Picture and Video Blog

December is almost here and we are finally experiencing colder temperatures. Today it is -25 C and it's supposed to drop to -35 C tonight. We have been very fortunate to have a mild, long fall. Although it hasn't been as condusive to run dogs in we have still managed to put in 21 runs since September. This is 6 runs less than last year at this time but, life seems to be getting in the way more this year as the kids are older and have more things going on. I am mostly updating you all through pictures and videos this time around as I have missed blogging for the last 6 runs.

Run # 16 was what I call the Snake Pit Run as we run along the edge of a field that follows a creek that leads down to the Smoky River and a place us locals call the Snake Pit. This is where the garder snakes hibernate in a south facing slope for the winter.

Running on the road allowance with the Smoky River Valley in the distance.

My Superstar Leaders Fox Trot and Jazz...never been on this trail before and didn't even hesitate at the "Gee" command

Run # 17 was a beautiful Sunday run with Aimee. We crossed the 4 lane highway to run to another musher friends house to say hello. A nice 8 mile run. When we came home Aimee wanted to get a picture of her and I and our pack. What insued was a series of running to beat the timer, dusting off the knocked over camera and at one point rescuing the camera from Jitterbugs mouth. But we finally managed to get the picture you see above.

I think this picture is neat. Prophet stepped in front of the camera just as the timer went off

Siboon wanted to be a lap dog after the run

Lucy snugged in her house watching all the action

Run #18 was a great morning run. Aimee (who was home "sick" from school) and I loaded up the dogs and drove down to the Adam Ranch and my friend, Aaron's dog yard for a lovely 8 mile run to the Wapiti River. What better way to spend a morning that running your team into the sunrise.

The team stopped at the Wapiti River for a refreshing drink

Let's go...Aimee was taping our little break then mommy tried to run her over..Ha Ha

All done for the day...loading the dogs back in the dog box for the ride home =)


Run #19 was a frosty morning run...a great picture of the team with Cha Cha running free in front. Young leaders Jitterbug and Fox Trot did an excellant job this day until.....

they spotted four partridge in the bushes..oh well...who can blame them partridge are YUMMY.

Meet the team =)

Superstars Fox Trot and Jitterbug

Run #20 and 21 were both great runs 10 to 12 miles each and the dogs are really doing well. We have a little snow on the ground now and hopefully we can get enough in the next couple weeks that we can switch from quad to sled. Till Then...

Happy Trails and Wagging Tails

We're Coming Together

I apologize for the lack of blog material in the last month but, we have had some great runs and the dogs have been working real nice. A quick run down of what you've missed

This is Run #8 : a short 4 mile run as it was too warm to go any further but the excitement was my new gangline from Canadog Supply. I have just been using a rope gangline for the last year but this makes it difficult to change your team numbers. If I want to go from running 6 dogs to running 8 I have to make a new rope gangline. With this new one I just add a section or remove a section to go with less dogs and away we go. Also on this run young Fox Trot shows off some major leader talent as she pulls a more experienced leader Gee when asked. I'll be keeping my eye on her.

This is Run #9: Gage was doing a project in school based on the Flat Stanley Books. He had a Flat Pen Pal (Kaeli) from California visiting for a month. Flat Kaeli got to experience all sorts of things here in Bezanson but I am sure she'll never forget mushing dogs with Gage. On this day we also had a flat on the quad...luckily my father in law lives close and was able to pump it up for me so I could carry on my way..but not before my mother in law got tripped by a 9 dog team and their gangline..SORRY =)

The sunrise off my deck the morning of Run #9

Run #11: Nice trail..off the roads finally. Chased a cow moose, lost my water bowls, found a glove I lost during run #9. Had to water the dogs with my hands..BRRRR..chilly fingers and seen a stray cow.

Run #12: I LOVED this run...the sunrise, dogs breath making fog around them. It was a real peaceful morning and the dogs were running exceptionally well. As you can see I found the lost water bowls. Young Fox Trot proves to me that last time was not a fluke. When asking my two most experienced leaders to Gee they decide to argue with me...Fox Trot steps up from swing position and pulls the team in the right direction. Needless to say she definitely has my attention now and receives extra ear scratchings and 2 milk bones for a job well done.

Run # 13: Snake Pit run. Not sure of distances for any of these runs because I have borrowed my mom's quad and the odometer doesn't work. I think I had this clocked at 8 miles last spring.

Two young leaders up front for the whole run on new trails. Fox Trot and Jazz prove to be a great combination..very good listeners. Found these new trough like rubber water bowls that are big enough so the dogs can share. They are much nicer to pack on the quad than my nine little round ones that refused to stay on the quad in the bumpy fields and the dogs seem to like them.

My good girls. These sisters were 2 in July and they rocked the trails on this day.

1 more mile and the team is moving beautifully

Today was Run #14: It was a crisp -4 C this morning and I had to break up the ice on the dogs water buckets. Lucy and Jitterbug were my leaders today and I really challenged them on their commands today. In an open field where we usually only travel right along the edge I asked them to leave the trail and then get back on it, then leave it again and again get back on it and lastly to leave it completely and travel straight across the field to our trail on the other side.
Most of the run I asked them for commands that I don't normally ask for and by the end of the run you could sure tell they had their listening ears turned on. A great pairing in these two. Lucy finds it difficult to stay lined out when we stop but we are slowly gaining on that too.

The look of a VERY happy dog =)

Here are a few videos of what happens in the dog yard after a run. Enjoy

.....See You On The Trail.....

There's Something In The Fog

Last night when I was out feeding the dogs i knew it felt cooler than it had been and this morning I found this when I went to start the quad.

It was -2 C and extremely foggy when we left the yard at 8:11 and you could barely see much in front of the team. This always makes me a little more nervous in the fall because we are running mostly on road ways and although the dogs have learned to stay to the right, or a least go there when I ask them to, I know most people travelling early in the morning aren't expecting to see a dog team emerging out of the fog. We had a nice 9.7 km jaunt (about 6 miles) and I had my first chewed tug line of the season and to my surprise it was Miss Ochocco who was the culprit.

I have been humming and hawing about what to do with young Cha Cha as you may remember I was looking to place her in a pet home after last season. She loves to pull and has a nice easy gait but she had started vomiting on every run early last year and no matter what I tried nothing seemed to work. I gave her Pepcid, cut back on her feed, gave her more feed, gave her more time between morning soup and running, gave her less time between morning soup and running....to no avail. After a month or more of advertising I still hadn't found a home for her and decided to keep her over the summer with the thought that maybe..just maybe she only needed more time to adjust to her new kennel. I felt she was doing really well and was finding her groove here. Our first run was upon us and I, in my infinite wisdom, thought I would run her in team right in front of the wheel dogs and with the oldest, biggest and most relaxed member of the kennel, Prophet. Things seemed to go perfectly so I followed this pattern the next run and again no vomiting. On our third run I decide to switch it up so I left her in the same position but paired her with her sister Fox Trot...she seemed to be doing well until we started home and then it happened...and then again...and then again....DARN IT. This morning I thought I would try her again in the same position but with Prophet again..and...no vomit....COINCIDENCE....or is this a mental thing for her and she just feels more relaxed with and big, easy going boy beside her ??? You got me but it looks like her and Prophet will be partners for awhile yet.

As we were headed home today the fog started making me feel very claustrophobic..and I started hearing that lady off the Horror movie "The Fog" when she yells "THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE FOG" when we came upon these guys

They looked beautiful as they walked through the fog towards us. Very curious about the team. My husbands Uncle breeds these guys and boasts about the wide blazes you see. Looking good guys but we really have to be going now.

I try to access as many fields as I can this time of year, I absolutely hate running on the road but until my farmer neighbour gets his canola crop off we are road runners..Meep...Meep. Loved this shot with the fog and barbed wire fence. The team today was Thunder and Jitterbug in lead, Ochocco in single swing (I am getting a new gangline soon), Siboon and Jazz, Prophet and Cha Cha in team and Lucy and Fox Trot in wheel. We had a great run and are anxiously awaiting Thursday. So till then....

Happy Trails and Wagging Tails

Where It All Begins Each Year

It's that time of year again. Where cooler weather prevails, harvesting is in full swing, the leaves are beginning to change colours and mushers..well..their thoughts turn to fall training and the upcoming race season. Of course for the dogs and I , being a recreational team has it's advantages. WE don't' have to worry about how many miles we have to put on before that first big race or how we are going to get enough sponsors to help with the cost of raising, training and racing sled dogs. We run when it's cool enough and just have fun. Exactly how I want it to be. To date we have done two runs with the quad. We have been together for over a year now and things were much more relaxed hooking up for the first time this year as compared to last fall. Although the dogs were still earth shattering loud as I opened the end gate it was music to my ears. We hooked up and ran just over 4 miles the first day and the dogs did great.

The team: Thunder & Ochocco in lead, Lucy & Jazz in swing, Jitterbug & Fox Trot, Prophet and Cha Cha in team and Siboon is running single wheel.

It was about 9 C and with the drought this summer I always have to carry water. About half way through the run we have a long rest for everyone to catch their breath and have a drink.

Today Aimee and I took the dogs for a 5.5 mile run...it was a little cooler and again we had a great run. This group seemed to gel better and Lucy and Thunder were on top of every command.

Aimee is geared up for this season. She was wishing for snow so she could run her little team with her sled.

Happy Rhonda =)

Aimee was chilly and wanted to see if she could keep up she said it was good practice for The Cross Country Running Club she participates in at school.

The Team today got their individual pictures done...but I noticed that I missed Cha Cha. She will have to get her very own photo shoot next time.

Leaders : Thunder and Lucy


Ochocco was in single swing today

Jitterbug is camera shy but her partner Siboon is a ham.

The ole boy Prophet who ran with miss Cha Cha again today..she is a little more nervous and I concluded if she ran with the steady rock in the team maybe she would feel more comfortable..seems to be working so far

and the girlie's in wheel Jazz and sister Fox Trot. Jazz is the only dog in my yard with black spots on her tongue..I love them.

Stopped for a little break.

We don't see a whole lot on these runs as they are short and we are mostly on the road but this morning while passing a canola field I noticed a set of antlers sticking up over the crop. He was still there on the way home just watching us through the canola. He finally got up and bounded away to the dogs extreme excitement. A very nice sized Mule Deer.

Back in the dog yard with Lucy and Fox Trot.

I am very excited for this season and will definitely be keeping you all updated on all the goings on as we extend our miles and the dog get more fit.
See you on the Trail.

Spring has Sprung

As I sit here today the leaves are budding on the trees and green is showing everywhere, especially on the river hill and I remember my Grandma always saying it was time to plant your potatoes when the leaves budded on the river hill. Guess I better pull out the cultivator and get on that. The weather here has been unseasonably warm and so the dogs and I have not been running. Now that I know my dogs better I have been letting 4 at a time loose in the dog yard to play and relax for the day. They seem to really enjoy hanging out together and choosing which dog house they will lay by. Spring work needs to be done now..it's time to clean the straw out of the dog houses, rake up the yard, fix any problems in the fence, fill holes and hanging new water buckets. It's also the time of year to curb their boredom with some well deserved LARGE leg bones from the local butcher. They love these and it sure cuts down on the digging and chewing. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve that I want to try this year and will post pictures at a later date. We did manage one spring run a couple weeks ago before it got REALLY hot. Aimee and I hooked up 8 and let Cha Cha run free. We took all new trails and I wondered why I never ran this route last fall it would have been a beautiful run. This year for sure.

The trail to the right leads down to a place we call the Snake Pit. Yes, there are real snakes there. The garter snakes hibernate on the south facing hill above the river and all come out in the spring to breed. Sometimes if you can catch them at the right time there are hundreds of snakes. We can't go down there with the dogs though, the trail is too dangerous but the view is AWESOME.

Ahhhh..Refreshing

Running along the creek

Another puddle stop. This helps the dogs cool down as they can lay down in it and get a drink.

The end of our run we are approx 1/4 mile from home here. Cha Cha leading the way.

My neighbour met us on the road and I took her daughter for a spin. Nice moving team. Jazz and Lucy in lead, Thunder and Jitterbug in swing, Fox Trot and Prophet in team and Siboon and Ochocco in wheel.

We recently added a new member to our family as well....

This is Cricket. He is a Bichon Frise/Yorkshire Terrier Cross and should mature around 6-8 lbs in weight. He is fitting in well and the kids loooovvve him. They have really missed having a pet dog since our Shadow went missing last November and we seem to not have very good luck with outdoor pet dogs...enter Cricket.

We will keep you updated on Crickets progress as well as all the spring/summer goings on in the dog yard. Until Then....Happy Trails and Wagging Tails.

A quick look at our only Spring run. It's hard to video and steer at the same time.

Watch Thunder in swing when I ask them to go haw...Good Dog..he's "showing" my leaders the right way.