December 27, 2008 

inda was asking the other day about my sleddogs and if I was going to run them this year. I am doing what my mentor Holger did for me once and I am letting someone else care for and run my dogs this winter season. I took some photos of them when I was there the other day and so here they are:

Photo Above: I did not get a very good photo of 'Soda' this time as my battery camera died due to the extreme cold. But she is pictured in the top left corner of the dog yard. 'Soda' is about 6 years old and is sister to 'Taku'. The dog yard is sloped in order for the spring melt to run off so my dogs are not in a quagmire. 'Scout' is a digger though and has made a plateau for his area. 

Photo Below: 'Dutch' , is 3 years old now. He used to run on a 120 mile fur trapline before I acquired him. He has gorgeous blue eyes, but not quite as pretty as 'Scout's'. He runs in wheel position. 

Photo Above: 'Scout'. There are discrepancies on how old 'Scout' really is. When I got him I was told he was 13. My friend Jeff, said 'Scout' had been 13 for a few years before I got him and I have had him 4 years. 'Scout' is retired now except for small treks. He stills wants to go with the team though and it breaks my heart he cannot go on the long ones anymore due to downhills as he cannot keep up with the team. This dog is in a film made for the Banff Film Festival, which I believe is called "The Last Trapper" and running in lead in the film. He looks darn good for even a 13 year old dog, who might be 17. For two years now, I keep thinking he will not make it another year. Sled dogs are tough dogs. 

Photo Below: 'Taku', sister to 'Soda' . The two girls look very similar in colour and build. 'Soda' is one of my leaders. 'Taku' can lead and I like her on the quiet trails, but when we come to a populated area, she gets shy of other people and noise. But I generally run her in a swing position. This is one of Bren's favorite dogs and he said he stole her from me. She looks scary in her pictures, but she is apt to lick your face off. These two dogs have McKenzie River Husky in them, although I consider all my sleddogs to be 'Alaskan Huskies'. McKenzie River Huskies are the freighting type dogs (like a semi-truck), versus the 'racing type' of Husky. They have deep-chests and are long-legged, built for heavy freighting in single file through deep snow.

Photo Right: 'Tasha'. Age 6. 'Tasha' is more the slimmer racing type of Husky build. Five years ago I saved her from being euthanized at the vet clinic when she came in, as there was no room at the SPCA. My mushing friends teased me about turning her into a lead dog, and although she is not my best leader, she does quite well in a pinch or when I bikejor with her. One day I may breed her as my team is getting old enough I need some younger dogs. She is dining on some of the meat I feed out, which looks good enough to toss on a broiler for my dinner at times. She runs in lead or swing position. She is also my PR dog I take to events and loves to 'shake hands' with everyone. 

Photo Below: 'Cyrus', not quite 4. He is the only dog I have which is not an 'official' sled dog. But he likes to run with the team and he does have his own harness to pull the sled around the farm (and town) to help me with the odd chore. 

Photo Above: I figured I may as show the rest of the gang. 'Dixie' is all in her winter coat and looking quite fat!!! I tossed Ashley my "Little Sister" up on her for a bit of a ride that day. 

Photo Below: 'Blossom' in a not very well taken picture, but the battery died soon after this was taken. She sure grew over the summer months. Next late summer I am thinking I will breed her to a Dexter or Black Angus for easy calving. She is really showing her dairy heritage in her fine bone. It will be so nice to have them all on the new place in a couple of months and I am grateful to friends who are caring for them while I am separated from them.