November 15, 2006 Happy 13th Birthday!

Greetings Everyone,

(from Sue and Richard - Willowbend Siberians

Just a quick note to invite everyone to join us in wishing Norman a Happy 13th Birthday today. Norman has lived with us for several years now. He came to live with us and help train our puppies and young dogs. This past Monday some of those puppies turned 3 yrs old  and of the 6, 3 are out in lead these days. I'm sure it's a combination of good genes and a good teacher.

Norman (aka Ch. NorthWapiti's Against All Odds)

Norman has been fully retired now for 2 yrs. Somewhere around 10 something he started to let me know that he preferred the sled bag to his harness. When we would stop to sort out some problem he would  bail from the bag and run down the trail with out us. Always we would find him happily holding down the dog truck waiting for us. Apparently I was very well trained. From then on though he trained puppies in the summer on the skijoring line for walks.

He is mostly blind in one eye due to a cataract and is quite deaf, still wondering if that is just the selective hearing thing coming out. He's had a few minor surgeries this year and trudged along like a good Siberian does. He is a wonderful soulful old gentleman and he  still happily negotiates the kennel and the house with a purpose (especially the couch), although a bit more slowly and cautiously. He dances like a puppy when supper is served and continues to join  in the daily howl fests. He gives the puppies crap when they annoy him and respectfully continues to teach the young men of our kennel.
We wish him all the best today and all his remaining days to come.  Although frail he is happy and we will continue to do our best to make his remaining years happy and healthy.
Thanks Karen and Mark. We have enjoyed his company immensely.

Happy Birthday Norman!!
Sue and Richard
Willowbend Siberians

How well I remember the night Norman was born. It just can't be that that was 13 years ago. Amazing how time slips away.

Norman was a special dog in our lives too - and we also immensely enjoyed our time with him. We are so pleased that we were able to find such a fabulous home for him - where he could have a job and feel important - and one that would take such wonderful care of him in his Twilight Years. He deserved the best - and we know that is what he got.

Happy Birthday Normie.
With love,
Karen and Mark

November 15, 2006 Sinking a Hook

Sinking a hook. Mushers lives seem to revolve around the "sinking of a hook". At this time of year, all our conversations, whether by phone, email or in person quickly come around to the question - "Can you sink a hook yet?"

Of course, we aren't talking about fishing - not many mushers have time to fish at this time of year - but rather sinking a snow hook. Whether or not it is safe to switch from whatever form of fall training you are doing (for us, 4-wheelers) to running with sleds depends on whether there is enough and the right consistency of snow that a snow hook will 'hold' a dog team. The size of team is also dependent on this. You might be able to get a snow hook pounded into the snow enough that it will hold a 4-dog team, but it might not be solid enough to hold an 8-dog team.
 

Now, while I've heard lots of grumbling out of Alaska about snow conditions, we in central/northern Alberta have early and plentiful snow. In fact, it is the earliest that I remember snow in Perryvale - and we definitely have more than we did all last winter!

So, after a bit of insurance snow on Monday (enough that Mark put his car in the ditch trying to get up the driveway Tuesday morning) the answer to the "Can you sink a hook yet?" question at the Ramstead household was a grin and a resounding "YES".

Getting out on a sled for the first time each season is just the most wonderful thing. Honestly, when I pull that snow hook and the dogs head off into the woods with only the sounds of their paws and the runners on snow, it's like I'm instantly taken back to my first experience behind a dog team. My world seems just RIGHT."

This year I had a special treat, because for my first runs I had passengers in my sled, all who were having their first experience dog sledding.

For my very first run, I carefully selected a team that would willingly plough through unbroken snow and put in a nice trail for me. Who better than Snickers for that job? So, she and Hilda had the honour of leading the first sled out of the yard this year. My passenger was our new handler, Matt.
Matt, who is from the UK, started working for us last Sunday. I had been teasing him one night that he didn't use my favourite British expression, "Brilliant". I guess we just hadn't given him the right motivation yet, 'cause when he climbed out of my sled after a 4-mile run, he described the experience as "Brilliant". * VBG *

Once back in the yard, we put away one team and quickly hooked up another. This team's passenger was Jan, a visitor up from the Red Deer area. I'm fairly sure she had as good a time as I, as when she got out of the sled, she gave me a huge hug!

My last team of the day, led by Olena and Runner, with Jan's friend Lori riding, was definitely the fastest. I was glad driving a sled is a lot like riding a bike and you don't quickly forget (remember, the last time I was on the runners was in Nome last March) as we maneuvered through the trees and around tight corners.

So the day ended with a lot of smiling faces, both Siberian and human - at least in our neck of the woods!
Karen

November 11, 2006 Climbing Back In

(Photos coming soon)

 

As most of you know, we raise our puppies in a 'kiddies pool' in our back room. Easy to clean, I can crawl in it with them, and Moms can't accidentally squish babies against the wall. Works great.
Then, once the babies are big enough that they start climbing out of the pool on a regular basis, it is time for them to move outside, usually between 3 and 4 weeks of age.

Then came Casey and Finnegan.

Their 3-week birthday came and went and, although they were hanging over the top edge of the pool on a regular basis, they showed no interest in getting out. Hmmm…. that was odd. I began to suspect they were up to no good.

Sure enough, seemingly overnight they mastered climbing out of the pool – and at the same time, something no puppies have ever done before – climbing back into it. This allows them to terrorize the house and then be curled up sweetly in the pool when we walk in the door.

Now actually, that is not proving to be an unworkable situation, as we have a door that I can lock them in the back room when we are out or sleeping. And, with our new floors (why exactly did I talk about doing this for 9 years before actually getting it done??) it is so easy to clean up after them that I don’t mind them having run of the house. In fact, we are completely enjoying having them underfoot.
Then the little brats discovered Kara’s dog bed. This instantly become the most coveted spot in the house and when I free them from the backroom each morning – all three of them (Casey, Finnegan and their Mom) beeline for it.

I haven’t told Kara yet. I’m sure she will be appalled.

I can’t talk about the puppies without mentioning the one problem we are having with Sprite living in the house.

As you all may recall, a doggie door joins the MASH unit, which is the back room and the secure kennel outside, so adult dogs can just let themselves out when they need a bathroom break. It is working great and I don’t think Sprite has had a single accident in the house while living inside.
However, she is a bit of a pack rat and insists on squirreling a lot of treasures – mostly doggie toys outside. The last few nights, I’ve had to turn on the back yard lights after feeding and go collect an armful of stuffed toys from the outside house. And the other day while I was working on the computer, she trotted past my office carrying a framed photo of Mark and I, which she had stolen off the bookshelves. As soon as she heard me coming after her, she bolted for the doggie door.
Nice that she wanted to decorate her outside space with a reminder of us , but she is now only allowed supervised time outside of the back room. And that works fine, although that is where we keep our footwear. I wonder why it is I can’t seem to now find my other running shoe??? 

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In closing, today is November 11 - Remembrance Day for those of us here in Canada. My father would be appalled if I didn't take time to say 'Thanks' to all those that have so bravely fought for our country in so many conflicts over the years. Please, take a moment at the 11 hour of the 11 day of the 11 month, to stop and remember the sacrifices these folks have made and are making today, so we can continue to enjoy our freedoms and ways of live.  Lest we forget.
Karen

November 6, 2006 Photo Odds & Ends

With a full moon and snow on the ground it was so bright in the dog yard last night at feeding time, we almost didn’t need the yard lights! Just beautiful. In the summer, when we rarely experience darkness, you forget how beautiful the night and night skies are. I saw a really cool shooting star a week or so ago: it didn’t give me what I wished for, but it was still very neat to see! 

Good thing I like the dark, ‘cause we have already dropped down to only 9 hours of daylight per day – as opposed to the 17 ½ hours of it we have June 21st!

So, I did want to take a moment to thank everyone who has written and called to express their condolences on Grover’s passing. It has been a very difficult time, but the support of friends and family certainly helps. I do intend to answer all your emails (there are 115 messages sitting in the ‘Grover’ file), it is just that I’m not quite ready to do it yet. I hope you all understand. 

I am going to share with you the last pictures taken of Grover – it is him spending some time with his great grandson (well, suspected great grandson) Finnegan. He just adored puppies.

 

Most of this entry is actually going to be pictures. I’m kind of cheating and letting pictures do most of the speaking for me today.

First up are some more pictures of Casey, Finnegan and their Mom. Sprite is doing a wonderful job as a Mom. She is tolerant, patient, attentive and yet very playful with them. Last night the three of them were watching TV with us and Sprite was entertaining us by playing ‘keep off the blanket’ with the kids. They are very spunky and opinionated, so they just kept coming back for more!

You will notice they have a lot of toys in their ‘pool’. Sprite keeps raiding the toy box in the living room and packing them all back to her children! Casey was imitating her the other day and we caught her dragging a stuffed octopus that was MUCH bigger than her across the floor and to the whelping room. Too cute!

They also do something I have never heard 3-week-old puppies do – they join in on group howls. The first time it happened, I was sure it was a coincidence, but yesterday their Mom was out in the dog run joining in on a howl and the pups actually joined in too. They are going to be outspoken dogs, for sure. 

Next up are some pictures of the yard after our first snowfall. We lost most of that snow, but then got another batch, so we have pretty much had snow for the last few weeks. Not enough to sled on yet but getting close.

Crunchie passes up on his doghouse and opts to enjoy some of the first ‘flakes of the season.

BTW, those of you sharp-eyed readers may notice that Crunchie is on Grover’s old stake out. I thought I was going to leave it open for a while, but staring at that empty spot every morning turned out to be too much. I felt it appropriate that his first-born son inherit the coveted spot.

The next images are ones from our run yesterday.

We kind of cheated today. Hilda and Roary are in season and are driving the boys mad, so I decided to hook up 10 girls on my team and give Mark an all boy team. It actually worked very well.
Mark’s team was:

Moses / Junior / Odie / Loki / Q / Batdog / Barq
Runner / Newt / Boom / Vortec / Watt / Lingo / Draco

Taking an early break, notice how many heads are turned waiting for the call to go.

Break time for the team led by Jr & Moses, brothers Odin & Loki still listening for the call up,
 while Q eats some snow - behind them the faces of Runner, Barq, Lingo and Watt are visible.

Once again...dog power seems more reliable...this is the SAME cat that was stuck in the muskeg last year!

JR & Moses in lead, Odin (behind JR), Q is two dogs behind Moses...

Batdog & Q, Runner & Barq look pleased with their run, while Boom sniffs the snowy air...

Barq

Runner & Barq

Q looks at something interesting

Q

Q - a good looking young dog

Watt & Vortec

Draco & Lingo

My team (aka The Battling Bitches) was:

Hilda / Olena / Roary / Holly / Kara / Dasher / Jinx
Tess / Nahanni / Snicks / Eeek / Charge / Crunch / Hector

Getting ready to run two teams

My 4 boys, like all good men around that much swirling estrogen, wisely kept their heads down and just quietly did their jobs! Well, except that Eeek and Charge aren’t big on stopping and kicked up a fuss EVERY TIME we stopped for even 5 seconds!

Eeek & Charge sing out

It was a great 20-½ mile run and everyone was tired, but content, at the end of it. A day like that can make me smile, no matter what!!

A team working well together...notice the taut tug lines...

Pausing to share the road

Down the road we go...one never knows exactly who we'll see on the way.

On our way...the four dogs closest to the milk crate are Eeek (red piebald on left) & Charge, followed by Hector & Crunchie.

Team traveling down the snowy trail

A different type of passing practice...passing unusual objects...

Hector rests next to Crunchie

I’m going to close with a few notes from the kennel –
Treat, the new wildcat, is doing well. She has decided to allow herself to be seen, but touching is still off limits.  Nokken left to return to Al and Ann Stead in Minnesota. We miss him, but the kennel is much quieter in his absence!

We have a handler arriving today or tomorrow. Matthew is from the UK, but has been over in Canada for much of the last 10 years. The folks at his last job gave him a glowing reference, so we are looking very forward to his arrival!  Little Rocket is doing wonderful on a chain. She seems to be contained now – and seems happy with her new living arrangements too!

Perhaps Rocket is contemplating the futility of further escape attempts...

©Penny Blankenship
More cartoons by Penny

I think that brings everyone pretty much up to speed! 
All for now,
Karen

I carved this myself!

November 5, 2006 Hugi CDX, CGN

We are sending out HUGE congratulations to Hugi (aka NorthWapiti's Tucoldturain Hugi CDX, CGN) and his owners Jackie Wepruk and Rick Austin this morning.

Yesterday Hugi and Jackie received their first qualifying leg at the 'Utility' level of obedience competition.

For those not 'in the know', Utility is the highest level of obedience competition. It is extremely difficult to train and compete in. The dogs must do a number of complicated exercises, like following hand signal commands, picking a dumbbell their owner recently handled out of a pile of dumbbells, directed jumping and more.

Hugi (pronounced Hewey)

Very few Siberians compete at this level and we know Jackie and Hugi have worked very hard for this 'leg'. Two more 'legs' and Hugi will have his Utility title, making him one of a very elite group of Siberians (but that includes Jackie's first Siberian Tasha!).

Wahoo!!
Karen

October 31, 2006 NorthWapiti's Super Grover

NorthWapiti's Super Grover
July 13, 1996 - October 30, 2006

 

Over the years, I've said goodbye to many of my canine companions. Many very special ones have passed, breaking our hearts and causing much sorrow in our lives. Skeeter, Libby, Minnow, Charlie, Allie, Orion, Spud, Buddy, Howl, Breezy and many more have shared our lives and then left, teaching us lessons about loving and losing along the way. I thought I was a good student. I understand that this is the inevitable end of any canine/human relationship and as painful as the end is, the relationship has always been worth it.

This morning though, I feel like my heart has been torn out of my chest and stomped to a pulp. I feel wrecked and broken - and a failure at the school of loss.

I'm sure most of you have figured out where this is going by now, yesterday evening, very quickly and - despite his recent illness - very unexpectedly, Grover left us.

The details of his passing are just cruel and heartbreaking. The short version of it is that Grover and I had a wonderful day together yesterday. He seemed almost himself again. He and I ran into Westlock to do some errands late in the afternoon, including a quick stop at the vet clinic for the vets to take a look at him. Trevor was as optimistic as I about his recovery.

He has always been a great traveler and he rode home comfortably in his crate in the back of the van, except about 20 minutes from home he let out a very mournful howl - just one - one that I now know will haunt me forever. I assured him we would be home soon and flipped on the interior light in the van to make sure he didn't need to stop for a break. He seemed to be resting contentedly.

When I arrived home and opened the back of the van to let him out, he was gone.

I spoke with my vet last night and he warned me that we might never know what happened. Although I am taking him in for a necropsy today, I don't think answers are going to help anyway - they certainly won't bring him back.

I looked for a quote to include in this email, but nothing seemed right. This is all I found - 

Tears are words the heart can't express

And that is where I sit this morning - without the words to express this loss, just the tears.
I loved him so much,
Karen

October 28, 2006 Quick Message

Just a quick message this morning, as I don't have much time, but I wanted to let everyone know that Grover is home. Yesterday I force fed him small amounts of food throughout the day, but this morning he actually ate a few mouthfuls on his own!! YEAH!!

We've had a few sightings of our new kitten, so we know she isn't wedged under one of the freezers. Good news! In keeping with our 'food' theme for names on the cats - and taking into consideration that it is almost Halloween, she has now been named Treat.

Oh, yes - our 'trapline' yielded one dead mouse this morning!

All and all, good start to the day!!!!!
Karen