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Sledding
I have only recently taken up Sledding with my dogs and we are ALL having a ball. Check back regularly for new Sledding pics.
What a wonderful activity to do with your dogs. I had never had much interest in racing Alaskan Malamutes as I have always believed that mals are not racing dogs. They are built for endurance, not speed. However, there is nothing to stop you from going along and running your dog in harness at their own speed, just for fun. Sapphy was lacking in confidence so I was looking for something to do with her to help her improve that. The AMCV had an activities day so I took her along to try out a few working activities with her. Howie Shewring took Sapphy out for her first run and the rest as they say is history. I attended my first race on the 19th April 2008 and I have to say, I am hooked! Even better, the dogs absolutely love it. Sapphy has taken to it like a duck to water and Quake, well he's just Quake and needs a bit more training LOL. We certainly won't break any records out on the track and I really don't care. It's all about the dogs and they can do as much or as little of this as they want. It's all up to them... If they don't want to run, trust me they won't as I found out with Sapphy when she sat down about 500 metres from the finish line. She was tired after a marathon effort the day before when we got lost at One Eye State Forest. I just put her lead on and started walking her to the finish line and then she decided she would pull me the rest of the way LOL. For now, I am just having a fantastic time doing what the dogs were bred to do. If you haven't been to a sledding event, you really need to give it a go. You'll love it! I will add photos on a regular basis so I hope you enjoy them.
 Sapphy above at the You Yangs 19th April 2008
in the Novice Class.
 Quake above at Knowsley State Forest - Heathcote
3rd May 2008 in the 1 Dog Class.
 Sapphy above at Knowsley in the Touring Class
 Skye above at Knowsley trying to "weightpull" the scooter.
She'll get the hang of it eventually LOL
 Sapphy above at One Eye State Forest - Heathcote
18th May 2008 in the 1 Dog Class, after she'd decided she
would complete the race after all. Note the lead in my left hand.....
 Quake above on left with Cidaq owned by Mick
& Jane Hodgson at One Eye State Forest. This was
his first time in harness with another mal & he did
really well.
Quake on the left and Sapphy on right, about to go out together for
Sapphy and Quake taking off a little enthusiastically LOL for their 1st run
Quake and Sapphy finishing their 1st run at Graytown, 6klm approx. They went out the next day and completed the 16klm AMCV excursion What are you doing out here? Sapphy at the You Yangs 12th July 2008 in the Touring Class. She had just spotted Cheryl Hamann with the camera. Never mind. I'll just get on with it shall I?
Fionna Paton Melbourne, VIC, Australia Phone : 0419 561 009 Email : fionna@wolfskye.com |
