Don't look at me!

[Gail P]

I can still see you


Okay fine, I'm ignoring you

[Gail P]

What? Are you still there?

[growler~GateKeeper]

Flash has such a handsome profile - that 3rd pic is framing material So is the regal pose in the fourth

[Wendy.H.]

LOL, I love your photos and perfect captions. He really does look like he's trying to ignore you and just wants you to get lost! He is a very handsome boy.

[rainbow]

Yep....the eyes say it all.

I love the third pic too.

[Gail P]

Here's one without the attitude


and just for old times sake, I love this shot of him from back in the early spring

[14+kitties]

Handsome fella!

[hazelrunpack]

He does look very dignified! What a handsome dude! growler is right--you should have the 3rd shot framed! He's got a great profile

[Mat&Murph]

ROTFL Way too cute and you have the perfect captions on them

[growler~GateKeeper]

He looks great against the snow backdrop too

Do their feet get cold quickly from the snow or have you got boots for the dogs when sledding?

I've had Sibes who of course had no problems in the snow & a DalxLab who needed boots if walking more than 30 mins in snow.

[Gail P]

Originally Posted by growler

He looks great against the snow backdrop too

Do their feet get cold quickly from the snow or have you got boots for the dogs when sledding?

I've had Sibes who of course had no problems in the snow & a DalxLab who needed boots if walking more than 30 mins in snow.

They seem to do well in cold and I've never booted them yet. I'd prefer to avoid booties if at all possible. From what I've seen they can be hard to keep on sometimes plus discussions I've read on a sled dog forum say that the velcro does up right overtop of the dew claw so it can really chafe. Apparently many mushers remove the dew claws just for that reason. Since I'm currently using my training cart and doing roadwork with the dogs I've started giving them a zinc supplement which many mushers swear by to keep the feet strong and tough.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by Gail P

Here's one without the attitude

I still see the attitude

[rainbow]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

I still see the attitude

LOL....so do I.


What brand of zinc supplement are you using?

[growler~GateKeeper]

Originally Posted by Gail P

I'd prefer to avoid booties if at all possible. From what I've seen they can be hard to keep on sometimes

Yup they can be flop flop flop while you're walking down the road & the boot is half off, though there are many different types of boots out now - I sure hope they've improved the staying on & chafing issues. I have seen pics of mushers running their dogs w/boots on but not only would it provide a distraction would be a huge disadvantage of one or more of the dogs lost a boot in the snow. I had that happen w/my DalxLab & he was just walking in it

[Gail P]

Originally Posted by growler

Yup they can be flop flop flop while you're walking down the road & the boot is half off, though there are many different types of boots out now - I sure hope they've improved the staying on & chafing issues. I have seen pics of mushers running their dogs w/boots on but not only would it provide a distraction would be a huge disadvantage of one or more of the dogs lost a boot in the snow. I had that happen w/my DalxLab & he was just walking in it

I've seen some falling off by the time they reach the start line, or coming in to the finish with missing boots, though I was once advised that if I use booties I should tape them at the top so they stick on. I can see them being a huge advantage for the people who are doing mid-distance or distance. While you can carry one or maybe even 2 dogs in the sled bag if necessary you can't carry the whole team if they get sore out on the trail. Some people will keep booties packed along that they have pre-treated with powders, cornstarch etc. inside to cushion sore feet and/or to help stop bleeding if the quicks become exposed. I'm planning to only do the 4-mile sprints though so the most I'm usually running by dogs would be up to about 6 miles at a time. So far I've had good luck keeping their feet in good condition and haven't needed the boots.

I'm not really sure why it is that boots are designed in a way that has the strap going over the dew claws and putting pressure on there. It would seem to me to be easier to redesign boots than to remove dew claws from all your dogs I do so much more with my dogs besides mushing that I wouldn't take them off. They need them when they're making quick tight turns in disc, agility, herding etc. I have heard of some mushers leaving the dews on but bandaging them with a "donut" idea (pad under, around and bandage over the dew claw) so that they won't chafe. I did hear about someone or some company making a taller bootie that is designed for dogs with dew claws, the strap is higher up. Can't remember who makes them but I haven't heard any more about it so I don't know how well the idea works.