Burgess Pet Care

It’s Steph here giving you the latest update of the adventures (and mainly mischief ) Codi has been involved in this week. It’s been a busy week for Codi with plenty of exercise (and we all know what plenty of exercise means a hungry dog) and what better way to get a husky exercising? Dog scootering! And it’s not only fun for the Codi, but for the rider too!

Codi is bursting with energy and he loves to run and pull, and dog scootering is the perfect sport for him. Codi is harnessed onto the scooter, this makes him work harder than with just a standard lead, this gives him more freedom which is always good to see, and it’s great that we don’t have to control him by tugging on the lead.

How we Introduced Codi to Scootering

The first time we introduced the scooter to Codi was after he was 1 and when he was in his prime. Firstly it was important for us as the owners to get used to how the scooter rides and to generally get a feel for it so we were confident enough to ride. Then we began with the small steps to get Codi used to it, we then started with small trips and we found that someone running beside him really encourage him to get running. He loved his first lesson!

Now, It takes no encouragement at all, he’s like PRO

So as a special treat we decided to take Codi to the Trans Pennine Trail this weekend, the long and straight paths are a perfect location. We fitted his harness (after 5 minutes of an over excited jumping Codi, we managed to calm him down) we were ready to go, and after a few backwards looks from Codi as if to say “Come on! What are we waiting for” my dad let out a great big “Hike” and in a split second he was off bombing down the path like a lightning bolt. It was fantastic to see him run so fast, and so free. Huskies love working in teams but seeing Codi pulling my dad along really did show the bond between a man and his dog.

When Codi got home he tucked into a nice bowl of his new favourite dog food, Burgess Supadog -Scottish Salmon and Rice and accompanied by a big bowl of water, I can safely say he was one tired Dog!

The night race was first and we were off like a rocket in freezing conditions. We kept up a good pace, executing the turns well and flying up and down the hills until Shanta took a left turn too sharply and became tangled in the rig.    We stopped for about half a minute to sort this out and were then heading towards the finish line where the trail has been resurfaced in places.  The team slowed down with every section of new surface and picked up speed with the old surface, but we were now within sight of the finish line  and for the last half mile we sped along.

Sunday morning’s race was over the same trail but in daylight and again we flew off the start line.  After the first right hand turn Shanta again slowed her pace and every so often picked it up again.   It becomes obvious that she didn’t like the resurfaced patches of the trail so we ran at her pace. As we near the finish line Rusky and Shanta decided they wanted to go and say hello to a marshall but with a quick word from me we carried on and crossed the finish line.  Upon inspection of the trail the newly surfaced area has been covered with  the size of stones you would find on a railway line.  We finished in sixth place in each race (well done the team) and were still the fastest all rescue four dog team.

Our next race is on the 29 January at Longmoor, over a six mile trail.

Burges Pet Care sponsor the Polaris Sled Dog Team and provide them with all their feeding needs throughout the year. All the dogs are fed on Supadog Active apart from Skye, who enjoys Supadog Light.

Here, the dog’s owner Mike, has told us about Shanta – the newest addition to his team of beautiful Husky dogs.

Shanta’s story or how to become a Sled Dog on The Polaris Sled Dog Team…

I received a phone call from Bristol RSPCA Cats and Dogs Home, asking me if I could come and asses a Husky for them that had been with them for about three months, as I am on there help list for Husky’s. So me and my wife Alison accompanied by Skye and Diesel went to visit Shanta.

Alison and my self were shown in to the meet and great room were we meet Shanta and we fell in love with her straight away. We were told how some people had been trying to adopted her but they weren’t following the guide from the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain that I gave to the RSPCA when I went on there help list.

We talked a bit more and then we asked if we could go for a walk with all three, we introduced them all at the van in the car park and this went well so with Skye and Diesel with me Alison with Shanta off we went. Half a hour later we came back with all three walking next to each other as if they had been together from the start.

We did four more walks with them all and on Friday the 13th of August we fully adopted Shanta.

She is number three in the pack and is Diesels best friend around the house, they play games together and get into trouble together. Shanta has started training with Skye and Diesel in harness ready for the 2010-2011 Sled Dog Racing season, we have covered about 4 miles at present but we shall really start to build up the mileage from this weekend on. Shanta loves her food, she is on the Supadog Active  and has treats of the lite food.

Polaris Sled Dog Team thank all at Burgess for their suport.

Mike, Skye, Diesel and Shanta.