A New Newcomer

Hello,

I'm Manta. I've only been here for three nights. A little amazes me that where mom and siblings are gone. Here are just two big boys and another one in my size a quiet guy (mirror image). One of these boys is an old and wise, feel to be nice guy and the other is a more lively and really interested in me. Yesterday, we with the younger one, which is called to Mörri competed on who shout louder.

Just arrived to a new home

When Teddy and Mörri are now able to train more them together, I came to the conclusion that Nalles' age begins to press and it's getting hopelessly slow to Mörri. That is how my tough of taking the third dog left. At first it was supposed to take another male.

Beginning of the year there was once again to the familiar kennel coming this time as made conclution by their parents on the background of the energy levels of a working dog puppies. Then I still had not thought of this litter is the third or fourth , therefore, on taking , but I happened to open my mouth without thinking about more, and then this wheel began to rotate.

These puppies really were different than that litter, which Morri is: who is constantly on the move in the direction to which the range and took comfort in one's own mind assert themselves . In this litter sex ratio was four males and three females. All males were already booked and no one wanted to change the accumulators to the female dog, so I consider myself the choice of a bitch. We came to the conclusion that the heats are likely to be only twice a year. Nalle has not so far howled for the females, which have been known to have to step into, on correct days and if Mörri will be like his father, it will not be the case worse over the heat of the stress .

The whole back: in left Nalle, in right Mörri and in the middle Manta.

Newcomer

Hi there!

I'm Mörri. They told me that I'm gonna be company and the pulling partner to Nalle. It was hard to believe at first, when it just growled at me for a tiny things. When I tried to get up against the net between our kennels, it growled seriously and I looked better admit his superiority.

Just arrived to new home

After only a stubbornly continued getting on, Nalle warmed up to the idea of I'm there. I haven't received inspire Nalle to play with me, but luckily the hostess and host have played with me and used on some place to playing with other puppies. 

Hello again! 

About a month after the passing of Otso Sami proposed purchase of a new puppy. In fact, I wonder if that is the appropriate time yet, or are we already sorrowed enough and do we have enough energy train new arrival. I knew that in Tulisalon kennel were born Malamute puppies on July of parents who had the outer shapes as well as temperament  that pleasant for myself . Maybe it was destines decision in case where the mom of this litter had received some medication, which was almost to take her life and I asked from  one of my friends whether her dog, which I knew having this just one month older puppies, to becoming as reserve mom. Anyway, this malamute mother survived, as well as the entire litter. 

I asked if there would be free puppy of this litter and that we could be given a loving action home one of the boys (in the litter was only 2 males and 6 females). Since started selection process. Every time, when I was visiting to see these puppies, they mostly just slept. :-D This Mörri charmed me in an open and positive temperament: going on all the time with a wagging tail and spent a number of times on his back begging for cuddles. 

Mörri on the left, and his brother on the right.

When 9/20/ I brought Mörri home, Nalle didn't really seemed enjoy the newcomer. Sure, it still missed Otso and after all it had time to get used to once again to be the only target of the attention. The next day I visited  with Nalle in the machine bear test and I guessed right that it would had me eaten to the bear. We progressed in Nalle's terms and 10/7/ ventured to both dogs in the forest. It went really well. 

The first trip to the forest.

Mörri grew and developed on speed, and the growth curve went almost the same way as Nalle's. Then I thought about that Mörri will grow as big as Nalle, but now, it seems that he will stay to close to the ideal height. Just before Christmas, went the slippery road conditions and our yard was like a skating rink. Mörri injured his leg and it limped week cycle for almost three weeks and before the Christmas holiday, we went the same orthopedic vet in Oulu, as the Nalle on the spring. Reason of the limp he did not come up with any other explanation for the growth pain and week cure of pain-killer treatment ordered. Pain-killers helped, and it is no longer limping after that. 

At the turn of the year it was snowing so much that we were able to resume the sledge training. When Mörri reached age of 5 months we started learn to pull in harness. The directions needs more practice, but really a promising young sled dog it is. 

10/03/2014

The Year Of Unlucky Continues...

Hello,

Exceptionally, I do not let any dog to dictate this text... Nalle has healed well and was started in harness with it gently on August. The first the real power training was in November.

Otso became ill in early summer. A week before the midsummer I was going to go with the dogs to Muonio. I went to jog by bike with dogs of the week on Friday morning and I was wondering when Otso cough and  time after coughing coughed and spit up white mucus foam. During the day, I was driving to Muonio. On Saturday, it was asymptomatic, when he was resting. On Sunday, I used the dogs for a walk and Otso cough and spit up it mucus foam again. On Sunday night it threw up his food and on Monday morning too, and it also went to diarrhea. Well, on Monday I called  to along the provinces of veterinarians, all of them seemed to be busy with other veterinarians being in the summer holidays, and after all, in addition to the first day of the week. I had already in the during phone call  rumba consider fasting- rice regimen, which finally Kolari vet. recommended .

Otso and Nalle in Muonio

This regimen seemed to be effective and the food began to stay inside until Midsummer, when I was given the first time dry food after fasting and rice. Midsummer, one of the acquaintance, veterinarian who wrote Otso ten-day cure of antibiotics to throat infection. Antibiotics seemed to help and facilitate the dog's presence, but two days after the end of the cure coughing and vomiting began again.

Otso chills Midsummer 2013.

Now, I booked it up to Oulu the Veterinarian Clinic Otus, where we got to 10.7. Shockingly it´s weight had dropped from 45 kilos to 37 kilos. It was X-rayed and the images revealed that it has a dilation of the esophagus and as a result, including pneumonia. The figure showed that the esophagus constrictor muscles was paralysed with the exception of a little snippet before the stomach and the esophagus at the lowest point was clear dilatation. In addition, in a blood sample were taken, which were excluded from the thyroid gland , autoimmune diseases, myopathies, myasthenia gravis and systemic lupus erythematosus alias SLE. We were told also: "It may come with or without cause, in which case the prognosis is poor." For guidance, we were able to feed the dog several times a day in small doses in an upright position: the front feet of the podium and cups high, so that gravity would transport the food to the stomach. In addition, it had a cure of antibiotics to treat pneumonia.

A few days later doctor who had examined Otso from Otus called, asked the Otsos' welfare and told all the blood counts have been normal, so dilation was the cause of the so-called idiopathic or unknown. We booked the control time to the next week. Otso clearly liven up because of medicine cure worked. On the control visit Otso was cheerful himself, so loud that the doctor almost did not get a chance to talk. And the weight had risen one kilo. :-D It was X-rayed again, and the images showed that the lungs were cleansed , but of antibiotics was continued.

We lived day at a time... Sometimes there were good days and really bad: Some day the food and drink were inside, and then other days it cough and all came out. He was very hungry, but I was not able to enter food as much as it needed, and not only the fat as one of a meal has been a considerable help. It was made small walks, because it was neat and tidy dog and didn´t done needs to his kennel. While walking it had to put to sit a number of times, so that the coughing and spit up eased. Similarly, after feeding it had to put to stand on the podium and rub the throat and chest from top to bottom, because it seemed to facilitate its presence.

The beginning of August (Thursday, 1^st of August) was started cortisone regimen and alongside the new ab-regimen. This was now the hottest summer time. Otso was panting really heavy and loudly, and I knew our common time to decline. On 3^th of August it was Saturday morning I used it again a little walking before going to work. It was the first a hazy morning. The suns' rays were reflected dimly through the mist. In my head started to play a song "Niin kaunis on maa" ("So beautiful is the land") and I knew that there are no more many days left. The next night went to the control and operation eased the dog's presence by sitting and throat massaging. When it then at some point in the morning the night it did´t get properly inhalation cough or gagging was thus between what would have been choking I did it with a heavy final decision, and I said to Sami: "This is no longer worth living of Otso. We release him today blissful sleigh career today."

On Saturday, the food tasted it still, but on Sunday morning, it did not even come to beg...

Rest in peace my dear. You will always be in our memories.

Nalle's Birthday

Today Nalle and his brothers has 5^th years birthday. Congratulations! So the time goes by. Nalle has maintained his wonderfully peaceful temperament throughout life. In addition, since there is no hereditary diseases emerged. Only all types of dermatologic conditions has been, hotspots, and yeast, and now possibly mange. Too bad that Nalle not blessed with offspring even if has had two dates.

Nalle 5-years.

Spring and hair loss

Hello again after a long time!

In February frosts were tight for many days. There was a low of -35 degrees. Arctic enough for us the Arctic sled dogs. Now, in March was then already milder. Pulling trips are being made, individually and as a pack, with the sled and skiers.

By mid February, the host and hostess took us to the vet. Reputedly the hairs on our backs were left by patches and patches of Otso were itched. I got it itched slightly, but I didn't scratched as so much as Otso. More detail in telling the hostess ...

Kivalo ski trip 13/03/2011

Now it has once again took a while from the previous entry. After the show in Kajaani the boys took the rematch, which resulted in Otso bit a hole to the ear of Nalle and Nalle bit Otso to the left front leg, which it limped one day.

I went to pick up the morning paper, both dogs on a leash with me. Way to the mailbox went OK, but when return Otso began to growl, which I forbid. After a while same happened again as well as a ban for a third time, which I forbid again. When we got back to the yard Otso growled the fourth time, and Nalle will no longer be tolerated and it attacked into the Otso.

Otso growled behind of my back between my legs and Nalle attacked from the front, so I got three holes of canine tooth, as well as bruising; inner side of left knee, the same leg inner thigh, as well as the right pelvis. At first I tried to get separated them on my own, but without avail, so I moved length of the leach away from of the dogs. In this case, the dogs stopped biting each other. I saw it at the same time that I held in my hand just Otso's leach and Nalle's leash had come off at some point from the collar.

I called Otso with me at the risk of Nalle will come with us. Otso came with me and surprisingly Nalle leaved on " the fighting arena". When I had taken Otso into the back yard, I went to pick up Nalle and I took it inside. Inside I checked the Nalle's injuries and cleaned them and then I took Otso, to the utility room and checked the injuries and cleaned the wounds. Finally, until I took care of my own wounds. :-)

Then I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered what the problem is? I came to the conclusion that the slight problem of leadership it need to be. I was thinking alternatives to problem dog trainers up to either one or both of the dogs being given away. But the tough of the giving away felt as I will just put a problem to circulation. Later in the day, when the dogs had calmed down, I let them together to the yard. After a while peeing, they were again as the same pack. In the evening, I talked to a friend of mine with the incident and toughs and she advised to look at The Dog Whisperer TV-program.

Here, we do not see the LIV TV-channel, but fortunately I can look The Dog Whisperer from computer. After watching a few episodes, I stated that Cesar Millan's methods would be suitable for me as well, and could at least try. Cesar's "recipe" for natural dog's life are: 1) exercise 2) discipline, and 3) tenderness - just in that order. I found that we had neglected exercise because of cold weather and the least was one of the reasons for this situation. The second reason was my reaction to (afterwards recollected): 1st growl -> I tensioned leashes in my hands, 2nd growl -> I tensioned leashes more and amped, 3th growl -> I tensioned leashes even more, and my whole body was tense and I was angry and frustrated. That was it all when Nalle came to the conclusion that there is no head of the hostess, and she will not get the discipline to Otso, so he need to take control to him self.

The first I had to begin to learn to relax, so that I can be relaxed and calm self-confident. At the same time I started to take care of that, I always went first through the door and the dog running loose on the leash either next to or behind me. In addition, I began to give tender to the dogs until they were calm.

I memorised also that last year I had read a book of dogs body language and learn ed how to use my body as a communication, especially for dogs to prevent that dog from entering one of the rooms and began to re-learn how to use your body and commanding. It took only a week or two, when I noted the dogs and especially Otso had changed obedient. The hardest part has been learning how to live in the moment and try to forget, or at least not to think about those fights.

To learning and thinking about these issues one evening, I noticed that it is just so weird that I use in my current job very peaceful and self-confident energy with cows, but then I do not with my own dogs. I shun Millan's term energy - the entity might be a better word. Now I've learned how to be calm self-confident leader of my dogs and found that Millan theory and methods are more effective.

Well this script came about as the extra mile... About those hairless patches... Trough one month I tried to take cure with Betadine. They were of round bald patches where the edges were a brownish deposits. When these hairless areas continued to spread and began to appear on the shoulders to Otso, I contacted a vet who has specialized in skin diseases, the diagnosis was caused by the yeast. To both dogs were given yeast medication on two days of week through three weeks. In addition to local treatment of patches were sprayed with Dermacool-spray. On the same day I went to the vet I browsed the Alaskan malamute forum, where they had been warning about mange. Well, of course, then I was hoping the best that it is the only yeast, but I feared the worst, mange. In addition, the weather began getting warmer causing the normal hair loss.

Week yeast discontinuation of therapy Otso's itching decreased and the hair started to grow back already, but Nalle bite his tail beam to be bloodshot. Well, I took care of it with Dermacool- and Cothivet-spray a week because of the only Dermacool didn't prevent Nalle from licking his tail. In less than a week after the treatment he began to look better already, but then Nalle bit the same place of his tail to blood again, so I contacted again to the vet which I mentioned to that specialized in dermatology and told the situation. Then I asked, could it be mange and told what I have read on. The doctor told me sensitively to write mange medicine cure because mange not always even itch. Well, now it's Friday the first doses of Stronghold on neck of both and next doses on two and four weeks. In addition, Nalle has a ten day antibiotic therapy, and locally to tail Dermacool- and Cothivet-sprays.

On this year, we passed Utajärvi heavy load pulling test because of the matters I've told. Those medications prevented to participate because of the anti-doping rules and I had other plans for that day. And so that the weekend wouldn't have been pretty boring, the boys craved for a change again, Nätti (Pretty)-lady's heat on neighbour. :-)

"You cannot always win - not even every times"

Hello!
Today we were in Kajaani Dog Show. Our female master prepared us by washing Otso on Sunday 2nd of January and me on Monday 3rd of January. On Wednesday she cut our nails. Our other master take care of our fysics condition and let us pull him by skies or by sledge. I let our female master tell abou how we succeed.

The last day of the previous year "boys" got a fight when I took them out from their pens. The reason of that fight was empty frosting bags which were covering the elk bones that we gave them before we left to shopping. Because of that fight Otso got a wound from Nalles canine teeth on his left lip which become swollen. Even now they haven't any rancor with each other but layed side by side on our backyard on the same evening.

During the week we practised about showing teeths and bites. With Nalle it went by routine but Otso growled when his left lip was lifted. On Thursday and even on Saturday he was quiet when practised at home again. On the Show place Sami told me when he was looked Otsos' teeth before going to ring it had growled him again so I tried and it didn't let a noise to me.

In the ring it then growled to judge when he lifted its' lips. The judge stopped immediatelly and went back off and came back to try to look Otsos mounth and it growled again. This the judge construed to aggression and disqualified. Of course I understand that it wasn't agreed behavior, but my construe is that Otso tried to warn to hurt him. Nalle got in working class excellent and got a win of class so something good too. ;-)

Waiting For Christmas

Hello!

The Winter came to stay immediatelly. Here has fallen snow commendably and it has been many days frost even below -20°C. We have pulled the sledge already few times too. On the end of November I had date with pretty Cindy in Pajala in Sweden.

Queen-Anne aka Cindy

Nalle had date in Sweden and the puppies may born on January to Pajala. Because of that both "boys" got eye examination on 8.11. with healthy papers. Cindy has fine temperament and she has typical body structure of Alaskan Malamute. She got my heart too. :-)