a raised voice. Of course, the obvious exception is during a dog fight.
So, with the yearling I like to be able to raise my voice and have them stop doing whatever is unacceptable. My goal is to have the team to a point that they are so focused on me that there is no need for me to scream at them to get obedience. After all, dogs have much better hearing that people!
Tyler is obviously having trouble adjusting to a new driver and style of driving. One challenge to being a handler is disciplining someone else's dog - especially if they require more than a raised voice, having been trained through much rougher handling. In addition, one moment I'm told to be as hard as I need to be on a dog to get it to behave but after the first incident you are told, "...well, he's such a soft-headed dog, you don't need to be very hard on him."
I'm no expert, but I do not believe that just because Tyler has a happy, friendly personality, he automatically has a soft head and doesn't need a firm hand - although I think that a softer type of training will benefit him. When you're out in the beautiful wilderness, who wants to have to scream and shout every command? Certainly the dogs don't appreciate it! I've found that often dogs with good personalities (friendly, happy, seemingly innocent!) get away with the most, puzzling their owners, who say, "But Fluffly is always so sorry for it." It makes me wonder how many times I've misjudged my own dogs? Have I babied certain of my dogs to the point that they've gotten away with more than is acceptable?
On our run yesterday I decided to put Tyler up in lead since it was only our second run on the twenty-two mile trail and I was hoping NOT to have to guide the dogs at every turn (our first time on the trail I'd let the yearlings lead, so they can begin to pick up commands through use). Also, the dogs were a little tired since we'd jumped up miles quickly after the move to sleds - this was their third day running in a row - so it would be good to give them a break from the stress of leading.
We started out well. I succeeded in not bouncing off any trees and the dogs settled down very quickly. I was impressed and pleased that they were begining to settle down whenever we stopped until I said, "Are you ready?" and pulled the hook. This is something I've been working on all fall: to get the dogs watching me and not banging their harness' until I ask if their ready to go. It gives you (the musher) a greater amount of control and peace of mind because you can never trust your hook(s) to hold.
The first few turns we took the same as always, so it was no big deal. Tyler took them with little hesitation, although he always waits to the last second to make it clear that he IS going to take them. But that was just the calm before the storm!
At our first big intersection, Tyler decided to turn Gee (right) - dragging the team and me after him - despite my Haw (left) command. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hook in the snow on the intersection beause it's softer than the trail and so I ended up going through the turn, then stopping and stomping up there to pull him back, turn around the team and get them going in the right direction.
It took me two trips up there to get the team turned around and then Tyler decided we'd just go back the way we came. Of course, that was NOT going to happen! I went back and forth several times to set Tyler on the right trail (you know, the fun game where the leader stays in the right direction until you get back to the sled!).
I feel sure Tyler was trying to lose me in the portage we entered immediately afterward. The dogs had been trotting at a good pace the entire run, but they charged through the twists and trees. (Too bad, Tyler, I was determined to see this run through!)
On the way back, we had a few more episodes of balking at turns (and I made sure to take all the turns and loops possible to work this issue through while he was stuck on the subject!) and then settled into the last three miles of trail, homeward bound. The team was looking so good and, knowing there were no more turns, I was happy. Kind of thinking, "Well, I guess this will end well..." Oh, how often we underestimate the dogs!
One of my dogs, run in team right in front of wheel on this run, has been having an issue passing. He's a bit aggressive and tries to jump at and on the other dogs in the team. However, the last few runs - even when he's leading - he'd been doing much better and I'd hoped we were through the worst of his habit. Alas Tyler, who's never balked or had an issue head-on passing, decided that today he was going to see if he could get away with at least something before we finished the run. So, he balked.
We got through, but I was fuming because my team dog had reverted to his interest in the other team's dogs. Still, I thought, "Oh, well, we're almost finished."
A mile later, we went around the corner into the kennel and Tyler proceeds to jump on poor Todd, completely unprovoked. I went up there and broke it up before any other dogs joined in or someone got hurt, and quickly tied off the team. And so ended our run...
Aaron Burmeister's Dogs
It’s time you were introduced to some of the sled dogs here. We’ll start with Aaron’s (Flat Dog Kennels) dogs:
There are eighteen dogs total: three little pups (about six months old), two yearlings and thirteen adults.
The pups are out of Banshe and Hawkeye:
- A little miniature Hawkeye, Pike, is the only boy in the litter. He’s mostly brown with a black saddle and floppy ears. I thought he was the sweetest puppy in the litter until I started walking him…and found out he liked to beat up all the other pups – even Scott’s bigger males wouldn’t stand up to him!
- Remedy is a black girl with brown markings on her cheeks and face. She likes to be the boss and has a bad habit of constantly jumping on you, especially when you’re trying to clean her circle.
- Justice is a miniature Banshe, which is sad because it means she’s not a pretty puppy and her personality is the best out of the litter! When I clipped all the dog’s toenails, Justice was the easiest to do – out of the entire kennel. She is very willing to please.
The two yearlings are out of Ruger and a Lance Mackey dog named Lucy (out of Hobo) – which the Burmeister’s no longer have.
- Coldfoot is a huge black dog, but he’s very laid back and focused on pleasing people. The one drawback to his personality is that he loves getting petted and will lean hard against you when you un-harness him. He’s almost fallen off his house when I step away! He’s one of my leaders in training.
- Kanuti is also black and has Remedy’s unfortunate habit. In addition, she seems to leave her mental powers in the dog house every morning…which makes her difficult to work with – especially since Aaron wants her to run lead!
The first eight adults are dogs that were bred by Aaron. I will say that I was surprised, and a bit disappointed, at how few of the dogs here are actually “his breed”.
- Roxy looks like a Seppala Siberian – for those of you familiar with them she looks identical to a dark-gray one with blue eyes. She also runs kind of like one, not overly leggy or athletic and has a rather reserved/shy personality. However, she is one of Aaron’s leaders and is definitely not part Seppala! She is out of Banshe and Taos (see below)
- Hawkeye is an older dog on my team, who runs swing (point). There is a bit of discrepancy about his age because Aaron says he is eleven years old, but I had the opportunity to look over their kennel pedigree book and according to that he is eight years old…
- Trig is a race dog moved down to my team because he has a salivary gland problem that leads to him vomiting whenever he runs. I feel sorry for this guy when we run, he’s always drooling. However, he is one of those dogs that melts into your team and is never any trouble! Trig is out of Lucy and Taos.
- Spinner…the shy one. He’s kind of “houndy” looking, but is actually one of Aaron’s old bloodlines. I’ve been trying to get him to come out of his shell since I got here, but as Scott says, “He’s a bit of a hard case.” I don’t know if he’ll ever come around.
- Todd lost his tail in a dog fight at some point; else he’d be another pretty, Seppala looking dog. He looks like my old Seppala leader Nanook. I’m afraid he’s not the brightest dog; he often jumps on his dog house after a run and doesn’t slow down enough so he falls off the other side! Todd is full brother to Trig.
The next three dogs are littermates. They are out of Bessie (my dog) and a dog named Taos Taos
- Ruger, by far the biggest dog in the kennel. He is huge and never quits pulling HARD. I was surprised to find out he’s also a leader.
- Remy is the dog that bit off Todd’s tail and, for that offense, is banished to the far side of the kennel where he cannot reach any other dogs. He’s another hard case, who is determined not to trust me.
- Moss is a miniature Bessie – big feet and all! She’s very talkative and friendly, although she’s calmed down a lot now that the runs are getting longer.
There are five dogs that are not Aaron’s bloodlines or breeding: - Tyler Tyler
- Governor is from Jeff King and he’s a really nice dog; at first I thought he and Trig were brothers because they are so similar. After a run he always growls as you walk him to his house and un-harness him. It’s not a vicious growl, but a kind of “play” or “happy” growl!
- King was bred by Jeff King. He looks like he could be a brother to Gov and Trig, same type of build. Now that he’s lost some weight, he looks a lot leggier than I’d originally thought. He seems to be a bit of a picky eater.
- Smokey is another Jeff King dog, although she is a lot like Moss. She keeps to herself and is an easy keeper.
- Java is a tiny black dog from Buddy Streeper who was one of Aaron’s leaders for spring races last year. She is extremely nervous and a terrible eater, which keeps her very thin.
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