Have to Fit Some Fun In!

And the holiday season is upon us! I didn't think that the busiest time of the year would also apply for the dog yard, but it seems as if I have even more to do. With the racer's departure date quickly closing, the kennel is in full swing. We have intense training sessions, lots of organizing, and all sorts of planning to figure out. Since I only have a few more weeks of freedom, however, I'm trying to get in some fun time as well.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, I went down to Colorado College to visit my friend, Laura. A long weekend away of hockey, pottery lessons, cooking crepes, and tons of laughter was a great way to unwind. A few days after I got back, Laura came up to Glenwood to spend the holidays with me.
Bill and Jodi were kind enough to invite us to have Thanksgiving dinner with them and some of their friends. Everyone contributed different dishes, with Lo and I cooking dinner rolls, beets and sweet potatoes, butternut squash souffle, pumpkin cranberry bread, and chocolate cream pie. Needless to say, my house smelled awesome for days!
The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas took over. I wanted to take advantage of an extra set of hands and get a tree. Colorado doesn't have Christmas Tree Farms like Vermont; instead, I had to go to the Forest Service and get a permit for cutting in designated areas. Laura and I spent an hour tramping through 3 feet of snow looking for a good tree up in Four-Mile Park. We ended up with a short little pine that definitely needed some love. The rest of the night was devoted to decorating and dogs.
And then came Saturday: ski day! As an early Christmas present, Laura bought me a day pass to Breckenridge ski area. Although the powder hasn't quite hit and it's still early in the season, we had a blast. We skied every trail that was open, most of them twice. I can't wait to do this every week. I hope to hit all the big mountains at least once this season, but I'll stick to Sunlight Mountain for the majority of my time. The powder should hit any day!
I also think that I am going to have to start a tradition of going to the Vapor Caves after a long day of skiing. These natural steam rooms are the perfect way to unwind and loosen all those sore muscles. I thought I wouldn't be able to walk after skiing Breck, but the Vapor Caves took away all those aches and pains.
Through all of this fun, it's still crunch time with the dogs. I'm training the puppies more than ever; hopefully, I can start skiing with them in the next few weeks. The dog truck, plow, ATV, and snow mobile are all in the shop. Winter is coming fast and we need to be prepared!  

A Little Difference

Over the past few weeks, Juno has undergone a very dramatic change. She was the shyest dog at the kennel, barely even allowing me to be near her. According to Bill, she used to be very social and excited. Unfortunately, a few years back, a former handler was looking after the dogs while Bill and Jodi were off on vacation. When they returned, Juno was skittish and wary. The handler attributed it to her getting loose for a few hours, but she was so nervous, something else must have happened to her. Needless to say, that handler was asked to leave.
Since then, Juno has remained wary. She shows no aggression; she is just constantly scared with strangers around. It was awful to see her like this and I would frequently spend time with her, trying to get her used to me. When training started, she became a different dog. Any time there was a hint of a harness, she would howl and jump on her barrel. On the line, she would jump up onto me and pant excitedly. When the running was done, however, she would go back to her nervous self. It seemed like she would be nervous forever; and then she got pregnant.

We caught Juno and Lynx on the line. We hoped nothing would come of it, but Bill gave her "morning after" pills anyway. While puppies are always fun, this is not a good time. The yard is full as it is and if Juno had a litter she would not be able to run. Therefore, we waited and hoped. A few weeks later, Juno got fat. Bill instantly took her to the vet where it was confirmed. Since it was still early in the gestation period, the vet began a set of shots to cause an abortion. It was hard to come to this conclusion, but puppies really wouldn't be a good decision for her at the moment. She loves running more than most dogs and she is a top leader for the team; and so, we proceeded with the shots.
For a few days, she was mellow and barely came out of her house. I kept a close eye on her and sat with her while the other dogs were running. Finally, after 3 days, the procedure was finished and she perked up. She really perked up. It was as if the shots made her into a different dog. Now, Juno wags her tail anytime I come into the yard; she barks for me to come give her attention; she rolls over for belly rubs. I asked Bill what made her come around and he said it was the pregnancy. Even being pregnant for that short amount of time has completely changed her. The hormones have affected her as they affect many women- happiness.
While I was sad to have to put her through the abortion and doubly sad not to have a new litter, I am so glad that something wonderful came out of this. This pregnancy has made her a happy dog again. Juno is back. 

Puppy Training

My darling puppies are getting big. Very big. As they grow, training will get more and more intense. They're almost a year old, which means that it's about time that they experienced the team setting. Up to now, training has been relaxed and fun. Mostly, they just ran in circles and played their little tails off. I would take them for walks and wrestle with them. It's important to get them to understand at a young age that humans are fun. They need to associate people with happiness; that way, when I come up the hill with a harness, they'll be excited to see me and do whatever I ask of them. It's also important for them to see the older dogs enjoying running. If the veterans are all excited to run, the puppies will naturally be curious about what the big deal is. 

Whitey in early July, 6 months old

The next step, as with any puppy, is to get them used to a leash. If anyone has ever owned a puppy, you know that first try is always difficult. After months of freedom and romping, being attached to a rope is pretty surprising. Most of my puppies stayed low to the ground, their bellies hitting the ground as they were unsure how to respond. Only Kuka trotted right along next to me like nothing in the world had changed. Unlike other puppies, a sled dog is commended for pulling. That instinct to pull is exactly what you want to see; even if that means that my shoulder is constantly yanked on.
Next, you harness them. Again, they all put their bellies flat to the ground. Each puppy whips their head around to see what I am putting on them. After a few shakes to no avail, they accept it and move on. Niva even strutted a little bit in her red harness. They associate these with the big dogs, the cool dogs. As soon as they're used to the harness, I can hook a leash to the back to act as a tug line. This gets them used to pulling from their hind legs. Inevitably, there were some pretty tangled harnesses and leashes, as some of the pups would rather just jump on me. It will take continuous work to get them used to it and to get them enthusiastic about it. They have to develop more interest in pulling than in me while the harness is on.
If the puppy really excels at pulling with the leash, they can go straight into the team. Today was Whitey's first run with the racers. He was the most interested in running out of the litter and he absolutely worships the big dogs. After the racers ran ten miles, we hooked Whitey up next to Zion. He looked tiny in comparison and instantly rolled on his back with his tail tucked between his legs and his ears flat back. Zion didn't give him the time of day. As soon as we started, he leaped into the air and tried to side step it. It only took him a second to realize he wasn't going anywhere. The journey down the driveway can make or break a puppy. Either they awkwardly shuffle their way down, or they set down their back paws and drag. Thankfully, Whitey was the awkward shuffle. He kept running into Zion and bouncing off; I don't think Zion even noticed.
As soon as we made it to level ground, Whitey took off. He pulled like he had never pulled before. His tail was constantly wagging and he kept looking back at me as if to say, "Hey! Hey! Look at me! I'm running! I'm running with the big dogs!". I swear I have never seen such a huge grin on a dog before. All hesitation left him and he ran full out. The puppies haven't adopted the classic sled dog trot yet; they don't know how to preserve their energy effectively. Instead, Whitey was stretching out to his full length in a goofy lope. Of course, we ran the dogs slower with him in the line, but he just wanted to run faster and faster. For two miles, he wagged that tail and that grin never faltered.

Sled dog Whitey!

We gave him plenty of breaks, but if we stopped for more than five seconds, he started lunging to keep going.  Even when we got back to the house, he was ready to run more. As soon as I reached him to unharness, he jumped up to give me kisses. This is definitely a sled dog. He's a tired puppy, but he now knows what the big deal is.

Injury

As the mileage increases in training, so can the risk of injury. These dogs constantly amaze me, but they are not above the rules of excessive exercise. Thankfully, we have not had any injuries yet, but there are several preventative measures that can be taken now.
For instance, after running, different muscles get sore in different dogs. Bill has recognized throughout the years which dogs need attention and where. Luma is a bit older and can get sore hips; Spur pulls hard and really works his shoulders; Kayenta is all legs and that sometimes works against her. Therefore, I have taken to giving the dogs massages.  If you massage a few minutes after the run, it helps the muscles warm back up. Rubbing the muscles in their sensitive areas will help from future seizing and uncomfortableness. The younger dogs need a lot of work since their muscles are not fully developed. They won't reach their peak growth until 18 months, so until that point they may be more susceptible to injury. Once they are fully grown, they'll learn how to take care of their bodies and use it to their full advantage.

Luma

The types of food we're giving the dogs can also help. At the start of training, we switched to feeding twice a day. The higher intake of calories helps build new muscle. Again, the amount of food is dependent on each dog. More food is given to the dogs that have hound in them, such as Spit, Spur, Zion, and Kayenta, since they burn fat more quickly than the other dogs (they also gain muscle more quickly). The smaller dogs, like Russet and Safina, don't need as much food as they need high protein to build muscle. Therefore, we have recently started supplementing  their dinner. It is no longer just the Red Paw Athletic Dog Kibble; now there are salmon treats, vegetables, and condensed meat in the mix. Around noon each day, we mix about 10 cups of kibble with several cups of the dried salmon and any leftover vegetables we have. The salmon is a treat for the dogs; they can't get enough of the stuff. The really good stuff is the meat though: Pro-Meat 100. It is basically dried meat that comes out like little pellets. Four ounces of this dried meat is equivalent to one pound of fresh meat. It is a great way to get a lot of protein into the dogs. With all this food, it's hard for them not to get fat...so we keep running!
As much as we work to prevent injuries, it is inevitable that it will happen. The Iditarod is an intense race where a lot can go wrong. Thankfully, in my opinion, Bill doesn't believe in pushing the dogs to their breaking point. He truly cares for them and looks out for their best interest. Sasha, in a race a few years ago, was falling behind and just looked tired. Rather than forcing her to continue, Bill took her out of the race. Some dogs just get tired out. Running 125 miles for 8 days is not easy for anyone. Other injuries can be more unexpected. In the Yukon Quest a few years ago, Zion was running the race of his life...until his testicles froze to the ice one night. He was a little hesitant of lying down after that.

Zion

I care so much for each and every dog, I can only hope that they all make it out of the race ok. For now, I can help to prepare them and get them into shape. The rest of the time, it's up to them to tell us when something is not right.     

Mud Puppies

Snowstorm!
I used to get excited about snowstorms...it's at a whole different level now. It is no longer the regular anticipatory excitement regarding an upcoming ski day or snowshoe trip; instead, it is a constant feed of excitement from my dogs. As soon as those first flakes hit, a group howl rises into the storm. From there, the dogs catch snowflakes, roll in the snow, and eat every last bit they can. It is their drug. I can't help but to join in the revelry, even when that snow gets churned into a muddy mess.

Juno

By noon, most of the snow is gone and turned into a mud pit. That is when we decided to run yesterday. It is staying cold enough now (under 40 degrees) that they can run in the afternoon without getting overheated. When the dogs came back for a quick water break, the 6 mile run was apparent. The two lead dogs, Lynx and Attla, were pretty as a picture; the rest of the team had to deal with mud getting kicked back into their faces. Hence, barely recognizable dogs all colored brown. When they stopped for their break, several of the dogs flipped on their backs and rolled in the snow. The snow underneath them quickly became brown as well. Apparently, that's how they stay clean and cool on the trail. They're like little kids jumping in the powder.

After the water break, I got to take the dogs out: solo. Usually, Bill is on the ATV. My friend, Laura, came with me in case of an emergency, but basically I was on my own. I have run 6-8 dog teams before, but running 12 dogs is a whole different story. These dogs have power. They can pull that ATV up the steepest hill without a break in pace. It was nerve wracking, but it was awesome. The first time I called out "Haw"(left), a few of the dogs looked back with their heads tilted. They know me, they know my voice, but I am not the boss. I'm just that sweet girl that gives them food and love. Oly and Osiris kept looking back at me, trying to figure out where Bill was, but they finally shrugged it off and put their energy into running. Now that I've completed my own training, I'll be able to take the racers out more often. The pressure is on!

Chicago

I felt rather privileged this past weekend. I packed my bags and flew for a weekend trip to Chicago. I've never flown anywhere for just the weekend and it seemed a little extravagant. It was certainly worth it though; I got to see my mom.
Mom was already there for a conference, so I came in on Friday to join her for a few days. After an agonizing attempt at reaching the city by train, we finally got the right directions and made it into our hotel. We were located right across from Grant Park; blocks from downtown and beautifully set at the edge of the water. The first night was pretty low key, mostly just catch up time.

On Saturday, we started strong. We went to a breakfast place called Waffles and indulged. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the ribs and waffles, but it was delicious with blackberries. Afterwards, we spent the morning bicycling around Grant and Millenium Parks. The Annual Monster Run was happening along the waterfront, so we stopped to laugh at all the ridiculous costumes. Following that, we went on an Architecture Boat Tour. The tour took us down the Chicago River while explaining the history and significance of many buildings. It was an excellent way to see the city and to get a feel for the history of the town. The buildings were certainly beautiful and gave me a new appreciation for architecture.

That evening, we went to a comedy club. I would go back again and again. The iO comedy club is the founder of longform comedy. The comedians get a suggestion from the audience and expand on the topic creating a play. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. It's intoxicating to sit in a crowd and laugh; definitely something I would like to experience again.

Alas, as Sunday approached, we had to part ways. It was so amazing to be with my mom in Chicago for a few days, but I wish it could have lasted longer. We know how to have fun together and how to really enjoy a place. Until Christmas Mom...