Our training for the coming season started on October 5th. Since then we train almost every day. 6 days per week we run the dogs, so every active dog has 3 runs per week. The older ones have fun on very short loops, also 2 - 3 times per week. It's really great to see how the young and wild ones, after only 6 runs, have settled in and start to do a perfet job. Only Kong & Frodo need a bit longer... these 2 powerdogs need still 1 person/dog for handling at the start. They can't stand still... Very nice also to see, that all of the last seasons problem-dogs started perfectly well into the new training. No problems for any of them, they are back on track, thanks to a long summerbreak. And very good to see also our old ones, still having fun in running. For example Aida and Kela, both over 13 years: the best thing in their day-program is now the harnessing and start to the oldie-loop. In both kennels we have only 8 dogs totally, who do not work anymore. This old-age-motivation and the physical ability, what they still have, makes us really proud!
This morning we had the first very thin ice in the water-buckets in the kennel and a bit of frozen ground. When temperatures drop more, the excitement of training will rise even more. Sadly the last week was often very grey, wet and humid. See more training-pictures on our facebook-pages and get at least digitally infected by the energy of our dogs in training. Joining live is still not possible, als borders remain closed here for tourism and also Finnair is cancelling a lot of flights. We do not know, what will be possible in winter, but we take care, that the dogs and we are ready.
Last yard-works were done during the last days. Raking old leaves, piling 50 m3 of firewood, freshing-up an old rowing boat and put it to its new place as decoration. A very last paddling tour was done on Wednesday with 2 guests, at rather cold 7 degrees air temperature. Now we can store away also boats and paddles for wintertime. And of course we still enjoy the golden hours in the evenings, like pictured perfectly well again yesterday evening.
We are curious how long the first bit of snow will need... should not be very long!