A Blog Post by Mandy

Some of you might remember me from last season when I handled full-time at Ryno Kennel. This season, I’ve been here part time. I spend half the week working at a coffee shop down the road and the rest of time at the kennel. Like many things in life, there’s pros and cons to it.

I’m not going to lie, some days it’s nice to be in a warm building (or very warm building when pies are cooking!) and know that I’ll pour drinks for 8 hours before heading home. The work won’t follow me home and it’s not typically stressful at all. In between customers I can read or write. It’s nice. But then again, I often have my head out the drivethru window looking at the snow covered trees and wishing I was outside. I love the fresh air and even the nip of an Alaskan winter when it drops well below zero. The work it takes to run a race kennel is demanding and rewarding. It’s satisfying and while it might follow me home at times (thinking over a past run or knowing a big event is coming up) and the hours are definitely fluid, it’s worth it. Ryne has some really good dogs.

I love the fact that I’m part-time gives me what I’m calling “a pass to hug dogs.” During morning chores when we’re all working, it ends up that two people are poop scooping. I always scoop the same platform. Everyone knows I won’t make it past that platform since I’m going to pet every dog that I pass and say a little hello. It absolutely makes my morning! They also know the last dog on that particular platform is Smoky and once I get to him, I’m going to be there for a minute or two. Sweet Smoky knows that once his poop is up, it’s time for him to put his paws up and lean all his weight onto my chest or belly while I pet him. If for some reason I didn’t get the chance during chores, Simon will wait with me as I get a Smoky hug before we start the rest of the day at the kennel.

But there are annoyances too. I don’t know the dogs’ gaits as well as I did last year. They can change slightly every year and it just takes time watching them to really know it. And it’s frustrating since a change in gait is often an early sign of stiffness or tight muscle. I stress over it during runs and do all “the tricks” to make sure a dog is safe and comfortable. A female might come into heat during my coffee shop days and it was forgotten to tell me about it. So, while hooking up dogs, I’ll let Thresher go to run to the line... but he LOVES the ladies and goes straight to the in-heat female. That makes me have to run across the yard to grab him. It’s not a big deal but it makes me feel stupid and little things like this can add up and get me down.

Overall, I’m surrounded by great people. Both my bosses are fabulous and care a lot about their workers. Ryne includes me in kennel activities, like our group dinners and fun adventures, and I couldn’t be more honored and thrilled. It’s been a great season so far and I can’t complain. Just wish I could take some dogs with me to the coffee shop days :P