Again it's been way too long since we last
wrote! The winter is going great so far, we have more
mileage on the dogs this season than last. It's been
pretty cold and we have good snow. Like last year we were
on sleds in December which is SO nice. Lincoln & Swift's 4
'Star Wars' kids are growing up. Obi & Qui-Gon are our
picks right now. Toryn is very nice too and so sweet.
Anakin is rather annoying like his mother was at this age, lol!
He's smaller, shorter and fuzzier than his brothers so we hope
he grows 'up' a bit. Wired still rules the puppy pen.
She has to have one of the prettiest faces on a pup and she has
perfect front/rear movement. All the pups will get to
start fun runs next month! Holly will be thrilled to get
back out and do some short runs with them.
Here is a dog by dog update on how how everyone
is doing this season -
NorthWapiti's Skor, SD - Skor is still leading our
"A" team (no big surprise there!). He may be losing his
top speed just a tick but no doubt he will be at the front of
the "A" team for the entire race season. We can never rave
enough about this dog, he is always 100% focused, never has a
off run, is fast and has possibly the toughest feet in the
entire yard. He never needs to be booted and never gets fissures
or has pad problems and is always injury free on our team.
A superb eater too. We really don't consider him to have a
fault or trait we would change. If we could clone a dog in the
kennel it would be him!
NorthWapiti's Paxson
- Paxson has only been here since November but he quickly
showed us he was going to be on our "A" team. He's very
fast, reliable and just does his job very well. A very
quiet dog at hookup who shows no excitement on the truck or at
hookup - until you pull the quick release. One of our
smaller males (but not small) he always puts a lot into every
run. So far he also has those super tough feet like Skor
that we just love! He is also a leader in training, but
just needs more time to mature in a race atmosphere before he
goes into a race in lead. The only thing we would change
about him is make him a better eater.
NorthWapiti's Lincoln At Kelim, SDX, CGC
- If there was one dog who we could pick as a driving force
who always pushes for speed as much as possible it would be this
dog. He never quits, never gets tired and wants to run as
fast and hard as he can for as long as you are out there.
His drive and desire to go faster and ability to lope is really
amazing. To this day we have not met another dog quite as
'speed driven' as he is, MAYBE his son Quest. If we could get
his speed and drive in a slightly 'smarter' dog we would have
the most ideal sleddog. His fault is he can get distracted by
other things on the trail, but he makes up for it with all the
above reasons. He could also be a better eater. We are positive
he will be on our "A" team until he retires.
Kelim-Tsuga's Quest, SD - One would look at
Quest and think he was too stocky and too heavy to be fast - but
for what his body lacks he totally makes up for it with his
mind. His drive and desire is very much like his father,
Lincoln (above). Possibly the fastest main leader in the
kennel right now. Quest has a 'cute' trait where he
runs fast down the trail with his ears perked ahead to see what
is around the next corner to the point where they almost touch.
Our only wish was that Quest had better foot pads, they seem to
crack or split easier than any other dog we have. He's a decent
eater, but not our best.
Kelim's Swift
- The most trail driven dog we have ever owned, almost to
the point of being obnoxious. All Swift sees from the
moment you load her into the truck is the trail. She
screams when you park the truck, screams when you tie her to the
truck, screams when you get ready and screams when you stop on
the trail. She also screams when you are done the run.
She cares about one thing in life and that is running.
She's been a superb leader since a yearling. She's fast
and 110% focused. One of the most ideal dogs all the way
around in our kennel. A great eater too. She's very
much like her father but with a little more 'edge'. We
just think the world of her and are positive she will be the "A"
team leader for years to come. Right now she spends a lot
of time leading the "B" team as she really speeds them up while
Skor & Quest are leading the "A" team... but she really belongs
on the "A" team. :)
Kazlo's Flyin' Flutie, SD, CGC
- Flutie took 3 years to mature, but it was worth the wait.
He always had speed and desire but lacked endurance. So
far this year he is able to keep up fine and is by far having
his best season yet. He's a super mover with a really fast
lope. He looks like it's easy for him to lope along, very
efficient looking. We tried him in lead a few times but he
loses concentration. We keep trying to make him a leader
as he's fast... we have not given up yet. Flutie is a
great eater and all around very nice dog. He will be on
the "A" team the entire season.
Kelim's Super Dodge, SDX, CGC
- Dodge always wants to run, actually we think he would make
a better distance dog than sprint/mid-distance dog but he's not
going anywhere so he has to put up with what we are doing, lol!
He's a great leader, loves to lope and is having a good season
so far. He has tough feet, never been injured in 6 years.
He's also a great eater. He lacks top end speed to make
our "A" team but is a solid dog on our "B" team. He's one
of those dogs that is the same speed at the beginning and end of
a 30 mile run.
Kelim's Mollywood of Tsuga, SD
- Molly looks a lot like her grandmother Holly in build.
Molly is a reliable, dependable leader or team dog who always
does her job and never causes problems. She's a main "B"
team leader. She doesn't have the top end speed of some of
our other dogs but always goes a very consistent speed.
She likes to lope a lot like her father. Molly gets sore
wrists easier than some of our other dogs and needs better
eating habits.
NorthWapiti's Rainy, SD
- This fall Rainy was a real force on the ATV, she's always
focused and does her job. She's an excellent hill dog and
pulls very hard. She got a lot of lead training this fall
and is a very good leader now. She's a good eater and a
real sweet dog. She lacks speed once we move over to sleds
so not sure she will race with us this year. We hope she
can step it up a little more to make the "B" team.
Sibersong-Kelim's Brady Skors
- Probably the smallest male in the yard, but one of the
most handsome! He reminds us very much of both his parents
in looks, build and in harness. Brady has had some stellar
runs and some mediocre ones. We think he needs more time
to mature. He is extremely fast and lopes awesome just
like his dad. This fall he got scared and would back off
and brace on certain surfaces and on downhills. He's not
ready for the "A" team just yet, but we hope he will be next
year. He's a great eater.
Kelim's Golden Snitch, CGC
- Snitch is one of the stars in his litter. He's
already a leader in training and lead in his first race.
We have high hopes for this boy in the future. He has a
wonderful build and attitude and the cutest personality.
He actually reminds us of his dad in type. He will be
alternating on and off the "A" team with his brother Sirius this
season. He's a real pig when it comes to food and always
eats whatever you give him.
Kelim's Sirius Black, CGC
- Sirius is one of the stars in his litter. He made
the "A" team in his first race and is already a leader in
training. Along with Snitch we have high hopes for him in
the future. He will be alternating on and off the "A" team with
his brother Snitch this season. He has a very neat
personality and loves to talk. Also a real pig when it
comes to food. A real vacuum cleaner!
Kelim's Lumos
- The largest dog in our kennel in both height and weight.
He's a extremely powerful dog who loves to run. This fall
he pulled so hard at times we were shocked he hasn't broken a
snap or harness yet! Lumos is plenty fast enough when he
lopes but so far prefers to trot a few miles into the run.
When the rest of the team is loping he slacks off trotting so he
is on the "B" team for now. Another real pig when it comes
to food. He dives in his dish so much he splashes
everything out, a slob!
Kelim's The Seeker, CGC
- Seeker is a good dog, but was the least impressive in his
litter in harness this fall. He loves to run but doesn't
move as nice as his brother so isn't quite as fast at a trot.
He has been doing better and better the more we run on sleds and
will now likely make the "B" team. He LOVES to chase other
teams and hates to be passed. One of the most sweet,
gentle natured dogs we have ever had, a real love. Another
real pig of an eater!
