Were still doing it.. running and evaluating the fur kids, as a team and as individuals.
Often people ask when talking about mushing. gee ya gonna go mush the Iditarod or john Beargrease race.. No not us we just do it for the fun of being with the dogs, training and seeing the dogs learn is a joy in and of it self I reply.. Oh for sure we will go do a bit of racing one day, when we are ready..
that day more then likely will not be this year.
Never been to a sleddog race even as a spectator, but like photographic evidence of matings, Races are a proving ground for the dogs, a proving ground that has statistical evidence that it is more then just our word that the dogs are living up to there heritage and able to run reasonably well compared to other dogs under the same conditions on the same trail, So we keep training and just go for fun runs close to home, No kennel helper, full time jobs and a home fix-up/remodel project make it imposable to focus on speed and conditioning to the extent that is required to compete to the dogs full potential, I see no need to go to a race simply for some experience and screw up others while we get passing experience etc.
A race is no place to train in my view even a recreational race, Just not the way I do things.. I put up a start chute in the yard we can run two teams and work on passing/being passed, I run through a lot of different areas, wide road crossings,on roads with cars, through small towns, past bars with people standing outside smoking hollering and waving as we go by, past dogs, snowmobiles.... you name it. We have young stock, Males 4 one year old litter-mates, 1 two year old and 1 three year old. Females - 2 two month old pups, 1 six month old, 1 four year old and 1 six year old, with a couple more that are older that are passing on there experience in harness work, setting the example for this younger stock.
So we just keep doing it.... And it sure is fun!
