Dog of the Day - Roscoe

NorthWapiti's Roscoe
DOB - June 24, 2007
Sire - NorthWapiti's Detanator (Nate)
Dam - Chlout's Hilda of NorthWapiti

Nickname - 'Roscoe P' (as in Roscoe P Coltrane - from the 'Dukes of Hazzard')

One of the 'Hillbillies' - littermate to Billie, Fritter, Daisy (Addie), Banjo (Tidgy), Bubba and Grit

Roscoe is a rookie but you would only know it looking at his birthday, not at his performance. Early in the season I had a few doubts about him, but the tougher the runs have become, the more he rises to the occasion.

Roscoe is easy to find in our teams, as he has a big white 'z' on his back. Very cool!





Roscoe is sponsored by Diane Shepherd and Jackie Phalen

Not Much To See Here...

Dog of the Day - Rocket

NorthWapiti's Rocket
DOB - May 11, 2006
Sire - NorthWapiti's Draco
Dam - Chlout's Hilda of NorthWapiti

Nicknames - Rocket Dog, Rocks, Pointy

Rocket is out of the 'Firecracker' litter - littermate to Detonator (Nate), Powder, Razzle, Comet, and Flare.

She finished the Don Bowers 200 with Mark last year!

Rocket is a character. She really is not the most beautiful dog - she is rather well...pointy... but her personality makes her one of the most gorgeous dogs I own.
(She does hav the world's cutest whiskers though - with one single black on on each side of her face. So cute!)

Since she was a baby she has been challenging us by climbing and generally escaping from any enclosure she was put in. She's a clever one!

I've been pushing her hard as a leader lately (because she is so promising) and even when she is making me want to pull out me hair out, I can't help but smile under my breath at her.
One of her habits that really makes me want to pull my hair out is her neckline, gangline and harness chewing. She is definitely the most expensive dog in the kennel to run - but still worth it!

At every opportunity she is on her hind legs doing her 'Rocket Dance' (especially when she is trying to get out of trouble)...driving up hills she does 'wheelies' to try and get everyone moving faster...she is just a cool dog.





Rocket is sponsored by Debbie Custer!

Two Amazing Q Sons

Since Q was Karen's Dog Of The Day we asked Karen if we could add an entry to her blog about our two amazing Q sons -

Kelim's Sirius Black, CGC

AND
Kelim's Golden Snitch, CGC


Sirius & Snitch were born September 3rd, 2007 to NorthWapiti's Q and NorthWapiti's Rainy.

Not to copy Karen here but these boys are exactly what our kennel is striving to produce. They are incredible dogs in many ways: they are hard driving dogs in harness always giving 110%. Snitch is the hardest working, most superb hill dog we have ever had. Sirius & Snitch just turned 2 and are expected to be main race leaders this season. They are already doing lots of leading together and are taking commands, have learned gee over, pass other things on the trail quite well and are just more advanced than most other 2 yr olds we have had in the past. There are exactly what we are looking for in harness. I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised they are leaders, their grandfathers are Grover & Moses!

Snitch & Sirius lining out in lead before a training run at 1.5 yrs of age.

Sirius & Snitch watch us hook up the rest of the team.

Their personalities are something special - cute, goofy but serious, sweet, attentive, smart and just really neat!! Sirius (and quite a few of his littermates) have this adorable trait of holding their paw in the air when they anticipate something exciting (feeding time, before a run at hookup, or during obedience). It's like it's his ready signal :) Snitch is very playful, like a big silly puppy he's always making us laugh.

Sirius, also a nice obedience dog!

They are typey, nice movers and well built with great feet and are excellent eaters! We can't say enough great things about these boys! We just LOVE them! We have even thought about repeating this breeding. Sending Rainy that long way to Q really paid off in our minds! Not only have these two turned out great but the other 5 in the litter (Lumos, Anya, Phoenix, Jinx & Seeker) are also doing great things! Thanks to Mark & Karen for letting Rainy visit 'Cutie Q'!

Snitch

Sirius

Snitch

Kim & Kelly Berg

Kelim Siberians - www.kelimsiberians.com

Favorite Things - Eskimo Hooks and Plastic Snaps

Some of you may remember that last year I started playing with using some 'toggles' in my gangline.



The style I was using were nice, but the tugline would occasionally pop loose, not perfect. I've left them in the line, but continued using snaps most of the time.

When I was in Michigan a few months back visiting Nature's Kennel my interest in toggles was again inspired when looking at Ed's training lines.



I liked this toggle better then the ones I had previously tried, but still they weren't perfect for me!

Then I found this -



SWEET!!

I've been using these 'Eskimo Hooks' from Nordic Husky Farm Sled Dog Internet Shop for a few months now and can do nothing put sing their praises. They don't jam up with sand, ice up, are lighter then brass snaps, cheaper and so far much more reliable.

PERFECTION!!

In addition I've been using the plastic snaps from the Shop too.


They have the same advantages as the Eskimo Hooks as well as being a break away safety for when a dog goes around the wrong side of a fence post, or some such thing.

Mark and I love both ideas enough that we are switching our training and racing lines over completely.

I just love finding new and exciting things - even if they are just an old idea being rediscovered!

Karen

Dear Snow Gods - THANK YOU!

I also wanted to say that good handlers are worth their weight in gold. I'm been blessed to have a string of good ones the last few years. Richard is no exception! I got alittle banged up on our training run yesterday. Nothing life threatening or permanently disabling, but it has slowed me down. Richard has picked up the slack willingly and happily. I am very grateful!!




And oh yeah, according to Charge, he gives great snuggles!

Dog of the Day - Q

Ch.NorthWapiti's Q
DOB - June 13, 2003
Sire - NorthWapiti's Super Grover
Dam - NorthWapiti's Kluane

Nicknames - Q-Zee, Q-Tip, His Q-ness

Out of the James Bond litter - brother to Jinx.

Finisher of Iditarod, Knik, Don Bowers, Seeley 200 and more.

Q is just the kind of dog this kennel strives to produce. Handsome and hard working, this boy is the real deal.
He does however have a stubborn streak that sometimes has me banging my head against the nearest tree!!




Q is sponsored by Donna Quante of Willow, Alaska.