Upcoming Breeding: Tumnatki's Vaxie X ByDog's Bucksaw

We are planning a breeding of our female Tumnatki's Vaxie with our male ByDog's Bucksaw.

This will be Vaxie's first litter, and we are only doing the breeding in hopes of getting another male for ourselves. We lost Tensaw this year, and we would like to keep his line going. We really miss him.

Any additional puppies will be available for adoption. Please contact us for more information.

ByDog's Bucksaw

Tumnatki's Vaxie

Another Season Come and Gone

It seems that I only post here once a year now. Life has gotten to be very busy. When the boys were younger I thought that wouldn't be possible but now that they're starting middle school, free time does not exist. Not only has that lead to less blog posts but we've sadly been training and racing quite a bit less too. It hasn't helped either than the trail we trained on from our house for the last 11 years was closed off permanently. I haven't found a good safe alternative in the mean time.

On one of our trainings run before our only safe
trail to train on from the house was gated permanently.

Vaxie (right) hanging out with her old pal, Flier, in a cabin at Lubrecht Experimental Forest
before racing in the Western Montana Dirt Derby. She ran canicross for her first race ever.

We managed to get in one dryland race in the fall: The Western Montana Dirt Derby (hosted by our local club) and one snow race: the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race in Olney, MT. It sure was fun to race and to be welcomed with open arms by the mushing community who had noticed my absence and missed us.

The team did surprisingly well at both races given their age (a brand new racer and 3 aging dogs) and their fitness (not as well conditioned as they usually are). At the dryland race we took first in the 2 dog scooter (Buck and Whip) and canicross (Vaxie). At the Flathead Classic the 4-dog team finished in 6th of 15 teams. We were in 12th of 16 teams for the 1-dog skijor after day 1. But unfortunately, a stomach bug made an appearance in our family that night. We decided to run the 4-dog while they recovered at the hotel but I had to leave before the 1-dog race to pick them up before checkout. It was hard to not race because I was looking forward to the 1-dog ski the most. It was my first time racing skijor and I had some things I wanted to improve on for day 2.

Buzz resting after day one of his 1-dog skijor race
at the Flathead Classic Sled Dog Race, Feb 26 & 27th.
We had to scratch on day 2 due to family illness leading to an early departure.

This season has been all about introducing the puppy to sled/team training and racing. She took to it really quickly and by the end of the season, lead the team for a run. It was like she had done it for years.

Vaxie's first run in lead. Jig did a great job training her!

Rohn trained a lot with me with season. That was enjoyable to teach him things and have his company out on the trail.

Rohn with the team on a training run at Lost Trail.

We also did more skijoring this season than years past. It's an incredibly enjoyable way to run dogs because I get my exercise too!

Vaxie ready to skijor at Lubrecht Experimental Forest, Greenough, MT on Feb 21st.

The plan for the rest of the season (late winter to spring) is to do one more snow race: the Barkerbiener in Spokane. It is purely a skijor race which we've been really getting into. So I'm excited to get more experience at it. I'd also like to compete in one more dryland race and am eyeing one at the end of April or early May in Washington. I'll leave you with some training pictures from the season.

A Not So Cold but Chill Winter

Due to Covid outbreak, a lot of races are canceled. And those that aren't, we decided we will not race at this year. It is likely the last year the "Fast Four" could be competitive, which has made it hard to decide not to race. While it's a bummer, I think we need to do what we can to reduce the spread of disease. The sooner we kick this outbreak, the sooner we can get back to racing. 

Vaxie the puppy along for a sled ride with Rohn.

So instead this season, we've just been enjoying our recreational runs. This season, I have done a majority of my early season training and weekday training using my SandLynx cart (instead of the ATV). This really paid off, I can feel the incredible power that they've gained. That coupled with their speed would have led to some great race times this season.

A snow break on a nice, blue sky day. Keegan along for the ride this time.

The weather this winter has been way too warm. The snow levels are pretty low and lower elevation sites have had variable conditions. This is why we have been able to train with the SandLynx cart most of the winter, because the road/trail has been free of snow and ice.

Power and speed!!

This season I have been working on improving my skijoring skills. Last season I took a skate skiing lesson. Over the summer I patched together a beginners skate ski package to use this year. And after I run the team, I usually take the old dogs out. In this way, I've still had to practice my skate skiing because the old dogs are pulling very hard. And it's also allowed me to stay upright more than I would be with a fast, strong dog. I took Buck out once, though (after a long sled run) to give it a try. That was fun!!

Buck and I headed out for a quick skijor.

 

Skijoring with Tensaw and Isis.

So Many New Friends

 We've been busy this month making new friends; furry and human alike!

Vaxie is growing and fitting in nicely. She's JUST figured out this week that she's less likely to make the old dogs angry if she approaches with kisses instead of jumping on their faces. Isis and her continue to be pals (better than I could have imagined). Tensaw (the old man, 13 yrs old) enjoys playing with her in the mornings when he feels refreshed and lucid. She's been meeting and playing with Buck and Jig at the fence today. I think soon she will be able to meet (each, individually at first) in a yard. I'm still a little nervous that Buck will not play gently with her. So I need to monitor their interaction at the fence a few more days, especially when she runs.

Vaxie also made a new puppy friend, Nox, a flat coated retriever. He just joined the family of a good friend. So he and she met up and played. It took Vaxie a little while to warm up to him, but once she did, they had a blast! There will be more meet ups in the future.

Our eldest son has been wanting a new house cat for a few months now. We finally found a good kitten at the humane society and he came home this week. He's adorable and hilarious to watch play and jump off everything. Bold little guy. He came with the name Coconut. The boys keep calling him a 'she.' So I've been calling him Mr. Coconut. Originally our son wanted to name him Russell (after Russell Wilson the Seahawks QB) but liked Coconut. Cobey is still trying to convince him that Russell is a better name for this cat. I personally like Coconut. He may have multiple names and one long official name "Russell the Coconut cat"...?

While we likely will not be racing this year we're continuing to run the dogs regularly on the sled and cart. This is mostly for their health and happiness (and ours). It's always a good start (or end) to the day taking them out. But the younger dogs are much more manageable at home when they've had their exercise.

The old dogs, Tensaw and Isis out on a canicross.

We also met some new  in the acquaintances, fast becoming friends. They recently moved to the valley and are related to some other friends of ours. They have two boys around the ages of our sons so it only seems natural. Last weekend we met up at Lost Trail pass to show them the area and our dog team in action. Their youngest son rode in the sled for a bit too.

Merry Christmas to your family and furry friends! We hope 2021 is a better year for everyone!

Puppy Announcement: Vaccines Save Lives

We would like to introduce you to our newest ByDog family member: Tumnatki's Vaccines Save Lives of ByDog, aka: Vaxie.

She was part of the Public Health litter from Karen Yeargain at Tumnatki Siberians in Oregon. Her mother was Malala and father was Tovar. Karen and I are in the public health fields and we thought it appropriate for this litter, in the middle of a pandemic.

Our team is getting a little old and we figured it was past time for us to add to the crew. She is a very smart, sweet, energetic and happy puppy. She's learning fast and trying to make friends but all these old dogs here are less than ideal playmates.

A friend will also be getting a puppy soon and Vaxie can't wait to have someone fun to play with! Enough talk, here are some photos of cuteness:

First night with, at the time, a still unnamed sweet puppy.

Vaxie on the long trip home. AWWWW! 

Still in the majority of the day napping phase.

Vaxie with her pal, Buzz. 

Wild About Cats Rescue & Sanctuary

Sleeping puppies (like babies) are so cute!

She loves her bed!

Trying on a harness like a "big girl." Just like the first time in a collar, she didn't care at all about the harness! She's born to be a cuddly sleddog!!

Collars

Friday morning we had a terrifying incident involving our dog's collars.  

Right before I was getting ready to leave for work, the dogs started howling (which they do a lot of) but it didn't sound right. So I went out to find two of my dogs in a strange tangled pile on the ground with their littermates nearby, freaked out. Buzz was making a terrible sound but Whip, the other one in the tangle, wasn't make much sound. Whip couldn't breath because Buzz's tooth was caught on her collar (must have happened while playing, see the picture below...they play pretty rough and tumble). They must have flopped around so much after getting caught that they twisted her collar tight. I initially tried to free them but I couldn't get them untangled.

Buck and Whip playing the yard

My first thought was a knife and I yelled to husband to bring one. Though after a quick thought I realized that wouldn't work because it was too tight and I would risk cutting Whip. So after calming down, I found that Whip got her paw stuck over her collar, probably trying to free herself. So my first action was to simply try and get her leg out. It was a little difficult but after getting her leg free they quickly, and miraculously, untangled. 

Whip took off panicked and stumbling. I called her back and she snuggled up to me shaking. She was pretty terrified after that ordeal and was thankful for some petting and reassurance. I was thankful everyone was alive!

No collars now

All the collars came off after that. I know other mushers who insist on removing collars because of this, I just thought it was too rare a risk. My mind has changed. The dogs are now in the yard without their collars on.

Happy Buck and Whip!

Okanogan

Okanogan

Okie, in her later years, made friends with Priscilla the barn cat.

May 16, 2005-September 28, 2020

Today we had to say goodbye to another great friend and amazing dog. The strength and grace this dog had could not be overstated. Her ability to make it to 15 years old, in as good of condition as she was, is a perfect example of that. She was a small dog (like her daughters Whip and Jig) but was packed with unbelievable strength and heart. She commanded large dog teams and taught young dogs patiently. She was shy but she was also bold. She was beautiful and graceful. Extremely quiet but loud in spirit.

Okie (far left) was part of our original team.
Only one of these fine dogs is with us still. Tensaw (behind Okie).

One winter, maybe 7 years back, she was leading my 8 dog team along with young (at the time) Tank. Along a particularly steep section that dropped precariously off the trail, Tank smelled something enticing over the edge and was leading the team directly toward it. Okie, who was half of Tank's size, took one look in that direction and dragged the entire team back to the other (safer) side of the trail and home to the truck.

She was incredibly shy toward people and an extreme pushover to the other dogs while in the yard, but when you put a harness on her, her demeanor changed. She knew she was the direct line from me to the team and she lead us where we needed to go.

We got Okanogan from Absaroka Dogsled Treks in Pray, MT when she was 5. We were just beginning on this mushing adventure and needed an experienced leader. Mark Nardin offered us Paluk and Okanogan. While he loved Okanogan's work ethic and skill, he ran a tour company and a shy dog did not do well with a constant stream of visitors wanting pictures with their pretty lead dogs. Paluk and Okanogan couldn't have been more opposite of each other. Paluk was loud, Okie was quiet. Paluk was brutish, Okie was lady-like. Paluk was gregarious, Okie was very shy. The two were great additions to team but Okie's presence will be forever seen and remembered through the litter she whelped and the dogs she trained.

Okie and Paluk, soon after we brought them to our home.
I had to do a double take of this photo tonight, because I thought Okie was Whip (her daughter).

Okie with the Saw Litter in 2013

In 2013, she and Tensaw had a litter that we now refer to as The Saw Litter or The Crazies. Many of Okie's traits were bestowed upon the four, including her brains, drive, and leadership tendencies. They are now the heart of this team.

I am forever grateful for her time with us and I am glad to have a little piece of Okie to continue to lead me down the trail.

The dream (first sled) team

Okie in one of her rare vocal moments

Okie and Paluk leading the team in at the Priest Lake Sled Dog race.

Okie LOVED Flier. Here she is leading the team, teaching Flier and taking her kids on a run (in the back of string)

Running lead with Flier, this time in the snow!

Here she is at 13.5 years old with her daugher, Whip

She was also known in her later years for her impressive doggie yoga routines