Sled dogs lead the way

    There was plenty of tail-wagging delight as a Bradwell dog breeder's dog team won a major sled event in Scotland. Dog lover Adrian Nicholls, 44, said the win in his class at the annual Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally was the culmination of almost 15 years of breeding. His sled was pulled by his three huskies and a Canadian Eskimo dog - only one of 26 in the country. Adrian said: “The annual event is held in Aviemore which is in heart of the Cairngorms National Park. It's a 4.3 mile course and is the biggest dog-sled event in Britain.” The two-day event was held on January 20 and 21 with competitors ranging in age from eight to 60.
    More than 200 competed in the various events this year. Adrian said there were many competitions where a greater number of dogs take part. “There are some heats when six, eight or 10 dogs compete. What my partner Dawn and I like about the competitions are they done purely for the sport, the dogs love it and no money changes hands.” To train the dogs they run what Dawn describes as a three wheeled chariot-like sled with wheels in woodland to test the dogs' timing. She said: “There's not an awful lot of snow around in these parts and we certainly couldn't spend two months in the Cairngorms!” The couple have 13 dogs altogether, mostly huskies and also a Doberman. Adrian, a quarry worker and HGV driver says he has always loved dogs. And Dawn, 38, a delivery driver, says she very quickly got used to the idea of being a “doggie-person.” Adrian said: “Ever since I was small I have always had a dog, at first I was given a Alsatian.
    I have had large dogs ever since but it wasn't until 1992 that I started to breed them and it was about six years ago Dawn and I started to enter them for competitions. “We have taken part in a number of dog related shows and competitions all over Norfolk but obviously the Scottish venue is a special event and to have won the competition in our class, that was wonderful news. “There are no bells and whistle or trophies, but it is the prestige of knowing we have won the competition.” Dawn and Adrian have bred some of the dogs since puppies but others have been taken in at an older age, some up to two years. The food bill is quite hefty too and runs to around £40 a week for their dogs' complete food biscuits. But the couple say the dogs are worth every penny, for the pleasure they bring. “The dogs are our kids!” they said - they even go on holiday with them. What is the Siberian Husky? The Siberian Husky is one of the recognised sled dog breeds. The others are the Alaskan Malamute, the Eskimo dog, and the Samoyed. The Siberian Husky was the winter sled dog of the Chukchi people of Siberia.
    They were expected to travel fairly quickly for long distances pulling a moderate load in low temperatures, while not eating their masters out of house and home. They were welcome in the dwellings as playmates for the children and as hot water bottles at night. During the summer they ran loose, hunting and fending for themselves. This lifestyle, which continued unchanged for centuries, produced a breed of dog which retained the pack living and hunting attributes of the wolf, while being unaggressive and affectionate towards people. The Siberian is little changed today and is still capable of fulfilling his original function and could if necessary survive in his historic self-sufficient lifestyle. This is no problem to owners willing to adapt to and tolerate his natural instincts, but would be a liability to those who really want a more “civilised” dog.
Source: Archant Regional