Iditarod Competitors Grinding Away

The 2011 Iditarod is shaping up with some surprises. Long time competitor, John Baker was the first to reach the Unalakleet checkpoint 5:04 Sunday morning. After four hours of rest and a meal for both dogs and musher, the team headed for Shaktoolik. Baker is struggling fiercely with sleep deprivation.

The weather has been warmer than usual and for many teams the "heat" in the 20 degree range has softened the snow and made it more difficult to sled.

Four time consecutive winner, Lance Mackey, has conceded the race this year after losing a number of his lead dogs to exhaustion, muscle cramps and something he referred to as sled dog myopathy, a condition where the dogs' muscles break down. Mackey is known not only as a fierce competitor, but also for his amazing connection to and care for his team.

Dee Dee Jonrowe, a veteran of 29 Iditarod races is currently in 7th place in the standings having made it to the Unalakleet checkpoint at 11:04 this morning. The 57 year old breast cancer survivor found herself upside down yesterday, pinned under her sled along with an injured dog in water on overflow ice at the Yukon River. She managed to eject herself and the injured dog from the situation, right her sled and make her way to Anvik for an eight hour rest. She arrived there in 14th position with her sled and gear coated in ice. Despite her setbacks, her mostly inexperienced team is considered one of the faster teams in the race.

Here is video of Dee Dee Jonrowe at the start of the race in Willow last Sunday:

Sheepless Herding: Treibball Gaining Popularity

What a great sport to do with a dog.  The cost is minimal (after you convince your dog to quit popping the balls.)  It requires a great deal of teamwork and training the dog for long "go outs," "leave it" commands and directional casts.  Great mental stimulation as well as exercise for a dog.  Check out these videos:





A great training video:

2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race Underway

In my next life, I want to be an Alaskan musher and run a team of Alaskan Huskies in the Iditarod!

Alaskan Huskies are not the same as Siberian Huskies.  Alaskan Huskies are not a recognized breed by any breed registry, such as the American Kennel Club.  Therefore, the mushers and handlers of these dogs are free to breed for maximum performance--not a breed standard or a certain look.

There are many people who have for decades been decrying the inbreeding that goes on to keep a breed "pure" to a breed registry standard.  (One of my favorite bloggers, Patrick Burns from Terrierman is very outspoken about this.)  Many point out that breeding for a certain look and standard promotes health problems in the breeds. 

Lance Mackey, winner of the last four Iditarods, is show here at last Sunday's restart (the real start of the race) in Willow, Alaska.  Ahead of the team is a trail of over 1,150 miles through breathtakingly beautiful and extremely challenging terrain.  Good luck to all the teams.  May you all stay healthy and safe!

Another Tam Update

Kate,

We used the place command in it's first practical application today. Took Tam in to the vet this morning. I usually have to fight to get her on the scale and to sit still. And then when I'm filling out paperwork I'm usually struggling to keep her close on the leash. Well today it was a "place", "sit", "stay". She did great. Even got a "wow" from the receptionist as I filled out paperwork with my back to Tam, leash loose on the floor.

Thanks for everything and see you Sunday

James

Tam--Border Collie Lab Mix And Owner James

February 17th
Really happy to tell you that Tam did great today.  We worked some more on leash and she's really getting it down.  There were birds all in the yard, which was great for our distraction training.  We worked some more on the stay, increasing distance and back turned to her while walking away.   Did some off leash work and then some free play time with long distance recalls.   She's really picking up on this quickly.

tap tap

 

James

Tam places on a stool in living room

March 2nd

Just wanted to let you know the "place" training is going good.

 

Escape The Cold Winter At The NW Flower And Garden Show

Fast Pup Dogs Sit In Front Of Fantasy Garden

Pacific Northwest Fountain Landscape

Dogs, People, Cameras Challenging Mix At NW Flower And Garden Show

Dixie is a star in the Fast Pup Dog Training Booth

Taking an informational brochure on dog training services

Taking pictures of the dogs in the Fast Pup Dog Training Booth

 The Northwest Flower And Garden Show is the biggest, most complicated venue the dogs and I have worked yet.  We are at the Seattle Convention Center, a sprawling complex famous for bottle-necking Interstate 5 through downtown because it was decided years ago to build this complex over and and around the freeway--preventing expansion of lanes in the future. 

Because of the unseasonal snow and ice, the show apparently has been unusually slow.  Yet there are so many visitors that walking through the isles is extremely challenging with the dogs.  Yesterday, upon arriving, I took the dogs out to the Freeway Park outside of the Convention Center for an airing.  When they were sufficiently relieved, we headed back toward the doors.  There were quite a few people coming in and out the doors to the park, so I sat the dogs down about 20 feet from the doors and began calling them in one at a time.  My focus is safety.  I don't want anyone to trip over several dogs underfoot.  When they were all indoors, safely by my side, I turned to figure out the best way to navigate through the halls back to our booth.  I was stunned to see a large and growing group of people with cameras--all taking pictures of my dogs.  They all had still cameras--not movie cameras.  I was amused--but puzzled at the same time.  I have heard that nearly 60 percent or more of households in the US have dogs--and certainly anyone who likes dogs has owned one.  So for people to take pictures of my dogs seems so strange.  When they get home, they are going to have a picture of a dog.  Not a dog doing a trick--or anything unusual--just a picture of a dog. 

A gal in the booth across from me told me that she thought the reason people gather to stare at the dogs is the same reason people gather to stare at and take pictures of street performers who go out in parks and strike a pose--like a statue.  It is so unusual.  And rare. 

Well--to anyone visiting the NW Flower And Garden Show, I hope Fast Pup Dog Training will raise the expectations people have of dogs.  Dogs can be well behaved around severe distractions and in crowds of people.  They can be off leash and under voice control at all times.  It does not need to be a "rare" performance by some unusual dogs.  With proper training, all dogs can be trustworthy around distractions. 

Fast Pup Dog Training At NW Flower And Garden Show

Fast Pup Dog Training Booth 2717

It smells like chocolate here!  Ummm.  Remember, chocolate mulch toxic to dogs.

Lots of plants for sale!

Seeds for planting

Its like a jungle in here!

Last Wild Wolves Part 3

The Pacific Northwest Wolves have a special relationship with Ravens.

Wolves In Pacific Northwest: Last Wild Wolves Part Two

Hauntingly Beautiful Video--Pacific Northwest Rainforest Wolves

Wild, protected environment.  Ghosts of the forest

Dog "Sings" Along With Piano

Such Talent!

Fast Pup Dog Training At Western WA Sportsmens Show 2011

The 2011 Western WA Sportsmens Show starts tomorrow, January 26th at noon.  Just some shots of our booth and some of the others in the hunting section. 

Congratulations to Fran And Disco

Hi Kate:

Just want to let you know how Disco did at the WRC picnic trial on Saturday.  Although she was noisy at the line for the first series, she wasn’t as bad as in the past.  As you know, Disco is not noisy when running blinds, but marks are always a challenge for her self-control.  But, in the last series, a triple with a retired gun, Disco was quiet as a church mouse!  I want to give the credit to your idea when we were training last week.   It was such a nice way to get her to understand what we want.  (no noise) 

Disco was also one of only a few dogs that took the cover all the way to the retired gun at the last series.  So, this is not only a big “thanks for your help,” but also a brag.   Scott’s “little elfin dog” did well!  

I’ve included a picture of me and Disco with her Qual reserve jam (a.k.a. 5th place).   See you at the Sportsman’s Show.

Fran

Bragging Rights: Skilled Handler Teamed With Well Trained Retriever

 Kate:

Colby may not be good enough for a callback but I'll take real hunting blind retrieves like this any time.  (Kate here:  Dennis is referring to our Washington Retriever Club picnic trial the day before.  Colby did an outstanding job on the marks in the Qualifying and had a more difficult time casting off the marks for the blind retrieve after.  Since he brought all the birds back, had I been judging, I would have called him back to the last series.  But this day, the judges thought otherwise. Colby is a great dog, Dennis--Saturday just didn't turn out to be "his day."  Looks like Sunday made up for everything!)

Jim and I were hunting at Ocosta yesterday and it was looking like a slow day when around 11:00am, I had a flow of geese come in range. It took 2 shots to down the first which landed 30 feet behind the blind. The third shot hit another goose which kept flying and dropped about 100 plus yards away.

Rainy went to retrieve the first bird but since it was huge and heavy--her buddy Colby helped her out, bringing it back to me.   Then we went to find the second bird. I spotted it about 150 yards away on the far shore--and thought what a great time to do a blind retrieve.

I sent him on a line across the water to land and then across water to the bird on the far shore with only 3 casts. He returned on the same line.

Again, all the training pays off.

Thanks
Dennis

Goose Hunting Season Coming To An End-Pictures From The Blind

The last geese were so big that a BIG dog was needed to retrieve them.  Good boy, Colby!

Colby and Rainy have had a great 2010-2011 goose hunting season.  Jim & Dennis posted these pictures from the blind on Sunday, January 23, 2011.  Congratulations on bringing home the groceries!

Rainy is ever vigilant for incoming birds

In all, 23 geese were harvested this season from the blind near West Port, along with many ducks.

A Beautiful Day To Be Outside With Dogs

Bob Morris getting ready to send his yellow lab pup for a bird

And pup is off and running

Pup searches for a bird

Pup delivering the poultry

This past Saturday, January 22nd 2011 it was 55 degrees out.  And it was reported that somewhere in Minnesota it was -44 degrees.  So, it was pretty darn close to 100' warmer out here in Western Washington.

WRC (Washington Retriever Club) had their first 2011 picnic trial for our retrievers.  What a beautiful day!

Almost summertime in January!

The "mountain" Mount Rainier was out in all her glory too.

WRC Picnic Trial This Weekend Jan 22-23

Washington Retriever Club will be holding our first 2011 Picnic Trial in Area 14 at Fort Lewis this weekend.  Sign ups for both days will be at 8:00 am on the runway paralleling 8th or Harts Lake Road just south of Muck Creek.  (See map, above)

Entry fees will stay the same as last year.  Cost for members $10 puppy, $20 Derby/Sr Gundog, $25 Qual/Master Gundog and Open.  Non members add $5 to each dog entered.
Membership for 2011 will also stay the same at $10 per person.

SATURDAY
Qual/Master Gundog
Judges:  Bob Crabb/Alice Ellis

Puppy stakes
Judges:  Matt Carlson/Michele Goans

SUNDAY
Open
Judges:  Harry Williams/Christine Robertson

Derby/Sr Gundog
Judges:  Dave Miller/Fran Seagren

Although our fun trials are competitions, we will carry to each series as many dogs as time allows.  This makes our trials also a great training opportunity. 

During training this past Wednesday, we watched jumpers descend to Area 14

Muck Creek Flooding Through Area 14 Fort Lewis

Muck Creek was out of her banks today

Today threatened rain, but while it looked menacing in the morning and the winds were relentless, we had a great dry day of retriever training. 

Late Season Pheasant Hunting Eastern WA

Friend and contributor Fran Seagren posted from her eastern Washington pheasant hunt yesterday:

Sarge "Finally" gets to retrieve a wild rooster

 

 We had such a fun time hunting.  It was REALLY cold (14-20 degrees), but one of the best days we've had.  We were dressed how you and I looked yesterday at Ft Lewis - but without the "white."  :))  Scott and I were laughing at ourselves with all our layers, but it worked and we weren't cold.  My fingers were cold at first - but then after a while, my blood figured out what it's supposed to do, because my hands warmed up for the rest of the day.

Late season roosters are usually the hardest to hunt.  By the end of the season they're pretty smart and tough to get close to.  But, it was so cold, we were hoping they wouldn't want to move much once they found some good cover.  And, we do have good dogs that know how to hunt them, so we got into a bunch.  Really fun and exciting.  :))

Sarge flushed about six roosters and four hens today.  He was a "Pheasant Machine"!  He hunted really nice.  His finds/flushes today just didn't result in us getting a shot.  Sarge doesn't look the same when he hunts as when we're training.  In training, I think he looks like a big puppy.  But, when hunting, he looks "serious" and he moves and hunts like a fully grown/experienced hunting dog.

Disco flushed two roosters today.  The one in these pics was Disco's find/flush.  And, she actually got a live "almost" grab on it!  Hardly EVER happens with wild roosters  I saw her jump the rooster and feathers flew.  It rolled away from her and as it took off, she jumped up and grabbed more tail feathers!  It gained altitude and Scott shot it.  Sarge saw it fall (he was hunting in front of me) and I sent him for the bird.  I knew Disco would let him have the retrieve.  She's like that.  Sort of cute in a high rolling dog like Disco.  But, she didn't mind at all.  He was SO HAPPY about finally getting a rooster in his mouth.  He works so hard - you should see how beat up he is.  He was in the nastiest cover hunting his heart out for two and 1/2 hours.  I wish I had a video of him hunting today.  But, that's why he found most of the pheasants.  They like the nastiest cover.  Not many dogs are that tough.  Sarge is like Jonz used to be - only Sarge stays within gun range way more than Jonz ever did.  :))

Earlier in the day, Ruby pointed two hens when hunting with Scott.  He said she held steady to the flush and did a great job.  I had been hunting with Robert and he was a kick.  He hunted hard, like always, but today he was a real "team player" - something that he hasn't always been real good at doing.  He went on one point - rock solid.  I kicked around the brush for quite a while.  He held his point - he was SURE there was a bird in there.  A few minutes later we saw a rooster flush out of gun range - maybe the same one? :))