tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46843243496776151082024-03-21T11:43:23.291-07:00ByDog Siberianspurebred Siberian Husky sled dog kennel in Corvallis, MontanaCobey Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364903945776010302noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-297431992279016002021-01-17T12:42:00.001-08:002021-01-17T12:42:35.371-08:00A Not So Cold but Chill Winter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Due to Covid outbreak, a lot of races are canceled. And those that aren't, we decided we will not race at this year. It is likely the last year the "Fast Four" could be competitive, which has made it hard to decide not to race. While it's a bummer, I think we need to do what we can to reduce the spread of disease. The sooner we kick this outbreak, the sooner we can get back to racing. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7wb9FAIm8XxoS8ITVpH0fHK6Xqx8CKFCsFnzK7B3eyly2RPcgeg9cf6deVP8WL33LDX3OPxR9OeduE1ByVDZ5c3NcHJyYfAsMiZz-cy_Cu18oZlJeUz75uy4tkfJIS2hyS4ZbaiOys3E/s2048/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7wb9FAIm8XxoS8ITVpH0fHK6Xqx8CKFCsFnzK7B3eyly2RPcgeg9cf6deVP8WL33LDX3OPxR9OeduE1ByVDZ5c3NcHJyYfAsMiZz-cy_Cu18oZlJeUz75uy4tkfJIS2hyS4ZbaiOys3E/s320/IMG_2963.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vaxie the puppy along for a sled ride with Rohn.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So instead this season, we've just been enjoying our recreational runs. This season, I have done a majority of my early season training and weekday training using my SandLynx cart (instead of the ATV). This really paid off, I can feel the incredible power that they've gained. That coupled with their speed would have led to some great race times this season.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpzd4SY3TBb5QgIdIPq9L9Vxlzh0taSraKdNg7rVy6Y5KmpoF5T99rerqJRYQd-oLTJ84oCvz_sf7RZxkeJ9mQdyMReoAhKFvJjDvHYgut3WyBFqtmpTp5krqwIhKZtoYsMwnvCDz5F7W/s2048/IMG_3020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpzd4SY3TBb5QgIdIPq9L9Vxlzh0taSraKdNg7rVy6Y5KmpoF5T99rerqJRYQd-oLTJ84oCvz_sf7RZxkeJ9mQdyMReoAhKFvJjDvHYgut3WyBFqtmpTp5krqwIhKZtoYsMwnvCDz5F7W/s320/IMG_3020.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snow break on a nice, blue sky day. Keegan along for the ride this time.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The weather this winter has been way too warm. The snow levels are pretty low and lower elevation sites have had variable conditions. This is why we have been able to train with the SandLynx cart most of the winter, because the road/trail has been free of snow and ice.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefagfOjPtsRzjyDXGDGk_WuaQNKbaGmvk6Ufv2W2sMSukOL316ZyvuloXPID8_c8N1V1NzUAuRDuHtKQ05y6ZfG0MEfVtHAg1AiWLD0offNOvmyqrsPuMlEk4o2HtuHCXuEaPauQZ3hKF/s2048/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefagfOjPtsRzjyDXGDGk_WuaQNKbaGmvk6Ufv2W2sMSukOL316ZyvuloXPID8_c8N1V1NzUAuRDuHtKQ05y6ZfG0MEfVtHAg1AiWLD0offNOvmyqrsPuMlEk4o2HtuHCXuEaPauQZ3hKF/s320/IMG_3027.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power and speed!!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This season I have been working on improving my skijoring skills. Last season I took a skate skiing lesson. Over the summer I patched together a beginners skate ski package to use this year. And after I run the team, I usually take the old dogs out. In this way, I've still had to practice my skate skiing because the old dogs are pulling very hard. And it's also allowed me to stay upright more than I would be with a fast, strong dog. I took Buck out once, though (after a long sled run) to give it a try. That was fun!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zEKpsYHDQ3DO3Zvf010OIZN29QFInhbVfQmQQa1RpPKdkBU3Kq3J2IWGJbU9XeWvFtQIL9TecTYZ2HdOmvhMuOhayYw11L2sb-RwgOzri1aH3cGc9M6GBZGGyduQdRP1GSWhReMP-n4h/s2048/IMG_2973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1887" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zEKpsYHDQ3DO3Zvf010OIZN29QFInhbVfQmQQa1RpPKdkBU3Kq3J2IWGJbU9XeWvFtQIL9TecTYZ2HdOmvhMuOhayYw11L2sb-RwgOzri1aH3cGc9M6GBZGGyduQdRP1GSWhReMP-n4h/s320/IMG_2973.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck and I headed out for a quick skijor.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6FJ2zTbH_NQjt88UU2ohDkqJBw29dywS_8SQO-aw26eWTC3G93LF7_cg1-fT4-rrGLHQZ_qpPUKfvngY9pz8650_dxLc9EgIR8QthLnFw5JMILatbXp_1szCu-YOYD8soyjAuE8RNR2m/s2048/IMG_3030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6FJ2zTbH_NQjt88UU2ohDkqJBw29dywS_8SQO-aw26eWTC3G93LF7_cg1-fT4-rrGLHQZ_qpPUKfvngY9pz8650_dxLc9EgIR8QthLnFw5JMILatbXp_1szCu-YOYD8soyjAuE8RNR2m/s320/IMG_3030.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skijoring with Tensaw and Isis.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-44949488764207527332020-12-25T17:47:00.000-08:002020-12-25T17:47:03.693-08:00So Many New Friends<p> We've been busy this month making new friends; furry and human alike!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJT1jbweAtE-PoC2lSlmlVRp4jOwRnEFpfO8pwbaG0PXLuWsTCsqH365rqXF-pcSLX7jKyV6uWfGTxcvI-DhVl2sJ8ese-bDfyyv1eB1VE_vu4NxZ7fBN2khyi2RhVHG_rL87F3VfSnpD/s2048/IMG_2528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJT1jbweAtE-PoC2lSlmlVRp4jOwRnEFpfO8pwbaG0PXLuWsTCsqH365rqXF-pcSLX7jKyV6uWfGTxcvI-DhVl2sJ8ese-bDfyyv1eB1VE_vu4NxZ7fBN2khyi2RhVHG_rL87F3VfSnpD/s320/IMG_2528.JPG" /></a></p><p>Vaxie is growing and fitting in nicely. She's JUST figured out this week that she's less likely to make the old dogs angry if she approaches with kisses instead of jumping on their faces. Isis and her continue to be pals (better than I could have imagined). Tensaw (the old man, 13 yrs old) enjoys playing with her in the mornings when he feels refreshed and lucid. She's been meeting and playing with Buck and Jig at the fence today. I think soon she will be able to meet (each, individually at first) in a yard. I'm still a little nervous that Buck will not play gently with her. So I need to monitor their interaction at the fence a few more days, especially when she runs.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_SLDs53Ews_qavBF93KNi21jhIkVoQWtl5H3YifBPHEo0JoRmRAQx5lPyaoW80ohFqTFyDV-hBsZVtfwM5SQj6ZqReD9G7vBHX29SLaPhJfQyP0t4DGKoCLUtL1UUPZkP_j-vSOSx1lm/s2048/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_SLDs53Ews_qavBF93KNi21jhIkVoQWtl5H3YifBPHEo0JoRmRAQx5lPyaoW80ohFqTFyDV-hBsZVtfwM5SQj6ZqReD9G7vBHX29SLaPhJfQyP0t4DGKoCLUtL1UUPZkP_j-vSOSx1lm/s320/IMG_2588.JPG" /></a></p><p>Vaxie also made a new puppy friend, Nox, a flat coated retriever. He just joined the family of a good friend. So he and she met up and played. It took Vaxie a little while to warm up to him, but once she did, they had a blast! There will be more meet ups in the future.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60jYXYMsBzxpf7ZJBO9O4NCw6CwX1JCjDrJ26tqOQpZ7Hw6_TKB7Rhm0bh1d2SgInw1BNZBDyfV_jF6sKyIGnihPWN1roM4kSNOEJsKVj75MVLk1Tm1VxkyrOjCB38THlDJUq-3qSHOkm/s2048/IMG_2558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60jYXYMsBzxpf7ZJBO9O4NCw6CwX1JCjDrJ26tqOQpZ7Hw6_TKB7Rhm0bh1d2SgInw1BNZBDyfV_jF6sKyIGnihPWN1roM4kSNOEJsKVj75MVLk1Tm1VxkyrOjCB38THlDJUq-3qSHOkm/s320/IMG_2558.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-rO_s8x1hC5vc7mmiaEulhtOyOaLFPYUKwaykGUQ5D8dnJUAc7IBGyFbw9mZj47LqxtvJ8UsxzOFqHP3dLl0u09IEmONDKwFrK7M2HEFztNpAaik-RrztkrJQu7kS8H9eLSFuf2WYzta/s2048/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-rO_s8x1hC5vc7mmiaEulhtOyOaLFPYUKwaykGUQ5D8dnJUAc7IBGyFbw9mZj47LqxtvJ8UsxzOFqHP3dLl0u09IEmONDKwFrK7M2HEFztNpAaik-RrztkrJQu7kS8H9eLSFuf2WYzta/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" /></a></p><p>Our eldest son has been wanting a new house cat for a few months now. We finally found a good kitten at the humane society and he came home this week. He's adorable and hilarious to watch play and jump off everything. Bold little guy. He came with the name Coconut. The boys keep calling him a 'she.' So I've been calling him Mr. Coconut. Originally our son wanted to name him Russell (after Russell Wilson the Seahawks QB) but liked Coconut. Cobey is still trying to convince him that Russell is a better name for this cat. I personally like Coconut. He may have multiple names and one long official name "Russell the Coconut cat"...?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ7OJwxmiuYhqXZFZb-JWv5wEaK9xwWYoDr-P72nsGSpvSiaaEyyVd19DfrMeG-JgtjJ7P5EX9jNHCIOrsPumf714WvlJaT6LLPigmt1Acc8znQOZ0TSVWjSNkwTljvzmdNdd5z4KEdT2/s2048/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ7OJwxmiuYhqXZFZb-JWv5wEaK9xwWYoDr-P72nsGSpvSiaaEyyVd19DfrMeG-JgtjJ7P5EX9jNHCIOrsPumf714WvlJaT6LLPigmt1Acc8znQOZ0TSVWjSNkwTljvzmdNdd5z4KEdT2/s320/IMG_2648.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU-UcJpzIWeGieAvZSJM6L7OxRE-BRzRRiWGkImwuaob-D2RDnYM6aZ0BLDjELVV16IExSohnn5ZTMD-cUqxH83ab_OWeXH4qTAB67ZBfle8yzM_OUR4IUzy31Is-f6s-6eK4LCHh8s33/s2048/IMG_2705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU-UcJpzIWeGieAvZSJM6L7OxRE-BRzRRiWGkImwuaob-D2RDnYM6aZ0BLDjELVV16IExSohnn5ZTMD-cUqxH83ab_OWeXH4qTAB67ZBfle8yzM_OUR4IUzy31Is-f6s-6eK4LCHh8s33/s320/IMG_2705.JPG" /></a></p><p>While we likely will not be racing this year we're continuing to run the dogs regularly on the sled and cart. This is mostly for their health and happiness (and ours). It's always a good start (or end) to the day taking them out. But the younger dogs are much more manageable at home when they've had their exercise.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58qyjKyFtxKhk9xiLlKdnegz42tNn5UZf15zh2C02gFzJxT46fUXPP7NbLA2p1bDh3yDOttFx7B1GNlpchSKuC9-AGbdibBuugbmjPgtDjUlJn3aBTflFnBzInD7rgalaFpGlmS_T84jq/s2048/IMG_2692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58qyjKyFtxKhk9xiLlKdnegz42tNn5UZf15zh2C02gFzJxT46fUXPP7NbLA2p1bDh3yDOttFx7B1GNlpchSKuC9-AGbdibBuugbmjPgtDjUlJn3aBTflFnBzInD7rgalaFpGlmS_T84jq/s320/IMG_2692.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrJsr0vhwM3JYeDZdoE46iChyphenhyphenDzEGdIV9RsbCMaXamXusYsf2vWJNnLoD4hXqi0xb8Twj3q5t9UbEKLYUbxPNlcFoliFOcnr8-X8rbDM5f3N_ixlAjmv_mdVv9MBSrJ4u7RTAE0Qr6QZ7/s2048/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrJsr0vhwM3JYeDZdoE46iChyphenhyphenDzEGdIV9RsbCMaXamXusYsf2vWJNnLoD4hXqi0xb8Twj3q5t9UbEKLYUbxPNlcFoliFOcnr8-X8rbDM5f3N_ixlAjmv_mdVv9MBSrJ4u7RTAE0Qr6QZ7/s320/IMG_2596.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhM5zT0UezD2p9fJsyor-pzpjfXU5A4EcC8Fz3rqYxCld_P_ArZWh5tFYiK7lEIsKgoC8djhf4EW05GGYyHYu_mAPFM8D0VA0XiKwwZIr2CsPfS0jGsWro_JuESMcs5hlbscaz6zu2Qgo/s2048/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhM5zT0UezD2p9fJsyor-pzpjfXU5A4EcC8Fz3rqYxCld_P_ArZWh5tFYiK7lEIsKgoC8djhf4EW05GGYyHYu_mAPFM8D0VA0XiKwwZIr2CsPfS0jGsWro_JuESMcs5hlbscaz6zu2Qgo/s320/IMG_2696.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOHu2YKQKKDTG6WMQgFvHoEg8a-o4BtooYsrUYetYSPhkIXmZzbTkhAjoRy6m5xeMijVwmMwp5QZKNbo_WdvOF5dJPzeTNrmELu8DryTSkBgCtdVwrqC5uyp3FLmLHYzAJ-OAv3y_K2eT/s1280/IMG_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOHu2YKQKKDTG6WMQgFvHoEg8a-o4BtooYsrUYetYSPhkIXmZzbTkhAjoRy6m5xeMijVwmMwp5QZKNbo_WdvOF5dJPzeTNrmELu8DryTSkBgCtdVwrqC5uyp3FLmLHYzAJ-OAv3y_K2eT/s320/IMG_2702.JPG" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The old dogs, Tensaw and Isis out on a canicross.</span></p><p>We also met some new in the acquaintances, fast becoming friends. They recently moved to the valley and are related to some other friends of ours. They have two boys around the ages of our sons so it only seems natural. Last weekend we met up at Lost Trail pass to show them the area and our dog team in action. Their youngest son rode in the sled for a bit too.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVK8JMLd6wSwDXxvPAHpJhM2Uu3Ut2_0TcPFawDSbZ8ylbxJBzhJgsZIxMkfjt-F3UfoEpf-6g4PYiLokE-BZ2nHv4R10bGee8DoMyU6YK07ljlXitsWRGSWfdnppyYsYooU7MXeGyv0i/s2048/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVK8JMLd6wSwDXxvPAHpJhM2Uu3Ut2_0TcPFawDSbZ8ylbxJBzhJgsZIxMkfjt-F3UfoEpf-6g4PYiLokE-BZ2nHv4R10bGee8DoMyU6YK07ljlXitsWRGSWfdnppyYsYooU7MXeGyv0i/s320/IMG_2571.JPG" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyasbBLJcgLr3DqnWtdwShi695KGecv-l5uwzS418PYnYqETktQnbv7n7Tc_VE1TQXDRv21WfiOgHKzCW3S5r1tHhRctS57YE93YowI_Uyi14EReOU_VmnGxA-XeFKXi867Tuf-ppK8RP/s2048/IMG_2569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyasbBLJcgLr3DqnWtdwShi695KGecv-l5uwzS418PYnYqETktQnbv7n7Tc_VE1TQXDRv21WfiOgHKzCW3S5r1tHhRctS57YE93YowI_Uyi14EReOU_VmnGxA-XeFKXi867Tuf-ppK8RP/s320/IMG_2569.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p>Merry Christmas to your family and furry friends! We hope 2021 is a better year for everyone!</p>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-37958619459098463752020-12-16T20:25:00.001-08:002020-12-16T20:25:14.298-08:00Puppy Announcement: Vaccines Save Lives<p>We would like to introduce you to our newest ByDog family member: Tumnatki's Vaccines Save Lives of ByDog, aka: Vaxie.</p><p>She was part of the Public Health litter from Karen Yeargain at Tumnatki Siberians in Oregon. Her mother was Malala and father was Tovar. Karen and I are in the public health fields and we thought it appropriate for this litter, in the middle of a pandemic.</p><p>Our team is getting a little old and we figured it was past time for us to add to the crew. She is a very smart, sweet, energetic and happy puppy. She's learning fast and trying to make friends but all these old dogs here are less than ideal playmates.</p><p>A friend will also be getting a puppy soon and Vaxie can't wait to have someone fun to play with! Enough talk, here are some photos of cuteness:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z_vpLkCZ4_tUP5XJ9_ZlawtO-sznFlByuAwLeOMYc3_7f0xBxX0gDE0cBgmWlLziDejMSrOUAGEHQjM6M4Y_mxvlUzFobkYVuZtGG9gIrb-DP45gEJGjvp8Ty1P401KscNOTcjbvcbVR/s2048/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z_vpLkCZ4_tUP5XJ9_ZlawtO-sznFlByuAwLeOMYc3_7f0xBxX0gDE0cBgmWlLziDejMSrOUAGEHQjM6M4Y_mxvlUzFobkYVuZtGG9gIrb-DP45gEJGjvp8Ty1P401KscNOTcjbvcbVR/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First night with, at the time, a still unnamed sweet puppy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AtlXYpxCP4qBn7QhKdbSkfFb1CaJY_DCohxjZV0-pwJcCbvQVKtpgiwOGmCUUNngDvpJz3az4hknsVU644EdMLpMGL3XFm3NnTMkdpLneDx6mrsW3OCHckVQchBujdyBawIrQWzEeamk/s2048/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AtlXYpxCP4qBn7QhKdbSkfFb1CaJY_DCohxjZV0-pwJcCbvQVKtpgiwOGmCUUNngDvpJz3az4hknsVU644EdMLpMGL3XFm3NnTMkdpLneDx6mrsW3OCHckVQchBujdyBawIrQWzEeamk/s320/IMG_2276.JPG" /></a></blockquote></blockquote><p>Vaxie on the long trip home. AWWWW! </p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6y2QW-zvQ0H4Rw35meeHbX9ACU29gzHFuzanhsyiH1qFzQjOd3Amg2IKO_oWFD_Qzm-4Id_cn2SIZW7nGK452uOa6hj_ZQJYribs9oZGfhcL3rngnLmvK7LCLu6RdgU7PmB-orM3caZi/s2048/IMG_2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6y2QW-zvQ0H4Rw35meeHbX9ACU29gzHFuzanhsyiH1qFzQjOd3Amg2IKO_oWFD_Qzm-4Id_cn2SIZW7nGK452uOa6hj_ZQJYribs9oZGfhcL3rngnLmvK7LCLu6RdgU7PmB-orM3caZi/s320/IMG_2282.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still in the majority of the day napping phase.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hVTgk0_GWCGe3w7022K1gmun9UhvR133LGzqk1-Yxdnoxn77KRjEjBL1mEoVWd87hksi97TiTVz7rjB6KtkOz403xNLAJxr91fk6u9xEsRtwPU00TPRg19t9jQkF2C8TMdjMfrHtX08C/s2048/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hVTgk0_GWCGe3w7022K1gmun9UhvR133LGzqk1-Yxdnoxn77KRjEjBL1mEoVWd87hksi97TiTVz7rjB6KtkOz403xNLAJxr91fk6u9xEsRtwPU00TPRg19t9jQkF2C8TMdjMfrHtX08C/s320/IMG_2389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vaxie with her pal, Buzz. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, "ms pゴシック", "ms pgothic", 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Wild About Cats Rescue & Sanctuary</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yJlzBZppcrDErGci7KIAT5oaK0cmh5dr7ROnMMRR8ELPALuAeNRyduGnIUGyDaJvSa2Fh57kPQ31YF0jF1Lg1RT2Ze7RvrLuHDE5-5i0eBxIOaxg-A0a9GCGAC-8ALpso8VNegZcPge6/s2048/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yJlzBZppcrDErGci7KIAT5oaK0cmh5dr7ROnMMRR8ELPALuAeNRyduGnIUGyDaJvSa2Fh57kPQ31YF0jF1Lg1RT2Ze7RvrLuHDE5-5i0eBxIOaxg-A0a9GCGAC-8ALpso8VNegZcPge6/s320/IMG_2387.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sleeping puppies (like babies) are so cute!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0MTGYrSVCXTcr0n0bvgeIv2BYn0H4BfRecUy2zbPygei96FE4qFtdSt8bQsCTavAPgbcW8BKQgd8uxNvEHgY2AfghcorwYMGcNs9O_NFo6MLFdyJ2ImOWdvbwk6lPYowNnZZFr1B0y-W/s2048/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0MTGYrSVCXTcr0n0bvgeIv2BYn0H4BfRecUy2zbPygei96FE4qFtdSt8bQsCTavAPgbcW8BKQgd8uxNvEHgY2AfghcorwYMGcNs9O_NFo6MLFdyJ2ImOWdvbwk6lPYowNnZZFr1B0y-W/s320/IMG_2399.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She loves her bed!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQsdL9dKuyC1CBLOpBhUoMZqsj-JM3Ni_Say_PLCMW-qEdOEHTfGWANGFVVSC4yKf_nmqNzpWMsh1o8WFjxWdyL_3Q89BTE78_wDRSc2wwBB_1WL120RgkMo8ipfe-TMFdJatlsMYWNrr/s2048/IMG_2503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQsdL9dKuyC1CBLOpBhUoMZqsj-JM3Ni_Say_PLCMW-qEdOEHTfGWANGFVVSC4yKf_nmqNzpWMsh1o8WFjxWdyL_3Q89BTE78_wDRSc2wwBB_1WL120RgkMo8ipfe-TMFdJatlsMYWNrr/s320/IMG_2503.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trying on a harness like a "big girl." Just like the first time in a collar, she didn't care at all about the harness! She's born to be a cuddly sleddog!!</div>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-10328543257005528882020-10-10T20:43:00.001-07:002020-10-18T10:48:17.128-07:00Collars<p>Friday morning we had a terrifying incident involving our dog's collars. </p><p>Right before I was getting ready to leave for work, the dogs started howling (which they do a lot of) but it didn't sound right. So I went out to find two of my dogs in a strange tangled pile on the ground with their littermates nearby, freaked out. Buzz was making a terrible sound but Whip, the other one in the tangle, wasn't make much sound. Whip couldn't breath because Buzz's tooth was caught on her collar (must have happened while playing, see the picture below...they play pretty rough and tumble). They must have flopped around so much after getting caught that they twisted her collar tight. I initially tried to free them but I couldn't get them untangled.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2syW0_56kMPkeIIp4eeShxXM8r7dhM0EEDXaTVVUDTGHkjUDUYTn8D6QJL1l7qAtrDw8pTg6IEzbv7SAxVg1kSlTcogyfZycNPN_OthwOfCiPfBUl9E8k5ipfo8af2O_lOUxoD0QpBJ05/s2048/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2syW0_56kMPkeIIp4eeShxXM8r7dhM0EEDXaTVVUDTGHkjUDUYTn8D6QJL1l7qAtrDw8pTg6IEzbv7SAxVg1kSlTcogyfZycNPN_OthwOfCiPfBUl9E8k5ipfo8af2O_lOUxoD0QpBJ05/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck and Whip playing the yard</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHv4e6llYRxQ8YjQ9WLo65HlfU9rrKfGsG9B6288VhqXzUaqZYnHNq1SxEqCFFHGXxsnWpZ0eqHlvr54q79a_jKk7HFKolMkely2QuZBrXmgjSL8oog5oQwblM_RE6Zbogatwl1RgRGlVI/s2048/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHv4e6llYRxQ8YjQ9WLo65HlfU9rrKfGsG9B6288VhqXzUaqZYnHNq1SxEqCFFHGXxsnWpZ0eqHlvr54q79a_jKk7HFKolMkely2QuZBrXmgjSL8oog5oQwblM_RE6Zbogatwl1RgRGlVI/s2048/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><p>My first thought was a knife and I yelled to husband to bring one. Though after a quick thought I realized that wouldn't work because it was too tight and I would risk cutting Whip. So after calming down, I found that Whip got her paw stuck over her collar, probably trying to free herself. So my first action was to simply try and get her leg out. It was a little difficult but after getting her leg free they quickly, and miraculously, untangled. </p><p>Whip took off panicked and stumbling. I called her back and she snuggled up to me shaking. She was pretty terrified after that ordeal and was thankful for some petting and reassurance. I was thankful everyone was alive!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJqaxoJ9rJ0KA-CV0Gmm0HW6wmC3O1lsO_P6Fi4VDtFaNB2Kv-60zjsVwK_TTNwGeiNNe65qxfQkkR4dYhk0IP9Pn8CWDuc0pm_LE3fYzwKPEGH1O2b2Tz0enaIup6kayACFVWdef3bXF/s2048/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJqaxoJ9rJ0KA-CV0Gmm0HW6wmC3O1lsO_P6Fi4VDtFaNB2Kv-60zjsVwK_TTNwGeiNNe65qxfQkkR4dYhk0IP9Pn8CWDuc0pm_LE3fYzwKPEGH1O2b2Tz0enaIup6kayACFVWdef3bXF/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No collars now<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>All the collars came off after that. I know other mushers who insist on removing collars because of this, I just thought it was too rare a risk. My mind has changed. The dogs are now in the yard without their collars on.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHv4e6llYRxQ8YjQ9WLo65HlfU9rrKfGsG9B6288VhqXzUaqZYnHNq1SxEqCFFHGXxsnWpZ0eqHlvr54q79a_jKk7HFKolMkely2QuZBrXmgjSL8oog5oQwblM_RE6Zbogatwl1RgRGlVI/s320/IMG_1833.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Buck and Whip!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-91897157376295846572020-09-28T20:18:00.000-07:002020-09-28T20:18:01.036-07:00Okanogan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Okanogan</span></span></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6odEPzIZrZU3nSVAmp-9mZpqvuGptBS6TPuZRjflKoqrfi_JavemMz48no9yUKXDIXiJZpKRk8Bai8buiHqEXaGCS3ROl7FgkROPqA4X_6fhRaMl_7N4sFqT5ePS6NvpmuYftnid9lDv/s320/Okie+10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie, in her later years, made friends with Priscilla the barn cat.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">May 16, 2005-September 28, 2020</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="ehs1a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="fhob6-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fhob6-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="fhob6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Today we had to say goodbye to another great friend and amazing dog. The strength and grace this dog had could not be overstated. Her ability to make it to 15 years old, in as good of condition as she was, is a perfect example of that. She was a small dog (like her daughters Whip and Jig) but was packed with unbelievable strength and heart. She commanded large dog teams and taught young dogs patiently. She was shy but she was also bold. She was beautiful and graceful. Extremely quiet but loud in spirit.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="epekm-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviVJf2HYT1QRKIxQbEuueuYWI_3b1AZvsp7PYnKttgzxTVsohshx-3gO8rpf3V4GC0HIjNQklDK6nS7PSgWiQwTFU-zDSdNkYygE9ljTijAzODUprkhjR5uD6iJBfrIuk5uqiPClqHUUM/s320/Okie1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie (far left) was part of our original team. <br />Only one of these fine dogs is with us still. Tensaw (behind Okie)</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="epekm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="epekm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="epekm-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="epekm-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="54pr1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="54pr1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="54pr1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">One winter, maybe 7 years back, she was leading my 8 dog team along with young (at the time) Tank. Along a particularly steep section that dropped precariously off the trail, Tank smelled something enticing over the edge and was leading the team directly toward it. Okie, who was half of Tank's size, took one look in that direction and dragged the entire team back to the other (safer) side of the trail and home to the truck.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="acft2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="acft2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="acft2-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="805jl-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="805jl-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="805jl-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">She was incredibly shy toward people and an extreme pushover to the other dogs while in the yard, but when you put a harness on her, her demeanor changed. She knew she was the direct line from me to the team and she lead us where we needed to go.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="6g73a-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6g73a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="6g73a-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">We got Okanogan from Absaroka Dogsled Treks in Pray, MT when she was 5. We were just beginning on this mushing adventure and needed an experienced leader. Mark Nardin offered us Paluk and Okanogan. While he loved Okanogan's work ethic and skill, he ran a tour company and a shy dog did not do well with a constant stream of visitors wanting pictures with their pretty lead dogs. Paluk and Okanogan couldn't have been more opposite of each other. Paluk was loud, Okie was quiet. Paluk was brutish, Okie was lady-like. Paluk was gregarious, Okie was very shy. The two were great additions to team but Okie's presence will be forever seen and remembered through the litter she whelped and the dogs she trained.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KJEPZ7aluqVqXGjvW0xhWszykha7dzfBbN1CME8IObP03Stoy-24yMmErMgs5QqquV_9iAM8Z9Cdr6iZP7XVQno-YYokMQ4H7nIpfDI8KG4q15-wuGC9JvJIXRGdiej9NOV5oxOqQmd3/s320/Okie+5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie and Paluk, soon after we brought them to our home. <br />I had to do a double take of this photo tonight, because I thought Okie was Whip (her daughter).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="2sfo1-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="711ro-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffGH8WH3Vbk_8EatiHN8Kc4CqO0pE490FiyRdFBDYokGzl79Xlzibfk-eZ4XWGy2friMHNYBj_ukmNFK75JsPGuUijEVXn7_LXVgkaC2ZbKMa0XST_81k9Kj9GTQOJ8basxDuXVX0UFxV/s320/Okie+6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie with the Saw Litter in 2013<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="711ro-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="711ro-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="5qbtk-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5qbtk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="5qbtk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">In 2013, she and Tensaw had a litter that we now refer to as The Saw Litter or The Crazies. Many of Okie's traits were bestowed upon the four, including her brains, drive, and leadership tendencies. They are now the heart of this team. </span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5qbtk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="5qbtk-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="1sog3" data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">I am forever grateful for her time with us and I am glad to have a little piece of Okie to continue to lead me down the trail.</span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="39fap-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H1rh0D5JoEFSA3s89pncodqmjCuey0Zvmz3NJuFH6oaOx8KLl0ckNazrFQT7P9myw-PrHDsqNQTatybywVraHmcMlaAXgHw6cWMUvns_vEcHNT95MLLUal26DGWB3rN_q5JDW6lHBm1r/s480/Okie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H1rh0D5JoEFSA3s89pncodqmjCuey0Zvmz3NJuFH6oaOx8KLl0ckNazrFQT7P9myw-PrHDsqNQTatybywVraHmcMlaAXgHw6cWMUvns_vEcHNT95MLLUal26DGWB3rN_q5JDW6lHBm1r/s320/Okie+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dream (first sled) team</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxEOSuZBTPEFOGH86vkfQlo6CduGbB9B2lQfyTQcCqd9bAQkUuPCgq_SI0vs7mKs61ByhaD-joyZPUANLFaB_YSrg2Y5c8kydxdmwdlH-dx0fbRjGktxV8TVePeUZuJWZVFdduQAjKsjI/s2048/Okie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxEOSuZBTPEFOGH86vkfQlo6CduGbB9B2lQfyTQcCqd9bAQkUuPCgq_SI0vs7mKs61ByhaD-joyZPUANLFaB_YSrg2Y5c8kydxdmwdlH-dx0fbRjGktxV8TVePeUZuJWZVFdduQAjKsjI/s320/Okie+3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie in one of her rare vocal moments</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15iPjkykP0t3zB42wjejEcJjxM4OqUB13RPu9vkUjpFJtY3eciCex3k_uq8i2YJ8KPy2n2f1EO_BIsbfuruI5dxQTf32-Z9TPn7XuzVjipOoc-FBG81nY_s1Ue9f5kUQbbEXXVYowBV-A/s2048/Okie+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15iPjkykP0t3zB42wjejEcJjxM4OqUB13RPu9vkUjpFJtY3eciCex3k_uq8i2YJ8KPy2n2f1EO_BIsbfuruI5dxQTf32-Z9TPn7XuzVjipOoc-FBG81nY_s1Ue9f5kUQbbEXXVYowBV-A/s320/Okie+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie and Paluk leading the team in at the Priest Lake Sled Dog race.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pm-OAuCd3qEfe1UwJWrUZlhaptVEk8Bso2bwMVZz3AgdZEgvhMNxgGsUEYwl5NcqryrLGRrUUehjJLQud7ZKD7NNeYv611JHiStDBg6hUBXTlmYlut6p1xM3FbeE3CkIvzYv_DPYAvZg/s852/Okie+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pm-OAuCd3qEfe1UwJWrUZlhaptVEk8Bso2bwMVZz3AgdZEgvhMNxgGsUEYwl5NcqryrLGRrUUehjJLQud7ZKD7NNeYv611JHiStDBg6hUBXTlmYlut6p1xM3FbeE3CkIvzYv_DPYAvZg/s320/Okie+7.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okie LOVED Flier. Here she is leading the team, teaching Flier and taking her kids on a run (in the back of string)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-S22Bgz_zBlr452jTfc3rEtrx1T8IopZemAvzeO3IemWNQo4yvMz3RP5ItY-j6ROYcTI6Jho0-YmixHgl3klRK7L7XnVwFskjwHxTvWhN6Rl8JzaEbODNkDyVKycTeuytEB2AdieXVf8/s960/Okie+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-S22Bgz_zBlr452jTfc3rEtrx1T8IopZemAvzeO3IemWNQo4yvMz3RP5ItY-j6ROYcTI6Jho0-YmixHgl3klRK7L7XnVwFskjwHxTvWhN6Rl8JzaEbODNkDyVKycTeuytEB2AdieXVf8/s320/Okie+8.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Running lead with Flier, this time in the snow!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9ZQm2DaioOWj9caYATkAkatag2iTPa3GFhkbA6HVe4G3Xq-mRuvmp3oZZrEfB14Cv2bjp8mm0qXoqKbRZKdcY4Yew22s9rwwH4_gvv0c_lofy6iIlhk37lPpAw8ffoceXS3GHADY45Pe/s960/Okie+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9ZQm2DaioOWj9caYATkAkatag2iTPa3GFhkbA6HVe4G3Xq-mRuvmp3oZZrEfB14Cv2bjp8mm0qXoqKbRZKdcY4Yew22s9rwwH4_gvv0c_lofy6iIlhk37lPpAw8ffoceXS3GHADY45Pe/s320/Okie+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here she is at 13.5 years old with her daugher, Whip</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7eBaFc-3cynCynewRQaQ4P2F33DMqsUSlp4GbqF-_Z_8UEhgl8uzl7OXcLPrnEwxJWagqhLkgXZ_9AieEu58Kx94tvwTd7GYaw32-sB-9OEkxsn_5P6CLfgV7KT5GKkzsxi0PuK6PMwN/s960/Okie+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7eBaFc-3cynCynewRQaQ4P2F33DMqsUSlp4GbqF-_Z_8UEhgl8uzl7OXcLPrnEwxJWagqhLkgXZ_9AieEu58Kx94tvwTd7GYaw32-sB-9OEkxsn_5P6CLfgV7KT5GKkzsxi0PuK6PMwN/s320/Okie+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">She was also known in her later years for her impressive doggie yoga routines</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-31195317423702636312020-01-03T21:05:00.000-08:002020-01-03T21:08:51.009-08:00IFSS World Dryland Championships 2019In October, Buck and I traveled to Nybro, Sweden to compete for the USA in canicross at the IFSS World Dryland Championships. It was a trip of a lifetime and an honor to compete for the USA in the red, white and blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJq9LFhLLsdlOI0mzsPDPRf1kQRUhaA2rGYH4cFlEmvZSZ0Yw7TkjawLKw9r7mTDFCnXSV2b8NiXLRdQENthper7Fpy0vxDQLHat6WRl32LQ-gQ2NEkdsIwT8mnyVmlWFVD0QY7KJO1vw/s1600/IMG_8669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJq9LFhLLsdlOI0mzsPDPRf1kQRUhaA2rGYH4cFlEmvZSZ0Yw7TkjawLKw9r7mTDFCnXSV2b8NiXLRdQENthper7Fpy0vxDQLHat6WRl32LQ-gQ2NEkdsIwT8mnyVmlWFVD0QY7KJO1vw/s320/IMG_8669.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The trip there was long and difficult. Buck, the family, and I traveled to Spokane the first night and we stayed at my cousin Troy's home. The next day, we drove through the Tricities, where my parents live, and I dropped off the family (they traveled with my parents to Sweden), and Buck and I continued on to Seattle. The next morning an old college friend, Carley, drove Buck and I to the airport. We arrived a bit too early as I was afraid to miss the flight and I had never traveled with a dog before. I wasn't sure how long it would take to get Buck and I checked in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuc395OFh75oyeExYl4UCP950r5TedY8NXllbghrjdTWdVkgbuUud2yAMOqiPleGMlsZQjxhLuUGW_Y7r9rWfT2LRsu0ElIWhm0FA_S7iBuHGOBM7m-CdQIQQvvARnzqLc2eUt6j_b3f3c/s1600/IMG_8634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuc395OFh75oyeExYl4UCP950r5TedY8NXllbghrjdTWdVkgbuUud2yAMOqiPleGMlsZQjxhLuUGW_Y7r9rWfT2LRsu0ElIWhm0FA_S7iBuHGOBM7m-CdQIQQvvARnzqLc2eUt6j_b3f3c/s320/IMG_8634.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy boy before we headed into the terminal</td></tr>
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Check in did not take that much longer with Buck. He handled check in well and we were off to Chicago. Upon arrival he was slightly freaked out but no worse for the ware. We stayed 24 hrs in Chicago before our next flight. We went on multiple walks but mostly just relaxed and destressed. The next evening had a long wait between checkout from the hotel and our evening flight (6 hours to be exact). We arrived, yet again, very early to the airport and Buck balked at the doors. Clearly the flight from Seattle slightly traumatized him. During our long wait we worked on going in and out of the door to the airport. By the time it was time to fly, he was comfortable with the airport again. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGdG60-zECvwS7_CXwiN3XTpu5swVBVgiHv4wHEwiXggtv0WwCZqd7kiiIfiz8wYGBZGqEmsetkrNs1F9OqAW2B2gbcJZBGWNPqs1dtuE6G3pygXQgB9_dJiUPm6Kzl9mXbeL-3-meoGG/s1600/IMG_8651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGdG60-zECvwS7_CXwiN3XTpu5swVBVgiHv4wHEwiXggtv0WwCZqd7kiiIfiz8wYGBZGqEmsetkrNs1F9OqAW2B2gbcJZBGWNPqs1dtuE6G3pygXQgB9_dJiUPm6Kzl9mXbeL-3-meoGG/s320/IMG_8651.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appears to have recovered back to his attentive, jovial self after stage one of the trip.</td></tr>
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This flight was long. I couldn't sleep much and was worried about how Buck was doing under the plane. When we finally arrived on the ground in Copenhagen, I had to wait 30 minutes for him to come out at the over-sized baggage claim. I began to fear that he had escaped his crate while under the plane and was running free on the Copenhagen runways. Right when I was about to melt into a puddle on the floor, the poor boy was wheeled out. He was ready to be out of the crate after 9 hours but we still had to go through customs before he could get out and pee. Customs was fast and smooth and finally we were outside and he happily relieved himself. He recovered incredibly fast from the stress of the flight, as soon as he got out of his box he shook of and was his happy self; prancing around and exploring the world. I did fear that he would never get into his crate again, but he held no ill-will toward his crate at any point during the trip, if anything he became more attached to it. It became his safe-haven that he always had wherever we went; his security blanket.<br />
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We weren't yet done for the day, though. We still had to ride the bus to the rental car lot and then drive to our apartment for the night. We were a sight on the bus: the dog, my bags, the crate and myself. It was a bit difficult but luckily there are many kind people in the world, very willing to help a stranger.<br />
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We in Copenhagen for the arrival of our family the next day and then, after one more night in Copenhagen, we got the heck out of dodge. (I have been to Copenhagen before, when I was younger, and if we had been there to see Copenhagen, it would have been a wonderful place to explore...but using appropriate means of transportation (metro). Unfortunately, since we needed the rental car to get to Nybro, it was very difficult to be in Copenhagen. It resulted in a couple parking tickets that frustrated the heck out of me...hence why I couldn't wait to get out of town).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG_WY6YTzPunbYEKA7RxDm17Ger-kFI0pPSCJHvDHtqzGhFnlQMVcWFLdvVvzy6EhytXzKMdxS00FX9J-My81yCGZ-ECovroXWKdKxnYqKD5UuBBQfxn-oFcn32SAH4IlV_BpSr6__xRn/s1600/IMG_8697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG_WY6YTzPunbYEKA7RxDm17Ger-kFI0pPSCJHvDHtqzGhFnlQMVcWFLdvVvzy6EhytXzKMdxS00FX9J-My81yCGZ-ECovroXWKdKxnYqKD5UuBBQfxn-oFcn32SAH4IlV_BpSr6__xRn/s320/IMG_8697.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck was EXHAUSTED after the trip. I've never seen him settle down and go to sleep so fast! He was a tuckered out dude!</td></tr>
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Surprisingly, jet lag had not affected me much. My body fell right into Sweden time. We arrived in Emmaboda, Sweden (just outside of Nybro) early enough to give our bodies time to relax. We took a couple shake out runs and checked out the race course. The day before we were to race, Buck had his vet check. This was the most stressful part of the whole trip as, unfortunately, the only vaccination record which had Buck's microchip number on it was the rabies vaccination certificate and all vaccinations needed the microchip number. There was no definitive assurance to the race officials that the other vaccinations had been applied to that microchip (i.e. Buck). There were other indications that Buck was indeed the dog the vaccination records were assigned to, so in the end, the head veterinarian gave us a pass on our vet check. PHEW!</div>
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After the vet check, Brooke Kish (another US canicross-er) and I ran the course. Nerves had been building and were running high at this point. Jogging the course helped calm them somewhat. The course was beautiful but difficult.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCAE54jGP92tkUCPTfXVZQQsoktxy_BHZIQPPjFp6_gmd4LNE__XeC50rVNJ9eiX81fygEzgy-j2YxAEmHHNAAfn5BDH7zeqr7m-OsoavHfWWhOmB4Giim5ulUHknwEP316I5xVN3WeYT/s1600/IMG_E8768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCAE54jGP92tkUCPTfXVZQQsoktxy_BHZIQPPjFp6_gmd4LNE__XeC50rVNJ9eiX81fygEzgy-j2YxAEmHHNAAfn5BDH7zeqr7m-OsoavHfWWhOmB4Giim5ulUHknwEP316I5xVN3WeYT/s320/IMG_E8768.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! The start chute of the World Championships!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM342tcrlZD2-nlddxlKUtZoULk-jF_BNfR68c0_cJsQOyYYxauUzKxiZz1TSnDwzrRt2r2-ZSxoenRB8Sv67NNFYNYX0bLk8g0Q1llkP-kKcpc8A1LVgPnPDhgqbrfE75JV2Eu4hdc8J3/s1600/IMG_E8761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM342tcrlZD2-nlddxlKUtZoULk-jF_BNfR68c0_cJsQOyYYxauUzKxiZz1TSnDwzrRt2r2-ZSxoenRB8Sv67NNFYNYX0bLk8g0Q1llkP-kKcpc8A1LVgPnPDhgqbrfE75JV2Eu4hdc8J3/s320/IMG_E8761.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck checking out the start-line.</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
That evening was the opening ceremonies for the event. The team met up near downtown Nybro and assembled into the alphabetical ordering of nations for the parade. We marched a quarter mile into town center, where the opening addresses from the IFSS and race organizers took place. It was a short but fun ceremony (and just awesome to be a part of ) but, once concluded, it quickly disbanded. Athletes made for their accommodations and focused on tomorrow's task: Racing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLOM5OktdYUkZSQyPsiKK5tuNyF4Shg8jr6P8E3OWbbKt0ZhG4IiZD-W3UxK78-cXgxfG2-QoUUxZ29nTpxETY4-aY9B0gz2oQPSh-B0X7QJ8gF821BbY6ylWnJt91S8P7qb1c-3k8hiF/s1600/IMG_E8771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLOM5OktdYUkZSQyPsiKK5tuNyF4Shg8jr6P8E3OWbbKt0ZhG4IiZD-W3UxK78-cXgxfG2-QoUUxZ29nTpxETY4-aY9B0gz2oQPSh-B0X7QJ8gF821BbY6ylWnJt91S8P7qb1c-3k8hiF/s320/IMG_E8771.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost the whole team lined up and waiting for the opening ceremonies (just missing 3 teammates).</td></tr>
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During the race week, we stayed a cute old farm house, which was apparently the first house in all of Emmaboda. That night I got a surprisingly calm and fulfilling night of sleep. Nerves did not over take me the next morning either. I was nervous but had a healthy dose of nerves. I had realized during our run of the course the day before, that what I did now could only hurt me. The work I had put in up to that point was what would help me and I had to believe I was prepared as I could be.</div>
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Arriving at the race course that morning was exciting! The race course was bustling with activity. The bikejor racers went out first. Dogs, bikes, and racers were everywhere. The start chute was narrow and therefore, only able to accommodate individual starts instead of mass or group starts. Therefore, since the course was short, those who started at the beginning of the list finished well before the last racer on the list started. Slowly, throughout the day, team USA teammates started their races and I helped them at the start and finish. It was a warm day and I was getting concerned for Buck. The saving grace was that the sun was clouded but during the 1-dog scooter classes (right before canicross) the sun broke through the clouds. I was concerned about the temperatures which were in the upper 50s. Luckily, before canicross the clouds covered the sun again and it remained at or below 60 degrees F.<br />
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Side note on temperature: Dogs, because of their form of temperature regulation (mainly panting, not sweating), are not able to run/work at temperatures above a certain limit. That limit is usually a bit lower for Siberian huskies than it is for short-coated breeds. Typically, I will not work my dogs in harness, in their winter coats, in temperatures above 50 degress F. When they're in their summer coats, I won't work them in temperatures above 62 degrees F. Though they can still work safely up to those max temperatures, they are slower. Siberian huskies really prefer freezing to below freezing temperatures. Most of the breeds Buck and I were racing against were short-coated breeds (mostly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyster" target="_blank">greysters</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurohound" target="_blank">eurohounds</a> and german short hair pointers). Not only are they typically faster and stronger than Siberian huskies but they have on average slightly higher temperature tolerances.<br />
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Canicross was scheduled for the last races of the day, finally it was time! I watched Brooke and her dog Charlie get ready and head out. Then Joy and her dog, Oso. Then Sarah and her dog, Lyra. Finally it was time for Buck and I!!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgcVY5uZdMXR4HaQdQCOTulW0Ehmy7z9tfv0aYWl1lFPz1aTLAyWmdON7kW9-QCIZz4uynMOWUGRbETxlQPXV15VxLI4vWPQNEZqSVJvuMCL95LYvWjT25g_TeBxwzjNz_Rxzyc_uW3yr/s1600/IMG_8769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgcVY5uZdMXR4HaQdQCOTulW0Ehmy7z9tfv0aYWl1lFPz1aTLAyWmdON7kW9-QCIZz4uynMOWUGRbETxlQPXV15VxLI4vWPQNEZqSVJvuMCL95LYvWjT25g_TeBxwzjNz_Rxzyc_uW3yr/s320/IMG_8769.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A race official checks to make sure the competitors are starting in the right order and that I have the proper equipment per the rules. They were mainly looking for a bungee line, no hooks or clips that could release unexpectedly, and that I wasn't wearing metal spikes in my shoes.</td></tr>
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Buck was excited, we hadn't had a good canicross in days and now was his chance. The day one start intervals were rather long between teams (1 minute wait when 30 seconds is usually good) but finally Buck and I were off.<br />
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Right off the start line there was a short, steep hill. That one did not hurt nearly as much as the one a quarter mile in. It seemed that the fact that we were racing hadn't quite sunk in for Buck yet. As he hit that hill, he slowed almost to a stop and looked back at me. I responded, "Yup Buck, we've got to keep going" and he lined out and powered up the the hill. We looped back by the start line before heading out into the woods. The beginning half of the race had some rolling hills, which could easily be classified as more severe than rolling. At about the halfway point through the 4.8km course, we were passed by a racing pair. This meant they had made up a minute on us. While I was disappointed we had been passed, I was also thankful because what Buck loves even more than running is chasing and passing. We were able to keep pace with her and it gave my muscles a bit a reprieve.<br />
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Within the last mile we came upon a large hill. We were still busy chasing so the hill, though it was long, did not feel too painful. Halfway up the hill the team we had been chasing practically came to halt. Buck and I passed them and continued up the hill. In the last straight away to the finish we were passed by another team (which means they made up two minutes on us!) That was a bit depressing but we pushed through the finish strong. Our time was solid but not nearly our best. In the finish chute they check Buck's microchip to confirm I ran with the dog I said I would. My family and the rest of the team was there waiting for us. At this point, I was starting to feel that I had hurt my left hamstring pretty bad during the race. I gave Buck a good job hug and pet and we went back to the team camp, where I took care of Buck before the team took a cool down jog.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Weis (our top men's competitor and best team USA finisher on the week with a 10th place finish) holds Buck while I catch my breath.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck is a good boy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijleUXCj-Bg7OUgNnvumAG69oKKTE3NUdBf9Ugv_j1OMRxA1mwK2-Z8i69JFnmiTyRZqLVpUNNJtEvjLp5hpQxljw83AWKpbor6P0g_Qyb5xEfz15ruJbHOr17CHMp5k_VFydg12JlDljS/s1600/IMG_8747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijleUXCj-Bg7OUgNnvumAG69oKKTE3NUdBf9Ugv_j1OMRxA1mwK2-Z8i69JFnmiTyRZqLVpUNNJtEvjLp5hpQxljw83AWKpbor6P0g_Qyb5xEfz15ruJbHOr17CHMp5k_VFydg12JlDljS/s320/IMG_8747.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back to team camp.</td></tr>
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The cool down was really hard because of my hamstring, I struggled to even lift my leg and worried about my ability to run tomorrow. Luckily, my dad had brought along a muscle roller and I had some ibuprofen. That evening I iced, rolled and took my medication that night, and felt confident we would be able to at least give it an effort for day 2. Dryland dog events are typically two days long. Racers will compete two consecutive days on the same course. Fastest cumulative time is how the final ranks are scored.<br />
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Overall, I went into day 2 happy with our day 1 performance and hopeful we could match our time or go faster. The morning of day 2 was a repeat of day 1, I was relaxed but nervous. The day was also warm but not has warm as the day before, though it was more humid, which is concerning for the ability of the dogs to cool down. My hamstring was workable and loose enough but still very sore and at the forefront of my mind. Buck was ready to go and had it figured out that it was a race. He was very excited to get on the trail again.<br />
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Day 2 start orders can be organized a few ways but typically in large races like this, the fastest are out first and the slowest last. This meant Buck and I were the 30th competitors to leave the start chute in women's elite canicross, as we had finished day 1 in 30th place. The start interval time was also cut down to 30 seconds, which was nice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 startline </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGI79iKVs6IW6_SCgFxSLKD9FdF8Rntzbxs-S8ckhkzHZ5nlsBodeiIcPFfKyJbUJmNDTb89xhQrHE4gxag39toJ-FfD3XXxPOQcjBFoOdVFWhH3US7KPYpu9yvPc61mMwbi4NZwUB55v/s320/IMG_8777.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing by the startline again on day 2</td></tr>
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While my hamstring was sore, once on the course I was able to push that pain away and just focus on Buck's running. I do love canicross, because having a dog in front helps to keep me driving forward, their strength helps but just their desire to run can be enough. Their effortless run and beauty draws my mind away from my own pain and gives me something to focus on and get into a rhythm. We ended up running the same split at the halfway mark as day 1. Unfortuantely, that is where our race days diverged. We never got passed (yay) but this meant no one to chase during the harder, second half of the course. Buck had a lot of drive on day 2 but my legs did not. Especially on that last long hill. We had no one helping draw Buck up the hill this time. While I gave everything I had, it clearly wasn't enough and we crossed the finish line 30 seconds slower than the day before. This eventually led to us dropping two places in the standings. I was hoping to move up into 29th but we ended the competition in 32nd.<br />
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I am willing to take a majority of the blame for our slow times. My training throughout the summer was just not there. I was suffering through a foot injury, plantar fasciitis. I did a lot of pool running, weight lifting, and cross-training (elliptical/cycling). I was hoping to balance getting in competitive shape, at the same time not aggravating my injury too much where I would not be able to train or race. It had healed enough to where I could run short/fast track workouts the last month before the race. I felt strong and in good shape going into the race but in the race I did not. I think I really lacked the depth of endurance and strength I would have gained from from longer runs and canicrossing during my summer training. Best I can tell, canicross is by far the best way to train for canicross and I haven't determined many alternatives.<br />
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After the 1-dog events there were still 2 more days of racing for the 2+ dog events. I helped our 2-dog scooter team to the line and one of our 4-dog cart teams. I enjoyed watching the cart teams run, as we also compete in 4-dog cart at home. The last day of the race concluded with the team relay. It was first described to me as organized chaos and oh boy was it! It started with a mass start of 13 canicross racers and their dogs (representing 13 nations), they each ran a 2 km loop, when they came through the finish line they transferred their dog to a teammate and sprinted down to the start line (about 50 meters away) and tagged their 1-dog scooter team. They took off and ran the 2 km loop. When they crossed the finish line the canicrosser was waiting for them. The scooter racer tagged the canicrosser who ran down and tagged the 1-dog bikejor team who ran the 2 km course and finished the race. It was insane and fun and very competitive. France just edged out Great Britian for the win and they were ecstatic! Mexico fielded a team but they had just enough people to run the race but not enough handlers. So Carlos asked me if I'd be willing to help him and hold his dog after the canicross leg.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxvRC-bG4ymCdVauVbihPfp8x-1TmUT2onjZp3cQ-EwfhLu7o_lPe4C_oQGOyuHCzv-MqOl1M_8S2fmvX6PDE1vKXA3oUcDbJvtlZRN1XkXT8ojxgRu64h2FwiiSjOn8I358XqH492n-2/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxvRC-bG4ymCdVauVbihPfp8x-1TmUT2onjZp3cQ-EwfhLu7o_lPe4C_oQGOyuHCzv-MqOl1M_8S2fmvX6PDE1vKXA3oUcDbJvtlZRN1XkXT8ojxgRu64h2FwiiSjOn8I358XqH492n-2/s320/IMG_8877.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlos from Team Mexico! It was great meeting him and so many other dog powered racers from around the world</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZNUD5M4aCgXrs2n31o7g-b8PlkXcndHwVTKlA9rL3FHA9uWMPNVio7RGb6R9XY2PRTvj2gX0LfRm8whBGAx8GAjt-C0KhlQ_TLgEZIrn4GTcztKYyTjhIZXgPG8GC8bzLZLrzQhAra-2/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZNUD5M4aCgXrs2n31o7g-b8PlkXcndHwVTKlA9rL3FHA9uWMPNVio7RGb6R9XY2PRTvj2gX0LfRm8whBGAx8GAjt-C0KhlQ_TLgEZIrn4GTcztKYyTjhIZXgPG8GC8bzLZLrzQhAra-2/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Chile, Argentina, Switzerland to name a few....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyl5Ahkfdw9MYcfG79BHEzUW-IE8wXXa8FHQ_pxXPMeUxK1Wsv1QXiNCioQ2rrFV5fyPaynUJ_ziA2gKuCkFn_Apx9Q_oCcyl2jK9Hhquw5TtkMNerOZUs97pOh93Bhad4kAieHHNO3EE/s1600/DSC00625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyl5Ahkfdw9MYcfG79BHEzUW-IE8wXXa8FHQ_pxXPMeUxK1Wsv1QXiNCioQ2rrFV5fyPaynUJ_ziA2gKuCkFn_Apx9Q_oCcyl2jK9Hhquw5TtkMNerOZUs97pOh93Bhad4kAieHHNO3EE/s320/DSC00625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canicross mass start for the relay</td></tr>
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And like that the race was over.<br />
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What an experience and what a time we had! I couldn't believe what a good dog Buck was the whole trip, not just at the race! He learned a lot (but still not to walk on a leash). From a pup, I put a lot of training into him for pulling and canicross, and although sled dogs can learn to do both, I didn't put the effort in to train him to walk on a leash. On this trip I paid for it. Otherwise, he had a lot of "firsts." He walked his first flight of stairs, took his first elevator ride, his first plane ride, his first bus ride, his first boat ride, and his first train ride. And he took it all in stride without much difficulty. He was scared of all the things at first but with time, patience, and experience (and treats, definitely treats), he was taking them like an old pro by the end of the trip. I am extremely proud of him!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9ltFcvUxljPv4z47f5YHhBnhsVuLutdesv0z-snHhNAggJN-RtJNmAPJ0nEgX3UsIxHEFHZ0WRYwt5JSzIh11Z_YhandjBpFZxdzfdZLn_kPQPj5r6q9oEfTxgUYV6eDJk-y8jihEe91/s1600/IMG_8783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9ltFcvUxljPv4z47f5YHhBnhsVuLutdesv0z-snHhNAggJN-RtJNmAPJ0nEgX3UsIxHEFHZ0WRYwt5JSzIh11Z_YhandjBpFZxdzfdZLn_kPQPj5r6q9oEfTxgUYV6eDJk-y8jihEe91/s320/IMG_8783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck, you're a good boy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgl30CBWRBZZMwP7oUwaZyNCB_CbjTx4vaz0x6Iqm17THP_escZlfXNAQE6kYEh1LELenIE605WLUpK0WfLdnkPEhxqfMdIQJZOdf8TnS6E4koxJwlcM4lACBHqRES9QyNIppM3DXfe3d/s1600/IMG_8788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgl30CBWRBZZMwP7oUwaZyNCB_CbjTx4vaz0x6Iqm17THP_escZlfXNAQE6kYEh1LELenIE605WLUpK0WfLdnkPEhxqfMdIQJZOdf8TnS6E4koxJwlcM4lACBHqRES9QyNIppM3DXfe3d/s320/IMG_8788.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three special boys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9bnEkXSPaOe4as-P98LKyl04_40QDOZaSmXS_tCrFGzaU2gP511IZCIVZ3NVMYErdwLcwc6xlD_WiOenzRU0cILipFTB8dJ3y18paGqhTlNKq6V8iVJnz41csgSQXNp8-pbLcBycvnUt/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9bnEkXSPaOe4as-P98LKyl04_40QDOZaSmXS_tCrFGzaU2gP511IZCIVZ3NVMYErdwLcwc6xlD_WiOenzRU0cILipFTB8dJ3y18paGqhTlNKq6V8iVJnz41csgSQXNp8-pbLcBycvnUt/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents help to get my family to Sweden and I was glad to have them along.</td></tr>
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Last but DEFINITELY not least, this opportunity would not have been possible without the support and donations from SO many friends, family, and community members. I can not thank everyone enough but I have been trying! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart (and Buck's)!</div>
</div>
Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-51026717178779846862019-03-04T07:16:00.001-08:002019-03-04T07:16:22.635-08:00Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race 2019They did it again! Completely amazed me with their speed! The fast four (Jig, Whip, Buck and Flier) have proven their name again and finished the Flathead Classic in 2nd place of the 8 teams entered!<br />
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We arrived at the race in Olney, MT on Friday evening (2/22) for the snacks and musher meeting. One of the things that amazes me about this race is the amount of sponsorships they obtain. As an organizer of our local races, I know how hard this can be. Our musher packets had a large amount of swag (O'Keefe's tough hands lotion and lip balm, a new pair of thermal work gloves, a race hat and more!!)<br />
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After the meeting we got settled in our tiny cabin at the Dog Creek Lodge and fed the dogs. We were all amped for the races to start in the morning.<br />
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The races only contained 6- & 4-dog sled teams this year. They needed another year to get things situated better for the big 8- & 12-dog teams. So, our team was set to leave fairly early at 9:18, the second 4-dog team out! Because we were staying at the race site, I actually didn't need to get up too early! Waking up at 7am was more than enough time to get all my gear set, the dogs dropped, watered and pottied. In no time, we were off!<br />
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It had snowed overnight a few inches so the trail was a little slower than I expected. They ran the course in reverse this year, as there are a lot of turns and meeting teams on a corner it is better for both teams to be turning right than left, to avoid obvious crossing problems. They were fairly quick through the first loop, I only need to run with them a few times up some small hills. We had caught the first team early on in the first loop and now were running in front on the course. When I came to the point where we were to start into the second loop the trail volunteers were blocking the trail, trying to send me the wrong way. I sat there for about 30 seconds arguing the course with them before they finally moved aside and we continued on our way.<br />
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After the first two loops (different loops, not the same done twice), the course brings you RIGHT back by the start/finish line and sends you out on the longest, hardest last loop. My team came blazing through the start area and out to the last loop super quick with no problems! And then we hit it....the killer climb!<br />
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I knew it was long and steep and hard but I didn't realize how long and steep and hard it really was. Last year, they sent us on this loop first when the dogs were still hot and fast from the start line. Now we were more than halfway through the race and the dogs were tired. I was sucking some SERIOUS wind by the top of the hill but we made it and it was nearly all downhill from there! Again the trail volunteers tried to send me the wrong way, to the 6-dog 18 mile course, but they were not blocking my turn and I just turned right, telling them the 4-dog teams were to follow the blue arrows and turn right. As we ran off, I heard a "oh yea!" The last portion of the trails had a good amount of technical turns, making it quite fun. We finished strong and I was super proud of them!<br />
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I felt the dogs had done well but I had NO idea where we'd be in the standing. I would not have been surprised if we had been in the back of the 8 racers or up front. When all racers were in, I was pleased to see we were in 3rd after day 1!<br />
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We watched the skijorers and fatbikers race the rest of the morning, enjoyed pizza with friends that evening and relaxed.<br />
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The next morning was COLD and we had no fresh snow so the trail had set nicely overnight and felt like it was going to be fast! They started us in reverse order, slowest to fastest, so we went out 6th. The trail was INDEED much faster. I did not need to help the dogs at all through the first loops. In fact, I barely held on ;)<br />
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This time I did not need to argue with trail help and we were cookin'. We came screaming around the corner at the start/finish out to the last loop. Here I started running with the team on the hills. We kept a good pace up the hills, it helped that we caught Butch Parr halfway up the hill, they knew the team was close and that kept them pushing. The killer climb felt much shorter this time, it really helped us all that the trail was firm, making the running easier! We passed the 2nd place team going backwards on the loop, which was a tad surprising but was no consequence to the dogs, they kept charging down the hill.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck not pleased to be wearing a Canadian harness. Kim Stanley let me try this Tough Skin Harness from Howling Dog Alaska on him. I'm considering getting the US version of this for him for canicross this spring.</td></tr>
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In the end, we had moved into 2nd place and ran over 6 minutes faster on day two! AMAZING! I was quite pleased with the team and glad to end our snow racing season on two fantastic races!<br />
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Next up! DRYLAND! The Spring Fling in Cle Elum. April 20th & 21st!<br />
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Good puppas!<br />
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<br />Cobey Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364903945776010302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-4527797590491640932019-02-06T22:08:00.000-08:002019-02-07T15:12:46.586-08:00Priest Lake Sled Dog Race 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend was the Priest Lake Sled Dog Race. It is a long running race, having run its first 50 years ago. This is our favorite race. The course is a blast, the accommodations are splendid (Elkins Resort), the lake is beautiful, and the club/race officials are so relaxed and friendly. Unfortunately this year, my family could not come with me (which we usually treat as a family vacation). Fortunately for me, my friends Valentina and Stefano came with!<br />
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Things did not look promising when it began raining at Sandpoint, Idaho and only got heavier the closer we got to Priest Lake. It poured all night, huge puddles around the cabin and wet dogs every time we dropped them. Our cabin-mate, fellow Siberian musher Kim Stanley and I were beginning to doubt our decisions to attend the race. Moods were definitely improved when we ate the wonderful dinner Valentina and Stefano made us. A rich pasta dish (can’t remember the name) along with pork chops (cooked to perfection) and potatoes.<br />
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By the next morning, the rain had stopped and we all were ready to race. Valentina and Stefano were volunteering, they were going to post up on the first turn, making sure the teams made the gee turn. This year we were entered in the 4-dog sprint, 2 days of 4.7 miles each. I was running Jig and Whip in lead and Flier and Buck in wheel. There were 6 fellow competitors, of which Kim was one. The day was warm, the snow was soggy (but not too bad, given the amount of rain overnight. As the day progressed more and more spectators arrived. Each time I dropped dogs, a large semicircle of people formed to ask questions and pet the dogs. How could they not, our Sibes are beautiful, if I may say so myself. In fact, I had the friendliest spectators parked right next to me. They traveled 1.5 hrs to come watch the races. They basically tail-gated the dog sled race (awesome!). On the tailgate of their pickup truck they had campstoves with gumbo and chili and they also had pie, rice crispy treats, chips, and beer. They were having a great time and asked a lot of great questions. They offered me food before my race but I declined as I planned on running A LOT with my team. But as soon as I was back to the truck and had water to my dogs, they came over with all sorts of food for me!<br />
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Finally our race time came. The dogs were lined out, led to the chute (where Jig about peed her pants due to the number of spectators) and we wert off. They were fast and ready to run.<br />
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About 1.5 miles down the trail we caught Kim and Nonna’s teams. It was narrow but we passed. They hung tight to us for another two miles where my team had to stop multiple times for bathroom breaks. We were passed, then we re-passed but Nonna’s team finally passed us again and I decided to hold the team back and follow into the finish. Once the times were posted I was surprised to find we were in 2nd!!!! One minute 8 seconds behind Dan Hanks’ hound team (very big deal). Especially given the warm temperatures, that was an amazing run for my team.<br />
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That evening we had dinner with the race organizers at the Elkins restaurant and had a great time sharing stories and laughs. The next morning, I managed to stay calm and focused. We had a good lead on 3rd place so as long as we had a clean, smooth run, we should be able to hang on to 2nd. Day 2 was cooler and, Superbowl Sunday, so we did not expect as many spectators but I still decided to switch Jig out of lead for Buck, give her a break from the major stress and let her just run. This was a hood decision as the team ran faster. They started us in order of fastest to slowest and we did not encounter anyone on the trail for day 2. After two days of racing the team finished in 2nd running the combined 9.4 miles in under 1 hr (52 min 22 sec).<br />
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Super impressed with these dogs. We had so much fun!<br />
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The drive back was stressful as a large storm system had moved in. By Thompson Falls, the temperature was 20F with strong winds. All the wet gear and trailer parts had frozen. It took us 20 minutes to free the dogs from their boxes, after breaking and cutting away ice. I am very thankful to Valentina and Stefano for accompanying me. It made a very stressful drive easier and more entertaining, especially our 2 hilarious and fun hours of playing 20 questions.<br />
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-42669398943991777782018-10-09T21:20:00.000-07:002018-10-09T21:20:02.827-07:00A near tragedy turned miracleLast Sunday the team and I, with our friend Sonya and her huskies, went up to the Lubrecht Forest (where we are hosting our first dryland race on in November) for a training run on the trails. After we were going to make the signs for the race.<br />
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My team had never run the trails before. The plan was, I was to run a 4-dog team followed by a canicross with Buck. Sonya was going to bikejor with Flier and her dog, Kaya, then a bikejor parade of the seniors, Tensaw and her dog, Sepp.<br />
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Sonya took off with Kaya and Flier. We gave them a few minutes head start. Then I hooked up Whip and Jig (in lead) and Isis and Buzz (in wheel). When I released the snub-line, it caught. The dogs had gotten a few feet of momentum before the cart abruptly stopped. Unfortunately, my aging bungee could not take the strain and it tore. To my horror, my 4 dogs took off without me. That was the most helpless feeling I've ever felt before.<br />
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Luckily, Sonya had her phone and we surprisingly had reception (we never had before). I called Sonya, she immediately turned back but did not come across the team. I took the truck and trailer up the trail, luckily the trails are roads, and I could do so. I had no idea what trail they would have traveled up. I drove the main loop road backwards hoping to run across them, they did not take that road but as I was driving that road back toward the start, the team came running down a road above which met up with the road I was on. It had been an hour and somehow they had gotten turned around (as far as I knew, the road they were on was not a loop). Miraculously, the team had not tangled but it was down to 3 dogs; Isis was missing. I thought the worst.<br />
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My three dogs noticed me and slowed but did not stop. They still wanted to run, so I drove behind them and gave commands to where I wanted them to go. Sonya was at the main intersection at the beginning and they were headed that way. Almost back to the intersection, I came head on with another truck so I lost contact with the dogs but I trusted Sonya would get them (and she did). I spoke with the passengers, informing them I was still looking for one dog and giving them my number.<br />
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After meeting up with Sonya, checking over the dogs, getting them watered and put away, I received a call that Isis had been found....ALIVE! They brought my sweet Isis down to me.<br />
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I am SO thankful. As I watched the team run away from me, I thought I would never see them again. I was most worried about Isis, she is noticeably slower than the other three. I didn't think she would be able to stay with them for long. Isis is still sore, a few of her pads blistered/wore and her muscles were worked harder than they had in a while, but she is mending.<br />
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Sonya and I decided, since Isis looked really worked, to abandon the second run, and head back to Sonya's house, just in case one of the dogs needed immediate medical attention. At Sonya's, the dogs relaxed and played in the yard while Sonya and I made signs. While the paint dried we did our canicross and senior parade. In the end, the day turned out pretty nice and the dogs had a good day (other than poor Isis being so sore). From losing the dogs onward, the day couldn't have gone any better. I was so happy to have all the dogs back.<br />
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I have learned from my mistakes and all my old lines have been culled from my equipment. Only my best lines will be used from here on out. I owe it to my dogs.Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-19112138581287042672018-10-02T16:15:00.000-07:002018-10-02T16:15:10.795-07:00Fall Season Line-upNow that the fall temperatures are consistently cool for training it's time to talk about races!<br />
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I have been training all year long and am ready for a race or two!<br />
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We plan to compete in three dryland races around the region this season:<br />
1) Oct 20-21 Run-A-Way Dryland race in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada (IFSS sanctioned)<br />
2) Nov 3-4 Spokane Dirt Derby in Spokane, Washington<br />
3) Nov 10-11 Western MT Dirt Derby Lubrecht Forest, Grenough, Montana (IFSS sanctioned, and hosted by the club we are members of)<br />
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Our racing team is rapidly shrinking, though, due to age. We are currently down to 7 dogs that run regularly (two of them, Tensaw and Isis, were not on my race team last year).<br />
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Here is the status on the team:<br />
<b>Buck </b>is my strongest, craziest dog. He also is my canicross dog. So this fall he will not be on my 4-dog cart team. He is the legs of the team.<br />
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<b>Whip</b> is a strong, smart, little girl. She is a solid, important member of my 4-dog team. She is the heart of the team.<br />
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<b>Jig</b> is another smart, little girl. She also is crucial to my 4-dog team. She is the brains of the team.<br />
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<b>Flier</b> is my second strongest dog and also a great canicross dog for small events. He suffers from low thyroid levels and anxiety so he will not be my main canicross dog, a trip to Latvia for Worlds would be too much for him. He is an amazing athlete though, loves to run and is therefore a crucial member of my 4-dog team. At races where I do not run my 4-dog team (like Run-A-Way race, I will just be doing canicross), my mushing friend Sonya will run Flier with her dog Kaya in scooter or bikejoring.<br />
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<b>Tensaw</b> is nearly 11 years old and struggles to keep up with the rest of the dogs. He mostly only runs on slow, short training runs. Though, if we just want to round out a team and race, Tensaw has the ability.<br />
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<b>Isis</b> has never been fast but is consistent. She likely will be back on the race team this year.<br />
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<b>Buzz</b> has decided this season he does not want to run most days. Buzz suffers from low thyroid levels (corrected with medication) as well as seizures and I believe that has taken its toll on him. He will only run on days he wants to.<br />
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<b>Tank</b> is our biggest dog and his size is catching up with him. This January he will turn 8 but, he seems to be going on 11. He has arthritis in his back and, though his head and heart still want to run, he cannot do so anymore. He may go out on short training runs or canicrossing but I doubt he'll be competing anymore.<br />
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<b>Okanogan </b>is our oldest dog. She is 13 years old and retired quite a few seasons again. She is the mother of Buck, Buzz, Whip and Jig and taught them everything she knows. She was an amazing lead dog and imparted that natural and taught ability on her girls, Jig and Whip.<br />
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Looking forward to the racing!!!!!<br />
<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-47287317690626641022018-09-15T10:53:00.000-07:002018-09-15T10:53:05.233-07:00Training Again<div style="text-align: center;">
We have begun our fall training!</div>
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Canicross came first. At the very beginning of September, there was a cool enough morning that Buck and I ran some hill repeats. Obviously, my training has continued through the summer and the intense workouts started a few weeks back. People can handle the high temperatures due to our ability to sweat. Dogs on the other hand can only cool themselves through panting and the pads on their paws. I will not train my dogs in temperatures above 55 when they are in their summer coats (and even then it must be starting to cool down or be overcast). </div>
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Then on Thursday night this week the temperatures dropped rapidly and I realized, we can run! So I took my top dogs (Whip, Jig, Buck and Flier) on a short, easy 3 mile run to see how they would handle it. They were excited!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEOmn7behg73MG3RKQZRRapF-ePNj1Rt-cFf50xaRj_69dDPYNf03oy7O5-ETbWys-hLovj3sOqczUUOlUbktdnoKFyI_jVaV6T7I_eiG3NYqmbHT81lH9iH09x8vfQMMMZ1puNhBQ9We/s1600/IMG_4714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEOmn7behg73MG3RKQZRRapF-ePNj1Rt-cFf50xaRj_69dDPYNf03oy7O5-ETbWys-hLovj3sOqczUUOlUbktdnoKFyI_jVaV6T7I_eiG3NYqmbHT81lH9iH09x8vfQMMMZ1puNhBQ9We/s320/IMG_4714.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-dog teams are fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stellar leaders!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting close up photos of your dogs is a tough job</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water break. During early fall training we take water breaks (small amounts) to ease into the training and to help cool them down.</td></tr>
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This morning it was 47degF so I hooked up 7 dogs and we were down the drive! Boy it is fun to be running the dogs again!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks at these guys!! Ready to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beauty of the Bitterroot valley mornings behind a team of dogs never gets old!</td></tr>
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<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-84267188671980871352018-05-07T19:12:00.000-07:002018-05-07T19:16:55.976-07:00NWSDA 2018 Spring Fling - Canicross<div style="text-align: center;">
The last weekend in April was our first IFSS sanctioned race in our bid to qualify for the 2019 World Dryland Championships in canicross.</div>
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To sum it up: it was amazing! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXX1p6hNneEyW7nj7EZOvAGzFKsu4ZWMXKiQy-5qVQVd8AUrrB6Ll5SGQz0SbkkY4FHmtPZYXHbDebbIXJtJClOeMVkcc-Z5KIqz1j6Y-3D21tWIOb_c93z0iS0UdMDVe-LICXSDSZoLh/s1600/31636178_2383749651638907_5784568150892078046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXX1p6hNneEyW7nj7EZOvAGzFKsu4ZWMXKiQy-5qVQVd8AUrrB6Ll5SGQz0SbkkY4FHmtPZYXHbDebbIXJtJClOeMVkcc-Z5KIqz1j6Y-3D21tWIOb_c93z0iS0UdMDVe-LICXSDSZoLh/s320/31636178_2383749651638907_5784568150892078046_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have heard Pacific Northwest mushers rave about Camp Koinonia (Camp K) as a magical place. I always thought it was a bit of an over exaggeration....until I visited myself. It IS magical. The trail system was beautiful. The camping area was great. It is dedicated to dog sports most the year. There aren't many places like it.</div>
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We originally were slated to run in the 4-dog sprint as well as the canicross. We ended up only racing in the canicross division. After work on Thursday we departed for my friend Vic's house in Spokane, to split up the long drive. In the morning two dogs (Buck and Jig) from my 4-dog sprint team had the runs but seemed fine. Luckily Sonya, also from the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, was coming through Spokane that morning. So Flier and I caught a ride. Cobey, the boys and the remaining 8 dogs went home. We were afraid they had a contagious illness that could spread to the other teams at the race. Eventually, no other dogs in our kennel were ever affected (including Buck and Jig's littermates who are housed with them). We suspect now that the rapid rise in temperature the day before travel combined with the stress of travel produced the symptoms. Either way, I think it was the best decision for the dogs. Thank you to my husband and boys who often get the worst end of the deal involving dog racing. (Thankfully, Cobey took the boys out camping after returning home, to soften the blow of a "blown weekend" for the boys).</div>
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At the race, Flier was absolutely amazing. Usually canicross races have a mass start but they had interval starts at this race. We started in 5th position of 6. Flier pulled hard the whole time and pulled even harder when we came upon other canicross teams. Flier is a competitive guy and does not like seeing any other dogs in front of him.</div>
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We finished the 1.5 mile (hilly) course in 8 min 20 seconds; the fastest of the 6 competitors. I was very proud of Flier. He worked hard and had beautiful passes. Also, he's really come out of his shell. He used to have severe stranger danger fear but he now allows anyone to pet him. That was great!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv40p7ut5X-qyqRdp519LwtlOhY0YOQZPNIEl4k-6KHA0KznKmXFO4d47WY8nfrECXNRqkj88kCgCyEoT7G1KDNUtW2kuhCxkluWMF0YAvucgqjNmEc0llYHQaqRDD_mR2JvBKBikjMwTM/s1600/31576792_10212410309955623_7738901066472996104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="960" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv40p7ut5X-qyqRdp519LwtlOhY0YOQZPNIEl4k-6KHA0KznKmXFO4d47WY8nfrECXNRqkj88kCgCyEoT7G1KDNUtW2kuhCxkluWMF0YAvucgqjNmEc0llYHQaqRDD_mR2JvBKBikjMwTM/s320/31576792_10212410309955623_7738901066472996104_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV3EA3Sp-2hYrHsez9dQLv6-ogO6m7wik_ytFdh2Ei4imQwp4vf7nHPL-amjEr9HJqnEwkENkoj6muMpDBNXh2rYZfMsxXPcgQDOXEi_keuFfowJGXz8DBzdge7siwG213oPoX_JNG3vJ/s1600/31564189_2382043078476231_2148279282737373793_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV3EA3Sp-2hYrHsez9dQLv6-ogO6m7wik_ytFdh2Ei4imQwp4vf7nHPL-amjEr9HJqnEwkENkoj6muMpDBNXh2rYZfMsxXPcgQDOXEi_keuFfowJGXz8DBzdge7siwG213oPoX_JNG3vJ/s320/31564189_2382043078476231_2148279282737373793_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On day two we started first because we were in first place. That meant we had no one to chase. I thought we would be much slower because of that. But Flier and I must have pushed hard (it sure felt like it) because we finished in 8 min 24 sec!!! Only 4 sec off Saturday's pace!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBtFjLsZl2I31cPCWcmbyE127J7jYarxCAn6roYzRDD9lmuryl3RGWqQ8CYWsKPkgE6AV85nGZ-rsYyHvVSGYlDGJQS6dVicaQSDJML645Nc6UDE1DzFcTU0d7V9wUDjKoT0shsvtELJk/s1600/31510478_10156309429123934_560593584038871040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBtFjLsZl2I31cPCWcmbyE127J7jYarxCAn6roYzRDD9lmuryl3RGWqQ8CYWsKPkgE6AV85nGZ-rsYyHvVSGYlDGJQS6dVicaQSDJML645Nc6UDE1DzFcTU0d7V9wUDjKoT0shsvtELJk/s320/31510478_10156309429123934_560593584038871040_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great shot taken by Mikki Douglass!! <br />She knows where to go to get the great ones! Not at the finish where we're spent....but at the start!</td></tr>
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I was very pleased with our performance! Hard work does pay off!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmMkvkd7ixUq8JPaGHUV5ETEp6rlng8oS4REINOqYts1i2Ekeom6pLnKhfp5_0cGbLJteI-ZltcQNbIHXM1PEAXtPGXpOu5orlw0LmH9VUSHf3iegvge4snQocKpAlNWrxXK3OMfa8D33/s1600/IMG_2845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmMkvkd7ixUq8JPaGHUV5ETEp6rlng8oS4REINOqYts1i2Ekeom6pLnKhfp5_0cGbLJteI-ZltcQNbIHXM1PEAXtPGXpOu5orlw0LmH9VUSHf3iegvge4snQocKpAlNWrxXK3OMfa8D33/s320/IMG_2845.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonya and Sepp (13 yrs old) finishing the Senior race</td></tr>
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I am very blessed to have extremely wonderful and supportive friends and family who all traveled several hours to come watch us race (for less than 10 minutes): Vic, Allie, my mom, dad, sister, Alece, and her two children.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEamHe0qgUfss5SM5YgXh2NJ987JY6EYX_0tAVV9IMtn3KFv15CxEAfNhfiIYK34T-wsbMLNU7NPdOr2bYG94YIiFqEFDNYYzNjdWy3erYppXhOgV5txJeTGnNSUlg1luIAOrAvHnzYBZ/s1600/31460797_2383746831639189_4490986588708476493_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEamHe0qgUfss5SM5YgXh2NJ987JY6EYX_0tAVV9IMtn3KFv15CxEAfNhfiIYK34T-wsbMLNU7NPdOr2bYG94YIiFqEFDNYYzNjdWy3erYppXhOgV5txJeTGnNSUlg1luIAOrAvHnzYBZ/s320/31460797_2383746831639189_4490986588708476493_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My niece was very excited by canicross and loved Flier.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatfn4UeX-nOUb_63FnipVdFu_ZlijKsl324ANmVAwdN3_h0_Yf8fnQvPSRdpWSB0eeYx8UXmr4TMB9L9gsvJtX-iEX6TPiV0ih66WVisEqYp9kbkJQNPuq6NONo2iaJQzUmai9xF3Ze_L/s1600/31499472_2383746814972524_1678613769148016065_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatfn4UeX-nOUb_63FnipVdFu_ZlijKsl324ANmVAwdN3_h0_Yf8fnQvPSRdpWSB0eeYx8UXmr4TMB9L9gsvJtX-iEX6TPiV0ih66WVisEqYp9kbkJQNPuq6NONo2iaJQzUmai9xF3Ze_L/s320/31499472_2383746814972524_1678613769148016065_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My niece also drew this wonderful picture of Flier and I racing!!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWpOVickN0Wsxr6-XH7F_gWVdajOf5R3Hsuw-2N2GImEad_H2e5k_Iu4p1ALy7CP1sG3llxEK1qAhfYu9o-E9WAIkf7DIHH6gqH5PcM7Gn6udQWGIs9gqxQezcg2sYpvTftlhxYy0B8Ie/s1600/31564181_2383749314972274_9079703313023405502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWpOVickN0Wsxr6-XH7F_gWVdajOf5R3Hsuw-2N2GImEad_H2e5k_Iu4p1ALy7CP1sG3llxEK1qAhfYu9o-E9WAIkf7DIHH6gqH5PcM7Gn6udQWGIs9gqxQezcg2sYpvTftlhxYy0B8Ie/s320/31564181_2383749314972274_9079703313023405502_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old high school and/or college friends, Allie (left) and Vic (right).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNcJNkx2Xp2XZ1CflIyF7j4XwFNPDa0Y35UYTG7ZtL-Wfue38z7Skwotlb3VLGc3ny7BsmjgI7cK93Mg0McuXBJqqLIc9CVXLOyR9r4C5G0FGznDB21qxKl4U0QsCF_j0Ug34tCyEQkmn/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNcJNkx2Xp2XZ1CflIyF7j4XwFNPDa0Y35UYTG7ZtL-Wfue38z7Skwotlb3VLGc3ny7BsmjgI7cK93Mg0McuXBJqqLIc9CVXLOyR9r4C5G0FGznDB21qxKl4U0QsCF_j0Ug34tCyEQkmn/s320/IMG_2832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaya, Sepp, and Flier had a lot of fun playing at our campsite</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6H_WjqTyGjjrDX7baJTTS7nIXH6zAIocS8zlhhr2vqdGGvPOpYXcpG10H9P2-LX7V9FN2Z0QbGSOvXd2Nck4kosEWTo-CeWle3kK0aOx_F7Hin3JqCVZcM3oJIYYkRLRkieOkEg1P395/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6H_WjqTyGjjrDX7baJTTS7nIXH6zAIocS8zlhhr2vqdGGvPOpYXcpG10H9P2-LX7V9FN2Z0QbGSOvXd2Nck4kosEWTo-CeWle3kK0aOx_F7Hin3JqCVZcM3oJIYYkRLRkieOkEg1P395/s320/IMG_2851.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hand took quite a beating....and here I thought just handling one dog would be easier on my hands</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A wonderful weekend that only could have been made better by my whole healthy team and family being able to attend. Thank you to everyone who is making this possible for us! One step closer to our goal: IFSS Dryland World Championships 2019!!!!!</div>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-59848695490893142922018-04-30T10:10:00.002-07:002018-04-30T10:33:03.191-07:00Blue<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f29b338f-1789-0664-ad8c-ec99b69f25ab"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/59iz0jqZAiljq-puIP3llfGAdQNOxd-u6t96WiKEmCvsE620hOLdDoZ4fuUMFwG15cD_BnTer_CrP9COHo39v0lLz_-z3nDMy3qRyTdlVZl0st6CpOM-DpwF5DprgdiZLKXhci_Z" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ByDog's Blue</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f29b338f-1788-c052-94d4-08c4f3b15c8a" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Adopted 2006 - April 20, 2018</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This is going to be a long one.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="427" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/venHSJZgZ1ek1TGdqMdVMDDUuH3BTk7m9biqnRN8wEMusdHgj-L2_P1pYB03bvMd2cNTSA-T2p07EpPtwOnyAM2tQHv12pF4TZJ_yuuJamK0d5SdXZxR9QkdAbnjqyVcjn5VBa4j" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blue was one of those once in a lifetime dogs. When I joined the pack in 2008, Cobey had the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">"Original Gangsters:" Kona, Blue and Tensaw. I was instantly drawn to Blue. She was regal, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">independent, wild, and beautiful. She didn't need anyone but she choose to grace us with her </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">presence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="284" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4h3yZb_4-JLJUcGTrZEYLTNhFj6v1ndDatF738lYlmVseFleUD8oTFE1yYah79WhRy_oyC6ywJEv9xBM1Q0XLNUyzCKdSsuqCkMSvxeOkC47VnALkCB9MECSqmLiQZUJDQzP_rE2" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8pO55pRB7lOmG0LkfCxxQVWb-w8QeUCnBz6tf7TDJLMgSOl_0zOzEOKkekYdQKC22uBGUd7vxAr_J8BSje6f_xrBk_UZq0JrLERciumB1Uz4PDsqFOjGOuCP7FjMxsvMqQJrfb1I" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cobey got Blue because she was a runaway. A very typical Siberian husky behavior. People are </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">not usually prepared for the heartache and stress they can cause. At the time, Cobey lived in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Missoula with Kona. He often took her to Dog Logic Doggy Daycare but on this particular day he </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had not. He received a call from Dog Logic informing him they found Kona wandering outside. When</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> he got to the daycare he was surprised to find an amazing look-a-like. He told them he would find </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">her owners and he took her home. Eventually he found them and they asked if he wanted her, they </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">couldn't handle all her wandering ways. And she was with us ever since.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="284" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/15QTRltJPI0Ecw3IjaZ36IGPslfe0qR4HJwERyhSDeHMElzpiiEK5pN1I84tAwdaOX48frYIOc8knkME0xGCD3WfPuBoYHSJp2zJrxtR7ak5JFyUCQzHJOkl0GfyB5vvZs7P9GeM" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She got the name Blue because of hte Blue collar she was wearing when Cobey rescued her. It started</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as "dog with the blue collar" and then "Blue" stuck. In the "early days" we often refered to her as "two." </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Kona was "one" (the first dog), Blue was "two" (the second dog) and Tensaw was "ten" (for obvious</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">reasons). "One two and ten!" was what we'd say.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="284" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/L31V7URWesIetUPcj4MdfMTzxqt0mkY4xMtkO8mgW20Ce_GvXY9zJhgMrfU_nFV47QKMkURNdyt-2wAqLL3WOKKKM1T6AmUVRWboMpsdVvv8hqltmS6QIsQfFMIJxyi2Gid0H7WW" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="427" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blue and Kona were quite the pair. They had a close bond. For some time they thought their name </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was Konaandblue. They often were found laying mirror image to each other. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When Kona passed in 2016, it was hard on Blue. She was quite visibly affected by it. But she made</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> it through and became best friends with the barn cat Priscilla. It was an unlikely friendship for a husky.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Every morning, Priscilla would wait for Blue to come outside. Together they would walk around the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">yard, making it down to the end of the drive each morning to see the boys on to the school bus.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="427" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yLdzOSzZMoY0boRiSnMb_-_T18q4jlmaG-UrHHEXYRbcOLOzYYUOZagLLx0wjO84eUV9NbmlYNWHRc2BZ9_yrQfo1W4hARYUokZUOyh-vAPkBZ87_crc-kFtEeSVzKZY25NTfi3P" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blue has lived in many places around Montana (Troy, Missoula, Hamilton, Corvallis) and even in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tok, Alaska for a stint. She almost did not join Kona, Tensaw and Cobey on that adventure. Cobey </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">offered for Blue to stay with me in Hamilton when he moved. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">I couldn't separate her from the pack. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">She had a grand time in Alaska, even </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">getting the chance to chase a whole herd of caribou. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="427" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Gh_b7_-mMCSLgidnVff0p3leofKjDeqSD52J5uzGs_CpRzHnxwBbONM8wtps8oz05FtS2EbD19hHyM2QQwjrWLsTQyIox2UpsZKTSaVcKNW_g7a0XOILIyPpZRXq8irlxNcda8P8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="320" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There were many times we lost Blue to the allure of 4-legged, sweet smelling, running animals. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The original gangsters went on many leash-free hikes. While 90% of the time we were able to keep </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">them with us, sometimes the drive of the Siberian was just too overwhelming. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When we moved to Hamilton we started to get into dog sledding. Cobey already had half harnesses </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for the original gangsters and had them trained to pull him on his longboard. The first season we went </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">sledding, it was just the three dogs and Blue was the lead dog. She was a strong, capable, athletic dog. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The next season she retired herself, at the top of her game ;) While she was never a part of our main </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">racing team, she will always be known as our first lead dog. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="284" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/kOiqF-UgCdq-ZvK87WVjFQz6DqKJTyOI8XaUVb6T8F760_P1_R_ltgRNznbxJVd55KqVmd_D3EJ8ZWy5SCzKivGF-tFel2GXNfMgcSYonaqSDj1YDmIbqX1x3Gcaj0UCdIBxQpli" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="427" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Blue was very special to me. So much so, she got a coveted spot in our wedding. She pulled the</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">ring-bearer down the isle.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You will be missed and always remembered. You're my lead dog, Blue!</span></div>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-89232145512341784092018-02-28T20:42:00.000-08:002018-02-28T20:42:13.625-08:002nd Grade Snow Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Today was the conclusion of Keegan's 2nd grade class lesson on Alaska. The kids were bused to Lost Trail Powder Mountain Ski hill for downhill sledding fun. His teacher asked if I'd be willing to bring the team up and give a demo. We were thrilled teach the kids about mushing, Siberian huskies and the history of the sport and breed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIR18Su56s30ZFxi5SX-YpyQkhiDwI2p3m_YIIZ7zix0tAhecaqxB-d9pRpzGT00fEKs6iMIXPJHLi96sK6byVU38euAj4RQW9AkjpmpJYtIOSTDO6paUqrCn-_hr2GbWYRY0X2F0bzL/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIR18Su56s30ZFxi5SX-YpyQkhiDwI2p3m_YIIZ7zix0tAhecaqxB-d9pRpzGT00fEKs6iMIXPJHLi96sK6byVU38euAj4RQW9AkjpmpJYtIOSTDO6paUqrCn-_hr2GbWYRY0X2F0bzL/s320/IMG_2193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tensaw, Isis and Buck getting ready for demos</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIR18Su56s30ZFxi5SX-YpyQkhiDwI2p3m_YIIZ7zix0tAhecaqxB-d9pRpzGT00fEKs6iMIXPJHLi96sK6byVU38euAj4RQW9AkjpmpJYtIOSTDO6paUqrCn-_hr2GbWYRY0X2F0bzL/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHlSZyTGqBsvZxg34DV1dtiMETfJ6wguvr6g-rXcggZoAdjZxfSG_GyP4T5A72t0MNPJ-S6hc5_Pf3_wj8Sx5UwDEFxo7bf05FebtIh-K8kOqDTBW5gSvcQomudg9EImtL-h6vmPG-D_I/s1600/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHlSZyTGqBsvZxg34DV1dtiMETfJ6wguvr6g-rXcggZoAdjZxfSG_GyP4T5A72t0MNPJ-S6hc5_Pf3_wj8Sx5UwDEFxo7bf05FebtIh-K8kOqDTBW5gSvcQomudg9EImtL-h6vmPG-D_I/s1600/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>There was a nice freshly groomed loop for me to run a small team on. Five classes of about 20 kids came over for a quick lesson on mushing. Nicki from the Bitterroot Mushers introduced me to a nice way to teach kids about mushing: dress the sled, dress the dog, dress the musher.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking to the first class</td></tr>
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I started by introducing the breed, its background and my dogs. Then I explain about dressing the dog (harnesses, booties, coats), dressing the sled (snow hooks, gangline, sled bag, etc) and finally I told the story of the Great Race of Mercy. I love to tell the Serum run story because it is a combo of two of my biggest interests; dog sledding and infectious diseases. After I tell the story, sans a few details, I ask a few questions. Can anyone name the lead dog who ran the most miles of the Serum run (Togo), what town needed help (Nome) and what disease were they sick with (Diphtheria). If they can't get any of those I ask a question from early on to see if anyone was listening. The child with the correct answer is selected for "dress the musher." Where I dress the kids in adult sized heavy-duty winter gear (they love this).</div>
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Dress the musher!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuEig7U4bx31-vG-OEigpQ1SJw-L5N2ssahq4HBbbIgb-SzbFkJR_hYTTueloHDM4tEizwtW4y1uPxumRw1EJ6sD_Q_r-1qXUjSXdJ_eLszv1CCJ68PKpHG0ny2Ra59akNQ1BFW8gzGsk/s1600/IMG_2204.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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At the very end, they pet the dogs and then I ran a loop of the pond so they could see the dogs in action.</div>
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I choose Whip, Tensaw, Buck and Isis as the demo dogs. Whip does not like being pet by strangers but I needed a good lead dog for this demo so she was my gal. I just had to unhook her from the team when the kids came up in pairs to pet the dogs. I started with Whip and Tensaw in lead. Whip was a rockstar leading the team around the trail they'd never run before. Tensaw, well he's a goof.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I talked a lot....</td></tr>
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The trail took us down to a loop which was below the class. On the first time on the loop, Tensaw (who LOVES attention from kids) thought he would try and pull the whole team up the steep snow bank 40 feet above us back to the kids.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First run through the loop. Tensaw thought he'd bee-line it to the kids</td></tr>
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Otherwise, Tensaw did wonderfully. Buck got a shot in lead with Whip as well and he did well. </div>
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When the demos and sledding was over, I signed out Keegan (instead of him riding the bus back to school just to catch the bus home) and we went over to the Gibbons pass road to let the dogs run a little more (especially those who did get the chance to run at the demo (Flier and Jig specifically are too scared to do demos in front of large crowds).</div>
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We only went 5 miles but it was hard work because there was a substantial amount of fresh snow and Whip, Buck, Isis and Tensaw were already tired from the morning of demos. It was beautiful and fun and I was glad to spend the time with the dogs and Keegan.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My running buddy for the afternoon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGjRF7wM04nHvEnrgRQgRwxNYGSnh3a-BhJ39kEgiVh0sPfaTqlOO9uyMaSVevlQLgTFZfc1jVZ52x0Ke1Zl6DqSiM3EShUWIZjVFUnrqHO2AgOBUF5VL5L3KiABeVDk5sA4PL87o6Lxx/s1600/IMG_2211.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGjRF7wM04nHvEnrgRQgRwxNYGSnh3a-BhJ39kEgiVh0sPfaTqlOO9uyMaSVevlQLgTFZfc1jVZ52x0Ke1Zl6DqSiM3EShUWIZjVFUnrqHO2AgOBUF5VL5L3KiABeVDk5sA4PL87o6Lxx/s320/IMG_2211.MOV" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whip always enjoys a good roll in snow</td></tr>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-48968966988042529822018-02-27T21:54:00.001-08:002018-02-28T07:18:26.078-08:00Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race 2018<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
This weekend the ByDog Siberian team traveled to Olney, MT for the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race. The last time we raced here was in 2012 when it was the Flathead Sled Dog Days. The race has since moved locations to the Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic Center 23 miles west of Whitefish on Highway 93. The lodge was overrun by mushers and dogs this weekend and by the time we signed up was completely booked out. We stayed at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, former location of the Flathead race vet checks.</div>
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I dropped the family off at the lodge and drove on to Dog Creek Lodge Friday night for the musher dinner and meeting. It was a small, cozy space that had to accompany the much larger pool of teams than in the past. Most of the surrounding states have poor to no snow and many races have been canceled but Montana is rich in snow this year and all the mushers knew it. The taco dinner was tasty and enjoyable with the company of other dog enthusiasts. These dinners always consist of tales from the trail and non-stop talk about our dogs and all the stories that go with them. We LOVE talking about our dogs and know other mushers will lend an ear much more readily than our friends and coworkers who are mostly sick of hearing about our dogs ;)</div>
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After that was the musher meeting. And might I say, the most comfortable musher meeting I’ve ever attended. There was large, comfy lounge chairs, soft lighting and beautiful mountain lodge decor. The meeting was long, as one would expect with the number of entries in the race. ByDog Siberians drew bib #34 (Great! I love even numbers!) and the Five Star Rentals of Montana sponsor sled banner.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five Star Rentals of Montana sled banner with a beautiful backdrop!</td></tr>
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The next morning was the usual pre-race routine. I got up and went directly outside to drop dogs, let them stretch, have a snack, water and potty. The boys had their necessary cereal and weekend cartoons and we left for the race site, 20 minutes away. The parking was interesting at this race, but the officials made it work we found a nice spot nestled between Jenny and Mike Roddewig and the wonderful Kim Stanley, another Siberian team from across the border in Cranbrook, BC, Canada.</div>
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It would still be a few hours before we raced, so we got settled, dropped the dogs, chatted with mushers and decided which of the two sleds I would run. I brought my Adanac sprint sled which is equipped with a drag brake, yet is old and slightly warped so doesn't always drive the best on long flat trails. I also brought my new Adanac kit toboggan sled given to my family by Cathy and Leila from Missoula, MT. This sled is smaller, lighter but stiffer and lacks a drag brake. Each sled has different grades of runner plastic which will glide better on different types of snow. I got both sleds down and pushed them across the snow. The kit sled was difficult to move, not easily gliding on the snow while my sprint sled slid easily. My mind was made up...and it wasn't until I was on the course did I thank my lucky stars I choose the sprint sled.</div>
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While they had discussed the course at the musher meeting, I was getting tired and did not pay attention as well as I should or I would have taken note about the hills. Thank goodness I had a drag brake! Less than a mile in we climbed a monster hill. I did a lot of running with the team, this spot being extremely necessary. There was not way my capable team of 4 was going to pull my large-butt up that hill without help. But what goes up must come down and the downhill on the other side was just managable with my drag brake. There were many ups and downs and sharp turns but it was OH so fun! (As a result of the technical requirements of the course, I did not manage to take many pictures and I forgot my GoPro).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck and I ready for day 1!</td></tr>
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Jig and Whip did a wonderful job of leading the team around corners and by teams without incident. We had passes from behind, head on passes, and a pass by the start/finish chute mid-race that can be mentally difficult on a team! The whole team did beautifully. Jig and Whip were like weavers and Buck and Flier were my muscle men. After day 1, I had no clue how fast we went or what place we were in but I was immensely proud of how they performed so it did not matter if we were in last, I was happy with the team!</div>
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The next morning, once we had located our children in a 25 minute, panic-inducing search of the large Grouse Mountain Lodge (which the boys had become accustomed to wandering about), we were off to the race site again. Upon arrival we learned that after day 1 we were sitting in 5th place (out of 14!!!!!) That was a big deal for us. We spent our first many years in mushing bringing up the rear. While I'm a very competitive person, surprisingly it did not bother me much, as I was there for the atmosphere, fellowship and fun with my dogs. But it sure has been nice this season to see our years of work and dedication to our breed and our dogs pay off.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobey had a nice icicle form on his jacket</td></tr>
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At first I was slightly nervous about being in the top 5 but calmed down after reminding myself why we do it, for the dogs and to have fun. I have great faith in my dogs and believed they would do the same thing again on day 2; even after how hard they pushed on day 1. They did not disappoint and put up another stellar performance even though I'm sure they were tired and sore (because I was after day 1....lots of hill repeats in the snow...good for my canicross training).</div>
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In the end, we finished the weekend in 5th place. By far the fastest Siberian team and well competitive with the entire field. Many people in dog sledding like to snub the Siberian husky often calling them "Slowberians" so I took a great amount of pride showing the competition that Siberians are just as good at racing as they are beautiful to look at and fun to live with.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dogs doing what the dogs love to do! Run fast!</td></tr>
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We have had a wonderful season (dryland and snow); it has taken us many years to get to the point we're at. My family has put up with a lot. Countless hours of mom out training dogs, many times of the dogs being put first, lots of money spent, toys destroyed by the teeth and jaws of dogs, and lots and lots of poop. But we've also had joy together with the team. Runs with the whole family, games of hide-and-seek where mom (and her radius of dogs) was so easy to find, so many dog licks, and Christmas tree retrieval by dog sled...just to name a few. Thank you family for the fun and the sacrifices you've made for this dream.<br />
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-55713876849903379612017-12-09T21:11:00.000-08:002017-12-09T21:11:07.601-08:00Christmas Tree Run<br />
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The whole family had a lot of fun getting the Christmas tree. We ran the Gibbons Pass road for the first run of the season and found our best Christmas tree yet.</div>
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Cobey and Rohn took Jig, Flier, Isis and Buzz with the Frank Hall sled and Keegan and I took Whip, Tank, Tensaw and Buck with the Adanac sled. </div>
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We ran out 3 miles and on the way back saw this beauty.</div>
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It took the dogs some time to realize were taking a longer than usual break while we sawed the tree down and lashed it to the sled.</div>
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The boys both rode back with Cobey taking turns to stand on the runners with dad.</div>
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This was a wonderful day with the family!!!</div>
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<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-9697690486636067522017-12-08T22:14:00.002-08:002017-12-08T22:14:58.217-08:00Race Season ScheduleWe are planning our biggest race season yet. In years past we usually compete in 2 races a season. This year we are eyeing 4 or 5. Our team has come into it’s prime years and we thought we’d get in a good season before they and our boys get too much older.<br />
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The focus this year is on shorter sprint distances. The team showed me how fast they can run at the Spokane Dirt Rondy and I want to see how well they translate that to snow. I can tell the enjoy the faster, short miles better as well.<br />
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The following list is subject to change and includes races I’d like to do. Those with * an asterisk next to them are the top choices as of now.<br />
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Jan 13 & 14 - Darby Dog Derby, Lost Trail Pass, MT *<br />
Feb 3 & 4 - Priest Lake Sled Dog Race, Norman, ID *<br />
Feb 16 & 17 - American Dog Derby, Ashton, ID *<br />
Feb 24 & 25 - Flathead Classic, Olney, MT *<br />
Mar 3 & 4 - Bachelor Butte, Bend, OR<br />
Apr 28 & 29 - NWSDA Spring Fling Dryland Race, Cle Elum, WA<br />
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The dryland race is a IFSS santioned race with canicross. It will be my first race toward attempting to qualify for Worlds.<br />
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Here’s to a great season! Tomorrow we’re headed out to snow for our first run of the season!<br />
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Love Your Puppas!<br />
<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-21705273311245883502017-11-29T19:55:00.003-08:002017-11-29T19:55:49.604-08:00GOAL: IFSS World Championships 2019 - Canicross<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
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Last weekend was the 2017 IFSS Dryland World Championships in Kozle-Szamotuly, Poland. I have been increasingly interested in Dryland events after competing at the Spokane Dirt Rondy.<br /></div>
I have spent a lot of time looking at the Women's Canicross Elite results. There were 48 participants representing 22 nations (France, Slovakia, Norway, Spain, Poland, Mexico, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, Belarus, Italy, USA, Argentina, Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands and Hungary).</div>
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The winners, Martina Stepankova from Czech Republic and her dog, ran a blazing total time (two day accumulative time) of 20 min 33 sec for 4.72 miles. (That is 4:21/mile pace!!!!!). The last competitor finished in 38:58 (8:15/mile pace). At this point in my training, I wouldn't be in the winners circle but I could definitely compete in middle of the pack!</div>
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The United States had a dismal number of participants. I would like to see more people from Team USA in 2019 and I would like to see us do better!</div>
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So I am announcing my goal! I intend on qualifying for the 2019 Dryland World Championships USA Team for Women's Elite Canicross.</div>
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I have already begun training with the help of my friend Ashley Palacio and her dog Jazzy. I'm testing out which dog will be my main canicross dog. Currently, it is between Flier, Buck and Buzz. I don't intend on making this decision now so these guys are my training pool of dogs for the time being. Unfortunately, Tank who was my phenomenal canicross dog at the Spokane Dirt Rondy will be almost 9 years old in 2019 and probably not the top choice.</div>
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I, of course, will continue to train and race the whole team in dryland and snow events but think we will be most competitive in the canicross division so have set my Worlds goal in that category. I'll keep everyone posted on ByDog Siberian racing, training, and life as well as the process towards Worlds in Canicross!!</div>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-62469335949928482502017-11-10T20:15:00.001-08:002017-11-10T20:15:02.407-08:00The CartA week ago we raced a 4-dog team at the Spokane Dirty Rondy using a three wheeled, extremely light-weight cart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture courtesy of Wendy Devent</td></tr>
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Backing up about 9 months, a teacher in Missoula reached out to our mushing club looking to see if anyone would be able to do a classroom visit with their sled dogs. I volunteered and took my team up for demonstrations and petting. Following the demo, the teacher and her partner asked if I'd be interested in a dog cart they had. It had been hanging in their garage for a while, unused, and they'd like to see it pulled by some dogs. I said, I was interested and would be in touch.<br />
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Well time got away from me and before I knew it, it was time to start running dogs and I contacted the women, Cathy and Leila. One Sunday last month, we drove up to Missoula to pick it up. Much to my surprise, it was a SUPER nice, very light weight cart that looked to be made by Specialized or at least with parts from Specialized.<br />
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This was the cart we used at the race, which many of the mushers commented on how lightweight and fast it looked. And the cart my team pulled to a first place finish (still so proud of them).<br />
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Again, I want to thank Leila and Cathy for giving us the cart, which was so incredibly generous! You have no idea how happy it has made me and the dogs. This also opens up our training possibilities as we were confined to the same route from our house over and over again because of transport issues with the dogs and an ATV. Now we can venture to new trails in the spring and fall!!<br />
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Thank you!!!!<br />
<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-27341620816397686872017-11-07T09:21:00.000-08:002017-11-07T09:22:16.094-08:002017 Spokane Dirt Rondy<div style="text-align: justify;">
Man, it's been awhile since we posted on here. I won't waste your time with one of those "man, it's been awhile since we posted" posts, because we're back and we got some good stuff!</div>
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Last year, as she always does, Brandi volunteered to do some outreach about dog sledding at the local schools. This time it really paid off, because she was gifted a really nice cart! (she can tell you that story).</div>
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So we signed up for the Spokane Dirt Rondy!</div>
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Again, I'll get Brandi to tell you her side of the tail (including the wipeout), but for now - check out the video.</div>
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Cobey Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10364903945776010302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-3233831674688735732016-04-01T08:30:00.000-07:002016-05-09T17:12:02.576-07:00Snow Retreating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple weekends back we ran the dogs on Nez Perce Road, up the West Fork of the Bitterroot. One of our favorite quiet places to run dogs in the winter. But it was losing snow fast. That was likely the last weekend for this season to run up Nez Perce! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry patches on the side of the trail!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before we traversed dry land.</td></tr>
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As my sled was pulled over a couple patches of gravel and dirt, I first fretted about my runners (before I remembered I was going to get new plastic for next season anyways) and then thought, I'm like an Iditarod musher now. How sad is that. I now associated running your sled over dry ground with the Iditarod!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had a lovely time with this handsome little man!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two golly girls and wonderful leaders!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank, just like his late mom Paluk, just can't stop for more than a few minutes before he is begging to start running again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz! (Isis and Tensaw thought something smelled exciting off the trail)</td></tr>
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Last weekend I was going to take my sister and her kids on a dog sled ride. The snow is great at the pass and the weather had been cool. Unfortunately, I came down with a cold with a fever the day we were going to go :( Hopefully next year she comes back in the winter and we can take her out! </div>
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Over the last few days the temperatures have risen and the dogs and boys and I have been enjoying the sun and fun in the yard! Whip got a little too excited about the cup of grape juice on the table spilling juice everywhere when pulling it down.</div>
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Jig got to be the adventure dog on our hike partly up Chaffin butte. She did wonderfully and had a good time.</div>
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We played some hide and seek back at home. My hiding spots are always compromised by the pack of dogs that follows me around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS5NDmDLEukSjbXNlXN9sWFmgzZuuzewFKB-9EiSLSXgfh3hug9UZT0qHoNZ_Zw1qqxlJHXc6wAsnZX2LvjAB-8d9KS30M7Y7QnBDdAM7VBWMWv0PPNvJKuOHt1TNvZuVtL3YNUR6rz_i/s640/blogger-image--1967377623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS5NDmDLEukSjbXNlXN9sWFmgzZuuzewFKB-9EiSLSXgfh3hug9UZT0qHoNZ_Zw1qqxlJHXc6wAsnZX2LvjAB-8d9KS30M7Y7QnBDdAM7VBWMWv0PPNvJKuOHt1TNvZuVtL3YNUR6rz_i/s640/blogger-image--1967377623.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1FtN3yDx0Nac6FluN0niqtZpwXCt4Sxc-M-Vp7dAFbjjndQZaVE-8AehRAasxYMU4jA_0LyexKO7HyBZrvap_B2oUgb6_y-LNgOBBwCB5AB17t-O4QT-KUM0gL3f9n6hv2v8EiJdhTEk/s640/blogger-image-1388671017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1FtN3yDx0Nac6FluN0niqtZpwXCt4Sxc-M-Vp7dAFbjjndQZaVE-8AehRAasxYMU4jA_0LyexKO7HyBZrvap_B2oUgb6_y-LNgOBBwCB5AB17t-O4QT-KUM0gL3f9n6hv2v8EiJdhTEk/s640/blogger-image-1388671017.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spent a while in this dog box as the youngest had trouble finding me here....even with the dogs all circling the dog trailer trying to figure out a way in. Man these are nice roomy, comfy boxes! No wonder they can't wait to get in the trailer. And some don't want to get out when we get home!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO3IrU0jMDfgTi5X69M3VeInF4ioIxQc5uV55jgR-5NT8j0EwVSAoE1ZZGYd7yPw1t9ZMw9AmHp7iLjWiOZdKI_OH5h6Izrzk_lSgvsYIc1nQ4iOv7pgvIh9jTGkiu4oZuKfs7g38vxTF/s640/blogger-image--2103581663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO3IrU0jMDfgTi5X69M3VeInF4ioIxQc5uV55jgR-5NT8j0EwVSAoE1ZZGYd7yPw1t9ZMw9AmHp7iLjWiOZdKI_OH5h6Izrzk_lSgvsYIc1nQ4iOv7pgvIh9jTGkiu4oZuKfs7g38vxTF/s640/blogger-image--2103581663.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">And the necessary silly picture of Whip (lower right corner). I never fail to get a picture of her right when she's shaking off or being silly.</td></tr>
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Love your puppas!</div>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-15178325760427961722016-02-27T22:07:00.001-08:002016-03-04T20:24:56.914-08:0012 milerLast weekend Keegan and I ran the team together. A 12 mile loop up Lost trail pass on Overlook trail. Keegan said "I've never run here before...OH LOOK I can see mountains! I like this trail!"<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-UtzX8mJOU5VYgtOoDB8f8-OIJZUD0UWE0-piwPkZXuLQIe15K8Jk0ewDTiJtKmkz_2R34Z1Nep52V-5iK1ueSxS4fBDBVXvAq1hrViFr_p0Q_pBRWJDgxA_R5g0Yuo21hBQOYDXYqZh/s640/blogger-image--618666713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-UtzX8mJOU5VYgtOoDB8f8-OIJZUD0UWE0-piwPkZXuLQIe15K8Jk0ewDTiJtKmkz_2R34Z1Nep52V-5iK1ueSxS4fBDBVXvAq1hrViFr_p0Q_pBRWJDgxA_R5g0Yuo21hBQOYDXYqZh/s640/blogger-image--618666713.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>We had a number of breaks because it was rather warm. Here we are on one break. Whip (lead right) really likes to roll. Got a few good shots of her being goofy!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCAFWGIrQ31ZZEhRIVdLgh2ehUxxODagztb4Jey-OCUgteiFYgBqGLV9ge8Tim6nHUfoobwQ_Dugbre87bkHbYlhyF8R3LlQGpyJCCNcgJmO-hE_264dow4AuS9xzaZTlxPCHdBrBigQ2/s640/blogger-image--1924330846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCAFWGIrQ31ZZEhRIVdLgh2ehUxxODagztb4Jey-OCUgteiFYgBqGLV9ge8Tim6nHUfoobwQ_Dugbre87bkHbYlhyF8R3LlQGpyJCCNcgJmO-hE_264dow4AuS9xzaZTlxPCHdBrBigQ2/s640/blogger-image--1924330846.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmT7Ti8sbukHtk9z78n1rUHJj2gr3MGRajjtIVE1UbHNbJlz5rAM2GLWHkCEYAChwEYbPVWLJiYTsWfVLtzZRjOkLkdl-mZ03ElPFH9_GO7bM8lrhr9U-kHXYxAgQ8eoPUOTcEym3-Qij/s640/blogger-image-1162989546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmT7Ti8sbukHtk9z78n1rUHJj2gr3MGRajjtIVE1UbHNbJlz5rAM2GLWHkCEYAChwEYbPVWLJiYTsWfVLtzZRjOkLkdl-mZ03ElPFH9_GO7bM8lrhr9U-kHXYxAgQ8eoPUOTcEym3-Qij/s640/blogger-image-1162989546.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CKx8TqeOcjQRwjiMG4TXAPviWUMj2d4KRrLXbv14To5nc4Qt2q7NzyQfyFgOWP57xwKuI6Ho7zIekKy6nX9rwIOfWlL5q3seHFCqnvE5YxVaKl1L3pnurCJENR_VLZifILLysBWg4KWj/s640/blogger-image--1282482441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CKx8TqeOcjQRwjiMG4TXAPviWUMj2d4KRrLXbv14To5nc4Qt2q7NzyQfyFgOWP57xwKuI6Ho7zIekKy6nX9rwIOfWlL5q3seHFCqnvE5YxVaKl1L3pnurCJENR_VLZifILLysBWg4KWj/s640/blogger-image--1282482441.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdwiGK4OHCZQ4d9n0cdMoy2buB0OZWorW1rhhD9ui-Zj1IKQoRvQis5MiLY89YTyoudOSWmckgBj7AAKWcWnTwU4sKyTJjT8ULHLLcKir4NZI6zNf6ppdoJyKhyphenhyphenENvv6c9AE0gyHSmnBM/s640/blogger-image--2139505522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdwiGK4OHCZQ4d9n0cdMoy2buB0OZWorW1rhhD9ui-Zj1IKQoRvQis5MiLY89YTyoudOSWmckgBj7AAKWcWnTwU4sKyTJjT8ULHLLcKir4NZI6zNf6ppdoJyKhyphenhyphenENvv6c9AE0gyHSmnBM/s640/blogger-image--2139505522.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54pzA4QWymTRWLFF8s6O-zeDzPQt1Y6FoGs6vnPaQVry_Tpp3UqcDFdWguN3dQy16otirjnkElp3R7lCEEnRs-LAqJ5rWON39VWLmMFmmfk77VI_i-LkqHh3N3WrttVf-dC2IAsTGfPKK/s640/blogger-image-960533395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54pzA4QWymTRWLFF8s6O-zeDzPQt1Y6FoGs6vnPaQVry_Tpp3UqcDFdWguN3dQy16otirjnkElp3R7lCEEnRs-LAqJ5rWON39VWLmMFmmfk77VI_i-LkqHh3N3WrttVf-dC2IAsTGfPKK/s640/blogger-image-960533395.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwU0IZccAv1rlsL8M6tE35_IcI3T0le8fiLTKNV6jYZTvYPlTCL87M-pcFweTFo7xjcyN-H6KYp2Us0q5w-vLMNVTrt7L7bFhRNhNUJX2dAjOqGckuDHbYiXNoNVtzNn1QYFUaqfUMvAA/s640/blogger-image--1722048179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwU0IZccAv1rlsL8M6tE35_IcI3T0le8fiLTKNV6jYZTvYPlTCL87M-pcFweTFo7xjcyN-H6KYp2Us0q5w-vLMNVTrt7L7bFhRNhNUJX2dAjOqGckuDHbYiXNoNVtzNn1QYFUaqfUMvAA/s640/blogger-image--1722048179.jpg"></a>Okay Whip, you're ready to go? All right let's go!</div></div>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-90231571181196199432016-02-24T20:07:00.001-08:002016-02-24T20:07:40.812-08:00I Smell SpringI haven't posted in a while because we haven't done much. Between the cold that I've been fighting and the weather that strong suggests winter is over, we haven't run much. Finally got the dogs out tonight. They appreciated the run but also seemed to be realizing the season is coming to a close. They seem to be prepared for it. Ready to be lazy dogs for a bit (as lazy as a Siberian can be).<div><br></div><div>Here are a few pictures when we got back. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVtn3PY6RSYF6Bsbn0l7akp8FiWFMex5gaG14PfDP5feexh6_22tmXL2fhrG-zwQtpawmBnOoYElLoG2AFM5jB3OEU9JeGkDzNpCn7sdammaBrUeDR_FUJtDBe8jrbIibJ6OcZ2q6XTmV/s640/blogger-image-1967519438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVtn3PY6RSYF6Bsbn0l7akp8FiWFMex5gaG14PfDP5feexh6_22tmXL2fhrG-zwQtpawmBnOoYElLoG2AFM5jB3OEU9JeGkDzNpCn7sdammaBrUeDR_FUJtDBe8jrbIibJ6OcZ2q6XTmV/s640/blogger-image-1967519438.jpg"></a></div>These girls (littermates, Jig and Whip) are just too cute together and too awesome at lead. They led the team by a heard of deer running away from us. I didn't see them either until we were maybe 10 feet from them .</div><div><br></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb7M4QcMCvGb_8OdSVs62tZf-nHzPKO2_pvpBqzkGppCrm-dS1jKprVSQw16gMLOlM3kPu-C7p7_wrPSshKsS7IWYFaXV-Nzqm3R_RIxXgit_PEERhzmillvj1Yu3RfOakpm4kZ9aXh4I/s640/blogger-image-1140155150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb7M4QcMCvGb_8OdSVs62tZf-nHzPKO2_pvpBqzkGppCrm-dS1jKprVSQw16gMLOlM3kPu-C7p7_wrPSshKsS7IWYFaXV-Nzqm3R_RIxXgit_PEERhzmillvj1Yu3RfOakpm4kZ9aXh4I/s640/blogger-image-1140155150.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The team cooling off and relaxing. </div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkb2upZWUiNov2fYoM292hSwwiqr_euOO483d-0hxVecIAzgZfIllLtbdF62NdCa3i-1qpmd_q4GNp5CxJWwOdkaFL8tyPFNVBQk9mOfCWnib6YqNBWUNa-hCvN01ZdQYnXPB4H6BvSyB/s640/blogger-image-1233602828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkb2upZWUiNov2fYoM292hSwwiqr_euOO483d-0hxVecIAzgZfIllLtbdF62NdCa3i-1qpmd_q4GNp5CxJWwOdkaFL8tyPFNVBQk9mOfCWnib6YqNBWUNa-hCvN01ZdQYnXPB4H6BvSyB/s640/blogger-image-1233602828.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>Love your puppas!</div>Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-22001435943403300222016-02-20T14:18:00.001-08:002017-11-07T09:30:38.929-08:00Kindergarten Demo<div style="text-align: justify;">
This past week, on Monday, we had some fun introducing a bunch of Kindergarteners (Keegan's class) to dog powered sports. </div>
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In the morning, we sent Keegan in on the school bus then began prepping the team. We decided to run some of the energy off of them before hand, to not disturb other classes. I ran the 8-dog team down to the school with the ATV (about a 4.5 mile run) while Cobey followed (sometimes led) with the truck and trailer with the sleds. The team did really well. Before getting to the school I pulled off and waited for Cobey to confirm the kids were outside to see the team run. I switched Jig out of lead for Tank. (Jig is way to nervous around new people to lead into the school yard). </div>
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The team did wonderfully. The kids lined up and all declared Tank their favorite dog. The team sat there and drank their water while I explained dog sledding and the gear. The kids "asked questions" many "questions" were actually statements about which dog is their favorite or about their own pets. There were a few very thoughful questions though. </div>
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After that our three timid dogs were put in their boxes and the rest got lots of petting from the kids. They all loved it. </div>
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Finally I showed them canicross and let them stand on the sleds. The kids seemed to really enjoy it almost as much as some of the parents there ;) by the end, Buzz was the favorite...because of those bi-eyes! One girl said "How isthat possible?!? It's crazy!" Her mind was blown!</div>
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That was fun and the dogs did AMAZING!</div>
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Love your puppas! </div>
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Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684324349677615108.post-2745213962749858252016-02-13T20:19:00.001-08:002016-02-13T20:19:16.262-08:00Home FunWe did not go up to the snow today. Instead we had fun around the house. Here are some pictures from today.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jig, enjoying the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank having quite the roll</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't that look fun?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jig</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz and Whip playing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EAQpKUdkldQq4h3ZOrIejPFVnpGzS7nJ5sz6zmvAyUaTATc_ODb9vOxe1q3TQuzommILAP2-HiwDR477XWcdGv1Jes2syU3enTxzVvfeX-yh8dLUqIU7GYOCy26xLQGK0-gKZfxXC2zn/s1600/IMG_1644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EAQpKUdkldQq4h3ZOrIejPFVnpGzS7nJ5sz6zmvAyUaTATc_ODb9vOxe1q3TQuzommILAP2-HiwDR477XWcdGv1Jes2syU3enTxzVvfeX-yh8dLUqIU7GYOCy26xLQGK0-gKZfxXC2zn/s320/IMG_1644.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMAWfon9cV761VfixC9U1QPbaZhuK2-_FvnWyd-jAy-OnD9UaDHvFD3mPA1l5gymVgJp8HDEc064O8iTeHB3YDQSaIdBDZkOe88wwsoylvxl-WR9R_NWcKFbbvUQoQuecZxLWf3kFV0pH/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMAWfon9cV761VfixC9U1QPbaZhuK2-_FvnWyd-jAy-OnD9UaDHvFD3mPA1l5gymVgJp8HDEc064O8iTeHB3YDQSaIdBDZkOe88wwsoylvxl-WR9R_NWcKFbbvUQoQuecZxLWf3kFV0pH/s320/IMG_1666.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz getting some love</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d_qXoRfyYOn5b30kA2vZZkncfK4qR__m0dipL0G4NpfGzzXpW-Ic7TuU728Q8SlU-Qo8ALtmj4LXhHAURHAV9OdI4NAI5epDWZVGECSxgUfEGI8gH64EpBv9Smwt6Qsq-bf3aX3dMGkQ/s1600/IMG_1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d_qXoRfyYOn5b30kA2vZZkncfK4qR__m0dipL0G4NpfGzzXpW-Ic7TuU728Q8SlU-Qo8ALtmj4LXhHAURHAV9OdI4NAI5epDWZVGECSxgUfEGI8gH64EpBv9Smwt6Qsq-bf3aX3dMGkQ/s320/IMG_1667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These bushes must be the best side scratchers because many of the dogs love to rub in these. Okie getting a good rub down.</td></tr>
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<br />Brandi Williamsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13895498751283087336noreply@blogger.com0