The 6-Pack Update

Well, once again it's been a while since we've posted anything to the blog, so here are some of the most recent photos of the 6-pack. I can now officially call them a 6-pack because since we joined the 2 dog runs together, they play and interact like they haven't been able to before. They all run and play together now (even Aklak). It's great to see them all get along. I can only hope it stays like this.

So, below are a few new pics. I put a bunch together so I could post a lot of them. Just a test to see how it works.

I also captured some video of the 6-pack interacting and Cash talking....

Puppy Dogs

It's been a while since our last post. Time sure does fly in the summer - so much to do, so little time. But, at least I found some time to update the blog with some new puppy/dog photos. The little weeds have grown up so fast. Sure they're still puppies (about 4 1/2 months old), but they are becoming dogs in a big hurry. We have them tied out to eat from their own bowls now - no more running between bowls to chow down. This way we get to see who's eating what, and not to mention it gets them used to being tied up.

It took a lot longer than we thought to get the puppies into their new pen, but they've been in there about 3 weeks now and are loving it! Way more space for all. The only thing that they were lacking was shade, so we solved that problem (see photo below).

Sweet shade (above)

We had a heck of a time getting the gate square enough to swing properly, but we finally did it. Thanks to the advice of my mom, we put a turnbuckle (not sure if that's the proper term) in the center attached to 2 cables. We were able to adjust the buckle to 'lift' the gate so it was square. Sweet!

Chow Time (note puppies tied to the posts, eating from their own bowls)

Rico - not ready for the picture (note floppy ear)

Rico - posing for the camera - note radar ears! (or bat dog - either one works)

Sadie (she has similar ears to Keno, nice big floppy ears)

Cash and Lucky

Cash, Lucky and Sadie

It's been a while since they've seen the camera, so it was a bit difficult taking pictures of them this time. They were all quite curious and didn't want to get to far away (hence the closeups).

It's cool to see how their personalities have developed over the past few months. Cash is confident, curious and fearless. He was the first one to be tied up without any hesitation, and the first to be brought into the house on the lead without any struggle/hesitation. Lucky on the other hand is the opposite of Cash - she was the last one to be comfortable tied up for eating and she was shaking when I brought her into the house on a lead. She's a very sensitive girl. She's doing well, it just took a bit longer for her to adjust to new things. Rico is confident, but not as confident as Cash. He's quite the 'lover' when it comes to getting cuddled (they all are, but he has the most kisses to give). I see him protecting the pen when he hears the wolves or other dogs howl - he sticks out his chest and gives a 'burf', and runs to the edge of the pen and gives another 'burf' - not really a bark, but a 'burf'. Sadie is still the smallest - sometimes the sweetest, and other times the troublemaker. Depends on the moment with her. She's small and adorable. They all love playing fetch with the tennis balls, chewing bones and love it when Keno comes in the pen for a visit.

An Outsiders guide to Yukon construction

That is the "theme" for our entire house renovation project.
As some of you know we have been renovating our home with the help of our good friend Harley Henton (from Dauphin, Manitoba... the "outsider")

We managed to get Harley up here... bribed with beer, two boxes of Icy Waters charr fillets (Thanks Jon and Steve) and Gibsons whiskey for an some simple window exchanges. To his surprise we ended up doing the following:

1. changed 9 of our homes windows none of which were square to begin with...but thanks to Harley they are now!
2. put down road crush for our driveway
3. poured and new concrete pad for our front entry...bye bye old pad with coat hanger imprints and brass dog snaps embedded into it.
4. put up our new 65' x 65' fenced run for our new dogs
5. demolished our chicken pen
6. demolished our eye-sore of an outhouse (so we can build a new one)
8. reinsulated the East wall in our shop
9. installed three ceiling fans
10. installed 5 fluorescent lights in the shop along with 5 extra outlets
11. The he opened the can of worms!!!!!


Our shop attic will forever be know as the can of worms....
As shown in the photos to follow our shop roof was being supported by thin 1 1/2" spruce twigs!! and the rafters/ceiling joists did not go end to end some had been broken other stopped half way and some where just NOT there?!
I am sure if Harley could have gone back an NOT looked in the attic he would have... but to the mans credit he push on.
Thanks to Harley we now have a shop that not only will not freeze but is more like part of the house.

Puppies

Well, it's been a while since we've posted any puppy pics. They are growing like weeds! Stacie came over the other day and helped me haul the puppies over the fence for a free run. The puppies had a great time - they slept well that night. Keno still loves to run and play with them, but sometimes I think she forgets how small they still are! Aklak still doesn't want anything to do with them, but will tolerate them when they are playing in the yard together. Here's a few new photos...

Keno runs circles around the little dudes...

Rico and Keno - Rico is voted to be the most like Keno (in looks)

Scooter Photo

I just wanted to post this photo (taken by StacieZ) beacuse I like it...nothing more. Enjoy.

Puppy Call

Well, Heather finally figured out how to use the video feature on our digital camera. So, here it is..not only our first video, but our first puppy video!!

More Puppy Stuff...

So far we've only shown you picutres of our new puppies (as sweet and cute as they are, we don't want to you think we have forgotten about our first dogs - where the name Akeno Kennels came from). The puppies are growing like weeds. We can see them getting bigger in just the short week we've had them - their legs are getting longer and as they lay in their dog house as one big puppy pile, we can see we'll need to build them a new house in the near future (then they can bunk 2x2, until we finally build one for each).

Aklak - about 8 weeks old

Aklak - what a handsome dog he grew up to be.

Keno - we got her at about 1 year old - she would have been an adorable puppy with those big ears!

Cash

Lucky - wondering if it's edible - the rare moment we see them looking at their food instead of inhaling it!

Rico - he's so handsome! - wait to see the next set of photos - only one ear is standing now.

Psycho Sadie! need I say more?

The puppy pile! The one time in their lives they can all fit in the dog house with ample room to spare. I shall enjoy this time.

The puppies have adjusted to life outside just fine (after only 2 nights in the house, Aklak and Keno's fence was reinforced with chicken wire and they were booted out into the wild). Ok, well not really the wild. They grew up outside and were wondering free when we plucked them from their home. They are just back out to what is normal for them. After all, they are sled dogs! Aklak is definately happy to have his house and kitchen back. Keno still really loves to play with them. When we have free runs outside, Keno is very interactive with them. Aklak is pretty standoffish, but he's also very tolerant and careful when he steps. I know Aklak and Keno will be happier when we build the puppies their own run and they can get theirs back!

The operation is done and it can not be reversed....

Well...
The operation is done and it can not be reversed....or at least the reversal is not covered under the Yukon health plan nor is it 100% successful NOR would I want to go through that again!
I am fine, resting with my bag of frozen peas down there watching movies and playing with the pack...carefully.
I do think I will have a fast recovery as it doesn't feel so bad, no this is not the frozen peas talking. Thanks to Chris and Kirstene for the suck it up talk when we were back home.

Skiing in Collingwood with Warnells

These are a few pics of our ski trip with Chris and Kirstene.

This was the highlight of our last visit to Ontario - Thanks to Chris for showing me the ropes on snowboarding and to Kirstene for organizing it...what a blast!

more puppy photos

These were all taken last night when the puppies arrvied. Both Aklak and Keno have been great with these little ones. Keno is really interacting and playing well with them, while we think Aklak still remembers Puck hanging off his beard and does not want a fourpeat, so he is a little standoffish.