Different Kinds of Training

Distance	Moving Time	Average Speed	Maximum Speed
1.76 miles	0:11.16	9.35 mph	16.78 mph

It's been almost two weeks since my last entry. Didn't mean to leave anyone hanging -- things have just been pretty boring around here. We've had above normal temperatures for awhile (almost 80 degrees last week), so no runs. Loose leash walk training is still happening, though. It's been going pretty well. Denali is already easing up with her pulling and trots very nicely during the last 10 - 15 minutes of each walk. Knox is a bit of a spazz, but he's also showing improvement. Dexter is back into his groove, nothing really to report.

This week, temperatures are returning to where they should be for the end of March, which means we should get more runs in. I managed to squeeze a quick run in yesterday with Denali and Knox. It makes me happy to see my puppies working so well together, but it's a little disappointing that Dexter doesn't just "click" like they do. He's been training the longest (although not by much), yet he doesn't take to it like the huskies do.

I can't blame Dexter. He wasn't bred to run and pull. Based on his day to day activities, it seems he was bred to be clingy and pee on stuff. He has the ability to run very well -- I've seen it. It's just a matter of motivating him to do so. He loves running in the Pine Barrens, or anywhere less familiar, for that matter. Part of me wants to "bench" him once I have more dogs, but I don't know if I could leave him behind. He's shown improvement with the addition of Knox to the team, so he may be just fine once I have four or six dogs. Time will tell.

Oh! I almost forgot. I signed up for Mushing Boot Camp this September! We'll be traveling to South Colton, NY for a few days in the woods. We'll be at the Call of the Wild facility, being instructed by some very knowledgeable folks. We're going to be working on Dexter's passing issues, as well as honing everyone's overall ability in harness. I've heard good things about this organization, so I hope to learn some techniques that I can use for years to come. I'll definitely have several blog entries devoted to my experience.

2011-2012 Mileage to Date: 125.22

Keeping Up

Distance	Moving Time	Average Speed	Maximum Speed
2.47 miles	0:13.43	10.78 mph	17.66 mph

Sunday may have been our last trip to the Pine Barrens for the 2011-2012 season. I hope not, but if it was, we ended on a very good note. We did a short run at Mt. Misery -- just 1.2 miles out and back, like we had done the week before. This time, I had the rig instead of the bike. And this time, the dogs absolutely flew. 

My phone app clocked the team at 17.66 miles per hour -- definitely their fastest maximum speed yet. They held steady, averaging 10 miles per hour after their initial burst at take off. Knox is the added kick of strength and power we really needed. I can't wait to do longer runs with him, but I'm taking it slow.

Sunday morning was the last bit of cold we'll be getting for at least a week. Temperatures will be in the upper 60's and lower 70's for the next couple of days. Since it's too warm to run, I'm focusing on the dogs' loose-leash walking skills (or lack there of).

Denali needs the most work with walking manners. Her walks aren't walks -- they're still runs, in her mind. It's not easy to teach a dog, who was bred and trained to pull, to walk nicely. Knox and Dexter each need their own individual training as well.

My plan is to walk each dog separately every day this spring and summer. The huskies will be walked in the morning or evening, Knox getting the cooler time slot (since he's got the heaviest coat). Dexter isn't bothered by heat, so unless it's blistering, he'll get walked in the late afternoon. As they improve, I'll walk in pairs. The ultimate goal is to loose-leash walk all three together without issue.

I will be walking each with a leash attached to a limited slip O-ring collar. I need for them to differentiate between the collar/lead and pulling with their x-back harness. After all, I still want them to pull when the cool temperatures return.

I'll also be walking the dogs on a different path, at least for the beginning of their loose-leash training. Right now, they associate our usual route with running and pulling. If I go a different direction, I'm hoping they'll be thinking more, instead of just acting on their RUN RUN RUN instincts.

To further work their manners, I'll be taking them around the local park, where lots of distractions will come into play: other dogs, kids, people, etc.

Today was Denali's first real test. She did better than she usually does, since she was by herself and not focusing on leading the other two. She pulled, as expected, but also had a few stretches of loose-leash walking. I also got her to check out her surroundings a bit -- sniff the ground, look at the lake, watch joggers pass. Usually, she's all business and doesn't look anywhere but forward. 

Knox is still getting used to walks by himself, so I don't think it will be quite as hard to train him to walk nicely. Dexter can walk well, but he has a different problem entirely -- he marks and sniffs every few feet, which can get annoying.

I'll continue to update on our runs, assuming we get a few more before the temperatures stay consistently above 50 degrees. Once that happens, I'll be using the blog to document the dogs' non-mushing related activities and training. I'll also use the off-season to write up some articles about mushing in general -- not just my little team. So don't go anywhere!

2011-2012 Mileage to Date: 121.94

And Then There Were Three

I've been meaning to write about Knox's first run with the big dogs in my usual trail entry format, but I got delayed -- and now we're already three runs into his "career". I decided I should write a little recap of each, before any more time passes and I forget the details.

Our first three dog run was on Friday, March 2nd. Since Knox is right around 6-months-old and seemed more than ready to join the team, I decided it was time. My rig is still in need of a new bearing, so I had to resort to a 3-dog bikejor. Not the best idea and certainly not something I will do once the rig is fixed, but I wanted to give him a practice run before the Pine Barrens.

Our first run went pretty well. Denali ran in single lead with Dexter and Knox behind her in wheel. Knox did fantastic... he pulled hard and slammed into his harness like he was bred to do it (which I'm fairly certain he wasn't). Dexter also did well -- he was more focused and went into "chase" mode with Denali in front of him. Denali -- my sweet, oh-so-perfect Denali -- was less than perfect in single lead. I didn't realize how much Dexter grounded her. It wasn't a catastrophe or anything. She ran like a yearling (which she is), and not the incredibly focused girlie she usually is. Her commands were a little fuzzy and she turned around to mess with Knox halfway through the run.

Towards the end of Knox's first run, we came upon a fleeing cat. Because we can't have a single run without some sort of animal darting away from us. My bike brakes were working, but didn't do any good. The wheels slid, until I managed to swing up against a tree and hold the team back.

The second run was flawless. We went to the Pine Barrens, where there are rarely any animals near the trail. The freshly laid scent of other teams also helps my guys stay focused. All three did great, although Denali couldn't understand why we had to turn back after just over a mile -- she wanted to run our usual four mile trail. I didn't want to push Knox too hard, so we only did 2.4 miles with the team. I took Denali out again later and repeated the same trail, so she could get her fix.

This morning was Knox's third run and probably the worst thus far. As soon as we took off, I realized something wasn't right. The duct tape job I constructed on the front brake had ripped apart. I thought about turning back, seeing as three dogs + only a rear brake might = suicide... but I had my helmet on, so god damn it, we kept going!

First test was a squirrel that darted by Denali. In double lead with Dexter, she gets excited for squirrels, but I can usually call her off. She then channels her 'need-to-chase' urge into pulling extra hard. In single lead, she loses her focus and tries to chase. I had to swing against a tree and wait for her to cool off.

Dexter and Knox did very well. Denali obeyed most of my commands, but she wasn't as quick and sharp with them as usual. Towards the end of the woods loop, something caught her eye and she hopped off the path and into the high, dead brush. While she was goofing off, Dexter took the opportunity to roll around. Knox just whined and slammed into his harness, trying to get the team to keep going -- nice try, little one! I had to dismount and pull Denali into the right direction. The remainder of the run home was mostly uneventful. She was a little better with the commands, but still a bit unruly.

All in all, they're doing fine. This minor setback is just a dose of reality. For the most part, Denali has been unusually great in harness. Asking her to lead without Dexter by her side is a big step for a puppy still a few days shy of a year old. AJ plans to take her running every day and I'll be doing more single lead practice with her. I'm sure we'll work out the kinks as time goes on.

Someday in the distant, but hopefully not too distant future, a fourth dog will even out the team and solidify their flow. Dexter and Knox can be the powerhouses in wheel and maybe another Sibersong lady will balance Denali out in lead. Someday!