As much as we love summer for all the hot fun it brings, our pups are ready for fall - and we are too.
We have started planning our fall racing and training.
We are very excited to head back to Woodstock, IL for Rig Rendezvous in November. If you are not familiar with this fun and well put together event, we encourage you to check it out here.
We are planning to participate in canicross, the 4 dog dryland rig event, and hopefully the relay. Last year we were only able to participate in canicross (which was a blast), so this year will be a bit different for us. This race was well coordinated, and we learned a lot simply by watching.
We would love to attend Dirty Dog Derby at the end of October as well, but we have a conflict. We have heard great things about this race as well. If you're interested, check it out here.
We are also looking forward to doing some camping and training on the Frisco Highline Trail and the Katy Trail. These trips provide us with a chance to get away, and they provide the dogs with new scenery during training runs.
As for now, we are running with the pups when it is cool enough. This weekend was reasonably cool (mid-upper 60s in the morning) so we had a chance to log a few miles.
The dogs have been keeping busy during the hot summer days by romping in the yard and taking extra naps.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Keeping your snow dog (or other double coated pup) cool during the hot summer months
We know how hot it can be during the summer months. Malamutes and Huskies can do just fine in the heat, but it does take a little extra planning and care. Essentially, we ask that you take precaution and care to help keep your furry friend happy and cool.
The first thing we want to mention is DO NOT shave a mal/husky/double coated dog! Not only does the coat insulate the dog in the cold weather, but it also provides insulation in the warm weather. The coat protects the dog from sunburn and heatstroke. Many people believe shaving their dog down will help him keep cool, but remember that your pet has this coat for a reason.
Make sure your pet has a cool place. We understand your dog probably doesn't want to be left inside all day (and you probably don 't want him roaming the house all day while you're at work). Make sure you have a lot of shade in your yard. Shade trees are wonderful, but an awning will do as well. Some dogs like to crawl inside/under bushes into the cool dirt. Also, remember that concrete and pavement can get very hot in the summer, so grass or dirt is the coolest place to lay. Don't forget to make sure he has plenty of water to drink during the day. If you have an option to have a large fan in a shady spot, your pet will thank you for this as well.
When you go to the park or for walks, pick a shady route and make sure your pet has a shady spot to play and lay at the park. Don't forget to take water if there are not water options along the way and at the park.
Does your pet like water? Pet or kiddie pools are a good option. Fill it up with cool water from the hose, and stick the pool in the shade. This allows your pet a fun place to play/lay/drink. Many mals think of it as a giant water bowl they can stand in. Just make sure you change the water frequently.
If you have a built-in pool, make sure it is fenced off or your dog is kept away from it if you are not home. Many dogs love to swim, but if your snow dog's coat gets waterlogged, he may have a hard time getting out of the pool. If you're swimming in the pool, you're dog would probably love to join you! Offer him a raft and he'll likely float around with you.
If it is especially hot, you may consider coming home at lunch and allowing your pet to come inside and cool down if there is not a way for him to be indoors while you are gone. Even an hour laying in the air conditioning on the cool floor indoors can help your pet keep cool. Working from home? Let your pet hang out inside with you if you don't already. You have an automatic "bring your pet to work" day.
If you have a double coated dog, especially a snow dog that runs or exercises with you, please be mindful of the temperature. Snow dogs were built to work in cold climates, but can adapt to their surroundings. That being said, heavy exertion over 70 degrees is not recommended (consider humidity as well). Snow dogs blow their coats at all different times, so be mindful of your dog's shedding progress in the summer as well. As your dog begins to blow his coat, spend time daily brushing him to help remove the winter coat. Not only will he enjoy the time with you, the removal of the extra fur will help him cool down.
Summertime brings bugs, so ensure your pet is protected with a heartworm preventative as well as a flea and tick medication. Keeping your pet bug free will help keep them more comfortable, and will keep the bugs out of your home.
No matter how careful you are, sometimes things happen. If you think your pet is overheated, bring him inside so he can begin to cool, and contact your vet. The goal here is to lower his body temperature to avoid seizures and brain damage. Do not submerge your dog in the bathtub or cover his whole body with wet towels, as cooling too quickly can be harmful. Allow your dog to rest someplace cool (inside and perhaps in front of a fan). Place wet, cool (NOT cold) cloths on his tummy, inner thighs, and paws. Allow your dog to walk around slowly as he begins to cool down. Movement allows the cooled blood to circulate back to your dog's core. Don't allow your dog to gulp huge amounts of water. He should sip slowly. This may sound silly, but do not offer him any type of sports drink such as Gatorade. These are not formulated for pets. If he does not want to drink water, you may try to offer him some chicken broth.
Last but certainly not least, do not leave your pet in a hot car. Even what we consider "cool" can quickly become an oven for your pet. For example, if it is 75 degrees outside, it can reach 100 inside your vehicle in less than 10 minutes even if your windows are open. Even temps in the low 60s can quickly become too warm inside the vehicle for your pet.
Your pet is a wonderful gift, full of love and respect for you. Show them the same love and respect and keep them happy and cool during the summer.
If you have any questions about ways to keep your pet cool, let us know. We are happy to help.
The first thing we want to mention is DO NOT shave a mal/husky/double coated dog! Not only does the coat insulate the dog in the cold weather, but it also provides insulation in the warm weather. The coat protects the dog from sunburn and heatstroke. Many people believe shaving their dog down will help him keep cool, but remember that your pet has this coat for a reason.
Make sure your pet has a cool place. We understand your dog probably doesn't want to be left inside all day (and you probably don 't want him roaming the house all day while you're at work). Make sure you have a lot of shade in your yard. Shade trees are wonderful, but an awning will do as well. Some dogs like to crawl inside/under bushes into the cool dirt. Also, remember that concrete and pavement can get very hot in the summer, so grass or dirt is the coolest place to lay. Don't forget to make sure he has plenty of water to drink during the day. If you have an option to have a large fan in a shady spot, your pet will thank you for this as well.
When you go to the park or for walks, pick a shady route and make sure your pet has a shady spot to play and lay at the park. Don't forget to take water if there are not water options along the way and at the park.
Does your pet like water? Pet or kiddie pools are a good option. Fill it up with cool water from the hose, and stick the pool in the shade. This allows your pet a fun place to play/lay/drink. Many mals think of it as a giant water bowl they can stand in. Just make sure you change the water frequently.
If you have a built-in pool, make sure it is fenced off or your dog is kept away from it if you are not home. Many dogs love to swim, but if your snow dog's coat gets waterlogged, he may have a hard time getting out of the pool. If you're swimming in the pool, you're dog would probably love to join you! Offer him a raft and he'll likely float around with you.
If it is especially hot, you may consider coming home at lunch and allowing your pet to come inside and cool down if there is not a way for him to be indoors while you are gone. Even an hour laying in the air conditioning on the cool floor indoors can help your pet keep cool. Working from home? Let your pet hang out inside with you if you don't already. You have an automatic "bring your pet to work" day.
If you have a double coated dog, especially a snow dog that runs or exercises with you, please be mindful of the temperature. Snow dogs were built to work in cold climates, but can adapt to their surroundings. That being said, heavy exertion over 70 degrees is not recommended (consider humidity as well). Snow dogs blow their coats at all different times, so be mindful of your dog's shedding progress in the summer as well. As your dog begins to blow his coat, spend time daily brushing him to help remove the winter coat. Not only will he enjoy the time with you, the removal of the extra fur will help him cool down.
Summertime brings bugs, so ensure your pet is protected with a heartworm preventative as well as a flea and tick medication. Keeping your pet bug free will help keep them more comfortable, and will keep the bugs out of your home.
No matter how careful you are, sometimes things happen. If you think your pet is overheated, bring him inside so he can begin to cool, and contact your vet. The goal here is to lower his body temperature to avoid seizures and brain damage. Do not submerge your dog in the bathtub or cover his whole body with wet towels, as cooling too quickly can be harmful. Allow your dog to rest someplace cool (inside and perhaps in front of a fan). Place wet, cool (NOT cold) cloths on his tummy, inner thighs, and paws. Allow your dog to walk around slowly as he begins to cool down. Movement allows the cooled blood to circulate back to your dog's core. Don't allow your dog to gulp huge amounts of water. He should sip slowly. This may sound silly, but do not offer him any type of sports drink such as Gatorade. These are not formulated for pets. If he does not want to drink water, you may try to offer him some chicken broth.
Last but certainly not least, do not leave your pet in a hot car. Even what we consider "cool" can quickly become an oven for your pet. For example, if it is 75 degrees outside, it can reach 100 inside your vehicle in less than 10 minutes even if your windows are open. Even temps in the low 60s can quickly become too warm inside the vehicle for your pet.
Your pet is a wonderful gift, full of love and respect for you. Show them the same love and respect and keep them happy and cool during the summer.
If you have any questions about ways to keep your pet cool, let us know. We are happy to help.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Fireworks, The 4th of July, and Keeping Your Pet Safe
As the 4th of July approaches, we encourage you to take extra precautions to help keep your pets safe and comfortable.
Many pets are frightened by the loud, unexpected sounds produced by fireworks. In fact, many pets run away during the 4th, simply because running away from the loud noise is their instinct. This causes many pets to wind up in shelters or become lost and homeless. We encourage you to take precautions to ensure this does not happen to your pet.
We encourage you to microchip your pet as collars and tags can be lost. Some pets feel more comfortable in certain rooms of the house. If your pup feels most comfortable somewhere and you know fireworks will be happening outside, let him stay in that room if you cannot be home with him. Perhaps you can leave his favorite toy or blanket for him as well.
If your pet is left outside and gets scared of the noise, he or she may start to dig as well. Just keep this in mind if you have an escape artist like we do (although ours climbs/jumps).
We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Many pets are frightened by the loud, unexpected sounds produced by fireworks. In fact, many pets run away during the 4th, simply because running away from the loud noise is their instinct. This causes many pets to wind up in shelters or become lost and homeless. We encourage you to take precautions to ensure this does not happen to your pet.
We encourage you to microchip your pet as collars and tags can be lost. Some pets feel more comfortable in certain rooms of the house. If your pup feels most comfortable somewhere and you know fireworks will be happening outside, let him stay in that room if you cannot be home with him. Perhaps you can leave his favorite toy or blanket for him as well.
If your pet is left outside and gets scared of the noise, he or she may start to dig as well. Just keep this in mind if you have an escape artist like we do (although ours climbs/jumps).
We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Summer is officially here!
Happy Summer! We have had several weeks of rain and extremely humid temperatures. Now it's just plain hot - just like summer should be. If you have snow dogs like us, this isn't really their favorite time of year, but that doesn't mean you can't still have a little fun. We still run on days that are cool enough which seem to be few and far between. It looks like this weekend may provide us with temps in the low 60s which would be nice!
We have been traveling to the lake almost every weekend which changes up the scenery for the pups. Snow dogs have very active minds and like to be kept busy. Changing up the scenery helps with this when they are not getting to run. Plus, when they go to the lake they get a chance to go for boat rides and splash around in the lake.
We had a fun time at Stockton State Park over the weekend for Father's Day. With all the rain we have had, the lake was up quite a bit. But, we found a nice quiet spot where the pups could cool off and enjoy the water.
We have been traveling to the lake almost every weekend which changes up the scenery for the pups. Snow dogs have very active minds and like to be kept busy. Changing up the scenery helps with this when they are not getting to run. Plus, when they go to the lake they get a chance to go for boat rides and splash around in the lake.
We had a fun time at Stockton State Park over the weekend for Father's Day. With all the rain we have had, the lake was up quite a bit. But, we found a nice quiet spot where the pups could cool off and enjoy the water.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Summer Training
Maybe we should have titled this post "Summer Training or Lack Thereof" as it has been so warm already this year.
Denali has completely blown her coat, but Ruger, Calypso, and Prudhoe have not. This makes training tough when it is 75 degrees and humid at 5am. Between the temperature and thunderstorms, we have not had much of a chance to run with the pups over the last week. They are getting a little hyper to say the least. Today it's a bit cooler and raining so hopefully this afternoon or evening we may have a chance to take them out and get a few miles in.
We did have a chance to run with them at Stockton State Park over the weekend, and they really enjoyed it. Calypso went for her first solo run in a few months as she usually runs with either Ruger or Denali. She did very well on her own and we would like to foster this by working with her one-on-one a bit more. The dogs also had a chance to swim and spend some time out on the paddleboards. Ruger went for a nice walk with Nick to the marina store for breakfast as well. Although he was disappointed that Nick forgot to order his breakfast sandwich, he enjoyed himself.
Prudhoe is really fitting in and the dogs have accepted him. Ruger has even started sharing his toys! He is very eager to learn and please, and really enjoys running. We are excited to hook him up to the sled this winter.
Denali has completely blown her coat, but Ruger, Calypso, and Prudhoe have not. This makes training tough when it is 75 degrees and humid at 5am. Between the temperature and thunderstorms, we have not had much of a chance to run with the pups over the last week. They are getting a little hyper to say the least. Today it's a bit cooler and raining so hopefully this afternoon or evening we may have a chance to take them out and get a few miles in.
We did have a chance to run with them at Stockton State Park over the weekend, and they really enjoyed it. Calypso went for her first solo run in a few months as she usually runs with either Ruger or Denali. She did very well on her own and we would like to foster this by working with her one-on-one a bit more. The dogs also had a chance to swim and spend some time out on the paddleboards. Ruger went for a nice walk with Nick to the marina store for breakfast as well. Although he was disappointed that Nick forgot to order his breakfast sandwich, he enjoyed himself.
Prudhoe is really fitting in and the dogs have accepted him. Ruger has even started sharing his toys! He is very eager to learn and please, and really enjoys running. We are excited to hook him up to the sled this winter.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Memorial Day Weekend at the Lake
Memorial Day Weekend is always a great way to kick off summer, even if it is rainy and chilly like this year!
We took the dogs to the lake and took advantage of the gravel roads for dryland mushing. It was quite humid, but the dogs love a good jump in the lake post-run to cool off.
Despite the humidity, the dogs ran well. They only stopped to pick up one turtle (we promptly returned him).
This was Prudhoe's first chance to swim in the lake. He seemed to enjoy himself. As usual, Fox stayed far away from the water.
It has been storming quite a bit this week which has hampered our training a bit, but we are looking forward to getting on the trails at Stockton State Park over the weekend.
Joy and Denali ready to head to the water
Ruger enjoying a lazy morning at the lake house
Denali on a boat
Calypso
Prudhoe's first lake swim
Denali and Nick on the baot
Denali headed to the water
Joy and Calypso on the dock
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Feels Like Summer
The weather is warming up quickly. After a cool week, we are in the mid 70s-80s today. Ruger and Prudhoe are just starting to blow their coats. Calypso has blown about half of her coat. This means we have to keep an eye on the temperature when it comes to exercising the dogs. Of course we do not run them when it is too hot anyhow, but this time of year is tricky.
Prudhoe is making progress in his training as well as with his manners. He absolutely loves to run. He is eager to please and he works very hard. He is going to be a really great wheel dog. Calypso is teaching him how to navigate the gangline and he is learning his gee/haw commands quite quickly.
When we adopted Prudhoe, he knew how to sit. He would respond to "stay" sometimes, and he jumped and mouthed quite a bit. He now does very well sitting and staying for his food. He is jumping up on us less and the mouthing has subsided substantially. We are still working on being able to touch/hold his paws. He is a very loving dog and he wants to be wherever we are. The other dogs are doing well with him and seem to have accepted him as a pack member. He is still working to find his place in the pecking order, but that will come. He and Ruger have been sharing toys and playing nicely in the yard which is great, as sometimes male malamutes have a hard time getting along.
We are very happy with Prudhoe's progress as well as the progress the other dogs are making as well.
Prudhoe is making progress in his training as well as with his manners. He absolutely loves to run. He is eager to please and he works very hard. He is going to be a really great wheel dog. Calypso is teaching him how to navigate the gangline and he is learning his gee/haw commands quite quickly.
When we adopted Prudhoe, he knew how to sit. He would respond to "stay" sometimes, and he jumped and mouthed quite a bit. He now does very well sitting and staying for his food. He is jumping up on us less and the mouthing has subsided substantially. We are still working on being able to touch/hold his paws. He is a very loving dog and he wants to be wherever we are. The other dogs are doing well with him and seem to have accepted him as a pack member. He is still working to find his place in the pecking order, but that will come. He and Ruger have been sharing toys and playing nicely in the yard which is great, as sometimes male malamutes have a hard time getting along.
We are very happy with Prudhoe's progress as well as the progress the other dogs are making as well.
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