Dog Events and Activities

Friday, 24 September 2010 11:40

2011 Race to the Sky has been won

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After a warm afternoon, Curt Perano of New Zealand finished Race to the Sky 350 Mile Race with 11 strong dogs at 3:27 p.m. this afternoon US mountain time. The following three teams will be in later this afternoon, the next team probably at around 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. The trail is slow and warm temperatures have slowed things down a bit. The Xtra Dog reporter in Montana, Pam Beckstrom, will have a full report in the next 24 hours, but we thought you might want the result hot off the press.

Curt and his wife Fleur moved with their five Alaskan Malamutes in 2007 to the United States from New Zealand, where they have run dogs recreationally since 1998. Since late 2007 they have trained with and handled for Jamie Nelson in Togo, Minnesota. Over the last three years they have built their own team and now have a kennel of 37, consisting of six Malamutes and the others are Alaskan Huskies

Marshalling the race are Jack and Pam Beckstrom, who make the fantastic Zima harnesses that Xtra Dog are proud to sell. Their company has been making these harnesses for more than 50 years and in fact invented the x-back. Jack has competed in the race himself and has come second twice. He was one of the founders of the race and was chairman for 11 years. Jack has contributed a huge amount to the race and to the whole Montana dog sledding scene.

To find out more about the race, please click the read more for the latest from the race. To view photos please click here and view images on our Facebook page.

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Wednesday, 16 December 2009 19:44

The Race to the Sky is happening this month

The Race to the Sky is one of America's most important dog sled races and takes place each year in Montana.

Pam Beckstrom has been a volunteer for 25 years, including being a board member and Race Secretary for 23 years. She wrote a book on the history of The Race to the Sky (all proceeds went back to Race to the Sky), wrote the Educational Curriculum for the race and started the host family programme.

Pam is involved with the musher in the schools programme and getting the educational trunk programme set up. She is also co-owner, with husband Jack (also a musher), of Adanac Sleds and Equipment (which will shortly be distributed in the UK by Spiffy Dog), their mushing supply business and has helped plan, organise, and race marshall other races. They are both integrally involved in seeing the sport grow and learn.

Pam tells Waggin' Tails a bit about the history of the race.

About 66 years ago, you could hear the howling of dogs and the sounds of a military camp just outside Helena, Montana, during World War II. Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center was organised in November 1943 and was a haven for enlisted dog mushers and dogs. It was perfect for training with snowy winters and mountainous terrain, and dog mushing was spoken in the evening to knit the soldiers together.

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Tuesday, 15 December 2009 19:44

Debbie Collins Dog Sleds from Norway to Sweden

Debbie with one of the trustee huskies

Debbie Collins travelled from Norway to Sweden on a husky sled, learning the skills of the musher, and after her amazing 250km adventure she told Waggin' Tails about the trip.

My Arctic challenge began in Gappo, Norway, and ended in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, covering over 250km in just six days. Our days were 11 or 12 hours long, standing behind the sled for seven or more hours at a time. We only rested when we climbed into our sleeping bags in the evening. I ‘clung’ onto my sled up the steep Norwegian hills where my poor dogs sometimes stopped and looked back at me as much as to say 'get off and help push' and I had to do just that.

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Monday, 02 November 2009 11:22

Waggin' Tails Ezine

Here at Xtra Dog we know that managing and training dogs is not always easy and a helping hand can often be appreciated. Xtra Dog, along with Paws 'n' Learn, have launched their own on-line magazine Waggin' Tails. This will be updated regularly with news, information, dog training tips, etc., and will include articles by Marie Miller co-author of 100 Ways to Train the Perfect Dog and Karen Napthine from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Check back regularly to read new articles and keep up to date with what's going on at Xtra Dog and Paws 'n' Learn.

Click here to read Waggin' Tails

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