Red Shed Racing

The summer has been good to us so far.  The temperatures are allowing us to run the dogs a few days a week.  The dogs run slower in the summer but I think it is important to keep their heads in the game and their muscles toned.  I prefer to run on our outlaw cart but have been using the ATV also.  We have had the opportunity to give rides which has been alot of fun for everyone involved!

ABOVE Hannah and Monster after a run!

ABOVE Nathaniel Takes a turn!

ABOVE Look at us GO On-By the people!!!!!  GOOD DOGS!

In between runs the pups are enjoying the yard and their toys and pools to keep cool!

A little over a year ago when the snow was melting and the mud dried up I noticed something very peculiar.  ALL of my dogs were eating dirt!.   It seemed like they were doing it all day long.  They would scratch at the ground and uncover a little fresh dirt and just eat.  What struck me the most was that they were ALL doing it.

I had not ever noticed it before.  I had a few grass eaters but this dirt eating thing was new and a bit concerning.  WHY were the dogs eating dirt?  My mind went over the possibilities and I thought they were missing something in their diet.  Now even though they eat EVO and oat bran and raw fish and meat as a very healthy diet for sled dogs I still thought they were missing something.  My second thought was they were lacking the power to digest the raw diet easily.  Perhaps in addition to the oat bran they needed more fiber....

I posted on a sled dog forum and asked if this was occurring elsewhere and asked if anyone knew why.  I got many responses about frequent dirt eating yet not one person knew why.  So I went about researching this and found that dogs who eat dirt may be lacking Silicon in their diet.  This is a micro-nutrient that was recently (relatively speaking) discovered to be vital for canines too.

I did a lot of research on what food sources contain Silicon and also what would be the safest and easiest to give to the dogs.  I chose beetroot in a powder form.  I have been giving the dogs 1 teaspoon of the red powder three days per week for one year.  I found many many reasons to feed this other than just to curb the dirt  and grass eating (I will post another entry soon on just beetroot) so I fed it all winter too.  It wasn't until this spring that I could see if it had made any impact in the dirt eating.

Low and Behold!!!!!!!  NONE of my dogs are eating dirt!!!!!!!!!  Now they are digging for pleasure and I suspect the grass eaters will still eat grass for fun but will stop eating grass due to a silicon deficiency.  Only time will tell on the grass eating as it is just starting to green up now. 

If you want to learn more check out these websites!

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=dminerals

http://www.morethanalive.com/Beet-Root-Powder

I have some plans for the dogs this summer.  First I want to rotate each dog and take turns letting them ride in the car to the post office.  Some of them have been doing this regularly but I thought it only fair to give them all the opportunity to live the "pet-dog" life letting their heads hang out the back window while they take in the smells of the neighborhood and scan the horizon for anything and everything to bark like crazy at!  So far I have taken CatchMe, Rabbit, Pickle, Monster, Blue and Indigo!  They all did really well!

I also want to run them all summer with the training cart.  This takes a bit of finesse as they still have their winter coats on.  I will bathe them all this week to help their coats blow out.  Then I will start by only running them on the cooler days and work slowly into the warmer temps.  They can get overheated if you dont slowly allow them to work up a tollerance to the heat - just like humans!  Of course extra water, some electrolytes and lots of breaks on the trail will be part of the routine too.  I just want to make sure they get every chance to get out there because our winters have ben so marginal the last few years with the lack of snow etc...

Also I am going back out to hit the markets to raise money for the team selling our swag.  I really enjoyed this last summer and the dogs loved meeting all those people!

As the snow disapears I can look back on our winter with great Joy and Admiration.  The dogs all looked great and focused and strong this year.  I can even say I never "Lost my Team" Yeah!!!  The snow conditions were very low and it was bumpy conditions most of the season.  I took to wearing a helmet and most of the time ran smaller teams to keep things safer.  Well that is except that one time I ran eleven dogs!!!!!!  Ok so I know what your thinking people do it all the time whats the big deal?

So the story goes like this....  Our friend Sean just learned how to run a sled this year.  He is very good with the dogs so I gave him a seven dog team.  I took out a six dog team and left him to follow me around the 7 mile course.  My team is faster by far and after the halfway point I looked back along a straight away and saw his team.  I thought it was weird but there was fresh snow so I thought my team was just running slower than usual.  I teased my leaders and called them slow pokes and encouraged them onward.

One more time along the trail I looked back and saw them, they were gaining on us.  Now I could have been smarter and put two and two together - but alas once again I chided my team and called them snails!  I finished my run and was working with the gear when my team began to look out into the woods where the trail is.  Then I heard lots of barking.  I had told Sean to take it easy and give his team lots of breaks because the fresh snow would make it harder for them.  So I thought  -  oh well they are just taking a long break.

But then the barking heightened into a panic and I could hear ASPEN and TALON especially going nuts like they were hurt.  This whole time, still not doing the math of two plus two, I imagined Sean on the trail trying to load gigantic Talon into the tiny sled and all kinds of other crazy stuff. . .

This barking lasting five minutes now is getting more rowdy so I decide to run four dogs out the trail backwards to help Sean with whatever may be happening. (I had tried his cell and he didn't answer)  So I quickly loaded two dogs in the truck and fixed my sled up for four dogs and put Secrets and Monster in lead and Jumar and Indigo behind. 

I gave Secrets the Haw command to go out the left trail and she did with confidence (even though I was asking her to go backwards!)  We went just about 3/4 mile when we came upon a hysterical team of dogs with no driver!  Aha!  The light bulb finally went on and I realized that two plus two is indeed four - and dogs travel much much faster without the weight of a human!!!!  Although the dogs looked great I couldn't leave them there since Sean hadn't answered his phone - I had to get the dogs to the truck and then work out a plan for finding him!

So the moment of truth had arrived and I took an extra section of gangline out of my sled and hooked it on the front of the team of screaming dogs.  Then I moved two of my dogs over there.  Then I took their gangline off my sled and repeated what I just did.  So now I have eleven dogs seven of which are amped up and crazed to go and four who still want to run the trail backwards!  I then changed the front dogs all around so they would all go forward in the direction I wanted.  I went to pull the hook that was embeded in the fresh powder and I couldnt get it loose without letting go of the sled.  I bet you could guess what happened next!

Off and running are eleven crazed dogs and the sled without a driver again!!  But the hook plunged in and held the team and once again I tried to free it - ahhhhh yep!  I lost them for fifty feet again.  The third time I got smart and set the second hook which is easier to pull.  So I pulled the one and then the other and off we went flying and careening down the trail eleven dogs and me on a little tiny sprint sled!  The sled tipped over and I got drug a fair distance and my helmeted head came very closed to the chainlink fence which lines that stretch of trail.  I finally had to let go as my face plunged into the powder and was headed for some scarry looking shrubs.  The hook plunged in and held them and I gave it one more try - this eleven sprint dog thing is way crazy!!!  This time I managed to drive the team home unscathed and in one piece at lightening speed vowing to remain a limited class sprint musher!

Oh yeah didn't I start this by claiming I never lost my team!  Well technically this was Sean's team right?

I hurried to get the dogs and gear loaded  -  tried to call Sean a few more times - still no answer - I looked and found his cell phone in his truck!  As I was almost ready to leave to go borrow a snowmachine, a very very worried Sean emerged from the woods.  His first words were - Are they all ok? 

He had lost them around the 2nd mile and had walked the whole way trying to find them.  He could have turned around and come to the truck a lot easier but he was more worried they would take a longer route or get stuck out there somewhere so he followed their tracks the whole way!  I guess we'll keep him around for next year cause He does love the dogs!!  But he has to take his cell phone on the trail from now on!!!!

Thankfully we are getting some snow in Kasilof!  We have been out on sleds for a month now but until this weekend the snow has been marginal.  We are currently running 3 teams of 5 dogs but with more snow the team size can get BIGGER!  We have a new partner in crime named Sean who has been skijoring and mushing the dogs too.  Big Thanks SEAN   The dogs are all healthy happy and in the groove!

Indigo has been leading with CathchMe's team and she is a shining star.  Next week I will put her back in with the faster team and push the distance with the larger team!  All of the dogs are showing signs of maturity and each run they get under their belt really seems to help them focus. 

I am so Proud of them ALL . . .

The last few months have been tough for us and for many others.  I am however able to start by saying thankfully ALL of us here at Red Shed Racing are healthy and well...

It is Jaunary and as I look out the window snow flakes are falling.  I am hopeful that finally we will get enough snow to run with a sled.  Fall training "so to speak" never really ended here in my neck of the woods.  We had a tease of snow that was followed by rain and warm temps.  That left us training with our ATV as our only option.  On most of our runs the ATV would quit runnning and these wonderful dogs had to pull the dead machine with me runnning alongside as much as I could.  Their hearts are SO BIG they never quit they just went with it and pulled their little hearts out!  I am so proud of them.  So even though the training has been tough I was blessed with seeing just how great these animals have become! 

I did manage to get out on the lake when there was a bit of snow with them though and that was really FUN!

I had to make a REALLY TOUGH choice for us here this season.  And I hope our fans will understand why.  We will not be racing this year - we will focus on training.  There are many reasons for this but I will explain the two main ones:

Firstly, I had advertsied to get a handler for the season to help me at the races.  I felt stongly that I needed a person who could devote the time to getting to know the dogs and all their quirks.  Lets face it they are a wild bunch - that's why they ended up here!  Last year I had a helper that could only come to the races and didn't know the dogs or their needs or even a good routine for the equipment.  It worked but not very well.  I had to explain each and every thing as we  were in the middle of each task and that was very stressful.  Racing is challenging enough and I don't believe it is enjoyable for me or the dogs if it is that stressful.  I did not find the right person for this task this season and had to make a choice.  I decided that the dogs and I would be better off sticking to training and enjoying what it is we love to do together.  I am disapointed that we will not be able to show the dogs talents off this year and this decision did not come easily. 

Secondly, times are tough financially all over this country.  This last month I personally was aware of 160 sled dogs that needed homes.  Forty of those dogs were in a "rescue" that was closing down.  I have to be very deligent with our budget when it comes to the dogs here at Red Shed Racing.  I need to make certain their level of care remains the BEST!  I have had to tighten up my finances just like so many people have had too but I will not compromise the dogs or their nutrition or vet care etc..  The money that it would take to travel to races seemed out of reach this year.  I feel the need to be ultra cautious with our funds in these times.  I hear so many mushers say they have changed their feeding habits due to costs.  Or don't have money to keep decent shelter for their dogs yet they continue to pursue racing.  That is irresponsible in my opinion.  

We are grateful for our sponsors in 2010 especially in these times!  I know the folks who sponsor us want what is best for the dogs too!  So we will continue to train (conditions permitting) and feed EVO and take care of health issues as our priority this year.  I will work harder to get a handler next year and raise money specifically for racing!!

Flawless - Hardly a word I have ever been able to use to describe a fall training day - Until today!

It was a misty rain soaked run.   I was setting out to do a route we had never done before and wanted the very best leader for the maiden voyage.  Once the scent is on the route teams to follow can learn faster it seems.  So Secrets Fabulous was my choice.  I picked her partner Jumar who doesn't doesn't lead that often.  Just a two dog team - easy to control on the cart and also the dogs have to work at it a bit more getting better conditioning. At the hookup Secrets was as calm as I have ever seen her.  She and Jumar lined out and waited till they heard the clink of the quick release - then they were off like a shot. 

As we approached our main intersection with caution the dogs slowed and took a tight gee turn as directed.  We flew down the road without a sound except paws and panting.  Then when it came time to direct the two toward a new turn that leaves the road and proceeds to an almost hidden trail in the trees.  I positioned the cart to the right side and said "Gee-Trail"  The pair took a quick look to the right and up the embankment they surged like they had done it a thousand times.   We swirled through the campground by the lake and and made our way back to where we had come out through the trees.  As I gave the "Haw"  directive Jumar perked up and swung Secrets left without hesitation. Jumar was showing really good Gee Haw potential in swing last year - but here we had it - He is becoming A Gee Haw LEADER!!!

On our way back down the familiar road toward home a car approached from behind.  I had always taught the team to stop at every passing car.  And before I made my move to stop  Secrets positioned herself to stop and wait untill the car passed.  Some might see that as a failure because I hadn't given the command yet - but in my book - Success!!  I want my dogs to stay away from moving cars!!!

As always during fall training there are loose dogs and driveways which seem to pose numerous distraction possibilities.  We passed our first loose dog without a hitch.  Jumar didn't try to pull Secrets into any driveways!!  On our last stretch in while passing the lake I looked out and saw two swans swimming near the bank.

When we got back home I did a little dance with Jumar and congratulated him on the very best run of his career!  And of course I showered Secrets with hugs and kisses and thanked her for the perfect run.

Next Up CatchMe and Indigo.  I had yet to run our new little Ingido but I was told she is an easy dog to hook up.  First I put Catchme on the tug and then brought Indigo to join him.  She politely gave him a kiss and said lets do this -  Off we went! 

They ran and ran their hearts out and passed the neighbor's dog then the cow moose and her babe.  They were both all business up there.  They took my commands and followed the new route without a hitch.  Indigo clearly wanted to go faster than CatchMe is capable of running but kept a positive attitude and tried to encourage him onward.

After it was all said and done they got a wealth of praise back at home!!!!  

I am not naive - this kind of day is rare in my life.  Our motely crew of dogs are very diverse and have many individul needs that make having a clean run challenging.  But two in one day!!! Horray!!!!

If you have been keeping up with our Dog Diaries you will recall that when Hemingway passed away I was expecting some changes in our doggie dynamics to occur.  I will call them Yin and Yang as the are opposing forces working together towards a single leadership goal.

CatchMe - Yin

He is a constant leader of our group.  He is ON 100 percent of the time in his role of comanding order and rank.  He keeps a close watch over the unstable members and keeps them in line.  His tactic is fierce yet gentle and he usually growls first - barks second and gently bites third!  He has taken over Hemingway's role in keeping the other dogs out of the pantry and tells on anyone whos is trying to steal food.  He is very serious about his work but Paul and I often burst out laughing when he shows his teeth becuase they are so ugly (Crooked and Broken - from before we knew him!)

Skittles - Yang

Skittles is the most  Laissez-faire leader I have ever met.  She is laid back yet has her limits.  She steps in with just enough of a production to make her point before retreating back to her slumber.  She also supports the group by keeping things fair and orderly among the ranks.  She has stepped in and commanded order in the chaos inside my house - Where Hemingway left off!  Whenever the wrestling gets too rowdy she jumps in and stands over the crowd and gives a low growl.  The dogs disperse and she goes back to her position on my bed. 

The two work well together and have taken on Hemingway's jobs with style and pride!  They are opposing forces only in their style and manner of authority.  They have equal respect for eachother - however they each wish the bed belonged solely to them!

We allow our 15 dogs to live in a fence that is 2 acres divided into 5 parts.  I couldn't imagine chaining our dogs because It makes me sad.  We had to chain our dogs from October-July when we first moved to Alaska.  This was because the ground was frozen and we had no choice.   During this time they were able to socialize in a small chain link kennel in small groups daily.  Additionally each dog came inside each night to be with us and eachother.  Even with the time off the chains they had I had an ulcer by the summer because this set up made me so stressed.  I am sure the dogs handled it better than me but nonetheless - they were not as happy as they had been in Colorado. 

Free Run Kennels such as our with loads of space for the dogs to run around allow for more exercise and the ability to explore and interact with each other.   I witness this every day - the digging, wrestling, chasing, jumping and almost constant activity.  The dogs are in larger group if we are home and in groups of 3-4 when we are not.

It crosses my mind often that there are dangers about free running that do not come into play in a traditional dog yard.  I weigh the risks and the benefits and still choose the fence.

Huskies - EAT anything!!!!  The Good - Bad - Deadly!

This time of year It takes me twice as long to scoop the poop!  That is because I am also searching the terrain for any and all mushrooms.  Mushrooms can be deadly to dogs!  All the experts agree that even some types of mushrooms that are ok for humans may pose a threat to dogs.  Since there are so many varieties and it is unknown just how many are dangerous to dogs i must scoop them all.  Paul is constantly saying "Hey wait!  That is a good one - don't throw it away!"  If he wants Mushrooms he can pick them on the other 8 acres of our property!!  I am putting every one I see in the poop bucket! 

Dogs eat grass too.  Our dogs seem to eat a huge amount of greens in the yard but there is alway a danger they could eat horsetail and become sick or worse.  I still have not found a way to erradicate this weed - if you pull it out it causes it to spread twice as fast!

Dogs eat whatever they find on the ground - these object can cause obstructions and require surgery.  Surgery does not always work if there is extensive damage to the intestines - they may die anyway.

The dogs as I mentioned are always on the go - playing chase is big fun!  It is usually a high speed event.  The dogs need to leap over obsticles, dodge  other dogs and make quick manuevors.  This could lead to an injury.  When you add to it that there are new holes and canverns in the ground that are being dug daily it makes the dangers even worse!

Finally while our dogs generally enjoy eachothers company they play hard and often.  The playtime can get pretty rough and sometimes feelings can get hurt and a small fight will break out.  If there are 10 dogs together the fight can get big before too long.  That is why we keep them small groups when we are not home. There is always that risk that a dog fight may turn deadly but we do everything we can to keep our dogs in stable groups that play nicely!

All the dangers are there.  I don't wish any ill on my dogs but I dont want them to miss out on the fullness of living in a pack.  They need eachother!  They need to inertact and run and jump and leap and bite with eachother.  I need to do everything I can to avoid these hazards - even though I can't stop everything from happening.

I admit the risk - I accept the risk!!

Summer Fundraising Success!!

We made it out to the local summer fairs and markets to raise awareness about our cause as well as money for our team.  We had a variety of items - T-Shirts, Hats, Kites, Travel Mugs, Stickers and Magnets all with our logo on them.  We even had a little game where folks could donate a dollar and try and win the items by playing the lollipop game.  Our Sloggan - Everyone Wins at Red Shed Racing - because at  the very least everyone walked away with a lollipop!!  Since we believe all of our dogs are winners it seemed to fit.

I met countless people who were very supportive of our team!  It was delightful to meet alaskans and tourists who wanted to learn more about our sport!  I showed off our scrapbook and the professional race photos and our article in People magazine.  On Weds I was able to bring a dog and people were just so happy to meet them!  I talked up our dogs and showed how they live to pull and how much they LOVE what they do!!

The number one most popular question I got was - "Why do sled dogs need to be rescued?"

I explained that like many animal driven sports there is a tendency to over-breed - intentionally or accidentally.  I went on to say that some dogs are sold but many are not.  Some sled dogs are given away as pets to people who may not be ready to handle the energy of a husky.  Many times those animals end up in shelters. Or Mushers turn unwanted sled dogs into their local shelter because they did not "make their team."  I explained that these are the lucky dogs -  who get a second chance in a situation that was never their fault.  I also discussed the high incidents of culling in our sport.  Overall I kept my answer to this question professional and informative.  Yes it is a problem - no it is not because every musher has poor ethics  - I made this very clear. 

I am proud of our sport and the many positive things about it!  I am not however going to hide the problems - providing public education is one way to raise awareness in hopes of inspiring change.

Additionally, I accomplised my goal to get our dogs out and about to meet their fans!  Socialization being a huge part of our program for our dogs - I think it went very well.  Each dog had a unique experience some were more outgoing than others - Rabbit pictured below found the day very fun and he enjoyed relaxing in my chair between people!

All told the 8 dogs got to get out there (Blue, Kodiak, Aspen, Skittles, Pickle, Indigo, Rockstar and Rabbit)

We will be out there again next summer - hope to see you there!