July 15, 2005 (posted) Teaching "On by"

Karen L. Ramstead, April, 2005
(originally posted at ScooterClub) 

Our situation requires that we are frequently around loose farm dogs, cattle, horses - and the worst of the worse - SHEEP. Learning to go by distractions is critical for our dogs.

 

I think working around a loose dog of your own (or one you know well) is great for helping to teach the dogs to ignore distractions. We have Fly, the annoying Aussie yard dog that 'helps' out at hook-up. The pups and young dogs learn to ignore him and that helps when they meet other dogs. I also try to run reliable front ends in areas I know will have distractions until everyone in the team is fairly reliable at 'on by'. A good leader or two can take your team by just about anything.

 

Once dogs are getting good at passing distractions when they are in the team I will put them up front with a solid leader and two reliable dogs in swing. The inexperienced leader will have a belly band on too so the 3 good dogs can drag them by a distraction, if need be.

 

I also ALWAYS discipline MY dogs for any altercation on the trails with loose dogs - whether or not the other dog initiated it, my dogs participated and that makes them in the wrong. I never let my dogs 'off the hook' and make excuses for them. "Who could blame them?" is not a part of my vocabulary. If they get in a scrape - I blame them. It takes two to tango. Participating in any kind of encounter with loose animals is not allowed. This practice now means that aggressive. snarling dogs can barrel into the middle of my team and my dogs (90% of the time) step over or around them.

 

As we run fairly big teams (usually 14's) it is important that we know our equipment well. I know that shut off in low gear, with the emergency brake locked, and the wheels cranked to one side or the other (it is way harder to get a 4 wheeler rolling if the wheels aren't pointing straight ahead), I can hold my team in most situations. The wheels being cranked to one side can also make sure you don't end up chasing your team for a long ways down a road - however, cranked to the wrong side can mean that you will roll your 4 wheeler or end up with it in a swamp (I speak from experiences on all accounts). Carrying a block of wood that you can wedge under a wheel in a jam isn't a bad idea either and we have done that on 4 wheelers that wouldn't hold a team on their own. I have also used snow banks, mud, trees and ditches to help slow down and/or hold the team in emergencies.

 

Just a few suggestions - hope they might be of help to one or two of you.

 

Karen

 

Mark and Karen L. Ramstead
NorthWapiti Kennels
Iditarod finishing and Best in Show winning Siberians

July 10, 2005 Upcoming Litters

Since mentioning in an email to the NorthWapiti News Yahoo Group that Kara was expecting a litter I've had many private emails asking if we were sure she was pregnant, when she was due and who Daddy is.   Well her due date is August 1, Daddy is Grover and this morning both Mark and I felt puppies moving around in her belly - so yes, she is pregnant.   Nahanni is also expecting Draco babies on July 25. She isn't huge, but I'm pretty sure she has a few pups kicking around in there.   I'm very excited about both litters! :)   Karen   "KARA" THREE TIME IDITAROD VETERAN Ch. NorthWapiti's Valkyrie Kara - Born: 7/27/99 (Tumnatki's Bosun NorthWapiti x Multi BIS Ch. Chuchinka's Dance in the Wind SDX) "NAHANNI" ONE TIME IDITAROD VETERAN NorthWapiti's Nahanni - Born: 5/27/00 (Alaskan's Skookum of Anadyr x Alaskan's Kessa of Anadyr II)

July 3, 2005 Yeah Hector!

Mark and I drove to Cold Lake, AB today for one day of dog showing (Mark says that is it for the year for him now - he hates dog shows!).   I had Dasher (Ch. NorthWapiti's Dasher), entered as a Special and Hector in the ring for the first time ever.   Well, knock me over with a feather, Hector was an angel in the ring. He allowed me (and friend, Annette Dionne who showed him at the Breed level, as I was showing Dasher) to set his feet, stood like a rock while the judge went over him, and gaited politely on his leash, even when other dogs were in the ring with him. What makes this particularly amazing is that with my schedule lately, I haven't had any time to really get him ready for this. Yesterday was his first bath, this morning was his first time on a show leash, today was his first time on show mats, and honestly, I can't even remember when he has been inside a building before (other then vet clinics). Other then starting a couple group howls when left in a crate, he was a total gentleman. He was even rewarded for all this good behaviour with his first point. Not bad for a goofy, leggy, rough, tough sled dog that is missing the tip of his tail. Yeah Hector, I'm so proud of you!   Karen   "HECTOR" TWO TIME IDITAROD VETERAN! Chlout's Hector of NorthWapiti - Born: 8/28/01 (Alaskan's Raven Of Anadyr x Alaskan's Baleen Of Anadyr)

July 1, 2005 Happy Canada Day

It's funny how we come around in our thinking as we grow older.

I remember my brother, Jim and I cringing each July 1 (Canada Day) when Dad flew his largest Canada flag off the peak of our garage. No one else in the neighbourhood did that, and gosh, Jim and I were just darn embarrassed.  This morning, July 1 2005, I strolled outside with Kara on her morning walk (Have I mentioned that Kara is a full time house dog now?? Not sure how that happened, but regardless, that is a different story), there by our NorthWapiti Kennel sign is a large flag pole with a Canada flag flying from it. I can blame Mark for some of it, after all he build the pole and was the one that actually put up the flag, however the truth of the matter is that it was completely at my urging that it was done. 

Just a few weeks ago I turned 41, so I could make a story for my getting older and more sentimental, but the reality of the matter is that, despite the protests to my father, I've always been very proud to be a Canadian. Maybe it is all the time I spend outside of Canada that makes me more patriotic as the years go by or maybe it is the fact that the more I read, learn and see of the rest of the world, the more I have learned to appreciate what we have here. Don't get me wrong, despite the moose jokes, I love the US and Americans, it is a terrific place, I love visiting and I adore my American friends - but it isn't my home. So to all my fellow Canadian readers, I wish you a Happy Canada Day today - and leave you with this quote from Robertson Davies. It is one I read at my father's funeral and now that I've grown up, can admit speaks for the way I view my country.

“Because I am a Canadian, I couldn’t really live anywhere else. I have had chances to do so and have never given it serious consideration. I belong here. To divorce yourself from you roots is spiritual suicide….I just am a Canadian. It is not a thing which you can escape from - it is like having blue eyes.”

Karen

June 20, 2005 Greetings from Whitehorse

Many of you were not aware, but Kara, Dasher, Sprite and I are on the road dog showing for 12 days or so.

Last week I drove up to Whitehorse for the Yukon Kennel Club set of six shows. It has been 10 years since I have seen the Alaska Highway in the summer and it was just as lovely as I remembered. The dogs and I were treated to sightings of black bear, caribou, moose, bighorn sheep, elk, deer and a GRIZZLY (it crossed so close in front of the van I had to stop for it- AMAZING!).

The dog show itself turned out to be just as enjoyable - and I'm THRILLED to let you guys know that Dasher is now Champion NorthWapiti's Dasher. She even managed a group placing (3rd) from the classes along the way. Kara was somewhat redeemed by getting beaten by her daughter when she took a Group 4th yesterday. She (Kara) also recieved 3 other Best of Breed wins.

Sprite picked up no points (Dasher hogged all the points for Siberians over the weekend) but did a super job for her first  weekend out as a show dog.

My Iditarod traveling buddy, Doug G. even flew down from Willow to  help out and visit. He was great company and a tremendous help. It  was a blast watching an Alaskan Husky musher try to come to grips  with the ins and out of the dog showing game.

It's been a weekend filled with great friends, great food and great times.

I'm kicking around Whitehorse with the dogs today and having dinner  with friends that just moved up from Alberta tonight before heading down to Grande Prairie for another show this coming weekend! If I don't post again, I will be filling you all in on the rest of  the trip when I'm home in a week or so.

Karen

June 15, 2005 The Passing of a Good Friend

Bob Ford, who was a friend, a fellow list member, and a big supporter of the NorthWapiti team, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday afternoon.

Many of you didn't know, but Bob was a recipient of multiple organ transplants in the past.

He battled his health constantly, but still managed to foster Siberian Huskies in need and even had a small dog team that he ran on the cart and sled.

He had a quick wit and I'll miss the short emails that I used to get in response to many of my posts - even if he never could figure out spell check.

Please keep his mother, Pat Ford in your thoughts.

I think the nicest thing we could all do today to remember Bob is to sign your organ donor card, if you haven't already, AND tell your family that you wish to be a organ donor. Just that card isn't enough these days.

Godspeed Bob.

Karen

Bob Ford with his mother Pat at the 2005 Iditarod Mushers' Banquet

 

Bob & Karen and the 2005 restart.

 

Finger Lake - 2002

Bob and fellow list member June Price had flown out on impulse and this is likely Devon's team.
According to June, Bob had be so happy that day. He'd come knocking on the hotel door
far earlier than she wanted to be bothered but it only took two seconds to decide that, yes,
 flying out to Finger Lake sounds like a great plan. 

Bob during the restart with musher GB Jones dogs

 

3 Fur Faces

 

Bob & Cog -- Cog was the foster that he had until he went into the hospital.	Roshi's1st sled	Bob with Jett & Roshi, on perhaps one of Roshi's first runs ever.

June 12, 2005 Kennel Visitors

I want to give a BIG Thank you to Karen and Mark for letting Corina and I come visit them at their home and to get a chance to visit the kennel! I have always wanted to visit. Karen is a great cook and we ate like Kings!! Thank you Karen. We also got to try lots of new candy bars that the US doesn't have down here, yummy they were good. We had to try some Skor and Crunchie bars. Karen also found it strange at the things Corina and I were interested in like Magpies, colorful herds of cows, tons of farm lands with lots of hay and how flat the roads are and they all look the same to us though Karen disagrees.:) Karen is great at telling stories, we had a great time sharing trail adventures and dog tales, no pun intended.

My trip started off with Karen picking us up at the airport, glad she did because to me all the roads look the same, long and flat! The first thing we did when we got to Karen's cozy little house was visit the dog kennel. It was so cool to finally meet all of my dogs relatives and the rest of the NorthWapiti dogs in person after admiring them for so long in photos and on the internet. Every dog was so friendly and jumped on us to say hi. Draco is a very good kisser and gives great hugs! I was impressed with so many dogs if I listed them it would be almost the whole kennel but some of my very favorites are Odie, Loki, Grover, Runner, Crunchie, Batdog, Q, Moses, Butch, Herman, Hector, Sprite, Dasher, Snickers, Holly and Boom who I offered to buy but that wasn't going to happen. ;) Bummer! lol
The next 3 mornings we ran dogs in the am. Team one was Skor/Olena, Nahanni/Dare, Surge/Chester, Herman/Hector, Newt/Draco, Q/Vortec & Hilda/Crunchie. Skor and Ollie did a great job leading the team! What a bunch of hard working dogs. After seeing Karen's dog in harness I can now picture them on the trail doing Iditarod! I was very impressed with Crunchie, Herman, Skor, Ollie, Q & Vortec though I would want any one of those dogs on my team. It was neat to visit the watering hole half way through the run. All the dogs stood waiting for Karen to give the command "Get in" and they all did. Very cool!

Team 2 was Kara/Snickers, Holly/Jinx, Batdog/Zak, Grover/Jr, Barq/Atigun Moses/Eeek, and Loki/Odie. Snickers is a great leader and I love her personality and build, I would take her home in a heartbeat. The other dogs I was impressed with was Odie, Loki, Moses, Batdog, Holly, Barq and Grover. Made me so HAPPY to have Odie and Grover kids in my kennel! Odie is one handsome guy. Moses sure is one hard worker, would love to have him on my team! Grover is a very sweet and mellow boy and yes he does enjoy his belly rubs! :) Karen's trails are so lovely! Lots of grass, sand and a good amount of mixed terrain. I do have to say though, Karen drives an ATV much faster than I do over certain trails! lol Corina was joking that at least we could go home and say that she tried to kill us. A few times I had to shut off the video camera and hold on! But don't worry, we made it home in one piece and it was well worth the ride! If you ever get a chance, take a ride with the NorthWapiti team, it's GREAT!

Team 3 was Camilla/Crunchie, Sprite/Dasher, Lingo/Runner, Charge/Squeaky, Gus/Watt, Spidey/Roary and Herman/Hector. It's always fun to run pups for the first time. It was Charge and Watt's first day in harness! Both did well after a little ways, they caught on quickly. Runner ran great! I was a proud mom. Camilla is one incredible leader, she's like driving a car.
During my trip Karen gave all kinds of photo albums and pictures to scan so I did! I also took lots of video and photos of the dogs, a lot of them you will see added to the dogs pages in the next few weeks! Karen is a great photographer and she does a great job taking photos of her beautiful dogs. I had so many photos I brought a CD home.

We also had lots of play time with the 2 litters, Spot and Grover's 4 puppies, Minto, Koyuk, Sepp and Fritz. 

Then Ollie's babies Paxton, Tazlina, Tolsona, Summitt and the cutest puppy of them all Excelsior or X! He always has something to say and he's the angel of the bunch, the rest are truly pure EVIL! Every morning and after super time the pups got to go for a walk or a free-run with the ATV which is lots of fun! Minto and Koyuk always beat their brothers Fritz and Sepp. Sepp seemed confused and always ran the wrong way, poor Sepp! Our last day there Ollie's pups graduated to the ATV. They are a very uniformed litter and they had a blast! Enjoy the photos!

Summit

 

During my trip we visited Rick and Jackie Austin. Thanks for letting us visit and getting a chance to see your wonderful dogs. Dinner was awesome!! We also got to see those adorable Hugi x Pepsi puppies! I wanted to steal one but they were still too young:( Jackie also did a wonderful obedience demonstration with Hugi, boy is he incredible!!! What a boy!! We also got visit Annette's kennel, Nanook Siberians. Thank you Annette! It was great to see Flurry again and all of your beautiful dogs. Your horses are awesome. 

Our last day at Karen's we got to FINALLY see Mark for more than a few minutes and we went to the Edmonton Mall. Mark's work schedule was work in the afternoons from 5-7 am, then he slept while we ran dogs and visited other kennels. We went to see the movie Sahara, I thought it was great. Edmonton Mall is AMAZING!! They have an incredible movie theatre with a fire breathing Dragon. They also have a water park, a live model of the Santa Maria with seals swimming around, Flamingos, tons of restaurants, rides and rollercoasters and tons of gift shops. It's so big we didn't even get to see the whole thing. Truly a must see if you ever visit Edmonton.

Before I finish up I also have to thank a few of the dogs. Thank you Grover for giving me "My Grovers," Dodge and Togo! Thanks to Odie & Kaylinn for giving me Linc, the fastest dog we own. Thanks again Karen for a wonderful vacation!!! Karen is an amazing person and she is very dedicated to her dogs and training.

Kelly Berg