Malamuteweek 2012

Last week we went down to the annual malamuteveckan in Ljungdalen. It was a weekend containing lectures and interaction with other malamuteowners. Educational lectures and we had a great desire of all the fine sleds and equipment that we were surrounded by. Of course, we had time for some skiing with the dogs in the mountains as well.

On our way to Helags

The male that was Best of breed at the show, Juneaus Drifting ice

Swim practice

Today, Lola was in her first swim practice session, followed by massage and laser therapy. Took a while for Lola learned how it worked and managed to soak both the environment and staff with their bushy swimming movement.
Sim training is also good for a healthy dog, they can improve their fitness, maintain or increase their joint mobility and increase their muscle strength further. Very interesting and informative. In addition to swimming training we received many tipson exercises we can do at home to strengthen the muscles further. We will continue swimming training with Lola continuously and hope and believe that we will have a good end result to get the maximum of her movements when we are sledtraining. The photos are borrowed from Älvdalens hundhälsa.

The pool

Along the trails of Råne river

Sunday morning we packed lunches and went out on trip. This time it was skis for us two-legged. Me with Tiffany, Smilla with Jada and Anders and Lola with our fjellpulken. My daughter Smilla aged 10 years and fought well with skis and Jada and they kept pace with us for 7 km (Unfortunately I didn't take any picture when she skied), then she laid down in the sled with jackets as blanket the rest of the 8 km and I took Jada with Tiffany in front of me instead.

Lola in the stake-out

Jada

Tiffany loves to be at stake-out. When we unleash her, she hurries back to the stake-out and bed down in the straw.

The youths behind her begin to suspect that something is going on.

Lola is ready

Anders & Smilla with Lola

My companions on our way home. 

Tiffany at 9 years of age

Lovely Lola 

After the trip the dogs rolled down in the straw

A sleddning trip in the dark forest

Friday afternoon me and the dogs went for a sledding trip in the forest. It was quite dark outside but when we came out of reach from the streetlight I had a headlamp to lit up the trails. This time Lola did go in single-lead the first 8 km and the remaining 7 km, it was Tiffany's turn. Jada is not yet mature enough to go in single lead when we run the sled but fought well as wheel dog. When we got home we changed musher and Anders took over and went off for another round in the dark woods.

Lola in lead for the first 8 km, always eager to take off.

A film clip that shows when we reached the village and got a little light. We had the old heavy sled and it creaks a lot as we go.

Back on track

Today I went for a afternoon skiing trip with the black ones, Tiffany and Lola. Put some extra sandbags in the sledge so that the dogs get weight training. At first we went after a track that we used to go after but when we haft come more than halv the way the tracks disapear, lots of snow and the wind and on top of it the dusk made it so difficult to see where we should go so we had no other option than to turn back to where we came from. When we where a few km from the start we went for another track that was newly made tracks. Much more convenient and those last 4 km to the car felt easy. 

New sled

A sled for the Nordic style of a 'pulktoboga from Oinakka. There is a lower version of the sled with handbrake and a sled bag. Can hold a lot of packing and will fit perfectly for our purposes. Also available space so that one of the kids can stand on the runners while we are skiing. I think that they will appreciate, this is almost like to drive dogs theirself.

The only thing we lack now is the snow. Can not remember the last time we were without snow on December 1. But rates drop slowly it was 6 degrees above zero and raining yesterday but today we have only a plus grade. Training the dogs is anyway in full progress, we pull tires that we have been weighted up, back training in the sandpit and lots of free play. So they are in good shape when the snow is here. Now it's just up to Jack Frost to do his job. I need hardly say that we are longing!

Reorganization and swedish malamute specialty

Reorganization. We now come to the conclusion that Marie goes out of the kennel. For kennel Snocrib this means no major changes, we will still continue to work towards the same goals as before. The only difference is that my partner Anders will have a more prominent role in the kennel. A more easy-way for both sides in reaching a consensus goals and challenges. Of course, there is nothing that prevents cooperation anyway.
We wish Marie good luck with her future plans. Yourself we look forward to exciting new challenges arising in the winter to come.

We also had time for a show since last time I blogged. This year it was so that the annual malamute specialty was held on 5 November in Piteå. Never before have we had it so close to us here in the north and of course it was a must to go there. 39 malamute notified and we went there with Lola and Tiffany. Lola got excellent in the open bitch and Tiffany got excellent, ck and was finally BIS veteran!!

In this picture Tiffany was 9 weeks old...



Can you imagine that she has been this tiny?

Now she is 8 years and still a beauty