I'm new to the mushing world. I got hooked this summer well talking to Hans, from Tanzilla Harness Supply in White Horse, at a dog show here in Calgary.

My wife had owned a Siberian Husky for 10 years when I came into their lives, her name was Simba. I was a farm boy and always had black labs. Well having a dog that would lip you back, have hours of conversations with you and fight you for a spot on the couch was all new to me. It took about an hour to fall in love with Simba and not much longer I was in love with her owner. My wife had Simba trained so well but I heard of all the puppy tails of younger mischievous Siberian. I didn't believe them for a second. Simba was the best dog I had ever had and second, to her mom, the best friend I had. I got 3 great years of running and hang out with her. Rhonda and I decide to get married April 18 2007 in Mexico. We were making plans and life could not have been better until Simba started to get sick. We had to put her down in March of 2007. That was the hardest day of my life. We got though the wedding, which was great and after everything settled down in our lives, we found out just how empty our home was. It was not the same and we were missing our friend.

We had said that we were going to wait for a year to get a new dog but by May the search was on for a puppy. On May long weekend we brought home Celine. A white and silver 5 month old ball of shyness and fun. We got her from Fleet Kennels in Fort Saskatchewan. They named the litter after singer, we were not to found of the name Celine but the 3 and a half hour car ride home of howling had convinced us that her name was appropriate. Rhonda and she started training right away. Obedience, trick classes and agility. We were out at class it seemed 4 nights a week. Our home was a home again.

Then the idea that she needed a brother and I need a dog to train. (I'll get to the mushing part later) So in September we brought home Ikkuma from EbonyShadow Kennel in Water Valley. We spent all summer looking for a Copper Siberian and finally found him. The two dogs quickly bonded and I started classes with Ikkuma. One of Ikkuma Siberian traits is to scream when he gets happy and excited. It is announced from about a block away that we have arrived at classes. What can I say about him other then he’s a boy, who would rather run through a wall then go around it and loves people. He has a kiss for everyone if you want it or not. He’s my buddy and is just plain and simple trouble. And there is a heart that he couldn’t steal.

Okay now how I got involved in mushing. So in August I ran into Hans at a dog show in Calgary. He had lines, harnesses, sleds your name it there. We talked to him on Saturday, attended a seminar he did and I had to go back Sunday to buy my first lines and harness for Celine. I bought just about every book you could find and started training Celine. I lost about 15 pounds in 2 months training with her. Then we got Ikkuma, after 2 months he was in harness trying to run his sister down. The boy grew fast. I think I ordered new harnesses ever 2 weeks for 3 months. We now have about 5 harnesses waiting to train the next pup. I have 4 sets of gang lines, 2 individual and 2 double, a great kick sled and a kick bike plus many other accessories. I'm addicted. I'm an Urban Musher. You get a lot of questions and looks from people when you are running down allies and in Parks at 15 plus km/hour with two of the most gorgeous dogs in the world.

I got the opportunity to go sledding with Russell from Mad Dog and the English Man, sled dog touring company out of Canmore Alberta in January. If I wasn't hooked before then I was after. There is nothing greater a person could do then run 12 dogs out in the mountains with no one around. We were totally at peace and there was not a care in the world.

So I'm hooked. Next on the list is to get out of Calgary and get enough room for more dogs. I still have to convince the wife that this is a good plan and win a lottery to afford this life. It shouldn’t be hard as she loves it as much as me and the money I’ll find it somehow. Our families think we are crazy, which we are. After that the sky is the limit. My goal is to have completed the Quest and Iditarod before 2018 with an all Pure Bred Siberian Husky team.

I've learned that talking to other that are involved in this sport is the best way to learn.

If you want to chat, ask questions or anything else please do so.