Interview conducted on July 1, 2010
Part 2 of 2
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SLEDDING
How long have you been addicted to mushing?
Brian: In the early 90's I lived in Granite Falls, Washington just at the foot hills of the Cascades. East of town there is a water shed were I could run the dogs after work or on the weekends. One winter a slide had closed the road seven miles from the lake loop so I took my five dogs out late in the day. As the dogs and I moved along, I enjoyed the sound of the river in the valley below and the birds above. By sunset, I had climbed the hill for the lake loop. I stopped to rest the dogs and turning to look back I found a tree covered valley with a blanket of snow lit by a setting sun. "It was awesome". As the sun set the full moon appeared. We did the lake loop and returned to the truck, never turning on the head lamp.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in your sled dogging career?
Winning the SHCA Working/Showing trophy and the Lombard Norris award in the same year.
I think the first time we won the Working Showing Trophy was in 2005. I think Tim Scheall won the Lombard Norris Award that year. Then for the 2006 season we amassed 2932 Working Showing points. Our points were huge so huge and no one else applied. At that time, to be awarded three people needed to apply. To our dismay, it was not awarded.
We sent a letter to the SHCA sledding committee asking for a minimum amount of points to be set for it to be awarded. They changed the rule to three people applying or 500 points for both the Working Showing trophy and the Lombard Norris award.
All the dogs ran from 2005 until today have been Highlander bred dogs. All the sleds since 2000 have been built in our garage and Brian's design. In 2008, it all came together for us and we won the Working Showing trophy and the Lombard Norris award. For us, this is the most significant accomplishment a breeder, exhibitor, working kennel can have.
The Lombard Norris points are awarded for performance by a driver's team they own and run, whereas the Working Showing trophy numbers are affected by the number of times dogs on the team are being shown and run and the driver does not have to own the dogs.
Winning both the Working/Showing trophy and the Lombard Norris award in the same year is a validation of quality with regards to the standard while maintaining the highest level of workability in a breeding program.
In 2009, we again won the Working/Showing trophy and the Lombard Norris award. For the 2010 season we have amassed more points for the Lombard Norris award than the previous season but have not shown much this past year, so did not compete for the Working/Showing trophy.
What is it about dog sledding that makes you love it so much?
Brian: It is not subjective from a judge. What you put in to them is what you get out of them. I had a long time breeder try to minimize the racing Siberian by saying Siberian teams don't have to win races. My reply to this is; Dog shows are a measure of a dog's conformation by a subjective eye. Racing dogs have a non-subjective finish that is measured by a clock that is as cold as the trail you hope to run on. In the end for me the test of a good dog is in harness and how he or she lasts for a race season.
Today, which Siberians are you running?
We have 18-20 dogs in the kennel, five who have aged out of running and three don't run. From the remaining ones the team members are;
"Lucky" and CH Highlander's Turn The Beat Around, SD "Ashley"
- Swing: CH Highlander's Wildflower, SD, "Blossom", CH Highlander's Diamonds R'Furever "Jemma", and
CH Highlander's Bear On Wheels "Schuco"
- Wheel: CH Innisfree Chuck A Luck "Chuck", CH Highlander's Li'L Abner, SD, Highlander's Morris Gudinov, SDX and
Am/Can CH Highlander's Go For Broke, SDX "Broker" run wheel. Both Morris and Broker are within 60 mile of their SDO.
Morris has been an outstanding dog in harness with more than 75 races under his harness and countless training sessions he has never missed a day. We believe Broker is the first dog in breed history to win BOB at the national with an SD degree. We hope he will go on to get his SDO and with global warming he could be the one and only!
What is the feeding routine on the trail?
Brian: We do sprint races so feeding doesn't change much except maybe some meat to help hold the weight on them. Water is the big deal. The water process starts on Friday with three water drops, then on Saturday (race day) Water at 6:00 am then again 1-1/2 to 2 hours before a race heat. We water after a heat, water w/food at 5:00 pm water at 7:00 pm water at 10:00 pm. On Sunday, I might stretch the feeding time out in order to get home and they have buckets in there kennels but you have to remember every time you give them water, in an hour, you have to drop dogs. And all of this is off an F250 pick up truck. That means I have to lift twelve 50lb dogs at least 22 different times. (Once up for water and once up after relief). That's 12 x 50lb x 22 = 13,200lb of dog lifted in a weekend and this is only counting the way up!
What is the longest race you have ever ran?
The Mannsville Quest Dog Derby in 2009 was 13.1 and 10 miles the following day. The officials cut the mileage down the second day because the first day was a slug fest for the teams as they worked through 3 feet of fresh snow that had dropped over Thursday/Friday. Officials did their best to groom it, but it was loose.
The first day I found myself with a poor draw, toward the end of the class. The course was chewed up pretty bad in the first seven miles it had a lot of small steep valleys. I had to push my leaders down the hills while breaking to keep the lines tight hoping all the dogs would reappear out of the abyss of snow.
Sue Bain drew last and passed me after the half way point. I hung with her for quite some time. At times I caught back up to Sue thinking I could pass but she was able to talk her team up and pulled way from me time and time again. It was quite impressive. Sue was really able to move ahead when she passed a slower team and my team locked in on their slower pace. I did get around them and got moving again within a quarter mile of sue. However, one of the dogs had developed an Ice ball so I hooked down and went through all of the feet on the team. The next time I saw Sue was at her truck. Sue had more than 4 minutes on me from the first day.
In sprint racing this is a mountain to climb and only if she were to have a catastrophic failure. ("Wrong Turn") could I over come that type of deficit. On Sunday my strategy was to catch Sue early and hang with her for bragging rights for the fastest heat time of the day. The surface of the course and temps were much more suited for my type of running. My team ran well yet I didn't see Sue until the long straight away where I stopped on the day before for de-icing. I hit my stop watch and knew I had made up one minute of my start time interval.
Thinking I had the fastest heat time for Sunday I was surprised to see Jan Haring had slipped by me by eight seconds for the fastest heat time of the day. This was great for Jan I didn't see it coming because she was so far off the pace from the first day. Jan being over forty minutes off the top three teams I have to think the toughness of the course ate her team up the on the first day.
To get your team back running the second day and running at the placement pace says a lot for Jan. I have to say, there were a lot of good drivers and teams at that race.
What physical attributes do you try and produce in one of your average sled dogs?
Anne: The physical attributes I'm looking for in the average sled dog, is a dog that weighs around 50-55 pounds and a bitch that weighs around 40-45 pounds. I like a dog with a good attitude and one that gets along well with other dogs; I feel this is needed to be able to run well in the team together. We let all of our dogs run loose together in the yard; I will not tolerate dog aggression! You should be able to hook down on the trail and not worry about issues within the team.
When evaluating pups, I look for the ones that are the most athletic, not lazy, and have confidence in themselves. I do not evaluate dogs separately for running or showing. I really like a dog with a tough mental attitude; good feet and a correct Nordic coat are also important physical attributes.
Brian: One of the physical attributes I look for is the rear assembly. A lot of the show rears are off. Yes I said "off" when you hook up a team of ten some show some racing and run them down the trail some of the rumps will be moving up and down while others will be traveling forward smooth as can be. Nine times out of ten it is the show's dog's rump moving excessively up and down. This is because of all the years of the "show ring side gait development". This has to do with pelvic angle and croup being correct for the working Siberian.
Brian, this is an interesting comment. Can you expand on "the show dog's rump is moving excessively up and down" for those that do not sled dogs.
Brian: Show dogs are picked at an early age by side gait and how clean their down and back are and then only one or two from the litter are shown (some litters there are more). Whole sled dog litters are kept for extended evaluation way beyond eight to twelve weeks and it will be in harness and at a run.
A dog that can run efficiently will have a different gait than a dog that has been bred to trot. The best way for me to explain it: is from the show lines a "gaiting show dog" at a run will some times look like a rocking horse from the side when front and back legs are fully extended. Sled dogs at a run will have a flatter top line the rump won't come up forming the rocking horse effect. Best way to find this would be a visual comparison of the two different dogs. This is how I learned it from Mushers.
Describe your vision of the perfect sled dog?
Anne: My vision of the perfect sled dog is that they will fit the Siberian Husky standard and demonstrate their love to run in harness. They will look like an athlete, capable of running competitively against other Siberians. They will be in good weight and in excellent health.
Brian: Highlander's Shiny New Penny, she is 22 inches at the withers and weigh's in at 50 lb and is directly responsible for winning the Lombard Norris award for our kennel.
Let's break out Penny's size and weight. Penny being at the top of the standard in both categories is a ratio. Penny's leg ratio to height fits the standard and length of body to height fits the standard. Amount of bone fits the standard. Because Penny is 22" and 50 pounds, please don't try to distance Penny from the standard by saying she is not MODERATE. MODERATE is not mentioned in the General Appearance and Size, Proportion, Substance sections of our standard.
It's not that "but what makes Penny so important to your team." It what's makes Penny so important to Siberian People. I would love to have people come look at her to get a visual of her fore mentioned attributes and then compare her to dogs in the ring and their own dogs for an individual growth of dog knowledge.
"Penny is straight in the front, but for some reason dogs like that can still do it." Quote from Vince Buoniello after judging her at the Cleveland Specialty. I would have to agree, but is the glass half full or half empty. Penny also needs coat for the show ring and for the show person it would be easy to pick her apart. However, remember "For some reason dogs like that can still do it" and here is a comparison of how she "can still do it"
Here are two races one 43 miles the other 8.4 sprint Joanne Fortier is my base line for the 43 mile race and finished 1st. Justin Fink competed in both races one in which I competed in and finished 2nd behind him.
(Time is in tenths/hundreds)
Tahguamenon County Sled Race January 9th 2010. Distance 43 mile
1st Joanne Fortier time 3:01:14 so to convert into Minutes per mile 180/43= 4.18 minutes per-mile
12th Justin Fink time 3:39:45 so to convert into Minutes per mile 219/43= 5.09 minutes per-mile
Lost Lake Boy Scout Camp Jan 16-17 2010. Distance 8.4 mile
1st Justin Fink Time 35:13 so to convert into Minutes per mile 35/8.4= 4:16 minutes per-mile
2nd Brian Palmer Time 38:13 so to convert into Minutes per mile 38/8.4= 4:52 minutes per-mile
So Justin ran .3571 per mile faster than I did at lost lake so best case at Tahguamenon County Sled Race for me would be 15th place with a time of 3:54:00 that would be 15 out of 19 teams.
You have to realize 2 minutes off the pace at sprint race is huge 53 minutes in a 43 mile distance race is just as huge. The statement "Siberians don't have to win races" is sickening.
Penny is more than her team members running behind her and she definitely brings the level of the team up. Observations of leg length are more than just observations they are a statistical analysis of dogs running in races provided by the Internet.
Now let's look at temperament: Penny's temperament and the temperament in her line is far different than other individual lines of Siberians I have ever had. Penny's success is a three part story, form, fit, and function. The other temperaments are different with regard to willing to please and drive. Her temperament is so different you would have to live with it and love it.
Just as a side note for this question, for me Penny would be it for bitches and Morris would be it for dogs.
Could you describe your current training program?
I train a lot with a quad 90% of the time. I run shorter distances at the start of the year giving them plenty of water and run them long only when there is frost in the ground.
How do you decide which Siberians make the current racing team?
They do it for me "survival of the fittest".
What are your racing strengths and weaknesses?
Racing strengths: having Mick and Penny as leaders. Weaknesses not enough strong leaders for two teams.
What has been your most memorable racing experience?
Austin's mother Celine was in single lead and passed two teams that were in a dog fight, then we had a head on pass with in twenty feet of it only to have a snow fence gate slammed shut right after the head on pass. I squeaked out �Haw�, just in time for her to make a 180 degree turn and immediately passed another team being tied up along side trail to offer help. She did some great things.
When evaluating a litter, is there a difference in what you look for in a racing Siberian vs. a show Siberian? What faults are forgivable in a racing Siberian that would not be in a Siberian that is being shown in the conformation ring?
I look for the same things between the two I would like to see more uniformity with regards to coat in the racing lines but a good dog is s good dog. You don't hear this too often anymore, but there is a saying "The Sleddog Rear" or "that dog has a Sleddog rear" these rears are parallel to slightly cow hocked. (In Sleddog) I think when the pelvic angle increases so does the tendency for a dog to be cow hocked. I look past a slightly cow hocked rear going away by checking it on the side. If it has the right pelvic angle and croup I would forgive the rear to a point.
What is the biggest misconception of a sled dog vs a conformation dog?
Sled dogs are not pretty.
If you could rewrite the Standard, what would you include and what would you delete?
We have a well written standard, read it, believe in it. Then run them and see what they will do.
Have you ever entertained the idea of running the Yukon Quest or the Iditarod?
No, I would have to move to do is successfully.
RAPID FIRE ROUND - PAST OR PRESENT
----One answer only...with one sentence
Best Siberian you have ever bred, in type and structure
Brian: CH Highlander's Tool Time
Anne: CH Highlander's Diamonds R'Furever
Highlander's Morris Gudinov, SDX
Best Siberian, currently being shown
CH Highlander's Diamonds R'Furever
Best Litter ever bred
Nikki x Daisy litter with Tilly, Kia, and Missy
Best Siberian you purchased
Daisy
The Siberian you wish you would have kept
We don't regret where any of our dogs are. We maintain good working
relationships with the folks that have our dogs and don't feel like we have
missed out by placing our dogs in the homes they are in.
Best Bred By Siberian that was sold in the US
CH Highlander's Tool Time
Best Bred By Siberian that was sold internationally
Am/Can/Aus CH Highlander's Made In America
Best moment ever in the ring
Winning the national in 2007
Best moment ever on the trail
Every moment on the trail is the best
Best Human Friend
Anne - Brian
Brian - Anne
Best 4 legged Friend
Austin
Currently, what is left for you to achieve in the Breed?
We are still a far cry from consistently breeding that vision of our "perfect Siberian". We do believe we have achieved some of our objectives; Siberians with good breed type that are functional. We consistently have dogs that are friendly and outgoing, have a good work ethic and they are relatively sound. We now strive to consistently get all of these attributes in one dog.
I believe that's a wrap. Thank you, Brian and Anne!
Am/Can/Aus CH Highlander's Made In America
L to R -
BISS Am/Can CH Highlander's Go For Broke,
SDX, Highlander's Morris Gudinov, SDX
Highlander's Start Me Up, SD,
Highlander's Shiny New Penny, SD
BISS Am/Can CH Highlander's Go For Broke and his get,
CH Bralin's Jack Be Nimble and CH Highlander's Diamonds R'Furever
