Hitting The Ground Running

Photo by Silvia Washington

With the show season at an end for us it was time to hit the trails and start working on building our team for the 2015/16 season.

Our first race came up quick after the National Specialty.  We participated in the Spokane Dirt Rondy 6-Dog Sprint class, taking a third place finish over all and a second place in Purebred.  Overall very pleased with the consistency exhibited by the team over the two day race period!  

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Photo by Jill Wilson

After the race it was time to get back into a training schedule as our next race comes up quickly.  The West Yellowstone Rodeo Run, with hopes of running the 12 mile 6-dog class we have some work to put in!

Throughout this time we've been seeing some less than favorable behaviors from young Keegan. He's, lets just say, very enthusiastic about his role as a working dog.  Unfortunately he channeled this energy in the form of line chewing, forcing us to upgrade our gangline to a cabled line....as well as sometimes gnawing on our handler (aka the husband) which was not appreciated.  Turning to experience for advise it was suggested he may be trying to tell us something.  That something turned out to be, I AM A LEAD DOG!  Since putting Keegan in lead, a role he's taken on with a great sense of maturity and proficiency, his behaviors have been turning more positively toward forward facing energy and less wasted energy.

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We've had on our first taste of snow this season.  Though nowhere near enough to pull down the sleds.  It has rejuvenated training efforts.  It certainly has given us a pretty backdrop in which to train and added some unique challenges to the trail.  Covering icy patches, adding resistance to the already tough trails.   The snow has since faded into rain and mud once again.  It keeps it interesting.

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With clean bills of health, updated vaccinations, and some very happy working dogs, we look forward to seeing our friends on the trails this winter!  Its still early,  and lots of training opportunities await us on the trails!  We'll see you out there!

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