Friday, September 24, 2010
Hank Goes Away
I am sorry to report that Hank and Daemon did not get along, and Arctic Breeds Rescue was kind enough to take him back as a foster. Hank and Daemon's mild seperation anxiety and food guarding were exacerbated in each other's insecurities. There was a scuffle and and ER visit, but I'm happy to report all are just fine. Daemon and Hank are now both under going some re-training in seperate locations. Additionally, in D's case he is a spoiled brat and getting a 'de-punking' - as in he has to earn everything, his toy, his treats, his fetch time, his place on the bed, etc. D is a fairly obedient dog - and an exceptionally well behaved Sibe so he has gotten away with quite a bit the past 6 months, and I have to say I have enjoyed being lazy with him and Windy. However...that's over and time for everyone to get back to work and earn our keep! After that...we will look at fostering again.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Meet Hank (aka Penske)
Meet Penske/Hank:
He's a very happy lovey boy:
He and Daemon have a similar size and gait - I think they will run well together. More to come on that later :)
Hank (aka Penske)
We have a new foster - Penske - aka Hank (that's what Brad calls him, and he answers pretty well to it, P or Penske make him cringe and run so we re-dubbed him.) He's a lanky sweet happy Alaskan Husky of about 5-6 years. Unfortunately, he's been starved into some bad habits - like counter cruising, dumpster diving and food guarding (not against people thankfully!) We are working on getting him a bath today and getting a picture, so we can track his progress.
He's a very pretty guy and you can see a picture of him as a pup here: http://racerscycleservice.com/?page_id=10
He's a very pretty guy and you can see a picture of him as a pup here: http://racerscycleservice.com/?page_id=10
Friday, September 3, 2010
Summer...It's been nice! Part II
OK Like I said - I am ready to get back to Training. We got a taste of it at the Davis County Fair a couple of weeks ago. The BEST part was it was MUDDY from rain the day before. We got to pull Dad all over the Fair letting everyone know about classes at our training club, and learning to SIT when people pet us.
After our runs, Mom and Dad took us over some of the Agility toys, and then through the park. We went up to another toy that looked a lot like the Agility A-frame, and since I had just done it - I knew just what to do! I charged right up it and .... over....and INTO THE BIGGEST POOL I HAD EVER SEEN! I Paniked and jumped right out over the side! NOT FUNNY DAD! I was wet all over...eeeww!
So it turns out this was the training pool for Splash Dogs (Dock Jumping - http://www.splashdogs.com/ ) and Dad was just trying to cool me off. But apperently Retrievers chase their toys into the water - FOR FUN! They must be crazy! I wasn't going anywhere near any more "pools." - though mom has promised she'll take me to the lake and teach me to swim properly.
The next day we did more of the urban-mushing demos and then (to make up for the dunking) Dad took me to do the COOLEST THING EVER!!!!!!! Lure coursing.
No, no, you heard me right - lure coursing - the stuff they do with Jack Russels and other small rat terriers. But the group that does it here sets it up like an Agility course with a foxtail that we chase around the course. MAN OH MAN I WANT THAT FOXTAIL! GOTTA GET IT GOTTA GET IT! I took off and 18 seconds later I was done - I didn't even miss a tunnel! Wow was that fun! Can't wait to go again! I'd post a picture, but the video is SO much more interesting. Check it out here: http://www.coursealure.com/about.html
So it turns out this was the training pool for Splash Dogs (Dock Jumping - http://www.splashdogs.com/ ) and Dad was just trying to cool me off. But apperently Retrievers chase their toys into the water - FOR FUN! They must be crazy! I wasn't going anywhere near any more "pools." - though mom has promised she'll take me to the lake and teach me to swim properly.
The next day we did more of the urban-mushing demos and then (to make up for the dunking) Dad took me to do the COOLEST THING EVER!!!!!!! Lure coursing.
No, no, you heard me right - lure coursing - the stuff they do with Jack Russels and other small rat terriers. But the group that does it here sets it up like an Agility course with a foxtail that we chase around the course. MAN OH MAN I WANT THAT FOXTAIL! GOTTA GET IT GOTTA GET IT! I took off and 18 seconds later I was done - I didn't even miss a tunnel! Wow was that fun! Can't wait to go again! I'd post a picture, but the video is SO much more interesting. Check it out here: http://www.coursealure.com/about.html
Summer...it's been nice.
So Windy and I have had a LOVELY Summer off from running and training. It's been nice. Actually, we haven't been bored. We have been Babysitting! We have had our 'cousin' Stitches over about once a week all summer, and we also had our very young (but not small) friend Misty come over for a few weeks to learn to play.
At first Misty was very unsure of playing with Me and Windy but after just 3 weeks she was happy to come play at our house and graduated from her "confidence" course.
This is Misty, in her favorite place - her porch.
Stiches is our cousin, she is a year old Pitt-bull that is petite and sweet as a button. Except when she steals my TOYS and puts them under the bed, where I can't reach them. I'm sure she will continue to come play with us regularly.
Although Stitch is a Pit-Bull she bears a striking resemblence to her cousin Windy:
Windy is in the background, Stitch snuggled up in the foreground - Don't they just LOOK like cousins!?!
As for me, I'm happy to be getting back to my training.
At first Misty was very unsure of playing with Me and Windy but after just 3 weeks she was happy to come play at our house and graduated from her "confidence" course.
This is Misty, in her favorite place - her porch.
Stiches is our cousin, she is a year old Pitt-bull that is petite and sweet as a button. Except when she steals my TOYS and puts them under the bed, where I can't reach them. I'm sure she will continue to come play with us regularly.
Although Stitch is a Pit-Bull she bears a striking resemblence to her cousin Windy:
As for me, I'm happy to be getting back to my training.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Siberian Retriever
So, Daemon has always been a bit "off" as far as Siberian Huskies go. You see, Huskies as a rule do not fetch, retrieve, or recall (come when called) on demand; no husky is safe off leash EVER. This is just the way of having a working dog that RUNS for a living, and one I am totally comfortable with after 20 years of Siberians.
My first husky, Lakota was reliable off leash as long as we were in the front yard. He would sit on the front porch and wait for me to come home from school. However, if Lake realized that for some reason he had left the front yard - usually after chasing a bicycle - well, then he was gone for days at a time. Deep down Lake was a typical prey driven, wandering husky. And I learned a lot from him.
Windy, my current female - has the record for "most consecutive days escaped" - something like 270 days in a row and has rarely been allowed off leash in a public place, unless controlled by her "good girl" electric collar - a tool I would not have considered using on a dog for any reason until Windy exhausted my rather extensive training knowledge - and I learned how to use it positively so that Windy actually LIKES her e-collar. Windy loves squeaky toys and loves to rip any toy or small animal that ventures into the yard to shreds. Windy is the quintessential hard-headed hard-to-train Siberian Husky. And She would NEVER deign to fetch a toy! The upside to having a dog this difficult to contain is my yard is now Fort Knox and I can take in fosters with some of the worst escape or prey habits and can retrain them.
So, back to Daemon being "off" - when he came to us his name was Buddy and if I had waited to get to know him a little more before we redubbed him D - I would have noticed how fitting Buddy was for him. Daemon...well...He's what we call a "siberian retriever" - he's never far from Brad or I (he truly is a "buddy"), has a reliable off leash recall, he is instantly obedient and plays fetch endlessly. He comes out to the front yard with us when we are visiting neighbors. If I had had him as a first sibe, after a childhood full of Labradors, I would have expected all sibes to be as easy to train as he is. I can't even imagine- or explain - the disaster that would have been! But as one in what will be a lifetime of Sibes, I know he's one in a million - and I will probably never be lucky enough to have one like him. He breaks all the rules of being a Siberian - but at least he breaks the rules, and that makes him all Sibe. :)
My first husky, Lakota was reliable off leash as long as we were in the front yard. He would sit on the front porch and wait for me to come home from school. However, if Lake realized that for some reason he had left the front yard - usually after chasing a bicycle - well, then he was gone for days at a time. Deep down Lake was a typical prey driven, wandering husky. And I learned a lot from him.
Windy, my current female - has the record for "most consecutive days escaped" - something like 270 days in a row and has rarely been allowed off leash in a public place, unless controlled by her "good girl" electric collar - a tool I would not have considered using on a dog for any reason until Windy exhausted my rather extensive training knowledge - and I learned how to use it positively so that Windy actually LIKES her e-collar. Windy loves squeaky toys and loves to rip any toy or small animal that ventures into the yard to shreds. Windy is the quintessential hard-headed hard-to-train Siberian Husky. And She would NEVER deign to fetch a toy! The upside to having a dog this difficult to contain is my yard is now Fort Knox and I can take in fosters with some of the worst escape or prey habits and can retrain them.
So, back to Daemon being "off" - when he came to us his name was Buddy and if I had waited to get to know him a little more before we redubbed him D - I would have noticed how fitting Buddy was for him. Daemon...well...He's what we call a "siberian retriever" - he's never far from Brad or I (he truly is a "buddy"), has a reliable off leash recall, he is instantly obedient and plays fetch endlessly. He comes out to the front yard with us when we are visiting neighbors. If I had had him as a first sibe, after a childhood full of Labradors, I would have expected all sibes to be as easy to train as he is. I can't even imagine- or explain - the disaster that would have been! But as one in what will be a lifetime of Sibes, I know he's one in a million - and I will probably never be lucky enough to have one like him. He breaks all the rules of being a Siberian - but at least he breaks the rules, and that makes him all Sibe. :)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Form, Fit, Function - the total package!
I read this quote on Karen Ramstead's North Wapati Kennels Website/blog. (aka "The Pretty Sleddogs" from the Iditarod) I tried to find an author for it but all the quotes say author unknown:
I have had Siberians for going on 15 years. I love that I can love and trust my dogs with my life and they return the favor. But until Brad got Daemon, (aka: Buddy, Chewbacca, PAW, Zorro) I did not understand the incredible POWER of these SMALL dogs and the patience and care that must go into proper breeding of a dog to keep it's performance at the level that their work requires. I am no stranger to training dogs, and the effort required to train a Northern Breed in obedience, house manners as well as their 'chosen profession.'
But, I am baffled by the breeding process and have no desire to try to learn it. It's amazing that someone can see that this fearless little ball of fluff will turn into this Sweet Strong Handsome Gentleman:
Daemon: 8 weeks
However, I am completely thankful and awed by the responsible caring Siberian breeders that I know and rely on to keep the future of these dogs sound. To Jane at Lobolair for allowing us to parent the most amazing Siberian I've ever known - Daemon/Buddy - even if he does fetch (off leash!) :) To Of the Midnight Sun and Kczar for keeping the Monadanock strength going. For Kaylenberg for answering all my questions and keeping all three Siberian lines going (Show, Seppala Sleddog, and Racing). And of Course to North Wapati for being my newest source of information and Sibe comedy on your blog.
Here are a few more showing Daemon's size and strength -
Compared to an Average sized Alaskan Husky - and Dad - D alone pulls him at an average 6-8mph on the scooter for short runs and 4-6mph for longer runs. I weigh under a buck 50 and D pulls me at close to 10mph! One Dog!!!
Pedigree indicates what the animal should be.
Conformation indicates what the animal appears to be.
But, performance indicates what the animal actually is.
I have had Siberians for going on 15 years. I love that I can love and trust my dogs with my life and they return the favor. But until Brad got Daemon, (aka: Buddy, Chewbacca, PAW, Zorro) I did not understand the incredible POWER of these SMALL dogs and the patience and care that must go into proper breeding of a dog to keep it's performance at the level that their work requires. I am no stranger to training dogs, and the effort required to train a Northern Breed in obedience, house manners as well as their 'chosen profession.'
But, I am baffled by the breeding process and have no desire to try to learn it. It's amazing that someone can see that this fearless little ball of fluff will turn into this Sweet Strong Handsome Gentleman:
Daemon: 8 weeks
7 months
18 months - full grown 56 lbs/23.5 height
However, I am completely thankful and awed by the responsible caring Siberian breeders that I know and rely on to keep the future of these dogs sound. To Jane at Lobolair for allowing us to parent the most amazing Siberian I've ever known - Daemon/Buddy - even if he does fetch (off leash!) :) To Of the Midnight Sun and Kczar for keeping the Monadanock strength going. For Kaylenberg for answering all my questions and keeping all three Siberian lines going (Show, Seppala Sleddog, and Racing). And of Course to North Wapati for being my newest source of information and Sibe comedy on your blog.
Here are a few more showing Daemon's size and strength -
Compared to an Average sized Alaskan Husky - and Dad - D alone pulls him at an average 6-8mph on the scooter for short runs and 4-6mph for longer runs. I weigh under a buck 50 and D pulls me at close to 10mph! One Dog!!!
Compared to Windy - an average sized but somewhat lanky female. D's tailbase is above her back. Oh! and check out the size of his hamstrings! As soon as I get a video of his powerful lope I'll post it!
Here is one of him after he pulled me and Windy over 6 miles. On runs where Brad would take all three dogs out with D in lead - he will pull everyone at his pace for as long as u leave him in lead - Brad, the scooter, Windy and Os together weigh about 350 lbs. 350lbs moving 10 -12mph (3 dog power) - makes us awfully thankful for good brakes too!
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