Great day at the dry land race.

[Digital_photog ★]

Had a great time yesterday at the Fort Custer dry land sled dog races. I took a few pictures of the 5 dog and 3 dog cart classes. I ran Balto in the one dog bike class.  Since I only decided to run that class on Friday I hadn't pre-entered so had to pay the late fee and start in last place. (Bib number draw was Thursday evening) I told the race marshal that I was just doing it to give Balto the experience and I wasn't going to try passing anyone.  Well, That lasted till about 200 yards into the race. I had already caught up with the team who started a minute ahead of me.  She was having so much trouble that they weren't getting anywhere. Pass number 1.  We were running hard and Balto was taking commands like a pro.   1/2 mile in got to the first attended turn.  Here Balto had to stop long enough to say "hello" to the corner attendant.  Second pass came in this next 1/4 mile straight were a dog was stopped to go to the bathroom.  Another good pass.  Balto took the "haw over" and "on by" commands like a pro. Next attended corner.  Had to stop for another "hello" instead of obeying the  "Gee, on bye"   Good run to the next attended corner, the last before the finish.  Here he stopped to sudden that I couldn't respond quick enough and I had to get off the bike and untangle the lead line from the front wheel. Back on and racing.  Passed another team before the finish with another well executed "haw over, on bye".  Going back past the start shoot Annie, the race marshal asked me how it went.  She already knew what I told her.  "I lied to you.  We made passes."  She laughed and said " I knew just by watching you get ready and at the start that you would be passing."  Instead of finishing last of 13 like I expected we finished mid pack.  3.3 miles and over 5 minutes ahead of the last place team. When I told her how Balto had to stop at every attended corner she said "That is a young dog. They all do that."  Balto and Shila were the 2 youngest dogs running.

 

I ran the 1 mile canicross with Shila.  15 teams in this race.  We started near the back of the mass start.  I was the oldest runner in the race.  Shila the youngest dog.  We passed several but one girl had a male dog who knew he was a male and every time we tried to pass them he would come after Shila and tangle us up.  I couldn't run fast enough to make the pass and get away from them before he got to her. To avoid trouble we had to stay behind her the rest of the race.  Finished 12 out of 15. 

 

I went in expecting 2 last place finishes.  That didn't happen. Puppies showed their inexperience but did very well over all.  They were well behaved in the dog lot and ended up friends with everyone.

SUCCESSFUL day!!

I don't have any pictures of us racing yet but someone should be posting some in the next few days.  This is one from the 5 dog cart class.  Very fast team that did a perfect job and took the commands like the pros that they are.

 

[Digital_photog ★]

Balto really impressed most of them who watched him. Many of their leaders were "trail leaders". Great at following a trail.  Balto is working with 95% accuracy as a "command leader".  Works on voice commands. They were impressed how well he did that at 11 months old.  Many command leaders are 3 to 5 years old before they get that good. Others never become reliable as command leaders but are great at following a trail.

[Digital_photog ★]

Not everyone had a great day. This woman was running the 5 dog cart race.  4 of her beautiful Samoyeds had never raced before.  The dogs had to stop and tangle up for every person they passed.  Passing incoming teams was a major problem.  It took her over an hour to complete the 5 mile course. Dogs have a mind of their own and you can't force them to do what you want.  A little like kids.  LOL

I'm sure @Airehead is glad dogs in agility  competition never act like this. 

She looked worn out and discouraged by the time she finished the course.  It doesn't bother me so much if it only messes me up but I hate it when my dogs mess up someone elses run.

That is why I chose to stay back in my races till I saw that my dogs would not cause problems.

[Johnny Come Lately Name]

This may be the coolest thing I read all day. ?

[Digital_photog ★]

a well trained 3 dog Samoyed team.   Samoyeds are a lot like the malamutes, not real fast but can pull a lot of weight. They won't win big races and you won't see them in any major sled races but they are beautiful dogs.  This man and his wife had a woman with them who was in a wheelchair.  They and a equipment vendor rigged up a hitch for the 3 dogs to her wheelchair.  These dogs were excellent command dogs and took vocal commands very well.  You could see she was having a great time driving them around the parking lot in her wheelchair. I didn't take a picture but it was fun to watch.  The dog owners stayed close to in case she had any problems. @Airehead think how much fun your students could have with a team like that.  While pulling the chair the dogs just walked but she still had a great time.

[Digital_photog ★]

Dog handlers.

These kids were there just to help out were needed as dog handlers.

[Digital_photog ★]

We had nearly 100 entries in the event. 

People came from North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois Ontario and Quebec.  I commented to the ones from Maryland that they came a long way for this event. They said it is one of the nicest, most fun and best run dry land races anywhere and is well worth the trip.  I guess I'm lucky that the best is only 68 miles from home.

 

[smudge ★]

That really looks fun! And those dogs are so very happy!  Glad to hear your dogs did well.

Did you say something to the girl with the male dog with bad manners?? I would have. I understand it's a race, but when you have a participant with bad manners....

I'm looking forward to the pics of you and your dogs. I hope you find some. 

[Digital_photog ★]

42 minutes ago, smudge said:

That really looks fun! And those dogs are so very happy!  Glad to hear your dogs did well.

Did you say something to the girl with the male dog with bad manners?? I would have. I understand it's a race, but when you have a participant with bad manners....

I'm looking forward to the pics of you and your dogs. I hope you find some. 

The only picture I saw was a video on Facebook that was past the finish line.  Back at the start chute before we go back to the dog yard.  Some would put on a show for the video. Shila was tired from the run so I didn't push her to run there. I'm the last one in this video. Yellow long sleeve bike jersey.   This was the middle video of 3 from this class.

https://m.facebook.com/events/128372441198715?view=permalink&id=137918050244154

See if this works for you.

[Digital_photog ★]

That didn't go to the video. Don't know how longjohn makes Facebook video work here.

[Further]

All the dogs look so happy!

 I see a lot of Huskie type dogs at the lake lately, they usually look bored and frustrated, walking 3 miles on a leash is not why these dogs developed. 

You have some lucky dogs, D.P.   

[Digital_photog ★]

Just now, Further said:

All the dogs look so happy!

 I see a lot of Huskie type dogs at the lake lately, they usually look bored and frustrated, walking 3 miles on a leash is not why these dogs developed. 

You have some lucky dogs, D.P.   

They love to run.  I think they are killing me trying to keep up with them. 

[Digital_photog ★]

Huskies love to run.  I think they may kill me with all this evil running.  We need to start more bikejoring.