A Brief Study on Sitting

This morning, I rose at dawn to take care of the dogs. It was a peaceful morning with little barking and a big sunrise. Usually, the dogs are running in circles, woofing, growling, and causing a ruckus. This morning, after I fed, everyone settled back on their haunches and just watched. It was at this moment that I noticed how each dog sat: equally balanced on both back legs, with a straight back and head held high. Every single dog in the kennel, sitting perfectly.

Zion

I paused to think back over the dogs I've known in my life and very few have sat this nicely. Most dogs I've encountered will sit with a "slouch". They might start with a straight back, but eventually they'll shift onto one hip and lean to one side. I've noticed this especially in Labradors...odd. Of course, my curiosity grew and I had to do some research.
The leaning to one side is called a "puppy sit". Dogs will switch back and forth, taking turns with each hip. It is the lazy man's sit; the step right before laying down. Basically, if I was a dog and had to sit, I would do it this way. In obedience school, dogs are trained to sit back straight, balancing the weight on both hind legs. This just means that the dog has correct posture. Most dogs have a hard time holding this position for longer than 3 minutes. Lo and behold, my dogs hold it for hours.
My sled dogs were never properly trained to sit pretty, they were just trained to run. I think that as an extension of running, their hips and joints are so muscular and strong that sitting straight just works better for them. They'll still lay down with one leg tucked underneath them, but sitting is all about looking good.

Lynx and Attla after a run

This also gives me high hopes for a reduced chance of hip dysplasia. While hip dysplasia is mostly hereditary, a frequent sign is how the dog sits. Off to one side usually means that there is some pain lingering in their hips. Hopefully, my dogs all stay healthy and sitting straight. I'll keep a careful eye on them, as usual. One more thing for me to watch out for. When you've got 37 dogs and 37 personalities to keep track of, life can get a little overwhelming. Good thing that all they need to be happy is running and licking!

Niva

Thank you www.dogfencediy.com for making this post possible!

Niva. Beautiful, neurotic, needy little Niva. My little puppy has grown, technically, into an adult. She is 21 months old, but she's still as small as ever. While her brothers keep getting bigger and bigger, Niva stays skinny and short. A true reflection of her mother, Chena. From her mother, she also inherited an intense need for affection.

Niva at 6 Months Old

In order to satiate her need for affection and her unending energy, I decided to spend the day with my little pup. Usually, I'll just take the dogs for a hike and then take them home; on Friday, I figured it was time to take one of them into the real world (duhn duhn duhnnnn).
Whenever I walk up to Niva's spot, I am instantly jumped on. No matter how much I work with her not to jump, she can't contain her excitement. Funnily enough, this trait continues all the way through a hike. Whenever Niva has the upper ground, which is the majority of the time, she feels as if it is necessary to wrap her front legs around my waist and hold on for dear life. This usually results in her hopping backwards while I try to push uphill. It's impossible to get frustrated, it's just too darn cute! Every time, I laugh at her, give her a little pat, and push her back down to try again another 10 feet up the trail.
Anyone who thinks that sled dogs don't want human attention, meet Niva. This little dog will hang onto me for dear life. Any excuse to lick an ear, a hand, a toe will be quickly taken. Any chance to climb into a lap, squirm under an arm, or lean against a leg will be top priority. This little girl would be by my side any hour of any day if she could.

Therefore, I decided to test her limits. Niva came with me to work. As a sled dog, she's used to being home, running on the sled, or going for a hike with me. This indoor thing...foreign and scary. I started out by familiarizing her with the outdoors and the other dogs that call Sunlight their playground. She took about 30 minutes to really get comfortable and start playing with everyone else. Niva gets along great with the other 36 dogs in her family, but it can be touch and go with the rest of the dog world. I gave her time to sniff and study. She was especially intrigued by a big black lab that seemed intent on chasing sticks...as a sled dog, fetching must be beneath her.
After I saw that she was happy in her surroundings, I moved inside. Instantly, her body went rigid and she started to pant. Where did I go? I went back and forth, inside and out, slowly increasing the time that I was in my office. Each time I came into view, she would take a step closer to the door. Finally, she made it into the threshold and it was her turn to go back and forth, inside and out. Within an hour, she had conditioned herself to lay quietly at my feet. Granted, there was a lot of time spent with her sitting in my lap as I worked on the computer (not gonna lie, it's hard to type around a sled dog).

Niva and I at the top of Mushroom Rock

I was unbelievably proud of Niva. I can now comfortably trust her to spend a day with me at work, where she can play and run.  I hope to try this with a few of the other dogs over the next few weeks. If I can get them out and having fun, why not? As long as no one pees in my office or starts a fight, this could be the start of a beautiful work day.

 
With the Aspen trees in full foliage and the impending few snow storms, this is my time to explore Colorado. Whether I bring Niva, Whitey, Maverick, Qjoa, Osiris, or any of my other 32 choices, we'll see! Somebody has to tackle the real world with me...

Wrangler

Before I really get back into the dogs, I have to spend a moment talking about horses. Once a week, for the past 3 months, I was a bona fide cowgirl. Sunlight Horseback Tours, run from Memorial Day through Labor day, gave me the opportunity to guide. We had 12 horses and about 50 km of trails in White River National Forest.

Babbish Gulch in White River National Forest

Growing up, I rode a little at my friend's farm, a little at summer camps, and a little on vacations. It was always English and it never consisted of more than a brief trot. Now, I can say that I have cantered over the ski trails riding Western.

Judd, saddled and ready to go!

Each morning, I would saddle up two guide horses. These were always two of the smarter horses, pastured separately from the other ten horses, that the guides could use to round everyone else up. Riding up to the ski trails, I would whistle for the other horses, signaling that it was time to come in from pasture. Most mornings, they would pick their heads up, stare at me riding up the mountain, and go back to eating grass. Therefore, it was necessary to trot up the hill and circle back on everyone. As soon as I got my horse galloping downhill, a ripple effect would cause all the other horses to follow. Keeping everyone in line and headed for the right gate wasn't always the easiest, but eventually we got them down. Starting off your morning with a canter through pasture land....there's not much else that can beat it.

Fatty Logan refusing to come in from pasture

The horses at Sunlight are stubborn, spirited, quick, and beautiful. Each had a very unique personality and I quickly figured out what kind of guest could handle which horse. Judd was a beautiful Roan that tossed his head a lot; therefore, he needed someone who could tell him who was boss while keeping the reins loose. Logan was a fat Mountain Pony that needed someone with good balance as his saddle easily slipped from side to side. Sally was terrified of anything flapping behind her, so those guests that tend to space out and point wildly at the scenery would not work. Devon was a fidgety two year old that only guides rode because he had a tendency to spook and bite. Even with all of these quirks, these horses made great companions and I loved every minute I spent with them.

Jiggs took the sign a little too seriously...

Every Monday, I would round them up, feed them grain, groom, and saddle. By 10am, we were out on the trails; wandering through Aspen groves and climbing up into the National Forest. I learned a lot about how to read my horses movements and let them do most of the work. By the end of the summer, I had created a bond with the guide horses. We knew how to respond to one another and which trails were our favorites.  I knew the difference in each horses' gait and I could feel when they wanted to run. I loved it when they wanted to run. Once a week, this was my happy time.


 
The horses are all gone now; being leased out on hunting trips to pack out elk and mountain goat. However, every time I pass the stables, I smile thinking of the fun I had reconnecting with horses. When you're out west, you might as well do as the cowgirls do!

Zane and Loma say HI!

Hiatus

I apologize for the long absence. Back in March, my life became much more socially involved. On one hand, it was excellent meeting new people and experiencing the social world of the Roaring Fork Valley; on the other hand, I let my writing dissipate and, for that, I'm sorry.
I'm back at a computer and I'm back to the blog!

Mt. Sopris from Mushroom Rock

A lot has happened over the summer. All 37 dogs are residing at the kennel. The racers have had several months of rest and relaxation. All are happy and ready to start training once more...only a few more weeks until we begin! The puppies are now larger than most of the other dogs, even though I still call them "my pups". Fury is still a little bitch to the other dogs,  Pismo has discovered his uncanny jumping ability, and Maverick is more of an attention hog than ever. Even after 14 months with them, I still love spending every day in their company.

Maverick!

 While the dogs got to relax all summer, I was busy working! I was working for Glenwood Canyon Resort and Rock Gardens Rafting, but now I'm back at Sunlight Mountain Resort (home sweet home). The summer was taken up by outdoor concerts, trips back East, and only one day off a week. I still feel as if I haven't experienced even a tiny portion of Colorado. So much to do, and with a full time job, it's hard to make it all happen!

Whitey overlooking Glenwood Springs on the Red Mountain Trail

With the coming of fall, I'll have time at work to write and stay updated on this blog. Promise! There's summer adventures to tell about, updates on dogs, dogsled training, and maybe even some traveling tales...
I'm back!



(Also- I've been asked to provide sponsors on some posts. I've just started working with a marketing company that focuses on pets and the outdoors. Check out the links I provide for each sponsor...they will most likely all gear toward dogs!)