We’ve spent a few days looking at “Logistics” preparation for the Iditarod, so let’s turn our attention back to “Training.” One of the trickiest things I’ve noticed about what Aliy and Allen have to do in training preparation for the Iditarod is getting all the dogs “in-sync.” In other words, … Read More
Yesterday I gave you a “detailed” view of some of what goes into an Iditarod Checkpoint Drop Bag. Today I want to give you a bit of a “bigger picture” view. After several days cutting about 900 pounds of meat — fish, beef, horse, turkey skins, lamb, beaver, etc. — … Read More
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is such a huge event in the annual cycle here at SP Kennel that it cannot be over-emphasized how much effort goes into preparing for it. As I recently mentioned, there are two basic “sides” to Iditarod preparation — “Training” and “Logistics” — and both … Read More
A few days ago, Aliy recorded an audio description of dog commands. Although she did her typically great job of describing things, there’s always a big difference between hearing something described and seeing it in action. Well, my friend Ron went on a “ride along” with Aliy and a team … Read More
You know that comfy feeling you get when you’ve just put fresh linens on your bed? How about when there’s a knock on your hotel room door and the cheerful voice says “Housekeeping!” and you know your bedding is about to be freshened? Well, it’s like that for the dogs … Read More
Something I didn’t mention in “We’re Back To Running Dogs!” is that another part of my “filming strategy” for the day was to mount a camera — yes, my “shock and waterproof” new Olympus 1030 SW — on Aliy’s sled and to have her “shoot back” from the other side … Read More
Between the extreme cold, the extreme heat, the vet visit, the physiology research and the human sickness… Well, let’s just say we’ve had a lot of pretty much everything going on around here lately… Except running dogs! Yesterday, Aliy let out a shout: “Hooray! We’re back to running dogs!” This … Read More
