Summer is here

Just realized it's been awhile since the last blog. I've been working on a complete overhaul of the website which will have a better link to this blog and to listings of our dogs with family histories and photos. I started a new job last week. Basically I am now the Whitehorse office for Franz Environmental. The plan is to grow the area to be able to open a full office here. By here I mean Whitehorse, not here as where I am which is Fort Nelson, BC. My first day of work I drove here and am now working at the airport 7 days a week, 12 hours a day until the end of July. At least I'm making some money to pay for some dogfood arriving in a few weeks, and banking time off for the winter. I can't wait to go home and see Hugh and the dogs. Delilah had her puppies on the 9th of June. Darkie is the dad. She had two pups - Sampson (a black and white boy who looks identical to Darkie) and Spartacus (a blonde boy who looks identical to Delilah). Although that's difficult to say when their eyes are barely open and they're so fat their bellies drag on the ground when they try to crawl. I can't believe I'm going to miss a whole month of their growing. They'll be almost weaned by the time I get home. The good thing about this new job is that I get to work from home if I ever do get home. Hugh and I were working things out good before I left, each feeding half the kennel morning and night and taking turns poop scooping.

Hugh is at home, holding down the fort. He's been busy painting kennels, getting wood, putting up a perimeter fence and writing his book. He promises it will be close to done by the time I get home.

At the end of the Kobuk race this year, Hugh bought a 2year old from Ken Anderson named Imus. We've changed his name to Amos now though. Ken decided to sell him after Amos got loose and kept running away from Ken for 3 hours. Amos was very scared when I first met him. He would almost bite out of fear when we loaded him in and out of the truck. Anyway, since we got him home, we've been taking him for walks everyday, bringing him in the house and playing with him in the yard. He was really afraid at first but it seems like he's improved a 100%. He likes going for walks with a bunch of loose dogs and just trots along next to me. Not pulling my arm off like every other sled dog on a leash. He plays with the others and sniffs and pees. I'd like to let him loose to play but I don't want to risk that yet. He's still not keen about water but I can pick him up now without him freaking out so loading into the truck should be better. I think he'll be really good if we get him to loosen up a bit. Apparently his siblings are all leaders for Ken and doing really well. After the Kobuk we also got two dogs from Ray Redington Jr. Also two 2 year olds. Both had been in the Iditarod with Ray's puppy team. Sicily and Silas both very friendly and in the few times we've run them have done really well. I'll post some pictures when I get home to take them. All for now,

Tamra