A good sled dog is BORN and this is where it all begins. The bloodlines or genetic prowess of a good sled dog is key in starting off on a great foot, or pad so to speak.

      Adirondack Kennel is a firm believer in year round activity and mental stimulation and socialization (with both humans AND other dogs), such as free playing around in a 3 acre fenced in yard, going for rides to the grocery store or ANYwhere, loose running or following an ATV or cyclist and coming inside and staying the night at least 2 days out of the Month. The idea is not to necessarily keep the dog 100% fit, but rather in a relaxed, happy mode while at the same time staying 'limber' and keeping some muscle tone; more or less staying 'active'. This time frame usually runs from early Spring to September 1st, afterwhich the conditioning picks up once again, getting ready for that all important race season ( Late December through end of March).

    One of the most important things we do this time of the year as well, is to start young dogs, pups or new dogs to the kennel 'system' which includes NO fighting, come when called, loose dropping without taking off and ignoring minor distractions. This is a HUGE factor when traveling to and from races, where dropping at least 1/2 to 3/4 of the truck (20 to 24 dogs) is a MUST and also saves my spine. We wait 5 to 10 minutes then just call dogs' names and they jump back into the truck. Also, after heats of running this loose dropping is a very valuable tool in assessing for lameness or tenderness, etc. as well as a mental relaxation and to 'loosen' up a bit. Dropping dogs more often (with a couple long drops at the race)  rather than taking just a few long drops seems to be more beneficial to the dog.

     Around the middle of September, harness training begins on an ATV or bicycle training for leaders or pups. Based on the weather conditions of course, determines the extent of the 'workout'.  We start very slow and easy and quite short the first several hookups, remembering that  veteran adults require a bit less general conditioning early on than very young still growing dogs.  The dirt work or dryland work is done with the ATV and as soon as the snow flies or sticks, we start right in on the sled; remembering that the dogs will not be fully 'ready' for the type of running the snow brings so we stay slow and easy the first couple weeks on snow, with a couple short 1 mile bursts thrown in at the end or middle of a run but nothing extreme.

    Also, this time of the year a HUGE emphasis is put on passing!! This is one of the 'biggies' for Adirondack Kennel, the ability of a team to blast by other teams, obstacles, etc. on the trail with ease and not get distracted. Both passing from behind and being passed are key things to learn if you want to be on top of your game. Well before Gee-haw or command training; great passing is a MUST for your leaders. The full dog team needs to work as a UNIT when passing, this is where you can save valuable seconds while racing.

    Conditioning can be broken down into 3 'phases' if you will: Basic Endurance/muscle building, Anaerobic work or interval training and speed work.  All three phases  do interwind to some extent so as not to get overly 'stuck' in one phase when all three are needed in competition and to rise to the top. Too often sled dog teams put too much emphasis on ONE phase of training or the other and get 'stuck' in that  mode. For instance if one puts too much emphasis on speed all the time, especially early on, injury can occur, the classic 'burn out' and the dog never really learns or desires to pull in less than perfect conditions.  If the muscle is not properly allowed to build slowly and rest, the injury is no doubt in the works, or at a minimum full potential will never be known.

      More emphasis is put in the speedwork category with shorter mileages when training a limited class Sprint team than say for instance an Unlimited Class Sprint team where higher-speed pacing and maintenance is cruical.