Life with Siberian Huskies

I’ve done a lot of paintings the last couple of years. Acrylic on masonite and I also make the frames. Here are a few I’ve done mostly for their owners.

It’s taken years, but I’m finally living the dream of running dogs and building my team/kennel. Now that I’m retired, I have the time to do it right. Dogs take a lot of time and money to train and keep them fed and healthy.

These 3 are going to be my foundation dogs. Left to right, Bonkers (F) 98% Seppala, Togo (M) 97.98% Seppala, and Ivan(M) 71% Seppala. I have frozen semen from Togo’s Sire “Race of Seppalta” that may get used this summer with another Seppala female who is a little over 93%.

Clear skies and 13F temps. The first video is the “A” team. Second video is the “B” team. Road work is essential, just like sled work is. Both contribute to the dog’s abilities.

5 degrees F / -15 C

If you’re cold, the huskies are not! Great day to sunbathe.

There might be some additions to my team if Bonkers and Ivan conceived. Ivan is an outcross and 73% Seppala. Bonkers is ~98% Seppala and Togo’s mom. Both of them pull like tractors. Ivan is progressing as a lead dog in single or double lead. Time will tell if I get some new pack members from this pair.

Togo update

Togo’s continuing education revolves around his pack. This is the first pup I’ve had that his mom came with him. I’ve learned a lot about how mom has tough love. She didn’t hesitate to roll or hold him down on his back when he got out of control, playing and biting.

And when it’s over and the lesson has been learned, they curl up together and nap. The pack mimics family life in a dog version. It’s not unlike our own human families. Despite disagreements, when it comes down to it the bond of mother/son/ daughter etc. is still stronger.

I don’t have to teach Togo how to pull. That comes as naturally to him as living in the snow and cold. I need to teach him directions and commands. Mushing is a team effort, and a team is greater than the sum of its parts.

I’ve been letting Togo run free on our sled runs. He’s not pulling, just having fun running and creating havoc for the leader who is pulling. Pulling a sled is much harder than running in front of an ATV with the motor assist. I don’t want to overtax his young body. It all comes down to judging what is enough, and what he can do without injuring his body or mind. No two dogs are the same. In Togo’s case, he is exceptionally large and smart. He is progressing faster because he is capable of doing it safely.

The young pup (Togo), runs free with the team. He’s learning all about how fun this is. This is a new concept for me in training a pup. It seems to be working for him. He’s having fun and causing chaos for the team. So, it’s training for both the team and the pup. I guess we’ll see how it all turns out in the end.