Snocrib malamutes

A sleddning trip in the dark forest

2012-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

Friday afternoon me and the dogs went for a sledding trip in the forest. It was quite dark outside but when we came out of reach from the streetlight I had a headlamp to lit up the trails. This time Lola did go in single-lead the first 8 km and the remaining 7 km, it was Tiffany's turn. Jada is not yet mature enough to go in single lead when we run the sled but fought well as wheel dog. When we got home we changed musher and Anders took over and went off for another round in the dark woods.

Lola in lead for the first 8 km, always eager to take off.

A film clip that shows when we reached the village and got a little light. We had the old heavy sled and it creaks a lot as we go.

Back on track

2011-12-30T13:22:00.000-08:00

Today I went for a afternoon skiing trip with the black ones, Tiffany and Lola. Put some extra sandbags in the sledge so that the dogs get weight training. At first we went after a track that we used to go after but when we haft come more than halv the way the tracks disapear, lots of snow and the wind and on top of it the dusk made it so difficult to see where we should go so we had no other option than to turn back to where we came from. When we where a few km from the start we went for another track that was newly made tracks. Much more convenient and those last 4 km to the car felt easy.

New sled

2011-12-01T01:33:00.000-08:00

A sled for the Nordic style of a 'pulktoboga from Oinakka. There is a lower version of the sled with handbrake and a sled bag. Can hold a lot of packing and will fit perfectly for our purposes. Also available space so that one of the kids can stand on the runners while we are skiing. I think that they will appreciate, this is almost like to drive dogs theirself.

The only thing we lack now is the snow. Can not remember the last time we were without snow on December 1. But rates drop slowly it was 6 degrees above zero and raining yesterday but today we have only a plus grade. Training the dogs is anyway in full progress, we pull tires that we have been weighted up, back training in the sandpit and lots of free play. So they are in good shape when the snow is here. Now it's just up to Jack Frost to do his job. I need hardly say that we are longing!

Reorganization and swedish malamute specialty

2011-11-11T05:17:00.001-08:00

Reorganization. We now come to the conclusion that Marie goes out of the kennel. For kennel Snocrib this means no major changes, we will still continue to work towards the same goals as before. The only difference is that my partner Anders will have a more prominent role in the kennel. A more easy-way for both sides in reaching a consensus goals and challenges. Of course, there is nothing that prevents cooperation anyway.
We wish Marie good luck with her future plans. Yourself we look forward to exciting new challenges arising in the winter to come.

We also had time for a show since last time I blogged. This year it was so that the annual malamute specialty was held on 5 November in Piteå. Never before have we had it so close to us here in the north and of course it was a must to go there. 39 malamute notified and we went there with Lola and Tiffany. Lola got excellent in the open bitch and Tiffany got excellent, ck and was finally BIS veteran!!

In this picture Tiffany was 9 weeks old...

Can you imagine that she has been this tiny?

Now she is 8 years and still a beauty

Polardog meeting

2011-10-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

Lots of polar dogs and a trail that was 7.5 km, which all had opportunity to drive alongafter. Today it was Anders who run the kickbike with Lola & Jada. Fun and useful to run together with other unfamiliar dogs.

Me and Tiffany stood at the side and acted as photographer for the day

Preparing for the start

Anders with Lola & Jada, Marika with Nanook & Varga and Kristina with her huskys

At the finish line after 7,5 km run.

Playland

2011-10-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

The fact that we often go out into the woods to eat breakfast, it is probably no one who missed? Luckily we have friends who also like to do the same and like hanging out to the forest. Our favorite place is the equivalent of the children's playland or amusement park for dogs. They have free surfaces to run on, lots of sand to dig in and runs up and down to have fun chasing games in. When they see that we are approaching the spot, they just saw the eagerness and hardly know any boundaries. Though it's great to be able to give them these opportunities to have fun so often. But as I said many times before, they are well aware that there is freedom with responsibility. And they abuse it but remains always near us and have no fancy to hunt other animals or go away further away than allowed.

Tiffany enjoys beside the open fire

Lola with a stick

Digging Jada

Lola in the smoke from the fire

Husky Cordelia

Bacon & eggs for breakfast

Lola takes a break in the game. They are not as clean as many times as you can see. To dig in the sand and play involves a lot of sand in furs. Fortunately, the sand falls off relatively quickly again.

All dogs show respect and keep at a distance from us when we eat.

This is what Tiffany looks like when you tell her that it is time to go home

International dogshow in Sundsvall

2011-10-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went 600 km south of us for the international dogshow i Sundsvall. The show was held in Nordichallen. A perfekt place for a dogshow and on top of it has a great hotel as neighbour.

It was eight malamutes entered at the show. Draco(Snocrib Deepcreek Draco) became best of breed for the day. The judge liked him a lot and he got great critics, she especially loved his strength and power in movement and the critics ended with the words wonderful temper and well handled.

Lola (Cahppes Snowshoe) got best female 2. Lolas sister Thindra won and got best female and BOS. So nice to meet Thindra and her nice owners.
Lola got following critics: Beautiful head with a very kind expression and good pigmentation. Strong neck. Well-developed and elegant body. Good angles. Good move. Good pigmentation and coat quality. Great temper!

I am always so proud when our dogs got the words great temper written on the critics. The temper is one of the things that is most important for us.

Lola pulling the tire

2011-10-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

In the mornings I tend to rush out before school and work to train dogs. Quite often it will be pulling tires a few kilometers. The power needs to be trained up for the winter with all the sled and ski tours.

Cute Lola

Before I command "Forward!", I always standing behind the dog. Then the dogs learn that they always shall start when I command and not wait for me to go next to them or that they should go after me. It is most easily with dogs that are self-propelled.

I command "Forward!" and Lola starts to pull the tire. My goal is for all my dogs to be self-sustaining independent of each other and to be able to pull with anyone.

Malamute behavior

2011-09-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

In our forest tours I often sit with a cup of tea in my hand and observe the dogs for hours. Their behavior toward each other is fascinating and I think that people often underestimate the dogs' ability to communicate with each other. We simply must become more sensitive and observant.

One example that follows, it is to get along even in games with many dogs involved. In running games then all run and chase each other but when it comes to biting games, that is when they wrestle and bite each other in a friendly game becomes different behavior. Then there's always only two of the dogs involved. The other dogs backs down and stand and watch and wait for it to run games again. Then they hang with again and all the dogs run and chase each other.

I think it's such a nice gesture, to avoid any confusion or trouble which may arise if more than two dogs would be involved. If they shouldn't have then it can easily occur that two bites at one and the one where underdog feels threatened. Even though our three girls are very good friends and never have any serious fights, they behave as towards one another, all to maintain the good atmosphere. But even when the dogs outside the flock is in the game, they behave the same. No bullying. So nice to see, we humans have much to learn from our beloved malamutes.

Below you can see two photos of such situations.

Lola backs off and wait that the running game should start again.

And here there is one husky that is not in the pack involved. Jada backs off and wait for her turn to wrestle or that they should get up and run.

Emilia & Kristoffer with Draco & Tindra on a hiking trip to Låktatjåkka

2011-09-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Image cavalcade of beautiful images that Emilia and Kristoffer took over their hiking trip to Låktatjåkka. With them they had their Tindra (Snocrib Widebay Chena) and borrowed Draco (Snocrib Deepcreek Draco) as a hiking companion.

A lovely mix of happy dogs

2011-09-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Found some pictures that I took this summer. Malamutes ability to communicate with other dogs is phenomenal. They are basically very clear in their language and do not like to fight unnecessary.
This time we were six dogs(three malamutes, one siberian husky and two alskan huskys) from three different families. Two of them had never met the other before but there was no grudge between any of the dogs, all played and had a really fun day.

Chasing game

Lola with two alskan huskys

Ylva and a crowd of kind dogs

Coffee by the fire and watch the happy dogs that are allowed to play freely is something we value highly.

New pictures of Iluq

2011-09-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some new photos of Iluq (NCH Snocrib Deepcreek Iluq). Iluq is a 4 year old and a very handsome male I think. Don't you agree?

Iluq & Maya

Sometimes it's unfortunate...

2011-09-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Grimm has during a forest trip accidentally slip and injured himself, so for his part has a break from exercise for a while. Hopefully, he is soon completely well again.

Polartrax Deep Freeze "Grimm"

Gone fishing

2011-08-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

Tiffany nearby the fire, as usual

Ylva catch a fish

"If you cant see that is not there" Tiffany really wants to take a bite from the fish. But she has her own ways to keep her from beeing to tempted.

Some of we "grownups" compete how far we can reach the top of a fallen three. Anders could reach the top with his hand and was the winner this time.

One of our favouriteplaces at summertime

2011-08-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

A big sandpit with deep water at the middle. What more can a malamute wish for at summerime? Clear blue water for a cooling swin, lots of sand to dig deep holes, big free space to run freely with dogfriends. Our dogs just love this place.

Lola & Jada

Some of our friends arrive

Lola

Tiffany

Jada & husky Cordelia

Beutiful place (Lola and Jada down in the water)

Breakfast at the top of the sandpit

husky and malamute, the difference in bonestructure is quite clear.

Happy Lola

Beauty Jada

Lola is always curious what the kids are up to

Lola and husky Cordelia playing

I wish that I could have catch the wonderful wiev correct but it is much more breathtaking in real life

Lola

Can you see the husky chase down there?

Cuddly dogs

2011-07-29T03:09:00.000-07:00

If you have three malamutes you'll never miss love in your life.

The sunny weather continues...

2011-07-29T03:01:00.000-07:00

Visit norway

2011-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

Tindra(Snocrib Widebay Chena)and her owner Kristoffer at vacation in beutiful norway.

Warm evenings are equal to much play in the water

2011-07-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

Lola are happy to join the swimmers

Jada has just begin to like to be in the water. Lola wants to play and does not seem to understand that she is in the way
for the Jada who is focused to keep up with the swimming.

Lola think that it is all ok to be close

We met an german shepard at the beach.

Shepherd was very ego with her stick so Lola and Jada quickly realized it was not appropriate to play with that dog... They stod and looked at the shepard for a short while....

...and they went on with their own play instead.

Play at the sandpit

2011-07-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Smilla with the pack

Sitting in the sun with Tiffany and Jada. Smilla took the camera and photographed us. Guess who hurry herself to be in the picture?

Shooting some photos of Tiffany...

When Lola jumped in to be in the picture...

And she even spin around to get even closer to Tiffany...

And now she sat herself and wait for me to shoot some more pictures. She doesn't seem to have the same need of "integrity" as many malamutes have.

Obediance training in the rain

2011-06-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

Our dogs are well aware of what they are named, and we use their names daily. At mealtime, we put down all the food bowl and then the dogs sit and wait to hear just their name followed by a "go ahead" before they start eating. We are always in different order so they never know who is going to get food to eat first. The same is when to jump in and out of the car, come when we call, etcetera. More or less all commands they receive include their names. It simplifies life greatly for us. The more everyday obedience the more freely life the dog gets, I think.

Lola, Jada & Tiffany sit and wait to hear just their name followed by a "came here!".

"Jada came here!", "Tiffany came here!"
Pouring rain but the dogs seems to think that its fun

Kickbike run at midnight

2011-06-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Lola & Jada

A stop to look at the impressive icebreakers

Halfway, we stop for the dogs to have a swim in the ocean.

Lola

Jada do not like to swim

Our fetching malamute.

Lola swim out to sea

Midnight walk

2011-06-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and we've had some hot days with lots of sun and swimming. Besides the dogs' daily walks and free play in the woods during the day, they got more led exercise at midnight when it's cooler outside. We switch between cycling, jogging and walking with packing bags. The midnight sun is appreciated as we have daylight even at night in summer. Tonight it became a hike along the sea edge and Jada and Tiffany had to carry some extra weight.

Anders with Jada & Tiffany

Looking at the sea view

Lola, cute as usual

One of the last ski trips for the season

2011-04-12T00:53:00.000-07:00

One of the last ski trips for the season. The snow has begun to soften and tracks were full of dirt so it was hard to ski. Now I think I pack away the skis and take the bike instead. This season, we where actually able to ski from November so it has been many long, wonderful skiing and sleigh rides. Now can we in good mood, looking forward to the snow-free season.

Lola

Maria & Zoey, Jeanette & Cordelia and me & Lola

Brunch outdoors

2011-04-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

An open fire is calming for both human and dogs

Today we ate brunch outside and Tiffany took the opportunity to rest a while

Cordelia and goofy Lola

Husky Cordelia

Jeanette and me

Jada is planning a attack of...

..Cordelia, that has no clue what Jada has in mind.

Time to go home

Chasing husky game, they never seems to get tired

Jada with summercoat