Happy Saturday morning!! Oh man, I am feeling good today. New toys coming from Nonstop Dogwear and North American Canicross! Great snow conditions today for both Canicross and skijoring. I am taking time to go with a dear friend and assist her with one of her dogs. A very sweet and lovely male greyhound/husky named Bruno. Bruno has had it rough. And I do mean rough. He was a sled dog up in northern Canada with little to no shelter and less kindness. Once he took ill with an eye infection, veterinary services are essentially nonexistent there. Essentially his life had come to an end. However, life and caring people had other plans for Bruno. A local woman reached out to my friend to see if she could help. She said she could and would. Then she did. Bruno came to Newfoundland and was broken right to the soul. Terrified, unwell. Just a poor mess. Proper veterinary care, a new home with three other dogs including his long lost littermate sister (separated for 6 years) and a cat, the removal of one eye and only about 15% vision remaining in his one eye….boy is a fighter. We weren’t sure he even wanted to live when he arrived. But not anymore. Last weekend he had his very first solo skijoring adventure with his owner. It was slow and meandering and damned perfect. For his mealtimes he would eat some quickly and then run away. We would have to call him back and hold the bowl for him, sometimes even scooping the food up in our hands to feed him. It was months before he would even willingly come into the house. We would have to go retrieve him from the backyard. Even longer before he ever got up on the furniture and make no mistake he is absolutely allowed on all furniture. Last week? Well last week made me incredibly happy. I have a special affinity with Bruno due to us both being blind in one eye! So he holds a special place in my heart. But anyway, last week he discovers that he is allowed on the couch with everyone else! And now lives for it! But it doesn’t end there…the next morning he discovers this thing called ‘breakfast in bed’ and now enjoys his meals ON THE COUCH.

Canicross & Labrador huskies Running was a survival skill. For me anyway. Never in a million variations of our world would I have ever thought I would ever be a runner. Here we are. Our world has changed with the pandemic and we too must change and evolve with it. Sometimes that change can be difficult and somewhat destructive. Others, a smooth and pleasant journey. For me, it was very difficult. But after all those changes, trials & tribulations I emerged with a new opportunity, a new career path and it has been and continues to be wonderous. Teaching, coaching and racing canicross has turned into a fantastic experience. I meet people from all over the United States, Canada and throughout Europe. I meet a lot of dogs (which is always a major perk) but one thing I’m learning is that though many students prefer to have one-on-one coaching - they all say the same….the physical activity with their dogs is much easier to both motivate themselves to do and much easier to enjoy the exercise in perfect company. My two are seniors. Closing on 12 years of age. The first two Labrador huskies to achieve any titles in Canicross. They ran their first registered miles in Canicross through North American Canicross (NACC) on October 19 2023 and achieved their 1500 miles (2400 kilometres) Canicross titles during January of 2025. They won ‘Rookies of the year’ in their first race and had a podium standing of second place. I retired them from officially tracking miles of racing but they still run Canicross. Labrador huskies are a truly wonderful breed. Not for everyone of course. Lucy and Cretos are descended from bloodlines of Hopedale, Labrador and are consistent reliable runners. Through the encouragement and teamwork of myself and my dogs we have become the NACC Ambassadors for Newfoundland and wear it proudly as well as Eastern Canada Region Director with ISDRA. Those who have Labrador huskies know just how big their hearts are. How loving the breed can be. Just as content on the couch with you as they are in a harness.