Poem

This poem was on Karen Ramstead's site, a memorial poem for Iditarod dogs...

> I'll lend you for a little while, > a Pup of mine he said.> For you to love the while he lives,> and mourn for when he's dead.> > It may take 13-16 years,> or unfortunately 2-3.> But will you til I call him back,> train/ take care of him for me.> > He'll bring his charm to gladden you,> and should his stay be brief.> You'll have his lovely memories,> as solace for your grief.> > I cannot promise how long he'll stay,> Since all from Earth return.> But there are trails and Lessons down there,> I want this Pup to learn.> > I've looked this wide world over,> in My search for Mushers true.> And from the throngs that crowd Lifes Lanes,> I have selected you.> > Now, will you give him all your love,> nor count the labor vain.> Nor hate me when I come to call,> to take him back again.> > I fancied that I heard then say> " Dear Lord thy will be done",> for all the joy this Pup shall bring,> The risk of grief we'll run.> > We'll shelter him with tenderness,> we'll love him while we may.> And for the happiness we've known,> forever grateful stay.> > But should the Silver Harness fit him,> much sooner that we planned.> We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,> and try to understand.> > "MOM, the trails up here are Heaven Sent,> made by non other than God.> WE'LL look for YOU and all the rest,> way up north... on Iditarod.">
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Dogs' Heroes

Photos: Martin's/Frita's daughter, Yepa;

Rob with Zeus;

Frita;

Skinny, Buddy, Sierra;

Rob, Martin and Ruby.

Rob was yesterday's Dog Hero, walking Martin, Ruby, Skinny, Zeus, and Eos.

Remember the Doug Swingley poster that said, "Dogs Need Heroes Too?". Well, the SPK dogs have definite heroes, the people who take them for leash or free walks on long summer days.

Breeding

Blog info is for our kennel records, but also info for anyone interested in reading about the kennel.

Miki and Julie Collins have a good discussion on breeding in their 1991 book, DOG DRIVER. I've referred to this book many times over the years for this and their many other chapters of good information.

They recommend that you not breed the best of the best dogs in your yard, but carefully consider the best bloodlines for improvement of the 'species'.

Of course there is no guarantee that good bloodlines will produce good pups and sometimes winning pups come from nondescript bloodlines. In a planned breeding, however, you want to enhance all the factors you can. Breeding for positive traits is very important, e.g. good feet, coat, temperament , speed and endurance.

See photos for examples of proven to be good breedings.

Photo: Lillen, an example of excellent bloodlines/breeding. Lillen is a gee /haw command leader, very responsive, a thinker/a doer. She is out of Sven and Troll from the Butcher /Monson kennel. Her littermate, Yuksi, has been a main stud for Jeff King's winning Iditarod teams. Our dog , Copper is also a Sven descendant and the new dogs, Zeus and Eos, are Sven descendants. Zeus and Eos go back to the winning leader lines for Susan Butcher of Mattie/Meggie. Competitive mushers are breeding in that old line vigor. Lillen is in left swing

(right in the photo) in the ten dog team photo.

Paired with Lillen is Ruthie, daughter of Skinny/Liller and also a high performance leader, fast and responsive.

Photo: The ten dog team in the phot9 is lead by Liller (Butcher, Iditarod 2001) and Buffy,

leader out of Liller and Skinny ( Aliy Zirkle/Jerry Louden Yukon Quest gee /haw command leader). Skinny's lines go back to Swenson's Andy and Attla's Lingo. Liller was a perfect gee haw command leader as well.

All of the dogs in photo except Lillen/Liller are out of Skinny/Liller. One wheel dog is their granddaughter.

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Another Cool Day for Trailwalking

Photos: Ruby and Martin; new doghouse in progress; Josie and Ruthie, with Jim.

We've started the new dog houses. 3/4 inch plywood, sides 2x3, roof 2x4, back 2x2. We've used this design about 50 times (no exaggeration).

It was a sunny day but not too hot for trailwalking. Ruthie and Josie , Zeus and Eos and Martin and Ruby were the paired walkers today.

Kennel Champs

Photos: Top to Bottom, Eos meeting Skinny, Zeus,

Martin with Jim.

Each dog here is a champion to us, but some have gone some long miles in their lives, on race trails. When new dogs come here, the longer time residents like to be sure they are still just as important to us.

In these photos , Martin, on Aliy's Quest championship 2000 team, went for his usual walk with Jim.He's a very loving dog and usually won't go without me so I go into the house when he walks with Jim. He was honored with the first walk yesterday. His pal, Ruby, was along, too, but she was off and running before the photo.

Skinny (Jerry Louden's Quest leader) is King of the Jungle here, so he wants to meet the new dogs when they join us. Skinny has an injury that sidelines him a bit these days, although he still goes for trail walks twice a day. In the photo here, he meets Eos. Both Eos and Zeus have easy going temperaments, so the adjustment to

our kennel has been uneventful.

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New Kennel Members, on the Trail (Walking)

PHOTOS:

CHERRIES RIPENING.
EOS AND JIM.

EOS .

EOS.
ZEUS.

It doesn't take long for dogs to fit right in. Zeus and Eos, age ten, brother/sister, are acclimating very well.

They love their trail walks and they love their pen. Today Eos was burying an old toy of Tanni's and Zeus was eyeing the salamander that had climbed into his water pail.

Jim takes them for strenuous trail walks . He says they pull like draft horses and they do. Life is still in the laid back summer stages (maybe 'boring'?) but they are patient and very well behaved. Their father is Egil Ellis' Mike, and their mother is Susan Butcher's last main leader, Huslia so they certainly have pulling in their great bloodlines. Zeus was Susan's main stud in 2005.

Summer Trails

Summer in Retrograde

Well, the summer that wasn't much summer is starting to fade. New dogs, Zeus and Eos, have been lucky enough to not have too much heat/humidity, but the past few days have revved up some temps a bit.
Tonight we're facing thunderstorms and several dogs are tied for that since they try to rip their fences or jump them when the noise starts.

As I was just out settling them before dark, the coyotes were yipping up in the front of our land. They've ben very noisy the past few weeks, leaving scat on the trails, scratch marks, etc. The dogs do tolerate them quite well, not getting upset when they yip. The predicted thunder is expected to be the vengeful type so it may quiet all of them for a bit.

The trails are starting to turn brown, the early signs of autumn approaching. I like it! Dogs with allergies have had enough already.

Tonight we had seven does in for corn. Have had several bucks still coming in at odd times, beautiful racks, wow! Six, eight, ten points and wide spreads with tall spans.

Aliy Zirkle, Allen Moore , Natural Extremes Trips out of Nome

Check out, www.naturalextremes.com for the upcoming 2010 trips out of Nome with Aliy Zirkle and Allen Moore, following Iditarod. Sounds like the best of the best for adventure mushing.

Alaskan Wildfires and Travel

The Alaskan wildfire season continues to be challenging. Motorists are warned that driving on the Parks Highway compares to the hazards of severe winter driving, because of the poor visibility from smoke.
There are fire crews working along the Parks. We are glad now that we did not plan to travel to Two Rivers and Denali at this time (although we miss it!).

Zeus and Eos arrived at just the right time, getting out of the smoke. They are great dogs and went for their first run yesterday . It was a bit warm so it was just short, but Zeus is obviously a gee/haw leader and Eos responds to commands but not 'on the dime' as Zeus does, however she will run lead. What a treat to have them join us.

Photo: Denali view in wildfire smoke/particles under the full moon, from Talkeetna Air Taxi webcam. If you click on to enlarge you can view the fire particles in the air.

Zeus and Eos

Photos hard to take as they were in continual motion, but what beauties they are.

We are so fortunate to have two new retirees living with us, Zeus and Eos. They are brother and sisters, age ten, from Trailbreaker Kennel, Susan Butcher/David Monson. What a treat. They arrived close to midnight last night and we spent today building new houses, cleaning up a nice pen for them. They were tied at first, but we soon learned what well behaved pals they are and they have the free run of Tanni's former pen, nice big trees for shade and a good view of the whole kennel. They met quite a few of the dogs today, through the fence. They are friendly and easy and so much fun. Zeus has the houndy yodel, something like Stella's (she lived with us for a winter and we always have missed her yodel).