Starfire Huskies

Pic update from new parents.

2008-07-14T02:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some update photos kindly sent by their new parents, the pups are just over 10 weeks old now.

Marilyn and her playmate Manson

Moog

and Storm.

2008-07-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

nearly 2 weeks ago I booked Kai in to get his hip score done and while we where there he had his rear dew claw removed.
I am still waiting for the results of the hip score and his wound from the dew claw removal has healed really nicely.
I have also enquired about some ring craft classes in our area and found one in the next town so I'm trying to do some more obedience training with Kai to see if he will be able to be around so many dogs.
We have three dogs, the two Sibes I post about on here and a collie cross who is a 13 yrs old male, called Barney.
For the first year of Kai`s life all dogs got on well but once Kai turned 1 there has been some scuffles between the two males.
We are all trying hard to stop this. I have mistakenly separated the dogs one male in the house one outside and taking this in turns. I have now realised that they need to be together a lot more so we have brought muzzles for them both and bring them both in for a short time. I hope this will socialize them to each other more and the aggression will ease up.
If anyone out there has any advice I would appreciate it.

Learning curve.

2008-07-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

I have signed up to some Siberian Husky forums and have had my eyes opened.
In the last couple of months I have learnt a lot.
I have learnt that Keela was far too young to have had pups.
I have learnt that both the dogs should have been hip and eye scored before even contemplating breeding them.
I have learnt that having the responsibility of pups is very hard work.
I have learnt that it is hard to see those pups leave home no matter how hard you vetted the people that gave them homes. I think I will always worry about them.
I have learnt that we will not be doing it again ANY time soon.
I admire my dogs, they have changed my life and I owe them the best I can give.

Sad news make you think

2008-07-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a dear friend of our was found dead in h
is flat. He had died from a heart attack at 40 :(
After letting it sink in for a few hours I found myself questioning my life.
Someones sad death has way of showing us all that we are all here just the once.
A couple of days ago I took the risk of emailing some mushing schools and seeing if I can volunteer in their kennels in exchange for loadings and food.
So any how the day our friend died I got a reply to say thanks for sending the details they had asked for, cv, photo, short biography, etc.
And that they are having a board meeting next week to decide and will let me know asap.
From the emails it all sounded very positive.
But.... I was having doubts leaving my family for up to a month to follow an invaluable experience.
and feeling a bit selfish. Well after yesterdays events I have decided that I will follow this up. I have other irons in the fire if the first one I applied to doesn't need me.
I would like to run my own teams of dogs, there is no better way to get hands on experience.
I think i`m trying to say is that our friends death has been a wake up call to "live".
God Bless and look after you Carl.
R.I.P

New beginnings

2008-07-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well the sad day came for the last of the pups to go on the 29th of June.
Keela had not been out very far at all since becoming pregnant, so on the 6th of July we decided to go to our usual scooting ground.
It was rare occasion as my eldest son now 20, is home for the summer holiday from Uni.
We got the two younger kids to ride the bikes to the park and myself my OH and my eldest strapped on the scooter to the car and drove there. The dogs were more than excited!
I had recently brought the "walkydog" attachment for the dogs and while one was pulling the scooter the other ran along side my bike.
I must say I'm impressed with the walkydog1 it seems very strong and keeps your dogs at a good distance from the bike. I have not ridden a bike for more than about 6 years.
It is a good work out for all.
Something that annoyed me that people where not impressed when I asked them not to let their dogs near mine.
1. we where trying to train them, are they bloody blind??
2. why the hell is their dog running around with no bloody lead??
Some stupid women asked me "why?" when i stated she shouldn't let her dog near ours!!
I felt like saying something out of turn!!
MY DOGS DOES NOT LIKE LITTLE BARK BARKS HE THINKS HE SHOULD EAT IT! THAT`S WHY YOU DOZY COW!!!
anyway besides that it was a good hour out, not long but enough to get the heart beating!
My daughter decided to take a strop and refuse the ride my bike back home, so I and my youngest made our way back. OMG!! i need to be riding that bike more often!!
Starting tomorrow I will make a daily effort to ride with one of the dogs, it will be great for all of us :)

pups on film

2008-05-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

a short film of the puppies

2008-05-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Well the pups are growing well.
Took them too the vets last Friday are they are all doing great.
Had have had their 1st worming treatment, gave them dicky tummies for a day but all seems well now.
Poor Keela`s looking a bit bedraggled at the moment it seems that no matter how much food we give her she not putting on weight. Hopefully now the pups are weaning she`ll gain some weight back.
Training on paper has began and doesn`t seem to be too hard so far, hope this continues!!
Anyway, now introducing the pups!!

OMG!! We have PUPPEIS!!!

2008-05-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

When Keela came into her next heat cycle I took her to the vets and asked his opinion on allowing my dogs to couple up and mate. He assured me she was fit and healthy and saw no reason why not. The vet was really helpful and said" go on go ahead!"
But I had to promise to let them know when the pups where born, he was really excited!!
So mating commenced, hard to keep them away from each other Kai was going nuts!!!
Many check ups and a scan later (very nervous owner/mum) on the evening of 2nd of May the little pups arrived!!! over that night and the early hours of the next morning 4 more little uns arrived!
Keela has so far taken to motherhood wonderfully and being as good natured as she is allowed us a little stroke of the babes :)

2007-08-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

been playing with logo designs, quite like this one.

2007-08-11T03:27:00.000-07:00

Full speed ahead!!

The training is coming on great, Kai is proving himself as the lead dog while Keela is quite happy to trot along. The dogs are really getting the hang of pulling the scooter, although they do tend to scrap with each other on the way. I think it`s sign of Kai wanting to lead and Keela just being a little too close.

We have been training separately for a few minutes before hitching them both to the scooter.

Scooter Adventure!!

2007-08-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

The dogs where very excited, as usaual, their first time on the gangline pulling the scooter was fun!! for everyone including the dogs!!

Keela and Kai got tangled alot, so we separated them and let the pull on the own. This seemed to work better. Mind you they looked pretty tired, pretty quickly so we kept the session short.

I can see we are going to need a van to put the scooter and all the gear in including us and the dogs, so thats my next goal ;)

Loggerheads Country Park

2007-08-04T10:18:00.001-07:00

On Thursday we took the dogs for a run in the country park in North Wales

As usual we get loads of comments on how lovely our dogs are, although strangely I find a lot of people seem scared of them, which is weird, do huskies look scary??

While we where walking them we realised that they would benefit from being able to run.
Being Huskies they don`t just walk by your side, tugging you along for miles is more their style!
So when I got home I ordered a dog scooter from www.snowpawstore.co.uk
and the gang lines and harnesses`s. The order came quickly and we took the dogs out to the local park as soon I finished work.

Family Album

2007-08-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Keela

and her parents

Family Addtion

2007-08-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

Then along came our little boy, Kai!!
We located a breeder in Yorkshire who had some red and white pups for sale and as we we where looking for a suitable male for Keela we drove down to meet the breeder and pick this little fella.

Dawg on Heat?

2007-08-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

My bitch is having her first heat! not too pleasant as she`s leaving drops on the floor!! so we went to the local pet store and brought her some little doggie knickers and disposable pads, amazing what you can buy your dogs!!

Our first meeting!!

2007-08-04T07:30:00.001-07:00

I had made a decision to buy a pup from a breeder in Cambridge and although I didn`t physically see the puppy until I picked her up I received tons of photos and updates.

I had found a little pup born on then 24th September 2006 and made the 4 hour train journey down to Cambridge where I meet the breeder and left with my girl.

I made my ay down South on November 22nd. She was eight weeks old and just gorgeous and had the biggest blue eyes.
On the journey back home she gained lots of attention and couldn`t stop watching her, the trip back just flew by, as I couldn`t wait to show the rest of the family.

It all started with 1!!

2007-08-04T06:58:00.001-07:00

The story of my addiction started when I was very young.
I had always been mesmerized by the beauty and grace of Siberian Huskies and one day I had the opportunity to become a proud mum.
I had recently given up my job and was on a career break whilst going to college part time.
One day my mind started to wonder off in the distance and remembered my dream of owning a Sibe , so I began to educate my self on the breed, after much book reading and late nights on the computer researching, I starting to look into breeders and found one who informed me well of the joys and the downside of being a husky owner.