Heat

For those under 18: stop reading.

Everyone else: sorry if you deem this inappropriate, but sex is part of the kennel. A big part of the kennel. Females in heat, males too distracted to run straight, and all the problems it causes. It is a constant concern and nuisance for the handlers, but it is almost as exciting to the dogs as running (maybe more so).
Right now, the entire kennel has gone insane. More than half of the females are in heat. The females that are not, will be within the week; at least, they are acting that way. When a female is in heat, she has two options. Either, she'll sit right down and growl at any male who looks her way (my favorites tend to do that), or she'll stick her butt right in their direction (excuse my blunt language). In reaction to this, the males in the kennel have stopped eating. The females have got them all so distracted, they cannot think or eat or run.
The only option is to wait it out. Females stay in heat for about 3 weeks. The second week is the craziest and the most optimal time for breeding. Since female dogs only come into heat every six months, the dogs only get two chances a year to breed. We are not breeding anyone this time around, we have enough young dogs as it is (I'm secretly hoping for puppies anyway).
The most problematic thing right now is training with the dogs. I had noted earlier that females have a hard time running together because they tend to fight. Now, however, we do not have an option. We cannot run males with females. We have already had issues with males trying to stop mid-run to check out a female; other males get all tangled in the lines trying to reach a female. Even when we stopped for a water break yesterday, the two lead dogs, Juno and Lynx, got a little more action than we would have hoped for. Therefore, the line up for the team is completely different. Males with males and females with females. I have to watch the lines carefully, waiting for fights or males to get a little too close. It is definitely high tension right now.
The other problem is in the future. Like I said, females come into heat every six months. Right now, that timing coincides directly with the Iditarod. If the females are in heat during the race, it could be disastrous. Many good racers have had to pull out because their dogs could not handle it. We can only cross our fingers at this point that it will work out.
For the next few weeks, I will have to force feed the males and discourage the females from teasing. Hopefully a dog won't get loose and hopefully we can keep training without too many distractions. Three weeks of heat and then it's back to normal... 

Golden Trees and Black Bears

 I did not want to go back to work today. The long weekend was a perfect little vacation. Before leaving Colorado Springs yesterday, Laura and I got in a nice 2 mile hike with sweeping views of town and the Rockies. The most exciting part of the hike happened on the way home: a little black head popped out of the brush on our right. The head was followed by the body of a young black bear, who then proceeded to run across our path to join up with his brother and mom. We watched them for awhile, munching away on leaves. They could not have cared less that we were only a few yards from them. All they were concerned about was stocking up on munchies for the winter.

The drive home last night was excellent. I hit Independence Pass just as the sun was going down, so I got a beautiful twilight drive through the Aspens and rocks. There had to be at least 50 professional photographers lined up along the road trying to catch the perfect light through the trees. The golden leaves really lit up with the sun at such a steep angle. I'm hoping to make it back up there a few more times before the pass closes at the end of October.

When I rolled into the driveway, it was pitch black, but my dogs welcomed me with open barks. They were even more excited when we went running this morning. Each morning, we get faster and faster harnessing. I even harnessed Zion all on my own today! It was a very great personal accomplishment. They ran beautifully today. Everyone was matched well, so the strides just hit right. We ran 8 miles in the quickest time yet. From here on out, we'll just keep going further and faster.

Fall Foliage

Fall in Colorado is magnificent. Down in Glenwood Springs, the trees are just beginning to change. It is not the usual orange and reds of the maple trees, but the fiery gold of aspen. The low brush around Glenwood isn't the best option for foliage, but I luckily had a trip planned to Colorado Springs this weekend. Driving up through Independence Pass, I understand the attraction to Aspen. At 8,000 feet, all of the trees have turned. They have created a sea of gold crawling up mountainsides and plunging into valleys. Every now and then, a pop of red appears on an unknown plant. The rest of the drive through Independence Pass is full of beautiful rock outcroppings and low tundra plants. No matter how many times I drive through the pass, I have to stop and take advantage of the gorgeous views.

Once down in Colorado Springs, I was instantly immersed in college life again. My friend, Laura, is in her senior year at Colorado College. We had a wonderful dinner last night with her roommates and then I got the pleasure of meeting all of her friends. I had forgotten how much fun college is. Well maybe I hadn't forgotten as much as missed it dreadfully, so I'd blocked it out. I'll be making the trek to Colorado Springs more often to experience college again.
Today, we're heading out to a brunch and then possibly a hike. I get to enjoy the pass once more before heading home to my dogs and kittens. A weekend away is always appreciated, but I do miss my dogs. I'm wondering if they all ate ok and if anyone is feeling neglected without me. I'll be sure to give them all a hug in the morning before we run.

Wheel Dogs

Wheel dogs are the power-pullers closest to the sled. Traditionally, they are the biggest, strongest dogs. In Jack London's Call of the Wild, Buck is a Wheel Dog. A force to be reckoned with and a strong puller. Usually, Malamutes are used as Wheel Dogs. They're the big, fluffy version of a husky. A lot of freight sleds used Malamutes to pull across the tundra. However, Wheel dogs are not necessarily known for their speed. On a traditional sled, the fastest dogs are harnessed up front, while the closer they get to the sled, the slower the dogs. This makes sense since the big, strong dogs tend to be slower. It's hard to get 100 pounds moving quickly while pulling 800 pounds.
In the past few decades, however, this has changed. The biggest dogs are no longer placed near the sled. In racing situations, you want speed and agility. When taking corners, the lead dogs swing wide, but by the time the wheel dogs hit a corner, they're in the brush. It requires an agile dog to leap over stumps and sprint through branches without getting tangled with the sled. The large dogs cannot move quick enough and, hence, have been moved to the middle of the team.
This placement for the large dogs is also beneficial in that it distributes the weight throughout the line. In the middle, they can pull smoothly and forcefully. Even more, several mushers set their pace to their biggest dogs. Since your team is only as good as the weakest link, the big dogs have to be excellent athletes to keep up with speeders like lead dogs. By placing the big dogs in the middle, it can keep the rest of the team at an even pace, so everyone stays happy and healthy.

Zion

Osiris

Our big dogs are Zion and Osiris. They are BIG dogs. When they stand on me, their front legs bend at the elbow over my shoulders. They have serious power when they're running. Bill has to frequently tell them to take it easy or else they'll get burned out. These dogs would sprint solo with the 4-wheeler if we let them. They have no concept of too fast or too hard, they just want to go. Maybe someday, I'll see what happens if I let them go....I'll probably end up dragging for 100 miles.

Similarities and Comparisons

Currently, I am working part-time at a boarding kennel. As if I didn't have enough dog time already! It strikes me every day how completely different these dogs are from my kennel. The boarding dogs are lap dogs, attention hogs, and wimps. Don't get me wrong, I love these dogs too. There's nothing wrong with a Golden Retriever laying it's head in your lap or a Great Dane attempting to stretch out in your lap. They're undeniably seeking love; my dogs are undeniably seeking a run. The sled dogs enjoy attention and love, but they enjoy pulling a sled more.
The other thing I've been noticing at the boarding kennel is the similarities between dog and owner. Several of the dogs have very quirky personalities that are explained as soon as the owner walks in. For instance, Boodle is a Bichon-Frise and Poodle mix (original name, I know) that strongly dislikes getting an inch of fur covered in dirt. Boodle yaps at anything that comes near her and prefers laying in the sun. Boodle's mom is a socialite, complete with expensive sunglasses and curly hair to match her dog. Boodle's paws do not touch the ground when mom is around. And then there is Boschi. A mutt that can unlock any gate and open any door. This dog is cool. Boschi's dad always seems to wear tan and black to match his dog; he could also probably unlock any gate and open any door.
Dogs and owners just seem to fit together. They laugh together, play together, and comfort each other. It only makes sense that they would end up looking and acting like each other. It makes me wonder who I am most similar to in the kennel. I try to spend as much time as possible with each individual dog, but there are always favorites. I think I am a little like Alameda. She sits patiently atop her house until I get in range. Then she pounces with kisses, constantly jumping up and down until I pay attention to her. She seems to love love more than any of the other dogs. I suppose I'm guilty of that as well; I love giving her love. Then again, I can see Daikon and I fitting together as well. She doesn't get quite as excited as Alameda, but if I don't hurry up, she'll start throwing out little woofs to let me know she's impatient. Daikon loves being on the sled, but then again, Daikon loves sleeping. She's very true to me in that respect.

Daikon

Alameda

As I get to know the dogs even better, more personality traits pop up that coincide with my own. I guess I'll have to pick all 37 dogs to fit with me. Not surprisingly, I think I've started looking like them... Covered in fur, dirt on the hands, and a permanent smile.  

8 Miles

The training regimen became more serious today. We jumped from 4 miles to 8 miles. The dogs loved it. Since the temperature has dropped down to 40 degrees at 6am, we can keep the dogs out a little longer. Also, the sun stays behind the opposite ridge line just a bit longer, allowing it to stay cooler longer. Unfortunately for me, this means that I have to start layering. Intense layering. When I get out of bed in the morning, I am an icicle. Lately, I outfit myself in a long-sleeve, fleece sweater, and wind jacket (not to mention the hat, gloves, and wool socks). It takes about ten minutes and running up the hill to get two dogs in order for me to strip down to just a long-sleeve. Who knew harnessing was such a good workout!

After the quick 8 miles, the really complicated part begins. Now that we're aggressively training, the dogs need an exorbitant amount of food. Their morning meal is getting larger and now includes a protein powder. We have to mix the powder in with the water and food, looking for just the right ratio. Getting the dogs to drink water is still the priority, so the more you can shove under their noses, the better. The feeding has become a science. Each dog gets a certain amount of food and water, whether in the morning or at night; if you give them too much, they flip their pan over so it dumps out on the ground; if you don't give them enough, they start to howl. Most of the dogs are pretty reliable in their eating patterns, but it can still throw you for a loop.

Sunrise over the kennel

As I get further into training, I have to remind myself to write down the interesting details. Each day, there is a new occurrence or lesson learned. For instance, Bill was explaining today what happens when a handler falls asleep on the sled. He explained that it really depends on the team. On the Iditarod, it is common for a handler to fall asleep at the wheel and a lot of teams will just stop when they realize this. Other teams continue running, the handler can trust the lead dog to find the way. It's the little details like this that truly make me appreciate this experience.

If anyone has any questions about anything regarding dogsledding, let me know. If I don't know the answer, I'm sure Bill does and then I'll have something to write about! 

Zion Will Be The End of Me

Training continues sporadically. The dogs had a few days off due to a Rugby tournament in Aspen; we were supposed to start back up today, but the 4-wheeler wouldn't start. The temperature has dropped significantly the past few days and the engine wasn't liking it. Bill's working on it today, so we can go back out tomorrow. It's  gotten to the point where it feels strange not to wake up in the dark and go harness dogs.
Then again, I needed a little time off. My shoulders were starting to kill from the constant pulling. As soon as I unhook a dog, they proceed to lunge toward the line, attempting to pull my arm out of socket in the process. Zion is the worst. He's the largest dog in the kennel and I just don't have the strength to contain him. I get dragged down to the line and no matter how tight I hold him in between my legs, he always manages to squirm free. I've bitten my tongue a couple times now when he's jumped up and slammed into my chin. It doesn't help that I'm trying to hold him in between my legs to harness him and my feet are barely touching ground; he's just so damn tall. As soon as he is harnessed, he's a beautiful sled dog. The perfect runner. I just need to get stronger I suppose. Oh, and more agile. I need to also work on hopping over chains with two full water buckets; Whitey wrapped me in his chain the other day and pulled, so now I have a beautiful bruise encircling my knee.
This is the price I pay for loving these dogs and this sport. I get over it as soon as we start running and they look over their shoulders with happy grins.

This past week has certainly been animal filled for me. The 2011 National Sheepdog Finals took place in Carbondale. 150 Border Collies all trained to herd sheep. I went up three times, including the finals yesterday. These dogs are incredible, pure intelligence and drive. They want nothing more in life than to herd and, yet, they are perfectly trained to leave the sheep when needed. The handlers had to stay at their post as their dogs worked the sheep across a massive field, through gates, and into a pen. It was no easy task as the sheep were not cooperative in the least. The dogs did the best they could though and it left me speechless.

On the opposite side of dogs, I have started fostering cats for the Colorado Animal Rescue Shelter. I currently have two kittens that are having a little trouble gaining weight. They have kept me constantly entertained with their antics. When they're not running around my apartment, they are snuggled in my lap and purring happily. I hope to foster for the rescue shelter throughout the next year. It's a good source of companionship for me and a good experience for the cats.

Hopefully, Zion will be easier on me tomorrow...we'll see. I'll just have to cuddle with the kittens to prepare for it!

Pairings

Four days of training and they're already looking like a real racing team. Every night, Bill creates a roster. He has to choose twelve dogs very carefully. Two males together will usually get over excited, two females together will usually fight, and then there are just dogs that don't work well together. If Hudson goes out, Rincon has to because they're brothers and would get too jealous otherwise. Osiris and Zion are crazy next to each other, but they match each other perfectly in size and stride. Lynx has run as leader every day, with veterans running beside him to keep the team in line. It's important to try dogs at different positions to change the energy of the team, as well as find the best possible pairing or them. At this point, the main goal is to pair up veterans with new runners. There are a lot of 2 or 3-year-olds that need more experience and a veteran will usually yank them back into line. Sometimes the veterans can get a little frustrated. For instance, Ahab was pulling next to Kobuk this morning when Kobuk started screwing around. Ahab tried to set him straight, but they ended up fighting; Kobuk came out of the run with a puncture wound above his eye from Ahab's canine tooth. He'll listen next time. This might sound harsh, but this is normal for the kennel. These are not pets, these dogs are just shy of wild. They have a hierarchy and they use it when needed.
When the team all works together, it's perfect. Twelve dogs running in unison, with tongues hanging out and the occasional look over the shoulder for praise. Sitting on the 4-wheeler, I think of only one thing...I've learned everyone's names according to their face, now I have to learn them according to their butts. 

Day One of Sleddog Training

This is why I moved to Colorado. This is what I love to do. This is what my dogs love to do.
My day started in the dark. I woke up at 5:45am and donned a headlamp. As soon as Bill and I walked towards the 4-wheeler, the dogs went nuts. Usually, I tell them to quiet, but there is no reasoning with 37 dogs when they anticipate a run. It took Bill and I a few minutes to gather the harnesses and straighten the line in the dark, but pretty soon we were ready to collect dogs. Jodi came out to help as well; it seems the first day of training is exciting for everyone.
When hooking the dogs up, we started with the lead and zig-zagged our way back. This way, the dogs don't have to remain on the line excited, next to someone else, for a long period of time. Since it was the first day and we had 12 dogs to hook up, it took a little while. First, you have to wade through the other dogs to get to who you want; then, you have to unhook them as they're straining against their line; then, you have to hold them up so they can only walk on 2 legs (they'll drag you if they get the power of all 4 legs); then, you have to walk them down to their spot on the line; then, you have to clamp their bodies in between your legs as you slip the harness over their squirming head; then, you hook them into the neck line and back line. Finally, you step back as they commence jumping forward, up, sideways, and any direction in between. As you can see, there is a lot of room for error.
Thankfully, everything ran pretty smoothly in hook up today. It might have taken a little while, but efficiency will come with time. The dogs will certainly be happier when we can get them out faster. It is necessary to yell during the entire process, since the orchestra of howling and barking drowns out all other noise. The dogs on the line are especially excited. They pull at the line, bark at us to hurry up, and strain to do what they love most.
That moment when you release the lead dogs is incredible. Today, Lynx and Attla took the honor. With the initial command, they leap forward, pulling everyone else with them. If it wasn't for the brake, they would go sprinting full speed ahead. As I watched the dogs head out down the driveway, every single one of them had a gigantic smile on their face. When they came back, 4 miles later, that same smile was plastered on their faces. Granted, they were a little bit more thirsty, but they would have kept going if Bill let them.
Since it was the first day, Bill handled them alone. They were overexcited, so he wanted to make sure everything was in order. Within the next few days, I'll go out with him on the 4-wheeler and have that smile plastered on my face as well. I can't wait!

Missing the East Coast

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted. I blame the fact that I returned to the east coast for a week...and then forgot about it. Well, here goes again:
I had an incredible time back in NH/VT. For 3 days, I visited with friends in NH and was a groomsmaid in a college friend's wedding. The groom and I used to work Residence Life together at Saint Mike's, so it was a great reunion. A great dress, awesome friends, an ice ream truck, slip n' slide, and so much food.....incredible wedding. Pictures can be seen on facebook.
The rest of my time was spent in VT....it was not enough time. It did include a trip to Ben and Jerry's and apple picking, which are two of my favorite things. Maybe next time I'll be able to spend a couple weeks devoting time to the people I really love.
It was hard leaving Vermont to come back to Colorado. I've missed living in the Green Mountains. However, once I got back here, it didn't take me long to remember why I loved it so much. On the drive home, I went through a snowstorm at 10,000 feet. Ten minutes later, blue skies erupted over the Rockies. Even better, when I pulled into the driveway, the dogs went nuts. They were what I missed most of all.
For the past few days, I have started a new job at a local boarding kennel called The Barnyard. I get paid to play with a pack of dogs all day. I'm sure I'll get dogged out at some point, but right now it's just fun. It never fails to amaze me how dogs can be so generous and happy. They always know how to make me laugh.
In other news, training officially starts tomorrow. The dogs can smell it in the air...plus, they can see Bill hanging up harnesses and starting up the ATV. I can't wait to finally see them run!