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Fall 2008-10-16
Summer went by as fast as a breeze. At least it felt like that for us, as we finished only part of the jobs we had planned to do. What is not accomplished by October will have to wait until next spring.
Beginning of September the temperature allowed us to start training our dogs. First thing we had to do, was teaching our yearlings to run in harness and in a large team. We always hitch the youngsters next to a veteran dog. It was very satisfying to see that all eight are blessed with smooth gait and the serious instinct of pulling. Both points are very important in our breeding program, next to athletic ability, pleasing temperament and good eating and drinking. We do not mention speed especially, as the team showed it is still plenty there, winning the unlimited class MD at WC in Asarna!
Four yearlings are offspring of Low-Limit. Two already show lead potential and run once a week up front next to an old leader. We are so happy to see that Limit has been able to pass his excellent qualities in movement and drive on to his kids.
Our breeding plans for the summer turned out to become a big disappointment. We were hoping to get once more our old superb leaders Derby and Image pregnant again. Especially the L-litter of Derby is still a class of its own. But for the third year she did not take. Image was diagnosed with a cyst and uterus infection, which lead to an abortion shot.
So in early summer it was left to Lucky-Lemmon to spread the genes of the L´s. Bred to Pokahontas she gave birth to four pups of the Y-litter. One unfortunately died of lung oedema. In the beginning, the jet black piebald spots of the pups made them look like Holstein cows. Being only three to share mom's milk, they gained almost 100 grams a day and for a while looked like fat little pigs.
Over the winter Lotos had finished all points for her SHC breeding permission. So we went ahead to take advantage of her summer heat by using our Hercules semen on her. But the artificial insemination performed at the Veterinary Clinic Hannover to our disappointment showed no results.
Thank heaven, Hexe (Alka-Shan´s Kamloops) was still in heat when the ultra sound check at the clinic showed us the frustrating news. We took this last chance to breed another litter in fall, as we do not need any pups during our winter activities
Hexe was mated with Low-Limit and she whelped the Z-litter on September 24th: 7 strong pups, 2 boys and 5 girls. Hexe is an excellent mother and produces lots of milk, like a cow. Even those seven hungry mouths she feeds without problems and the pups gain every day about 80 grams.
Now we look forward to the next winter and hope for good snow. We plan to run some of the MD races in Sweden and Norway, probably Polardistans again.
Planned Race Schedule
- Lillholmsjö 2009-01-10/11
- Hamra 2009-01-29/31
- Nornäs 2009-02-14/15
- Grimsbu 2009-02-20/21
- Polardistans 2009-03-08/14
Think snow!
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