With the anticipation of more dogs, Derek and I burned a section of dry grass behind the dog yard to make room for future Ryno superstars. The area will look black and scarred for a short time, but by fall it should be covered in vibrant new growth. Good thing Derek is a smokejumper to make sure the fire didn't get out of control!
Yesterday we added five new members to Ryno Kennel: two silver-laced wyandottes, two rhode island reds, and one buff brahma. That's right- chickens! Meet Alfalfa, Agnes, Matilda, Ginger, and Henny Penny. We're all looking forward to fresh eggs this winter. Of course, Jezzy and the sled dogs probably have a different plan in mind....
The Ladies (Katy, Amy, and Sally) ran for their second time in harness, and they were naturals! Sally is the most confident of the three. Amy gets the most excited to pull, barking and whining whenever stopped. Katy is still a playful pup but pulls hard. In addition to Stormy and Cartel, the Ladies were learning from the best: SP veterans ChaCha, Bullet, and Spicy.
I'd like everyone to meet the newest members of Ryno Kennel- Fez, Derby, and Stetson from Judy Currier's Lara-Ke Kennel. The litter is hat themed (if you didn't already guess) and show lots of potential at almost one-year-old. I can't wait to see how they do!
I jinxed Spring's arrival by posting the break up blog video. Winter won't release it's grasp just yet, but luckily, that's great for dog training.
With break up arriving, the trails are turning to mush and huge puddles are forming in the dog yard. But don't despair! There are still fun activities for the dogs to do, like go romping in the Chena River. Not only is this a good way to release some of their husky energy, but it also gets them used to water, which is a very real obstacle in dog races.
I recently purchased a new camera, and wow, have I had fun learning all the features! Even though the camera is a point and shoot, it's equipped with stellar videoing capabilities. A few days ago I videoed Supai as he free ran next the the snowmachine. Occasionally, I like to let the dogs free run to stretch out. Rucu was also running with us, but he was too fast to catch!
Uploaded by ryneolson on 2013-04-24.
Long live winter! Even though it’s April 11th, temperatures are below freezing and snow is on the ground. The mushing season isn’t over!
As a fun midweek break, I took the team up to Lee’s Cabin in the White Mountain Recreation Area for another campout. This campout had two new challenges for the youngsters: hills and another dog team. After grinding it through the hills, where Kindi did particularly well, we met mushing friend, Kristina, at the cabin. Kristina brought her own eight dog team, so the youngsters learned to camp with other dogs around. At every checkpoint in a race, the dogs will be camping right next to other teams, meaning that this campout was a great test for them.
On the run back to the truck the next day, Kristina and I practiced passing, which is another aspect key to racing. Good manners when passing another dog team prevent tangles, scuffs, and unwanted delays. I’m proud to say that all the dogs stayed focused, and we didn’t have a single tangle!
With the Ecuadorians now 10 months old, it was time for their first campout. The entire process is an important learning experience for a young dog. From riding in a truck to running new trails to sleeping away from home, campouts are a great way to help the youngsters be more comfortable with traveling and training. Learning to relax and camp in straw is critical for a good race dog, but it can be a difficult skill to learn if you're a 10-month-old tireless Alaskan Husky. I can't say they were naturals at camping, but they did finally settle down after pushing away all their straw, digging holes, and playing with their neighbors for a few hours.
What better way to explore the wilderness of Alaska than behind a dog team?
Ryno Kennel is home to Iditarod and Yukon Quest veteran, Ryne Olson and her growing sled dog racing kennel in Two Rivers, Alaska.
All Photos Taken by: Scott Chesney, Julien Schroder, Kalyn Holl, or other Ryno Crew. All rights reserved. Please contact prior to using any photos.
BIG THANKS TO THE RYNO TEAM
Big Dan’s Trucking
Rick and Sue Patton
All Dog Sponsors
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