Working DogsRacing Siberian HuskyGenetics and Dog Breeding
Go to
WDW HOME

The Racing Siberian Husky Online
Summer 2003 Web Feature Edition
Published by Heritage North Press & WorkingDogWeb



Click link to order Dogs of the Iditarod
ORDER
Dogs of
the Iditarod

or browse more
Sled Dog Books




Click link to order The Essential Siberian Husky
ORDER
The Essential
Siberian Husky

or shop at our
BookShelf
or at our

SledDog Books

 



Click link to order The Siberian Husky
ORDER
The Siberian
Husky

 



Click the link to order this Siberian Husky book
ORDER
New Owner's
Guide to the
Siberian Husky

 


ani-goldstarry.gif (6376 bytes)
EXPLORE:
The Racing Siberian Husky
Online Newsletter

 


Click link to order Iditarod Memories
ORDER
star-red.gif (874 bytes)  New Book star-red.gif (874 bytes)
Iditarod Memories

 


logo-Iditarod.gif (2236 bytes)
EXPLORE
the Iditarod
and Siberians
in the Iditarod

 



Siberian2.gif (6293 bytes)
ORDER
The Siberian
Husky: An
Owner's Guide

 



logo-sibernet-l.jpg (5822 bytes)
JOIN
Sibernet-L
or
Sleddog-L
E-mail Lists

 



Click link to order Winterdance
ORDER
Winterdance

 



Click link to order Northern Breeds
ORDER
Northern
Breeds

 



SiberianHuskyCalendar2004a.jpg (6872 bytes)
ORDER
Siberian Huskies
2004 Calendar

 


dog-sheltie.gif (1264 bytes)
DogProducts
ENTER HERE

DogShops
ENTER HERE

FunMall
ENTER HERE

 


logo-a-buynow2.gif (3936 bytes)
CLICK
for top dog books
at our

BookShelf

 


GreatRaceNome.jpg (7762 bytes)
ORDER
The Great Race to
Nome: An Alaskan
Adventure Across
the Curriculum

 



Click link below to order Iditarod Fact Book
ORDER
Iditarod

Fact Book

 


Preparing for 2004 Iditarod

Interview:  Musher Karen Ramstead
on breeding, training, racing Siberians

When we learn that  Karen Ramstead had entered the 2004 Iditarod with her North Wapiti Siberian Huskies, we thought that a musher planning to run the Last Great Race a fourth time ought to be featured in The Racing Siberian Husky Online. So we asked if she would do an interview by email. She agreed.  Here are her thoughts about breeding, training and running the Iditarod with Siberians -- and her goal for the 2004 race.

WDW:  Why did you choose the Siberian Husky breed? Were you thinking specifically of getting a working sled dog?

Karen: My husband bribed me to move to northern Alberta with the offer of a purebred dog. I researched many different northern breeds and ended up settling on a Siberian because the books I had been reading said they were the best purebred breed for racing. I never really intended on running dogs though until friends took me for my first sled ride. I immediately knew I had found a passion.

WDW:  What two or three dogs do you consider the foundation stock for your North Wapiti kennel, and who were the breeders?

Karen: Primarly our first Siberian Husky - Meomar's Miss Liberty, bred by Jackie and Chris Marshall of Invermere, BC. I was so lucky to stumble upon Marshall's right off the bat. If I started all over again today, knowing what I know now, I'd still pick Libby for a foundation bitch. She had a fabulous pedigree (out of Meomar's Quick Lynx - sired by Judy Roger's Northome's Sayak of Spindrift), was as sound as any Siberian I've ever met, and was very genetically healthy.

KR-Libby.jpg (7102 bytes)
Meomar's Miss Liberty

She was also a incredible teacher - although I swear I caught her rolling her eyes at me a time or two as I stumbled along learning about the breed. She died this past winter at 15 1/2.

Another significant dog in our kennel has been BIS, BISS Ch. Chuchinka's Shawn Boy SD, bred and owned by Bob and Loreen Bridges of Prince George, BC.

Shawn was such an incredible mover, he made the hair on your arms stand up when he gaited around a show ring.

Shawn was also a hard driving leader for Bob. He was probably one of the most true dual purpose dogs I've ever met.

KR-Shawn.jpg (77641 bytes)
BIS, BISS Ch. Chuchinka's
Shawn Boy SD

He was 1/2 show lines (sired by BIS, BISS Ch. Shisaido's Satinkist Swordsman) and 1/2 old Canadian working lines (out of Chelyuskin's Mila SD - who goes back to Chris Camping's lines). He passed on last summer at close to 15.

WDW:  What stimulated your interest in racing your Siberians, and what were your early racing experiences like?

Karen: The Marshalls were into racing and that was my early encouragement to give it a try. Our first races, in around 1990/1991, were sprint races in the Grande Prairie, Alberta, area. We were the only purebred team in the area, but we were never too far off the pace of the other teams. Then in 1994, Bob Bridges encouraged me to try a 54-mile race in Quesnel, BC. It was not a purebred class and we actually won, which really got us hooked on the longer stuff. In 1996 we ran the Race the Sky in Montana and finished 4th. That race locked up my love of distance racing.

"In 1996 we ran the Race the Sky in Montana
and finished 4th. That race locked up
my love of distance racing."

WDW: What are the breed’s strengths and weaknesses as racing sled dogs?

Karen: Well, I think the breed's biggest weakness is their intelligence. :) I work alot with Jamie Nelson in Minnesota and get to compare the learning curve and performance levels of her Alaskans to my Siberians. The Alaskans don't seem to have to have things 'explained' to them like the Siberians do. You show them what you want and they will apply themselves 110% to the task. The Siberians tend to need to be shown why it is to their advantage to do this and want to always know what is in it for them.

As for strengths - I think the breed is much hardier and more 'durable' then many Alaskan lines. Not enough Siberian distance teams try to use these things to their advantage though. Take booties for example, I rountinely use about 2/3 less booties on the trail that most teams do. Saving that 30 - 45 minutes on the trail or in a checkpoint can be an advantage - yet most Siberian mushers bootie like the Alaskan drivers do, not wanting to trust the tough feet of their dogs.

WDW:  What other dog sports and activities are you involved in with your Siberians?

Karen: Since we started focusing on the Iditarod, I've narrowed down the activities I do with my dogs due to lack of time. Showing in the conformation ring is really the only other thing we are seriously involved in now, although I do still do school and senior home visits with the dogs.   In the past, I've also been involved in obedience competition and even a little tracking! I'd LOVE to find the time to give agility a try!

WDW:  As you developed your North Wapiti Siberians, did you introduce new breeding stock, and if so which new dogs do you consider most influential to your breeding program and why?

Karen: We have continued to focus on the Meomar and Chuchinka lines, but have brought in other lines that appeared back in those pedigrees, like Anadyr, to complement that. We have aquired a nice base of Anadyr (10 full line Anadyr dogs) over the last 4 years that we feel very much complement our foundation lines.

WDW:  Why did you decide to compete in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, one of the most demanding sled dog races in the world?

Karen: What musher doesn't dream of Iditarod??? :)   I guess we just kept doing longer and longer races and the longer they were, the more I enjoyed them, so Iditarod was an obvious thing to focus on.  My passion is unassisted, long distance races. Handled races are okay, but what I like best is being solely responsible for my team.

WDW: What did you learn about your Siberians as working and racing dogs during the Iditarod races you entered?

Karen: Gosh, I learned so much about them both preparing for and running the Race, it would take pages to explain it all. It has been a great educational process that is still ongoing!  The biggest thing I learned though was a phenomanal respect for the breed. I always loved Siberians, but my love, respect and passion for the breed was bumped up to a new level after I travelled across Alaska with them. They are an amazing breed.

WDW: What did you learn about yourself as a dog trainer and musher?

Karen:  Again, I don't think I could begin to explain all I learned about me (and I've probably learned a few things about myself that I don't wish to share!). I have an Iditarod poster that hangs outside my bathroom, it says "Iditarod - More then a race, a discovery of self". That has been what the race has been for me.






On a fall training run in Minnesota. Leaders are Iditarod finishers, NorthWapiti's Draco and NorthWapiti's Camilla.

KR-Training-MN-02.jpg (125400 bytes)

WDW: What are the key elements of your training program for racing?

Karen: My training program is based on Jamie Nelson's techniques (similar to what Jamie and Ann Stead teach in their 'Mushing Boot Camps"). In 1999 after I met Jamie while I was up in Alaska doing my qualifiers, she offered to help me prepare for my 2000 Iditarod.

We sat down and worked out a 3-year plan for my team. It involved taking things completely back to basics, so we could, eventually, move them farther forward. In other words, I took 2 steps backwards so we could, eventually, go 3 steps forward. I continue to work with her and we focus alot on discipline and developing a solid and enduring work ethic in the dogs through lots of long, tough, hard miles.

"...we focus a lot on discipline and developing a solid
and enduring work ethic in the dogs
through lots of long, tough, hard miles."

WDW: What advice would you give others considering racing Siberians in the Iditarod?

Karen: Remember that your dogs are not Alaskans. I think too many mushers train and run this breed as if they were Alaskan Huskies. I think the key to sucess with a Siberian team is remember that they are just that - a Siberian team - and working around their weaknesses and strengths.

WDW: You are planning to run the Iditarod again in 2004. What are your goals for your team and yourself?

KR-Grover.jpg (124218 bytes)
NorthWapiti's Super Grover,
Karen's main leader

Karen:   Well, this is the first time I've put this goal out in print -- but what the heck.... 

IF training goes well -- and the dogs continue to show the performances that they were last season -- we are aiming to break the Siberian record for Iditarod, which is 12 days, 0 hours, and 8 minutes, set by Shawn Sidelinger with a Norris team in 1998.

WDW: Many people have given up on the idea of the dual-purpose Siberian Husky, one that can compete on the trail and in the show ring. You appear to be committed to a multi-purpose Siberian, racing dog, obedience dog, show dog. Would you talk about your breeding philosophy?

Karen: I find it very interesting that whenever we go to a show, folks say 'Oh, that's Ramsteads. They have working dogs' - and when we go to a race, folks say 'Oh, that's Ramsteads. They have show dogs'.

That's were I want to be - dogs that aren't extreme, but that embody 'moderation' - which is such a key concept in the standard for our breed. I think moderate dogs can do well in both the show and running arenas. Although I will agree that it is harder to show a 'moderate' dog right now then it is to race a 'moderate' dog.

It is probably also important to mention that we consider ourselves to be a 'racing kennel that shows' - not a 'show kennel that races'. Every dog in our yard is expected to work in harness and not doing so is a ticket out of here. If a dog doesn't have the conformation to show or doesn't like showing, that is no skin off my nose. If we have individual dogs that 'drift' away from our ideal, they drift towards a 'working animal' then a 'show dog'.

As for obedience dogs - I feel the 'working temperment' that most race dogs have is ideal for competitive obedience. Right now the #1 Obedience Siberian in the US is 'Ringo' out of Karen Yeargain's kennel (owned and shown by Liz Synder); Karen has a great sprint team of Siberians.  Contending to be the #1 obedience Siberian in Canada for 2003 is NorthWapiti's Tucoldturain Hugi CDX (owned and shown by Jackie Wepruk). It takes patience and creativity to get the most out of these dogs, but when you give it that, the results are big.

Hugi, who has a Best in Show winning mother and an Iditarod finishing Dad, has 3 All Breed High in Trial wins and one score of 198 1/2 out of 200. (Can you tell I'm proud of this boy and his owner?)

WDW: Is there anything else you would like to share with RSH readers?

Karen: I am inspired and awed by this breed. Their history, the spirit, their abilities are incredible. There will never be another breed for me.

I also continue to be disappointed by the separation in the breed by the 'working' and 'show' folks. I will continue my efforts to bridge this gap, regardless of how hard some people hack away at the 'supports' for this 'bridge'.

******************************************

(c) 2003 WorkingDogWeb.com

star-red.gif (874 bytes) Links to learn more about Karen and her Siberians:

Web site home page:  North Wapiti Siberian Huskies and Meet the Dogs

"Our Iditarods" Info:  2000, 2001, 2003 & 2004 races

Training & Racing Diary for Iditarod 2003

Entry for August 12, 2002: Karen reports on fall race training well underway and on Smiley finishing his Canadian Championship, making him the second Canadian Champion in breed history to finish Iditarod (the first was our 'Mannie' - Ch. Kainai's Anchorman).   Both Mannie and Smiley are first string leaders.

Meet Mannie: Ch. Kainai's Anchorman

Meet Smiley:   Ch. NorthWapiti's Guy Smiley &  More on Smiley

20 Siberians that went to Alaska for Iditarod 2003: descriptions, links

Karen Ramstead 2003 Musher Profile:  Official Iditarod Site

Karen Ramstead 2003 Musher Profile:   Cabela's Site

First Canadian Woman to Conquer the Iditarod:  Western Wheel feature

"Never Been Better"  Anchorage Daily News 2001 story

Meet the Musher: Karen Ramstead:   Sled Dog Association of Scotland


line-trq-short.gif (1991 bytes)


star-red.gif (874 bytes) Return to RSH Online Home Page star-red.gif (874 bytes)


line-trq-short.gif (1991 bytes)

logo-www.gif (2786 bytes)
WebSearch

 


DogProducts
Enter here

 

Thanks
for visiting.
Please come back soon!


To explore Working
DogWeb's 1,000+ links, choose a category:

GUIDES: Activities & Sports | Breeds | Clubs | Facts & Figures
Health & Nutrition | News & Chat | Kids & Dogs | Puppies | Training
BookSearch | Web Search | Meet the Editors
Best Dog Free Stuff star-red.gif (874 bytes) Cool Canine Sites
star-red.gif (874 bytes) Comic Canine Cartoons
Iditarod Info | Siberian Husky World | Sleddog Info
Arctic & Siberia Books | Wolf & Canid Books | Cool Canine Sites
WDW BookReviews | WDW HOME | WDW BookShelf


WorkingDogWeb serves all who value active and working dogs.
Disclaimer:
The editors are not responsible for the content
of pages outside the Working
DogWeb site.
Meet the editors

© Copyright 1997 - 2013 by R&BP
Updated 3/20/2013
.

star-red.gif (881 bytes) [ Top ] star-red.gif (881 bytes)

A to Z Index   |    Bookstore     |   Contact Us   |   Search   |   Shops   |   WDW Home