Clicker training of "rookie" lead dogs has begun.  Our experienced lead dogs are experts at holding the "gang line" of the dog team straight out in front of the sled.  The dogs behind them may try to drag them one way or the other, but our stoic lead dogs keep the line tight.  On the other hand, less experienced lead dogs tend to take the opportunity to explore the space when their musher walks away to get another dog or go to the sled for one reason or the other.  This exploration leads to tangles, fights and general bedlam.   Clicker training works great because their correct behavior is confirmed immediately with a treat soon following.  We work with letting these inexperienced lead be in their positions with no other dogs on the line.  Every time they wander away from their spot, they are instructed to "line out".  They may ignore that command at first but quickly learn that there is reward in doing as their musher asks.  We are training 2 years olds at this time.  We will keep you posted.

We are sad to announce that our beloved CoHo passed over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.  He was 16 years old.  CoHo started his sled dog career in the back of the team in wheel.  He worked his way forward in the team.  He stepped up to lead the teams for many seasons in his later years.  We are so saddened by his passing but appreciate all the energy and love he gave us over his 16 years.  He was born in our yard - a member of the "Salmon Litter".  The son of Ruby Sue and Torch.  He pulled many a heavy load in his tour years.  He taught many people to run teams of dogs that visited our dog yard.  We love you Coho and will miss you!!

Fall is here and our thoughts, here at Sun Dog Express, turn to winter.  We have filled the freezers with the winter supply of food for our sled dogs.  We are working on getting all the people food processed and stored.  Gardens are being harvested and fruit is being picked.  Winter is always inevitable in Interior Alaska.  Dog houses are being built or repaired, in anticipation of the long dark winter ahead.  Sled dogs have shed the hair of last year's coat and have begun to grow the much-needed hair for the new one.   We are looking forward to the cold, dark days of winter.  The silence of the falling snow.  The welcome frosty breath of huskies pulling the sled down the trail.

Wow! What a wild and crazy season this has been.  The snow. The Rain. More Snow.  More Rain.  Angry, Angry moose not willing to step off the trail and let a dog team do by.  Wow!

We put in our last run today.  It was a training run, and we ran the young team.  They did fantastic.  Passing all the obstacles in the trail like any well-trained dog team should  at the end of the season should.

Hello sled dog fans!  We've had a crazy winter with snow, rain and wind.  We've had to spend a lot of time maintaining trails with all the wild weather.  The deep snow has brought the season stressed moose to the trail, making the need for extra vigilance running a dog team a must.  We've been sticking to well trafficked and maintained trails to minimize our contact with these big, grumpy creatures.  The Sun Dogz are really running great this spring.  The younger leaders are stepping up to the plate and taking on more responsibility to guide the team.  The older/retired sled dogs are spending more time basking in the spring sun.  This is the best time of the year to be running sled dogs.  The days are getting longer and the temperatures are slowly getting warmer.  We'll keep you posted.

Even though it is 82F outside, we at Sun Dog Express, are thinking about the cold and dark winter days to come.  We are loosing 7 minutes a day of light.  There is just a hint of darkness at night now.  The sled dogs are in the midst of the lazy days of summer.  They sun themselves for long hours and drink lots of H2O.  We are busy reorganizing the dog yard for when the cold days make it impossible to do any type of improvement in the dog yard.  Dog houses are getting repaired.  Fences are being mended.  Fence posts and tether poles are being driven into the ground (can't do that in the winter because the ground is frozen).  This time of year, as fall approaches, our minds begin to turn to the first snow and the fun of getting back out on a dog sled.  But until then, it's lawn chair time with a tall, icy lemonade!!  Sum Sum Summertime!!

The Sun Dogs are back on the trail!  Not too much snow yet, so only training with the old Yamaha Scrambler 4-wheeler.  Being a 2001 model, it gets a little finicky about any temperatures below freezing.  Starting it and keeping it running, while hooking up crazy, excited sled dogs for a training run can be a real challenge.  Luckily it has a battery blanket and an oil pan heater that we can plug in an hour or two prior to a training run for a "more cooperative" 4-wheeler start.

Needless to say the first few runs of the season have gone very well.  No dog fights.  The dogs have not forgotten their trail manners.  They remember what "gee" and "haw" mean and are willing to obey.  Life if good!!