As
any of you on our NorthWapiti News mailing list have heard,
Ronny left the Kennel this past Wednesday to pursue other
adventures.
We
certainly wish him well in his travels.
That has, of course, made us shorthanded – and me overworked
– so we are again looking for kennel help. Anyone interested
or knowing anyone that might be interested and suitable is
encouraged to contact me.
Of
course, as soon has we became shorthanded, the temperatures
plummeted and I’ve been running dogs everyday this week.
Lots of work – but great for everyone spirits!
I
had started off this season alittle concerned about what I
was going to have for lead dogs this year. Not that I don’t
have a lot of dogs that lead – I do, but I’m talking about
that ‘superstar’ leader that really ‘make’ a dog team.
Grover, Snickers and Kara have been that for us the last few
years and with Grover and Snickers gone – and Kara on the
verge of retirement, I was really concerned about whether I
was going to find THE leader to take this very good pool of
dogs over the top. After the last two mornings, I am not
quite so concerned!
Yesterday I hooked Q and Charge up in lead. Their
performance was simply dazzling! As stubborn and hardheaded
as Charge is, he is very keen to please in lead. He seems to
take missing a command very personally and keys well off of
his co-leader – all while keeping the same drive and power
that made him such an asset back in the team last year.
Q
has really stepped up his game this year and is turning into
a very solid and dependable young leader. He rarely misses a
command and is always leaning hard into his harness. At the
end of the run, while Charge constantly had to be reminded
to keep the line out tight while I was unharnessing and
putting away dogs, Q got sick of being pulled around and
finally dropped to the ground in the middle of the trail
doing his best impression of a rock. It was a very effective
way to deal with his young co leader trying to drag him all
over and he got heaped with praise for his inventiveness.
This morning I tossed young Spider up front with Sprite. As
Sprite was off last season raising a litter of puppies, I
keep forgetting that she is a young lady coming into her
prime. The run was simply flawless. They are wonderfully
fast and responsive leaders and it was simply a delight to
drive them this morning! I’ve added our dreaded ‘Widowmaker’
trail with it’s steep hills back into our run and was
pleased as could be to feel the power coming down the line
on those climbs!
Very promising!
As
the runs are up to 5 miles now, I’m going to have to drag
the water trough back out into the woods sometime this week
and start stopping for a nice water break before upping the
mileage again.
So,
if any of you went to look at my Picassa online album after
our PA trip – you will see that we took a detour on the way
home to visit Cabelas biggest store, which is located in
Hamburg, PA. Truly cool! Before I tell you about the cool
things we found there, let me tell you a story about going
there.
On
Friday, as we were driving from Hamilton down to Niagara
Falls we drove through Ontario’s wine country. I do love
wine and asked Mark if maybe we could spend Monday night on
our way home at a B&B in wine country. Despite not being a
wine or B&B guy, he graciously agreed.
Then right before my talk on Sunday, I heard that we were
only an hour away from this huge Cabelas store. When Mark
asked on Monday morning what our plans for the day were, I
replied “Cabelas” without any hesitation. When we were
driving back through PA on our way home later that day, Mark
was having a good laugh. When I asked what that was about he
said he couldn’t believe that his wife chose a couple hours
shopping at Cabelas over an evening at a B&B in wine
country. What can I say?? I am what I am!!!!
Anyway, both of us had a blast at the Cabelas store. It is
simple HUGE and overwhelming, but despite that I found a
number of needed treasures, including a couple new knives
and nice new leatherman tool (this one will even cut through
cable gangline) to replace the ones I left in Grayling on
Iditarod last year. I played with some new LED headlamps,
but nothing was top end enough for my needs. However, my
favorite new toy is simply too cool not to talk about!!
I
know in the past I’ve chatted on about loving my wireless
outdoor thermometer that allows me to check the outside
temps in the morning to see if it is cool enough to run dogs
without getting out of bed, well, I love it so much that I
just couldn’t imagine finding one that I loved MORE – but it
has happened.
See
this spring, my weather station somehow got it’s brain fried
and keep telling me it was –33 out. I know it gets cool
here, but not –33 in MAY! I bought a couple new systems but
all seemed to be missing something – like the one that
didn’t have a light on it, making me turn on my bedside lamp
to check temps, so I had just been sort of making do for
awhile until I found a good one. Well at Cabelas I found one
that actually projects the time and temperature onto my
CEILING!!! How SWEET is that!! Now I don’t even have to dig
my arm out of the blankets to turn on the weather station
light, I can just open my eyes and glance up at the ceiling!
I’m in LOVE!
All
else around the kennel is pretty much routine. The pups are
all growing like crazy. Klu’s kids are evil with See usually
leading on that trail. When I got back from my run this
morning, the ‘Crees’ had all dug their way into their Mom’s
run (which is right next to theirs) – well all except for
Utin – he doesn’t like following his sisters. I think he
knows they are bad news! Anyway, Kluane was giving them a
pretty rough time and they don’t seem in any kind of hurry
to dig under again since I’ve moved them back and filled the
hole. I guess Klu figures once they have moved out they
should stay out!
Sukih is actually moving to Connecticut to live with former
NorthWapiti residents Whinny, Magnum and Flare at Kazlo
Siberians. Tara is coming up to the kennel later in
September for a visit and will take Sukih home with her
then.
The
Hillbillies are all weaned, but still hanging out with their
Mom. Fritter and Roscoe seem to be the most outgoing kids in
that group, but still hard to really tell at this age.
Kara’s little daughter, Beauty is proving to be very aptly
named – not only is she gorgeous, she has a tremendous
personality. All of those ones look pretty similar, so when
friends are over and pick up one of those pups they will
inevitably ask which one they are holding. I don’t even look
anymore – if one puppy is being held – it is Beauty. She
seems to make sure she is always in the right spot to be
scooped off the ground.
We
actually went ahead and bred one more litter for the fall. I
usually don’t breed girls this late in the season and it is
unusual for us to have 4 litter in a year, but I really
wanted this breeding, so I figured I should just do it. Mom
is Olena and Dad is Crunchie! Yes, this will be Crunchie’s
first litter. She is due around the 20th of
September - I can’t wait. I was thinking yesterday that I
could feel a bit of a swell in her belly, but it could still
be wishful thinking.
Well, I must run – many kennel chores to get to this
afternoon!
Karen
