Summer Vacation |
| During the summer months the dogs and puppies aren't on a regular training schedule. Instead of running them with the sled like we do in the winter, because there is no snow we have other ways of keeping them in shape. We take the dogs on walks a few at a time to exercise them. When we take the puppies we like to take the whole litter together. If the older dogs come we only take 3 or 4. We usually walk just a mile, half way down the driveway and back, or two miles to the Community Center and back. |
Cali, Lightfoot, Jake, Gamma and Tessa |
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The dogs will run back and forth so they go a lot further than we do. We have to watch out for some hazards like moose, porcupines and sometimes even bears. We don't use a leash. We let them run free and they like to stay right with us.
Another way to let them have some summer fun is our cart. Two dogs pull the cart and there are two places for a person to ride. One is a seat that has can reach the brakes and the other spot is standing behind the seat. My sister, Tessa, and I used to have lots of fun with the dogs in the summer using the cart. |
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We usually go farther with the cart than just walking and we have to work harder especially going up the hills. |
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 We also have the dog carousels to exercise the dogs. We have three of them. There is eight spots on each carousel for a dog. The dogs really love running on the carousel so they run with it even if they are loose! My sisters and I like to ride on the houses while it is going around. Sometimes they run very fast and we get dizzy.
We start the little puppies on the carousel also. We have to help a lot with that because it takes a little while for them to figure it out. But once they do, it's amazing how good they are at it! |
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Last summer we put up an exercise wheel in the puppy pen. It's like a big hamster wheel and open on one side so the pups can jump in and out when they want without getting caught in a spoke. That is really fun to watch! The puppies start to get it going when they are about 5 or 6 weeks old. By the time they are too big for the pen(about 3 to 4 months) they can jump in and out while it's going and get it going really fast. They love it!
Alaskan Huskies like and need lots of exercise all year round. that's why they aren't the best choice for pets for some people. But for us, they are the best!
Cali King, age 15 |
Cali, Tessa and Ellen
Summer 1999 |
