> I know how heavy-hearted
> you must feel at the end of the career of a dog like Lance.<

Hi All,

We didn't know Lance and his litter sister Sabre well as puppies; but we
did, however, get to know them in their prime. They were raised as pets and
came here as 4 year olds, when their owners divorced. Interestingly they
joined two other littermates here: Ootah, who was running lead on our
Chinook team, and Denali, who was our mother's dog but visited here often to
run wheel when we needed the extra "dogpower". Lance's first winter here
(96/97) was quiet and with good snow; and I was able to hook a team every
day and get some miles on them before the real work of maple sugar season
hit in late February/early March. It was in these training runs with Lance
and Sabre in wheel that they earned their nickname "The Dufuses", as they
both acted like neither of them had a brain in their head. But when the sap
started running and the sled started getting heavier, some switch tripped in
their heads, and suddenly they were "on"! By the third loaded trip they were
pros at working both sides of the gangline to keep the sled in the middle of
the trail; and I suddenly learned the value of good wheelers. I took a tip
from a mid-distance racer and put them in freight style harnesses, and also
made a special gangline section with longer tugs and necklines, doing
everything possible to make their job easier; and we were rewarded by having
them as farm partners for 6 years, retiring them to a life of leisure at 10
years old. Sabre passed away from cancer a year later, and we were worried
for Lance...they had never lived apart, and Lance (the quiet, steady one)
had always lived in the shadow of his boisterous, playful sister...we tried
several new buddies for him in his kennel run, but instead Lance was much
happier just being on his own...at last! And Susan brought him into the
house this past winter where he got attention from a "harem" of house girls;
so I hope, and think, his retirement agreed with him.

I guess in the long run what I'll remember most about Lance was his gentle
nature...all he ever wanted was to please us, and all he ever needed in
return was an occasional "good boy" and a pat on the head. You sure can't
find that kind of loyalty or companionship in a snow machine!

Jack Murray
Tullibardine Farm
New Sharon, ME
www.chinooktradingpost.com