Yesterday I had a lousy run with my team. Seven dog team, lots of new snow and they refused to break trail. Less than a mile from home, my leaders laid down and that was that. I tried every trick I could think of to convince them to go again, all to no avail. If they had gone another half mile or so we would have hit an area where the skidooers had already broke the trail, but they didn't know that and they weren't moving. So with great difficulty and much muttering under my breath, I turned around (not easy on the little trail we were on!) and we went home. I spent the rest of the day inside baking and ignoring the dogs while I pouted!
Karen Ramstead (an Iditarod musher) told me once that you have to have the odd lousy run so you will appreciate a truly good run! Today we had a truly good run. Different set of leaders, slightly different team, seven dogs again. Today we went 15 miles without a hitch! As I was watching them run, I was thinking about how each of them contributed something different to the team and to me...
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To Pingo--thank you for your unfailing trail sense. Pingo has become a command leader but at heart and by instinct she is a trail dog. She will ignore my commands completly if she believes a better trail is available. Today her amazing sense for the best trail got us through some unexpected overflow safely and with only wet paws!
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To Founder--for his never ending desire to run--anywhere, anytime, just run. He gets me out in weather I don't feel like running in and takes me places I would never walk to! He hates to stop and even coming back into the yard he is still digging in and pulling for all he's worth.
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To Hobo--for his boundless enthusiam and the pure joy with which he greets every day! His energy was greatly appreciated today as we broke trail and climbed hills!
To Pacer--for his faith and trust in me. Trusting a human is a big change for timid Pacer. As we crossed the overflow today (Pacer hates overflow) he looked back at me with big, worried brown eyes. I softly told him it was ok (trying not to let my own panic show--i hate overflow too!) and he turned around, dropped his head and got it done.
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(Pacer is the solid white dog, Antare is his running buddy)
To Antare--for his ability to adapt. Antare is quite a timid dog most of the time, but in harness he is a confident pulilng machine. He can run anywhere in the team. He doesn't like to lead, but he will. He only has to pass an obstacle once to overcome his fear of it forever. His tug line is always tight, he's always willing to go. Antare was one of three dogs in yesterday's team who didn't quit and who were quite ticked off that they had to go home early!
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To Franklin--for his work ethic. It isn't pretty when Franklin runs, his gait is all wrong, he looks clumsy and uncoordinated, but he never misses. Franklin is always ready, willing and able! He would pull all day every day without question or hesitation.
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To Chase--for his sense of humor. Chase is hard working dog, but he never misses a chance for giggle. Today we had to break trail for short distance through a willow patch. The snow was difted around the trees and very deep. A couple of the shorter dogs were swimming through it. Chase is very tall and ran through the deep stuff with no problem. As he did so, he looked back at me with a big grin on his face as if he was saying "it must suck to have short legs"!
Five of these amazing little creatures are former long term shelter
residents. The other two are rehomes from other mushers. My little team of misfits and casts-offs! What would I do without them?!
Pictures are not from today as I forgot my camera at home!:rolleyes:
