Some random sledding pics and video...

[Cinder & Smoke]

The public perception of mushing is bad enough already.

Mushers used to carry whips and poles,
but the practice has been banned in all races and I don't know anyone who still uses them in training.

I already spend a great deal of time convincing people that sled dogs aren't forced to run, beaten, that they aren't vicious dogs who will attack them on the trails ect.
Tehya will learn to focus eventually!

Hard to believe "the public perception" is negative towards mushing -
but you're in a better position to know than I am.
WHIPS would seem overly extreme to me - I'm shocked to know they were used on dog teams.
The POLE seemed like a *phunn* idea to me - I didn't know people actually carried them and
USED them - seems like a LOTTA Bother to get Fido's attention!

I joke about my Mom's "Dope Slaps" that I grew up with - she wasn't a bit timid about
giving out a "Dope Slap" to the back of my head in a grocery store or other public place -
and I'm positive it was a generally accepted "practice" of loving mothers faced with
an unacceptable behavior from their offspring.
I'm in no way suggesting that YOU EVER abuse your FurKids in the name of "training"!

Sorry to have hit a tender nerve.



/s/ Phred

[Glacier]

http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif[/img]
The POLE seemed like a *phunn* idea to me - I didn't know people actually carried them and
USED them - seems like a LOTTA Bother to get Fido's attention!

I'm in no way suggesting that YOU EVER abuse your FurKids in the name of "training"!

Sorry to have hit a tender nerve.
/s/ Phred

Public perception is generally very negative, but good mushers don't make the news. The news reports on the idiots, like Ramy Brooks, who snapped during the Iditarod last year and kicked his dogs. They didn't report nearly as much on Lance Mackey who won the I-rod with happy, healthy dogs or John Schandelmier, who runs many big races and finishes well with a team of shelter dogs. John's one of my heros, but he doesn't get much publicity.

Whips were never supposed to be used on the dogs. They were in theory used above their heads to get their attention or on one side to indicate direction. The snap sound was supposed to be part of the training, like an extreme clicker. Unfortunately, they were misused and a lot of dogs suffered.

No worries, I never thought for a second that you were suggesting anything like that!

[sasvermont]

You have been so good at setting us straight when it comes to using sled dogs for what they love doing.....thanks so much. And Tehya is my favorite puppy here. My two fav doggies are BOB and Bella, but Ms. Tehya is my fav pupster.

Give all your puppies hugs for me. And you husband isn't bad on the eyes, either....hehehehehehe!

More pictures please!

[Glacier]

Give all your puppies hugs for me. And you husband isn't bad on the eyes, either....hehehehehehe!

More pictures please!

LOL, more pics of the dogs or my hubby?

[Cinder & Smoke]

LOL, more pics of the dogs or my hubby?

<snikker>


Make everyone Happie - pictures of BOTH! And throw in a few Kat Shotz, too.

Speaking of Stuart - WHERE IS the Lad?
How's he like working in the Oil Patch?

What's his schedule for 2008?

HI, Stuart!! - Happy New Year!!

[Glacier]

<Speaking of Stuart - WHERE IS the Lad?
How's he like working in the Oil Patch?

What's his schedule for 2008?

He's somewhere in Northern Manitoba. He's not in the patch, but he does like the work. He's on a diamond drill, not an oil drill. It's mining exploration, mostly precious metals. I think the company in this camp is looking for copper and gold. His schedule is six weeks out and two weeks at home. He'll be back mid-February.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Ahhhhh.....it's wonderful to get away to the Yukon again. Thanks!! Those pictures and video are great. You can't keep Daisy away from an event at your place can you, Tamara? She just fits right in.

[Cinder & Smoke]

He's somewhere in Northern Manitoba.
He's on a diamond drill, not an oil drill.
It's mining exploration, mostly precious metals.
I think the company in this camp is looking for copper and gold.
His schedule is six weeks out and two weeks at home. He'll be back mid-February.

So, he moved "south" for the winter?

But how'd he get over in Manitoba????
How's he get back & forth - that'd be a Loooong drive!

Sure hope he's being CAREFUL!! - Drilling for ANYthing is dangerous work!
Send him a {{{Hug}}}

[cassiesmom]

Give all your puppies hugs for me.

Me too, Glacier, me too! (And your cats, too, please.)

[lvpets2002]

All is just so Breathtaken & Stunning of Beauty.. The babies are just Adorable...

[joycenalex]

tamara, phred i never would have used the description of my moms' dope slaps if i had a clue about the poor preception of some mushers. i didn't know that it's seen that way. i am sorry if i caused a problem

[cyber-sibes]

Run puppies, run! At least you are able to use the sled a bit. Seems like by this time of year, your pups have been champing at the bit to go running for quite a while. We still don't have any snow, thanks for posting so we can at least enjoy yours! Star wooos she can relate to dealing with "puppyhead" problems, LOL!

[Glacier]

Seems like by this time of year, your pups have been champing at the bit to go running for quite a while. Star wooos she can relate to dealing with "puppyhead" problems, LOL!

We should have been on snow in mid-November with enough to set a snow hook.

PuppyHead ran in swing yesterday and did great! Except that 15km no longer makes her tired at all! She was mauling Anvik before I even got his harness off! Anvik woos his understanding sympathies to Star!

[elizabethann]

Those are such cool pictures....and beautiful too.

I actually thought of you & your pups the other day. Fenway & I saw our first musher. I had to hold Fenway back because he would have chased them. When the dogs came by us, they all barked. Then they came by us again and they all barked again. It was just cool to see.

But on the way home, I noticed blood in the snow. I guess that's normal, right? These dogs didn't have any boots on.

[Glacier]

But on the way home, I noticed blood in the snow. I guess that's normal, right? These dogs didn't have any boots on.

No, not normal. If the dogs' feet are that soft, they need booties. I never use booties except on Pingo in the fall. She runs on the side of her front paws and sometimes scrapes them up. Doesn't seem to happen once there is snow cover. Most of my dogs have great feet. Hound and GSP crosses tend to need booties much more often than dogs with more husky content.

Could be a trimmed too short or broken nail. That wouldn't hurt the dog but would bleed like crazy. I have a friend who had some fast talking to do in a race once when he crossed the finished line with a blood spattered lead dog. She had broken a nail during the race somehow. Never missed a step, never limped, but there was blood everywhere.

Pingo barks at people on the trail, especially if they have dogs with them. I think it's her way of saying "get out of my way". She's the only one who barks every time!