A Toast Thread

[sassafras]

I suppose I should post some puppy pictures.

Yes, adorable.

Think we've got "tug drive" covered. He came pre-programmed.

In fact, that's pretty much how Maisy drew him out of his shell.

Now he lubs her.

He and Squash are bonding, too, whether it's derping or being noble.

First baby steps towards introducing mushing skills. Step one: Getting out in front (he is naturally inclined to stay close by).

And sometimes, he even sleeps.

Thanks for looking! I'll update as he grows!

 

[Keechak]

A toast to Toast!

May he be a snappy gator for many long years!

 

[Slick]

So cute!

I obviously missed the story. Fill me in! Where did you get him? Have you been planning this for a while, or on a whim? What's the story?

Super excited for you!

 

[DJEtzel]

He is a super cute dude. It's gonna be awesome watching this litter grow up!

I've also never seen a Mal jore and I'm assuming you'll be doing that, so that will be neat to see.

 

[Southpaw]

I love him! So glad Chazzers got pups

 

[sassafras]

He wasn't a whim, but he wasn't planned, either. He was sort of an opportunity grabbed. People I respect with a bitch I admire had a litter, and Toast ended up being the "active pet home" puppy of the litter. A little conversation, a little enabling, a little deep thinking... one thing led to another and now he's here.

 

[thehoundgirl]

He is so cute!

 

[CharlieDog]

I'm seriously considering finishing my cart and teaching the four dogs here to pull it. Possibly with me in it.

How long does one wait before asking a dog to pull, even with three other grown dogs pulling as well?

 

[Raegan]

Awwww, he's the mushbaby! :rofl1:

 

[sassafras]

How long does one wait before asking a dog to pull, even with three other grown dogs pulling as well?

Many mushers start puppies of traditional breeds in harness as young as 6 months, from what I've seen generally in larger teams (6-8 dogs). I did start Squash with Maisy in harness around 6-8 months, but even at our longest distances my dogs are going relatively short distances at relatively slow speeds and aren't as physically challenged as "real" sled dogs would be.

Having said that, I will probably wait longer with Toast as I'm told based on his lines he may take longer to mature physically.

 

[smkie]

You lucky lucky lucky person. A Toast to Toast is right. Great pics too.

 

[CharlieDog]

Many mushers start puppies of traditional breeds in harness as young as 6 months, from what I've seen generally in larger teams (6-8 dogs). I did start Squash with Maisy in harness around 6-8 months, but even at our longest distances my dogs are going relatively short distances at relatively slow speeds and aren't as physically challenged as "real" sled dogs would be.

Having said that, I will probably wait longer with Toast as I'm told based on his lines he may take longer to mature physically.

Ozzy and Enzo have been trained to pull a wagon, and I'm teaching Indy. I was feeling brave the other day and have a half assembled cart in the basement lol, that I was using for gardening a couple years ago, but it's been sitting. Was thinking of taking it to work and welding some on it to make it a mushing cart. So I was considering putting Enzo up front with Ozzy and Indy as the wheel dogs and seeing how that went lol, then adding Harry in between the two at the wheel and Enzo.

 

[sassafras]

My tentative plan is to have Toast and Maisy in lead, then Squash in wheel. It depends on how big he gets, it's not impossible that Maisy could run lead and the boys paired behind her.

I don't know why I'm even thinking about this stuff so far ahead.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Awwww Toast. I've been admiring him on FB but wanted to comment on here too. He's SO freaking adorable. I cannot wait to see what he grows into (but not too fast little dude!). Adorable x10000.

 

[sassafras]

Thanks! Couple more...

Little bear, polar bear.

Maisy playing keepaway... sort of. She lets him catch her so they can tug.

The herd moves across the plains.

Puppy with a mission.

Cutie.

Sweetest baby.

Thanks for looking!

 

[CharlieDog]

God they're adorable at that age. That's how they get you!!! So when they're six months old and fifty pounds of biting machine you laugh it off!!!!


(I'm really considering setting this up. Can you PM me some good links on how to set up harnesses and ganglines?? I've looked at a couple, but I'm really confused by a lot of it. I don't really want them to pull ME in the wagon [although, the three of them could easily pull the combined weight of me and the wagon, which is only around 160 pounds together ] but I'd load the wagon and just have them pull it for exercise while I walk or run behind them)

 

[sassafras]

He is actually a really good puppy (*knock wood*). Don't get me wrong, his flies his snappinois and malinoise flags at times, but he's a much easier puppy that Squash was.

Oh hey, I'm adorable and handsome at the same time.

 

[amberdyan]

He's so cute... I can barely handle it.

 

[LostAndConfused]

i tend to admire Toast pictures from FB, but oh goodness is he adorable!

 

[sassafras]

God they're adorable at that age. That's how they get you!!! So when they're six months old and fifty pounds of biting machine you laugh it off!!!!


(I'm really considering setting this up. Can you PM me some good links on how to set up harnesses and ganglines?? I've looked at a couple, but I'm really confused by a lot of it. I don't really want them to pull ME in the wagon [although, the three of them could easily pull the combined weight of me and the wagon, which is only around 160 pounds together ] but I'd load the wagon and just have them pull it for exercise while I walk or run behind them)

I'm so sorry I forgot to respond to this. I found Alpine Outfitter's "getting started" page on their website extremely helpful for explaining the setups for all the lines especially with multiple dogs.

The thing about pulling a wagon or cart is that you're not braking, so you need a special setup to prevent the wagon/cart's momentum from running into the dogs when they slow and stop. Usually it's listed as carting equipment but you can use it for a wagon, too, I would think.