Klinger

Jeff King sold me Klinger last December because he was tired of dealing with his chewing. Klinger was a perfect gentleman last season, even running Iditarod without destroying anything. This season has been a different story. Two harnesses and a dozen necklines later I decided to get serious. I like a product called Bitter Apple – tastes terrible, is non-toxic and doesn’t stain. Spray it on something and most dogs won’t touch it. Most dogs…

Yesterday Klinger started on a neckline. I sprayed the Bitter Apple straight into his mouth to give him a good taste of the stuff and create a strong aversion to it in his head. Then I soaked the lines. Not a minute later he was chewing on the neckline again. Repeat – spray into mouth to create aversion - it works, he really doesn’t like this - then soak the neckline again. Not a minute later he is chewing the neckline again – with just the tips of his front teeth so he doesn’t get the stuff in his mouth.

To heck with “Who’s smarter than a fifth grader”, who is smarter than a sled dog!?!

Keep ‘em Northbound

Eric

Rosemary

Rosemary got loose at the track the other day and ran down the trail. She didn’t even bat an eye when I called her name. I had 15 dogs out of a 19 dog team hooked to the quad. Finish hooking up the team and go after her, right? I grabbed Klinger and he had chewed through his harness. Find another harness; change them out, hook up Klinger. Grab the next dog, yell at Klinger. Hook up the next dog, yell at Klinger. Same process for the last two dogs (No I couldn’t leave them behind – they were my leaders…).

Start off down the two mile trail looking for Rosemary, who now had a 5 minute head start. After ½ hour Rosemary comes running up from behind us (we are doing laps on the 2 mile). She slides into position behind swing and runs with the team. I let them establish that pattern and after a few minutes call “whoa”. Rosemary slows, then runs between the leaders and continues down the trail. Call the team up and chase her, but running loose she easily outdistances us. I use the “gee-haw” trail to turn the team around and start running backwards on the trail. Almost an hour since she ran off, I see Rosemary coming down the trail towards us. Slam on the brakes. Jump off the quad. Grab Rosemary as she runs past. Hold her as she tries to keep going. Finally put her back into the team and finish the run.

Whew! Don’t you just love dogs.

Keep ‘em Northbound

Eric

Some days are just like that.

The runs have gotten longer and it just doesn’t make sense to run two 10 dog teams any more. For the last week I’ve been running a single 20 dog string. The power is awesome! Wednesday dawned cool and damp – it was literally freezing when we got to the track. Everything was wet from the rain the night before. First time it’s been under 40 when we ran and the dogs were pumped, even after running Monday and Tuesday. They started screaming with 14 dogs on the line and by the time I had all 20 hooked up they were foaming at the mouth and throwing clods of dirt into the air. When I released the snub line it felt like I’d been kicked.

About a mile into the run the dogs had almost settled down when we came around a corner and there was a huge cow moose standing across the trail 50 feet in front of my leaders. I slammed on the brakes, locked up all 4 wheels and started to skid on the mud. The moose looked up at me and wondered off into the woods. Whoa. Whoa. I’m trying to stop the team and give the moose time to get away. The dogs pay me no more attention than they do the occasional spider web across the trail. I finally give up, get off the brake, call the team up and get out of there. On the way back I see 30 feet of skid marks. Thank heaven that was a nice moose.

Five miles later there is a branch down across the trail. I stop the team and get off to remove it. Just then they surge and start to pull the 4-wheeler with the brakes locked. They pull the quad part way up the side of the trail and it rolls over. I’m running up making unkind comments and begging for cooperation. Catch them and roll the quad back. Minor damage – the speedometer housing is broken and the throttle level sheared off. The bad news is it isn’t my quad, but one I borrow from a friend on the days she isn’t using it to train my team. Luckily she is a very good friend and very understanding. Now I’m looking for Yamaha parts.

Eric

Basil and the Rabbit

The dogs in the back lot were fussing tonight. Something was out there. I looked, but couldn’t see anything. I grabbed the water bucket and started checking that all the dogs had water for the night. Basil was nervous, pacing around the north side of her circle, looking out towards the woods. Sure enough there was a very bedraggled small grey rabbit stuck in the fence barely within Basil’s reach – inside the dog lot. I couldn’t tell if Basil was curious or concerned. Back in the house to get a heavy coat and gloves (rabbits bite and claw), then back to the rabbit. I reached down and as soon as I touched it, the rabbit screamed and tried to run through the fence. It’s head was firmly trapped in the chicken wire mesh behind the farm wire fence. Basil came over to consult. The rabbit tried to push out with both hind feet. Yep, it’s head was truly caught. With me there to protect her, Basil came up for a closer look – sticking her head under my arm. Back in the house to get wire cutters. Outside, Basil was consulting again, crowding up for a closer look. I found the critical wire behind the rabbit’s head, carefully cut it and not the rabbit, which screamed and bounded off without so much as a thank you. Basil gave it one of those “that will show you” looks and settled down for a long fall nap.