Ruby Sue - A Chip Off The Old Block

Some of my posts on this blog contain stories of the best lead dog I've ever had, here at the Sun Dog Express Dog yard, Dudley.  Dudley was an absolutely amazing sled dog.  Very loyal.  He always tried to do exactly as I asked him to do.  He was what dog mushers refer to as a Gee/Haw leader.  The kind of leader that every musher dreams of, but not every musher is lucky enough to get in their mushing career.  Dudley passed away about two years ago, here at Rainbow Ridge Ranch.  He died at the ripe old age of 13 of sudden heart failure.  It was an extremely sad time, given the thousands of miles he pulled me, many visitors and my team down the trail.  We'd done many races together and taken many thousands of tourists on the cold and snowy trail and shared our love of adventure with them.

Dudley fathered one litter of puppies in his life with another lead dog name Jiminy Cricket.  Cricket had five puppies.  Mushers, traditionally, keep a theme when naming sled dog litters.  In this way it helps to keep each puppies lineage straight in a dog mushers mind.  We named them the "Rock Litter".  There were three males and two females.  The males were Lava, Granite and Garnet  .Females were Jade and Ruby (Sue).

Ruby Sue is the only surviving puppy of this litter.  She is now 12 years old herself.  Not only is she the image of her father and looks very much like him, she has the talent of a gee/haw lead dog.  Her ability to guide the team exactly where I need them to go is nothing short of amazing.  Currently she is my main lead dog for training all the other dogs in the yard.  She is hard working and dedicated.  Always willing to try her hardest to please.  She likes raw fish and lots of snuggles.

Pause for Grief

Monday February 4, 2019 - We are starting to post here again.  July 2, 2015 was an awful day for the Sun Dog Express crew.  We lost our main handler and dog lover, Alex.  When you loose someone so special, it stops you in your tracks for a time.  We all but shut down the dog sledding business (for 3 1/2 years) , trying to cope with the devastating pain of his loss.  We are slowly getting going again.  We still train the sled dogs daily, but we just don't have the heart to share it with visitors.  So we will do our best to share it here.  Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Close Encounter Of The Moosy Kind

***Haven't been on this blog in a few years.  Just found this in the drafts. So I thought I'd publish it.  Enjoy*****

November 14, 2009 - Training the dogs always presents a challenge but on some days it can be down right hazardous. Today has been a rough day out on the trail. Not a typical day but a tough day. I had the worst encounter with a mad moose that I've ever had in my mushing career. I didn't see this one coming AT ALL until it was (and I kid you not) two feet in front of my face.

I had just gotten done with a tour. It was the first one of the season. I'd sent the two ladies from, Denver on their way and I hooked up a 3 dog team to go out and work on the very rough trails in hopes of getting some of the longer trails open. We were moving out at a pretty good clip with an empty sled when a moose popped out of the brush just as the dog team was passing her location.

We had been down this trail no more than 15 minutes prior with no sign of a moose anywhere. So I was being a little less vigilant than usual. When I have guests in the sled there is constant chatter and I am watching the surroundings carefully but when I'm alone and have just been on the trail (with no danger detected) I'm usually deep in thought.

The dogs were already by her when she made it to the trail and that left just me and the sled to take her wrath. I'd estimate she was about 1700 pounds and a very tall girl. She stepped on my little taboggan sled. The bed of the sled is plastic and VERY slippery when it's cold. Her dinner plate sized front feet slipped out from underneath her and she fell flat on her slid crushing the sled underneath her and throwing me off. I'm pretty sure my ice hook stabbed her side.

She staggered to her feet, ears penned and hackles up ready to resume her attack. My 3 sled dogs, sensing they could pull the sled free, jerked into forward into action making a run for it down the trail.....without me.

It was just me and a really BIG ANGRY moose. I had been knocked flat on my ass. I had full mushing gear on including bunny boots. I scrambled to "crab walk" backwards to distance myself from this angry creature. My mind was racing......could I get to my feet fast enough to make a run for it? Where was a big tree to put myself behind? Could I run away from this angry animal fast enough to make her realize I didn't want to fight her? (One always runs from a moose.....not from a bear). The closest protection I could think of was about 200 yards behind me at an office building that had a big dumpster at the back I could hop in. I knew I wouldn't make it.

Fortunatly for me when the moose fell on my sled and the hook stabbed her and the dogs ran away (the object of most of her anger) she decided I wasn't worth the effort and spun around making a run for the woods.

The moose gone I realized my prized sled dogs where running off without me. I yelled the name of my faithful (I know that sounds very corny but it's so true) lead dog, Dudley. He turned his head to look at me as the dogs ran away from me at a full gallop. I could tell from his look that he was surprised to see I wasn't on the sled. I watched as they ran to the fork in the trail. Going "gee" or right would take the dogs to the 30 mile network of trails we use and I would have a heck of a time finding them because chances were they would tangle somewhere far out on the trail and have to wait for me to find them. While going "Ha" or left would bring the team back to me.

I've lost the team before and I know if Dudley is in lead he will do all that is in his power to bring the team back to me (this isn't typical behavior of any sled dog). They were at the fork and Dudley pushed the other leader hard to go left- she was pushing to go right. He was bringing the team back to me. I began to run (with my heavy boots) back toward the dog yard. I heard the dogs in the yard bark as Dudley brought the team back through the yard. But since I wasn't there to anchor them in Dudley had to keep on running and find me walking the opposite way on the trail. He found me.

Spring Is Here!

I am always extremely happy to see spring arrive and am always very thankful for another safe season of running sled dogs.  Things can get pretty dangerous out on the trail, at times, and I'm always glad we arrive on this side of winter safe and sound.

The longer days and warmer temperatures are so welcome after the cold and darkness of an Alaskan winter.  Record warm temperatures should be "stalled" north of the Alaska Range for the next few days, bringing with it massive melt off of what little snow we did get this winter. 

Spots on the trail prone to the phenomenon of overflow will be filling up with the slushy, cold mess.  Thus the trail is no good for sled dogs and dog sleds.  We begin to pack away our equipment for next season and make long lists of things we will change and do differently next season.

Summer projects begin to come to mind: building new dog houses, terracing more area on our hillside ranch to make a more level dog yard, puppies (the start of our racing bloodline), mending and repairing all the gear and organizing the many trips to summer fish camp to catch the best sled dog food that God ever created - salmon.  This list will become long.

Caring for sled dogs takes year round planning and doesn't stop with the storing of the dog sledding equipment for the warm months.  The work continues 365/24/7.  Every dog musher will tell you they continue on with the work of caring for these great athletes because they love the dogs.  When you recognize how great it is to train, travel and work with sled dogs, how can one help themselves?!?

Iditarod Fairbanks 2015

Wow!  Once again Iditarod restarts in Fairbanks.  After 12 years the Last Great Race returns to the Interior of Alaska.  It was wonderful to see all the super stars of the dog mushing world; Mitch Seavey, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Aliy Zirkle, Lance Mackey and, of course my favorite, Dee Dee Jonrowe.  Great dogs on their way to Nome!

A Push For Change

You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream - C.S. Lewis

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog.  Many changes have taken place at Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours in the last year.

At the end of the 2014 season, my family and I began to reevaluate Sun Dog Express Business plan.  What was its reason for existance?  What are our goals?  After 30 plus years of dog mushing and 16 years in the tour business it was time to take a good hard look and think.

We came to the conclusion that our current direction wasn't suiting us.  We didn't start Sun Dog Express with the idea that we were an exclusive "sit your butt  down in the dog sled while the dogs drag you in a circle" tour company.  The dog sled comes to a stop long enough for one person to hop out and another to take their place....and the cycle begins again.  Not only does this bore the dogs but it bored me to tears too. 

I must confess that the trail had become so mundane that I would hear a voice telling dog sled passengers about the trail or dogs and realize that it was my voice.  I could make up my grocery list, think about my favorite t.v. show or daydream while giving a tour and not even remember what my guests had talked about the entire ride.  I had done so many tours.....I was on auto pilot.  Sad thing is guests had no idea.

Our location at 1540 Hayes Street has a quite place when we first opened in the fall of 1998.  The road wasn't maintained in the winter and there weren't any neighbors.  The dogs were in residence all winter (with summers back at our ranch) behind the Beaver Sports Outdoor Center without anyone giving them any mind or bothering them.  In the last 16 years that atmosphere changed greatly.  It became a much less safe place for sled dogs to be in residence at any time.

Thus we made the agonizing decision last spring to close the 1540 Hayes Street dog yard.  For the first time since 1991 there would be no sled dogs in residence behind The Beaver Sports Outdoor Center.

We are still doing tours and schools but on a very limited basis.  We have become a mobile dog sled tour company - meaning we have to hook up a trailer, load up sled dogs, drive to the trail head (18 mile round trip) at our 1540 Hayes Street dog yard, unload sled dogs and sleds, hook up sled dogs, go for a tour or school, load sled dogs and sleds back onto the trailer, drive home, unload sled dogs, equipment and dog trailer.  It's pretty labor intensive and takes a minimum of three hours to complete for even our shortest tours.

Since I've always worked a year round regular job in addition to the dog sled tour company, adding a 3-9 hour dog sled tour/school/clinic isn't possible very often.  Not when I have all the other ranch animals and chores to complete after my return to the ranch.

While the trails at our 1540 Hayes Street location go for miles and miles and are flat as a pancake (which are great for tours), we have been running the same trails since 1991. Angry moose became an issue on many of our training and tour runs.  The area was flat and full of underbrush that moose found irresistable and tasty.  These behemoths found the packed dog trail "plush" and they were remiss to give it up when a dog team approached (especially after a cold spell).  They would prefer to charge/stomp/fight for the trail rather than walk in deep snow.  A fight that sled dogs, unfortunately, always lost.

It is my objective to explain to you what this push for change in the last year has brought to the sled dogs and staff of Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours.  While many of you have found it frustrating that we are no longer available, at a moments notice, to take your loved ones and friends on dog sled tours and schools, we appreciate your patience while we change for the better.

Stay Tuned!!

You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream - C.S. Lewis

Morning sun rise is so beautiful this time of year (at the ranch - the sled dogs summer home).  Snow is being illusive this winter.  The ground is covered in white but still not enough to run a sled over, much less put weight in the sled. Long range forecasts say it's coming.  Cross your fingers......and your toes!  Back to the Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours Home Page.

Fall training has started once again.  It has been somewhat of a challenge due to the rookie leadership the team has this year.  We had many very good leaders "age out" last season and will be unable to keep ahead of the young fast talent in the team.  We are working hard doing runs with the four wheeler.  Our directional commands are rough and need a lot of work but I think we'll get there.  http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/

Dog days of summer 2012

It's the dog days of summer.  Although we've not had much heat to speak of this season.  It's been very rainy here in Fairbanks.  We at Sun Dog Express decided to close the summer demo's for the 2012 season.  Looks like fishing, ranching and my "real job" work schedule will make it somewhat impossible to gather sled dogs and transport them to the winter dog yard for such activities.  The Sun Dogs are comfortably settled into their summer dog yard.  Digging holes  and scheduled howling sessions seem to be the norm.  All too soon the snow will return and we will be back to running the wilderness trails of interior Alaska.  http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/

Spring Is Just Around The Corner!

Days are lengthening in daylight and getting warmer. Thoughts can't help but turn to spring and summer. We've got just over a month of good dog sledding left before we'll have to park the sleds and get the shorts and gardening gloves out. As always March won't disappoint with some of the best mushing weather yet to come.

This is our busy time at Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours. We've got tours, private lessons and dog mushing schools going on daily. People can't get enough of those "crazy to run" sled dogs. Don't be disappointed and get your reservation in early for the tour or school of your choice! Give our office a call 907-479-6983 or http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/ . We're always happy to see you!

Dudley The Lead Dog Retires

Dudley the lead dog has retired. It's been hard and sad for me to leave the best lead dog I've ever owned at home each time we run. His body is weak but his spirit is still so willing. This season looked so promising for this 12 year old dynamo.

Late this last fall Dudley was leading a small 5 dog training team. Hard charging through some fresh snow, as is his custom. Suddenly he couldn't support any weight on his leg. His ankle pressed all the way to the ground as he tried to get around. He was more confused than in pain. I loaded him in the sled, a completely foreign experience to a dog that never has had a sick day in his life. Hyper extension of the joint. Without surgery to insert plates, he was done.

An agonizing experience to subject an old dog to extensive and painful surgery or let it heal on it's own and let him retire without the stress of recovery. It has been my experience that regardless of a mushers best intention, surgery on an old dog most times does more long term harm than good.

I'm glad I made the decision to just let him heal. For the first month we casted his leg. Then took it off for two more months of "bed rest" (sled dogs don't really do bed rest very well). He gets a daily dose of glucosamine. Currently he gets a nice long walk every other day.

His goals for the future.....to lead my team of retired sled dogs. I've got two others (14 year old and 12 year old) that can still run and pull pretty good......just not very fast. His days of leading the race dogs is behind him now. I miss him everyday I'm out on the trail. http://www.mosquitont.com/~sleddog/

Fall Training 2010

Temperatures are getting colder again and there is a small bit of snow on the ground. Dogs are up to running 4 miles a day with the 4-wheeler. They are happy to be out on the trail again. Snow is falling as I type this so hopefully we will soon be out on the sled......no engine noise!

Puppies are now 4 1/2 months old and are doing laps on the ranch (horse/mule) cross country course by chasing the 4-wheeler or snowmachine. They show that running is deeply seeded in the blood of a sled dog.

The Sun Dogs Are On You Tube!!

Leslie visited us in 2007 and just posted these great videos of her 1.5 mile trip with us on her You Tube channel. Check them out at http://www.youtube.com/user/benjamine128 The four clips are titled "my dog sled ride starts", "dog sledding and passing a beaver dam", "dog sledding and spotting a moose" and "dog sledding". Thanks Leslie for these great clips!

Alaska Dog Mushers Challenge Series Race #1

January 25 ,2009 11:45 AM. It was 2 degrees Fahrenheit, great for racing dogs!! The trail had a light layer of new snow to give just the right amount of grip. We ran a team in the six dog class. They finished in fifth place in a time of 23 minutes 31 seconds - thats just under 4 minute miles. Leo and Kate ran lead and it was the first time these guys ran solo without my other main leaders there for them to "fall back on". Tinker Bell and rookie racer Ruby Sue ran swing. Making sure the sled steered well was my wheel dog sensations Jiminy Cricket and Baloo.

Answer To Question - How Fast Do Sled Dogs Race?

How fast do sled dogs go? This is a question I hear often. The speed at which a sled dog races depends on the distance it is being asked to complete, trail conditions, terrain and the load in the sled. Touring dogs, distance race dogs, middle distance race dogs and sprint race dogs "run" speed is very different.

Tour dogs tend to be the slowest because they are being asked to pull the heaviest loads (i.e. people or cargo). These dogs are usually bigger in weight because they are being asked to pull hard. They are like the "draft horses" of the sled dog world. Their speed is well under 10 miles per hour, usually. They don't go for any real long distances.

Distance race sled dogs are your Iditarod and Yukon Quest types - the ultra marathoners. They can be asked to run up to and beyond 100 miles in a 24 hour period. They can eat well over 10,000 calories in a day (I'm not kidding - they are the epitome of the word "chow hound"). Usually these guys aren't hauling an excessive amount of weight in the sled - hopefully under 200 pounds. They are hauling sled and musher over some of the roughest terrain in the world so their speed is not always consistent. They average between 5-15 miles per hour over the course of the entire 1000 mile race. The speed is averaged with rest breaks included.

Middle distance racing sled dogs are the marathoners. They go distances, 100 to 300 miles, over the course of a long weekend. They have considerably less weight to carry in the sled, because they aren't going as far. The musher can use a lighter weight sled and the speeds are consistently faster than the long distance sled dogs. They are averaging about 8-15 miles per hour over the course of the race. Many middle distance dogs are just in training to be long distance dogs, anyway, so many are just kept to a long distance pace.

Sprint dogs are the fastest of the entire bunch. These guys are the "sports cars" and run at high bursts of speed for not more than 30 miles in a day. They can average 15-20 miles per hour for up to 30 miles in a day. The sleds are lightweight and EMPTY.

Don't Forget To Dress Warm - Yes, This Is A Repeat!

Alaska cold can, at times, be unforgiving. Wear layers of loose fitting clothing instead of one heavy layer to better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm shed a layer or add a layer if you get cold. A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated.Wear breathable fabrics and avoid cotton. Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Your footwear is subject to more exposure and moisture. Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks or rubberized insulated boots.At least two pair of warm socks are recommended. Pull trouser legs over top of boots to keep out the snow.Mittens are warmer than gloves, they allow fingers to be in direct contact with one another. Warm gloves are a must however for our mushing school students because the fingers need protection while working with the snaps of the dog lines.Most of your body heat escapes through your head. Wear a hat and bring a scarf, neoprene face mask or neck gator to cover your face from wind.

Off and running :)

Another season has begun here at the Sun Dog Express Kennels. We have enough snow on the ground to do very short tours. The long trails are too treacherous to attempt with more than an empty sled. Lot's of big holes to "bridge" and overflow on the trail. Once we get more snow the trails should smooth out and open for all tours. We are busily planning our racing calendar for the upcoming season. We'll keep you posted. Don't forget to check out the first post on how to dress for a dog sled ride - very important to stay warm!!! Happy Trails. Head back to our website http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/

Fall Training Time

The first snow has arrived. With those initial white flakes of winter comes the anticipation of a whole new dog mushing season. The first wild runs of the fall have taken place in front of the 4-wheeler and the dogs are settling in to their "base" training time. Still a little hot to ask too much of these furry athletes but they are happy to get out for a run.

2008 Race Season Update - GEAR CHANGE!!!

We've had a few hick-ups with our race season this year. Not with dogs, or equipment or training but with the actual races themselves. The two races we had planned on doing BOTH got cancelled. The Interior Stage Race a three day event of 25 miles, 45 miles and 35 miles was cancelled due to .....we don't know what. Our second choice the Chatanika 100 (100 mile race) was cancelled due to lack of volunteers.

Three weeks ago we were looking at the prospect of not doing any races at all this season. We took a look at what was available in the Fairbanks area and decided that this years races would have to be sprint races or nothing at all. Sprint it is then!!!

For distance dogs to change gears and go from a long distance trot to a short distance lope can be a difficult, but the Sun Dog Express crew seems to be up for the challenge. We will only be doing the six dog class in the Alaska Dog Mushing Associations Challenge and Limited races. Some of our tour dogs are too big to be asked to run that fast and it frustrates them to do so. We have a few rescue dogs that have some sprint dog blood in them. We are going to see what they are made of.

So far the dogs really seem to be enjoying the high energy of sprint racing. In Challenge Race #4 we finished 4th and finished "in the money". Not bad for a bunch of distance/tour dogs out of their element. As always our main focus is to have fun because that is what we do best.

The Descision To Race Does Not Come Easy

As the title states the decision to race does not come easy. Racing sled dogs has always been an unattainable dream for me. Before I had my two kids I dabbled in a little sprint racing - meaning very short, fast races. My career as a sprint musher was never at a fast speed because I have always had "hand-me-down" dogs and we always finished last. There was a reason these dogs didn't make the race teams in their kennels of origin and it usually meant they liked to stop and smell the roses or yellow snow as the case may be.

When my two children where born my priorities took a swift change. My love for running sled dogs was still very very strong yet my loyalty to family was stronger. I couldn't spend the hours required to train up a team to race. I regret to say that some years dog sled training was maybe once or twice a week. My children were babies and toddlers and they required hours and hours of care. Along with children comes more expenses thus the need to work a full time job. Full time jobs and intensive training of sled dogs have an impossible ability to co-exist.

As financial concerns and time constraints began to tighten around my family I would often discuss with my husband giving all my dogs away and getting out of sled dogs all together. But as the old dog mushers will tell you once sled dogs are in your blood - they are there to stay. I would always pull out my sled, go for a run and once again become invigorated to "hang on" for a while longer. I always rationalized being able to buy my next 50 pound bag of dog food. That would last me another week or so (I had a four dog team at this time). When the endless work got to me, dog mushing became my time for peace and tranquility - if that can be obtained when dealing with wiggly, screaming to go, busting at the tug line sled dogs. I squashed my dreams of being an Iditarod or Yukon Quest champion. My priorities were with my husband and children. Dog mushing became a luxury.

As my children grew, money became tighter and tighter. I didn't want to be forced to give my sled dogs up. Thus Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours was born. It was a shot in the dark but I had to figure out something to keep my sled dogs fed and with me. I wasn't sure how my "racing dogs" would take to hauling heavy loads in a sled and dealing with lots of people. I was truly amazed and humbled by my "guys". Work is work to a sled dog and comes in many forms. Hauling people around and being friendly is work and sled dogs are working dogs. They had a definite sense of happiness and accomplishment on their faces after every tour. They felt needed and wanted. They know each person that walks into the dog yard is there to see them and they love it!!! Not only did I discover through doing the tour business that I could support my motley crew of sled dogs but that I could also meet interesting people from all over the world and share my love for some of the best animals that God put on this snow covered earth.

My children are now teenagers. The intense demand on my time is still there but I can now rationalize with the two youngsters I have in my home. They help me as much as they can. I made the decision two years ago to follow my dream to return to racing. This time it will be middle distance racing. Middle distance is defined as anything longer than a sprint race yet shorter than the Iditarod or Yukon Quest. Middle distance still has many of the benefits (seeing lots of pretty country) of long distance racing but without the money and training time demands. I couldn't hold a full time job and train for long distance without taking a lengthy leave of absence - that wouldn't go over well with my boss.