Oake Lake Sunrise

Early/Mid Winter on Oake Lake

Copper, one of our sled dog team mascots, snoozing late this morning, tucked snugly into a fleece blanket. He's got his own pillow!

Back on the Runners!

Unassuming Zala in lead with Klaus, contemplating...
Zodiak and Journey are in point and McKenzie and Sweet Pea are in wheel.

The crazy dog bug hits before the others know what happened

And a roll as the others look on

After a while, the others stop watching...its just Zala being a crazy dog again.

Phoenix, Tuloon, Oken, Ilu and Icoa

There they are! The amazing duo.

Back home!

I've been back on the runners now for 5 days after taking a long break to recover from the latest mega cold/flu bug that went around. It sure has felt good!

You would think that with over a foot of snow on the lake and warmer temps to let the snow melt a bit and pack down, you just might be able to sink a hook to stop the team or at least be able to slow them down with the claw brake but, alas, no. Stopping does come in handy when running alone if you'd like to reinforce commands. Instead, if it looks like the dogs are having a "we can't hear you back there" kind of day, then forget even trying. All you can do is just reinforce what they do well and hope that at least, they stay on track. That was the run with Klaus and Zala in lead today. Zala is just all gang busters to go. She encourages seven year old Klaus to keep a quick and steady pace and spends a lot of time licking his face as if to say - "This is so fun, don't you think Klaus! I'm so glad I'm up in lead with you, aren't ya, huh, aren't ya?"

Since I couldn't stop to reinforce commands, after an initial failed attempt at giving them a challenging command that fell on deaf ears, I tried to give commands that I was 95% sure they would take so at least we got a little training out of the day when I could then praise their excellent work.

Zala just wouldn't stop seeking affirmation from Klaus with the face licking. He even began to back away from taking the "Gee" commands because that would mean he would have to get closer to her. This calls for some training strategies yet to be determined. This little girl just cracks me up. When we would stop, she has made a habit out of tossing herself in the snow, line tight mind you, but tossing and rolling in the snow like a crazy dog. I figure that as long as her line is tight, I really have no issue with this. She's having fun and encouraging others to have a good work ethic but also have fun.

Our second run consisted of Tuloon and Phoenix in lead. I usually reserve this term for Oken but Phoenix was just "smokin'" today when it came to turn-on- a-dime commands. He has gained so much confidence in the past couple of years, he now doesn't defer to Tuloon but actually contradicts her if he thinks she's wrong. Independent thinking! Yes! I got confidence early in the run that I could challenge this team, even with the lack of ability to hook down and continued to challenge them the entire run. Awesome is the word for for this Hedlund Husky duo. Phoenix is a modest one. He's never full of himself but just displays a big grin when he knows he's done a good job. Tuloon shows a bit of modesty out on the trail while the challenge is taking place and reserves her "take that" attitude for our return to the kennel as she prances around, head and tail held high.

Photos by Neil Slaughter

Topa - Tuloon/McKenzie daughter, full sister to White Feather, half sister to Zodiak, Zala and Oken

McKenzie - father to Topa, White Feather and Journey

Phoenix - father to potential litter with a Zulu daughter. Due date is end of the month

Topa on left. Sweet Pea on right - Zulu daughter, sister to Klaus and Aunt to Zodiak, Zala and Oken

McKenzie

Zodiak - Tuloon/Bazil(son of Zulu) son, full brother to Oken and Zala, half brother to Topa and White Feather

Zodiak

Miss Tuloon - mother to Zodiak, Zala, Oken, White Feather and Topa

Goofy Zodiak with sister Zala

White Feather - Tuloon/McKenzie daughter, full sister to Topa and half sister to Zodiak, Zala and Oken

Tuloon and White feather breaking a trail in the deep snow

Zala, Tuloon and White Feather

Zala - Tuloon/Bazil(son of Zulu) daughter, full sister to Zodiak and Oken, half sister to White Feather and Topa

Icoa - mother to Ilu

Inuit Dogs at Play

Photos by Neil Slaughter

Neil captured some very candid images of Ilu and Icoa at play. This is their typical play behavior and, believe it or not, no dog or person was injured during the shooting!

Tuloon/McKenzie New Hampshire Pups

Hana and Tumac, just babies.

Look how much they've grown!

Stopping for a snack

Tumac at just over 6 months old.

Hana at just over 6 months old.

Tumac and Hana, two of the 2009 Tuloon/McKenzie pups, have just began to make short runs with the Uktousa team. From the sounds of it, they have the drive, determination and focus of their sisters Topa and White Feather. At just over 6 months old Tumac weighs 62lbs while Hana weighs 48lbs.

To get regular updates on Tumac and Hana, please visit the Uktousa blog.

Hailey and Melanie Out on the Lake

Hailey gets her leaders, Phoenix and Journey, ready for the run.

Views of our rural wildlife lake

Returning to the base

Melanie's turn on the runners

Tuloon and Klaus were her leaders

Since I am still recovering from an upper respiratory infection, I haven't been able to get the dogs out the last couple of days. Hailey and Melanie took on the task of exercising the dogs. Actually, it was quite a momentous occasion as this would be the first time either had run a team with a passenger and out on their own without a team to follow. Hailey had run her first six dog team with me as a passenger the day before and I was surprised how the dogs took her commands so well as they typically will only take commands from their musher. She was completely on top of things and took full control of the dogs and the sled. No problem. Since Melanie had spent the entire day earlier in the week working with the dogs at the Audubon Center, I knew she was ready as well.

We went over a quick checklist of items including avoiding "German Shepherd Bay" where a seemingly not-so-well intentioned and very large German Shepherd stands guard over his shoreline and staying clear of the thin ice on the far side of Oake Lake. The aerator, although not in full function at the moment, still manages to keep the ice thin in this spot allowing oxygen to penetrate the water to keep the fish alive.

As I watched from the warmth inside the front picture window, Hailey, Melanie and the dogs sped off across the lake. Neil snapped photos from the balcony.

Returning almost an hour later, now with Melanie on the runners, they made their way into the proper "chute". The dogs were unharnessed, collars were removed and a treat of fat was given. Hailey had an amazing story on their journey of Klaus taking a "Haw Come" from her upon entering "German Shepherd Bay" when the barking of the great guardian threatened their safe passage. She simply told Klaus to turn around to the left and go back the way they came and he did it for her, veering clear of the inconvenient threat! Now that is excellent team work!

Today, Hailey's family came to pick her up, but first a run with the dogs and her sister Erika. Erika had not been on a sled before and Hailey had a lot to teach her big sister. As we commented, it took "forever" for them to get going because of all of the talking(there's an awful lot to learn in such a short time!) but once they did, poof! They took off before Neil and Ron had gotten to their spots for optimum picture taking and whizzed by.

This time, Phoenix and Journey would lead their way. Apparently, those two gave Hailey a workout and didn't want to listen as well as they could have which makes for another fun learning experience for all. They did, however, finally manage to convince them that it wasn't the best idea to go and visit the wildly barking dog heading their way. I often wonder what people think will happen when their off leash dog runs for a team of sled dogs. Even though my dogs are well socialized with other dogs, when in a pack situation, they will try to protect their pack and one improper show of body language could make for a huge dog pile that will not be pleasant to break up. Not to mention the vet visit that will likely occur for many involved, which most definitely includes their dog.

Both Hailey and Melanie looked like pros out there behind the teams on the lake. I am becoming envious of their fun with the dogs after several days of house arrest created by this very bothersome cold/flu bug. I hope it moves quickly away because winter is wasting!

Audubon Center of the Northwoods

7:15AM and the dogs are fed in preparation for their day of adventure.

Neil shows our guests how to harness the dogs.

Off we go! Three teams out on the trail.

The log cabin in the background is what we called home during our stay.

Linda's team

Neil and team

Oken and Journey lead the third "team". Dogs were moved in and out of lead and back and forth between teams to make for a more fun experience for them.

Since these were one mile runs, White Feather and Topa, the 6 month old puppies, got to run once in the morning and twice in the afternoon. When they weren't running, they were very upset to left behind.

Topa on her final run of the day.

Points Unknown sled dogs provided a full day of fun for families attending the Audubon Center of the Northwoods holiday family event this week. A presentation was given on Monday evening that included appearances by Ilu and Topa. Tuesday's event began bright and early when we loaded up three sleds and took folks on a mini-adventure around a very scenic, one mile wetlands trail. In all, nearly 60 people got to get a taste of how it is to work with the Points Unknown sled dogs.

What an excellent learning experience for the dogs! They aren't used to such short runs. A total of 12 miles in one day is nothing for them but when you add 12 hook-ups each one half an hour apart and 12 one mile runs, that adds another element entirely. The dogs were noticeably tired half way through the day and it's the mental tiredness rather than the physical tiredness that creeps up on them. Lots of praise helps to recharge them mentally as well as moving dogs around in new positions and next to different dogs. The meat snacks help to keep their physical energy level up. They made it through the day just fine and in spite of the fact that their musher was struggling with a sinus infection. Dogs key off of the mood of their musher many times and I wonder that if this musher had been 100%, how might that have affected the dog's during this long mini-adventure day.

The folks at the Audubon Center were wonderful to work with and the facility was ideal for the dog mushing event planned. Points Unknown returns to the Audubon Center for a Women's Winter Event put on by the DNR's Becoming an Outdoors Women program, the last weekend in February. Won't you join us?