Meet the Team: - Democratic Underground

Robb

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Thu Nov-13-03 12:23 PM
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Meet the Team:

So we took the dogs out for a little more dirt-road training this morning, behind the wheeled cart that approximates a sled. No snow, but we still need to all get in shape for winter!

After the run, the sun came out and I took a few snaps; I thought some folks here might like to get to know my sled dog team! We run four now, since one passed away last year and another is getting on in years.

First, miss Scout, our "lead dog":

Scout is just a little peanut of a dog! She's three, and this is about as big as she's gonna get. But boy can she pull! Both her parents were lead dogs in Iditarod, and her instincts and speed are outstanding -- but she's got a little too much brain for her own good. She knows that there's a lot to see out there, and sometimes she stops to sniff at it (to the derailment of the rest of the team)!

This is my little boy Bodhi, next to his girlfriend Scout:

...And yes, you can see his doodle! Bodhi's a pulling machine, with such a good work ethic. In everything he does, he's just trying to please. His littermate (sister, named Opus!) is probably going to be on the Stormwatch Kennel team this year at Iditarod.

Bodhi's sister by another mom, Krishna:

Again, another dog with a big brain and good knowledge of when she must obey, and when she can get away with doing something else! She likes to lead, and has a kennelmate probably on the Stormwatch team this year as well (brother named Zamboni), but she's a bit of a tourist -- she likes to watch the deer on the side of the road, and "suggest" we all go take a closer look.

And this is Bodhi's first cousin, Zorro:

When he was a pup, he had a perfect little Zorro mask, cute as can be. Another pulling machine, you can sense his impatience when everyone else is slacking off (including me, when I don't kick along!). Zorro is the furriest one of the bunch, just turning into a little black-and-white barrel by mid-winter!

This is Denali, my inspiration:

'Nali is 12 years old, and unquestionably the leader (alpha) of the pack. This is her first season not in harness with the team, which is amazing. Over the past year she's had health problems, leading to the surgical removal of most of her left lung. Two days after the surgery, with a bandaged midsection, she was up and around keeping the rest of the pack in line. I call her my inspiration, because she runs along off leash with the rest of the team when we go out, running ahead, turning back, and getting herself in the lead position and trotting along. She's like something out of a Disney movie, the sweetest most amazing dog I've ever known. Built of stern stuff, Denali; I hope to be doing so well at her age!

And here's everybody:

Hope this has been mildly interesting for everyone; the offer is wide open to any DUer who hits Colorado's Western Slope this winter to come out for a run. In the snow, on the sled, it's a silent magic, like the pack has let you come along for the hunt. There's nothing like it! :)

Oh, and, uh, ask me anything! ;)