The Iceclimb Alaskan Malamute dog's adventures, news & lifestyle blog...

What the Iceclimb Alaskan Malamutes from North Lincolnshire, U.K have achieved so far :

Alpine -  01/10/13 -  Sledog Indian Ocean To Iceclimb (ai)  WLD, WTD, WTDA, WPD, WWPD AWPD’B  

                                KC Puppy Foundation, Bronze and Silver obedience       
                                Eyes clear 16/11/16   Hips 3:4,   AMPN & CD Clear: Non carriers

Kebne - 16/09/17-    RBJISS   Iceclimb Ascent  RCC, WTD, WLD, WLDA, WWPD

                                                KC Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver, Gold obedience & Cruft's qualified for life
                                               AMPN & CD Clear: Non carriers.  Non carrier of the long coat gene.  Eyes Clear July 19
Glacier - 16/09/17-  Iceclimb On Point   WTD, WTDA

                                                KC Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver, Gold obedience & Cruft's qualified 2018 & 2019
                                                AMPN & CD Clear: Non carriers.  Non carrier of the long coat gene.  Eyes Clear July 19

Bisko - 07/04/23 -    Juneau's Bright Future for Iceclimb

                                              Bronze good citizen & Cruft's qualified 2025

                                               Eyes clear 21/04/24  Hips 3:3, Elbows 0:0 AMPN, PCD & CD Clear: Non carriers.  Non carrier of long coat gene.

And sadly missed....

Denali - 09/08/11 - Sledog Dream Seeker To Iceclimb (ai)  WTD, WPD, WTDA, AWPD’B WLD WLDA

                                                KC Puppy Foundation, Bronze and Silver obedience

Mackenzie - 10/10/07 - RBPISS RBPIS  Sledog Forest Mist  WLD, WTD, WWPD, WPD, WTDA, AWPD’B, Stud bk #
                                             Advanced legs completed in Packing & Lead position.  

                                             Eyes clear 16/11/16,   Hips 3:2,    AMPN & CD Clear: Non carriers.  Non carrier of the long coat gene.
Kinley - 11/03/02 -  'Hyteton Apollokinley ' ......  Much loved, never listened to me and no letters, but has summit over 50 

                                             UK mountains with me, plenty of CH show placings 2002-06 .

The great thing is, we love the great outdoors and have camped and climbed mountains since 1993. Having dogs that can keep up with me is priceless and they might as well bag a qualification for their efforts.  (* = currently applied for after completing requirements)

What have we been up to?

August 2024 - We thought Bisko would be in season for the Bournemouth Champ show but entered anyway just incase and lucky for us she came in 3 weeks early allowing us a little trip down in the heat for a van camp and day showing.  Bisko gains a 1st in her first Junior Bitch class and Kebne a respectable 4th in Limit dog class. It was hot for van camping but had the fans on full during the day with all doors open and the girls didn't break a sweat.  We can happily van camp in the Summer now without worrying about them over heating. 

July 2024 - We have lots of University work to finish and a little girl in season for a few weeks. 

June 2024 - We attend the Three Counties Champ show with Kebne and Bisko.  Both kids get 1st in their classes and looked amazing in the challenges under breed specialist Nicola Singh.  They had such fun.  Later in the day we attend the AMCUK Champ show at the same venue and gain 3rd in Junior bitch with Bisko and VHC with Kebne. 

May 2024 - We go to Birmingham champ show, The 'National'.  Kebne gains 2nd in Limit dog and Bisko 3rd in Junior bitch.  Great day inbetween our last paper to submit.  Now we can enjoy the Summer as the dogs slow down.  Roll on October when Bisko will try

April 2024 - Alpine and Bisko are tested in obedience.  Alpine gains her Silver and Bisko her Bronze.  Now Bisko can enter another class ar dog shows to match the other dogs.  We train weekly over 50 miles away and so I was so happy to find an assessor to get these passed.  Now for the nest level.  Bisko tries weight pull.  She loves the day.  Kebne pulls a PB of 1900lb, Super happy.  Results of the weight pull championship are in.  BOTH dogs are on the podium.  Alpine 2nd in her class and Kebne 3rd.  PERFECT weight pull season.

March 2024   - Crufts has been attended.. We decided last minute to have a day out with Bisko and Kebne.   Kebne gains a 2nd in Limit Dog Malamute and 1st in Good Citizen Malamute and Bisko at 11 months gains 2nd in Puppy Bitch.  So nice to be placed under breed specialist Jo Sugden.  Bisko has qualified for Crufts 2025 on this placing, Keb's qualifed for life already.  We have only 3 more shows this year as we tidy up year 4 at Uni and get all Biskos health tests done. 

Alpine had a go at weight pull with Kebne as company, and she only completes her title by pulling 1100lb!! Whoop.  Our first female to ever get this title AND she completes the full set of four basic American titles, even though she is 10.5 years old.  She can play on the team and still dabble in weight pull as much as she likes, as she would hate to be left out. 

Feb 2024 - We have had a rough 3 months.  Trying to study, juggle self employment and workload.  But worsely, watch our old boy start to decline no matter what we do.  An emergency trip to ICU with Denali scared us.  We continued to try everything and managed to get him home with the intention of trying to make the weekend.  He did.  He managed to stay until the following Friday and then I knew what we had to do.  I could not cure him and the things that may help, and that was with a very low possibility did not work.  He woke up on the Friday with my 4.50 am alarm and he had not eaten any of the 6 different food choices I had left for him.  He managed some chicken a few hours later, but that came back up with the tablets.  Nothing could no longer get to his stomach.  No dog would ever be suffering here, even though he was obsessed with puppies season and that got him out of bed with ease every 30 minutes! He still was flirting and ear washing so he had some energy reserves dispite a couple of kilograms weight loss.  The vets and nurses thanked us for being so strong and calling it at exactly the right time.  With dignity and at the start of where it can go painfully wrong for him fast. We will be keeping out of the way now for some months to cope with our grief that has been surfacing since December, knowing its arrival was imminent.  We will try for Crufts but I am not making any decisions yet. 

Jan 2024 - Fab day at Manchester Champ show and the Malamute show.  A crisp frozen start and 4 hour journey taking all 5 dogs created some energy when we arrived.  Poor thing thought they had a day out sledding!  I took 3 dogs in which is a first for us.  2 is normally enough but the other were happy in the van with frequent walks and toilet breaks.  Kebne wins limit dog of 5 males.  Bisko wins puppy bitch of 2 dogs.  Made up with those results.  Alpine enters the malamute show and wins her 10+ year veteran bitch class! Thats all 3 in the challenge today.  Kebne wins his working male class and then wins BEST working dog.  Which means the most to us.  Bisko gains 2nd puppy bitch.  Was worth the 10pm arrival home!

Dec 2023  - Confirmation from the USA that we granted WLDA on Kebne and Denali, number 11 and 12 in the WORLD, Glacier gets her WTDA.  A dream for her and myself.

Oct 2023   - Alpine celebrates her 10th Birthday.  Bisko turns 6 months and ready to show after achieving her BRONZE adult obedience award.  Her first championship show gains her a 1st and qualifies for Crufts 2024 at South Wales in MPB.  Kebne pulls his last leg of his weight pull title (WWPD) with a PB of 1800lb!  More letters after his name.  Alpine pulls her 3rd leg of 1200lb.  So super happy with them all as Denali likes his sleeping in and low efffort walking with Glacier who prefers an easy life.  At Midland Couties champ show, Alpine gains a 3rd in PG qualifying for Crufts 2024 and Bisko wins her puppy class again!

Sept 2023   - We enjoy weekly ring craft and obedience with the dogs

Aug 2023 - Our secret is out!  We finally pick up little Bisko from Denmark.  A painful 13 hours drive minus 2x 10 minute relief breaks.  Ouch. Torrential rain and winds for majority of the solo drive.  BUT she is now here and home. We introduced the pack to her slowly so she had relaxed and accepted her environment first, then did 1:1's on walks and then added each familar dog to the Bisko pack.  She is now in the 4 pack as Denali likes to sleep and chill all day.  A  crazy puppy with 3 dogs in hot pursuit will eventually annoy him to the point of reaction and we do not have dogs 'pushed' to react here.  That is how accidents happen.  He plays and joins them, then goes back to his relaxing-retirement bad.  Happy dogs all around. 

Alpine enters Scunthorpe dog show and WINS her class of 3.  Super happy at the old girl.

Both Kebne and Denali receive confirmation of being awarded their WLD awards.  Happy days!

May 2023   - Back to weight pull, although a little warmer today.  2 x PB! one for Alpine at 1200 lb and Kebne at 1600 lb. That's a leg each towards their WWPD.  Kebne needs one more and Alpine 2 more.  Hopefully next season we can gain those. 

April 2023  - Weight pull time! A rare Saturday off work means we can nip out for a day of socialising and putting two dogs into the competetion.  Denali is 'work' retired, but still gets his long walks and brain games to keep him entertained.  Alpine is taking a step back, but can still work if she wants.  She was full of beans so I put her into the weight pull comp with Kebne.  All dogs have been calm and chilled since home I'm lucky we don't have crazy energy here when we don't need it. Kebne pulls 1500 lb his 2nd WWPD leg. How perfect! half way to a new title, and Alpine pulls her first WWPD leg on 900lb. Wow. I am so happy she did, it is our first on a female too!

March 2023 - We haven't updated the site for quite a whilst, but I will fill in the blanks at some point.  We have just come back from 4 weeks in Northern Sweden, this time running all 4 malamutes, and come back with 6 YES 6 NEW TITLES!  How exciting for the kids.  All long distance and with a camp.  Just all the dogs and myself main this trip so special.  Just proves you can do anything on your own. 

Over 140 miles, Kebne and Denali shared lead postion, Alpine stayed in the middle and Glacier at the back.  This gave Kebne Working Team Dog advanced with Working LEAD dog Working Lead Dog ADVANCED and Denali gains Working Lead Dog and Working Lead dog ADVANCED.  So proud of the dogs, as this gave Glacier my little sweet dog, her Working Team Dog Advanced also. WOW.  This is the forst time we have had that higher level in all our years of owning Malamutes, and now have 2!  The camp out in -10 was so much fun.  Isolation at its best. 

June 2022  - Kebne has a lovely day at Blackpool Championship show.  His second time in Limit with the big boys and beats 9 dogs to get the first and in  the challenge wins the Reserve Challenge Certificate!! Whoop. Our first in 20 years of showing under breed specialist Sharon loades, who loved him at Crufts in 2019.  We are on cloud nine and can't wait to see what hes capable of when hes had another working season to tone up. 

May 2022    - Yea! We finish year 2 at university. Phew.  Not easy when you're old ;D  Time to fix up the weight pull trolley and crack on with other doggie business plans and tweaking the van lay out for more room.

March 2022  - No abroad snow for us.  We have far too much work on and a 2 week pleasure of Covid.  So we sit at home sulking and writing essays. Yawn.  NEXT YEAR!   

Jan 2022  - We pass our 1st aid canine course which lasts 3 years.  A full day and the only pet regulated qualification. The iPET Network OFQUAL Level 3 Award in Canine Emergency First Aid - Pass. 

September 2021   - On the pups Birthday we take our microchipping exam and pass after chipping 5 labrador puppies.  We can now happily microchip a litter of puppies around 6-8 weeks of age and tying perfectly in with puppy cuddles visits! Win win. 

June/July 2021  - YES! We are back out dog showing and Kebne takes a  FIRST in all 3 CHAMP SHOWS !!! What a boy xxxx
Jan 2021   - We wish everyone a happier and healthier New Year!  Unfortunately Brexit will be causing some travel issues for us and there's still Covid-19 to get around, so March's 2021 travel may not happen  yet. We will have to see what happens and enjoy our cool crisp icey weather here in the U.K with a little flat back packing.   

Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec   - Due to Covid-19 everything has slowed down here.  There's no dog clubs open and when training re-started it soon closed again due to tiers changing of lock down rules.  We have a full set of competition agility kit delivered for the dogs for their Christmas present ready to use in the new year.  Plans are made to have more fun in the snow in March but again we have more challenges there due to Covid and Brexit.  In the mean time we will just concentrate on our studies and keeping the dogs fit for function. 

July/Aug 2020   - Its HOT again and all the dogs just tend to sleep all day.  This gives us time to have a Summer clear out of old equipment and kit and start getting ready with our next Winter plans.  All kids are back at obedience and show training as soon as lock down lifts and we have plenty of free time to read our mass collection of books on canine behaviour. As soon as the temperatures drop to less than 12 degrees we will be out first thing and evenings getting fit for Winter.  The Open University grant our CertHE certification gaining us access to enrol at Bishop Burton College/Hull University for their degree course in canine behaviour and training which fits perfectly around our Winter travels and slow Summers in the U.K.  Malamute's need some one at home all day for company and becoming a clinical canine behaviorist gives us another avenue for flexible self employment in the U.K and European recognised complementing our dog grooming certificates and experience stemming from 1995.   

June 2020  - All 3 new American titles on Glacier, Alpine and Kebne are approved from the American Malamute club .
April 2020        -  Malamute of the Year awards 2019 are released.  We have made the top twenty with two of our boys.  Kebne now out of the puppy results, gains 11th in the Top Dog category and also 5th in the Special beginners.  His stunning Dad we no longer have, is still in the awards based on Kebne's show results and also 2 of Glacier's that I submitted and he gains a respectable 14th in Top Stud dog.  Wow. So nice to see his name many years later from his passing.     
March 2020   -   We  drive all the way back down from Arctic Sweden after spending the last week at Hemavan after staying at camp Dannevall where we had over 40 miles of trails and often to ourselves.  The temperatures ranged from -5 down to -27 the whole time we where there  gi ving us enough time to get back to the UK      for Cruf ts.  Kebne was entered in  Post Graduate Dog and placed 1st !! and Glacier was entered in two classes,  Post Graduate Bitch and Good Citizens Bitch and gains 3rd in BOTH  classes.  So two dogs entered Crufts in 3 classes and we gain no lower than a 3rd place!  WOW That's a Crufts to remember! Thank you to Sharon Loades of the Snowolf kennel who thought so highly of our two youngsters.  The following day whilst still on cloud nice we man the Discover Dogs  booth and act as advisors to help future Malamute owners.  Kebne and Glacier are with us as ambassadors for the breed.  They are petted and loved by hundreds of members of the public of which I am incredibly impressed with how they accepted this new environment and their happy temperaments showed throughout this long day.
Feb 2020  - We spend the whole month in Sweden touring up and down the Country checking out lots of new places in the hope of finding our holiday home, we meet some great new life friends too.  This is the first quality time we spend on the snow with Kebne and Glacier as the last time we where here in April the girls came into season early and then the snow melted and previous to that in the March before, they were only 6 Months old and too young to run.  We try our best with this new team without their Dad and see what we have to work with.  A few trial runs and low mileage kick started their love and we manage to get a nice little team on Mum Alpine leading and the two pups behind.  Kebne even had a go up front on a long day out and took it in his stride.  I can report that we excelled the minimum requirement for  Glacier's & Kebne's WTD  Working team dog titles and  Alpine exceeded the Lead dog title  requirement. !! This give the pups their first working titles at 2.5 years of age giving team Iceclimb 13 titles.  The long day out also qualified for 30 miles towards Glacier's & Kebne's Advanced Working Team Dog award and because Kebne and Alpine shared 50% lead positions they have mileage towards the Lead Dog Advanced Award too!  So, so happy they are working together as a happy 3 dog team.   We have had a total add up of our new titles to apply for and we are now on  14 U.S.A Working titles  for team Iceclimb.
Jan 2020  - We decide to tootle up to Aviemore to help out at the Sled dog rally put on by the Siberian husky club of the Great Britain.  What a blast! It was so nice to meet old and new friends and handle huskies for the larger teams and increase my handling skills with the experienced champion winning dogs and mushers. I took Kebne for company and he handled being an only dog and the hotel and alone in the van  with ease.
Sept 2019- The pups finally have their 2nd Birthday a we spend it it back packing around North Lincolnshire .  10.5 miles hiked in 30% of their body weight completed before it became warm, qualifying for  one Leg in U.S.A and U.K  working back packing titles.    This is Glacier's first leg of any working title.  Kebne enjoys a trip out to Driffield Championship show where he is placed  1st in Post Graduate Dog.   
Aug 2019  -    We enjoy a lovely warm weekend up at Scotland's Scottish Kennel Club Champ show where both youngsters  BOTH gain 1st in Post Graduate class!   Our first for both in the adult classes and Glacier has now also qualified for Crufts 2020 with her Brother for next March.
July 2019  - On the 5th our special Birthday we were spoilt rotten by our good friends and had a great sociable dog day at the East of England Championship show with Kebne.  He  wins his class  even though he is bothered by the heat and unfortunately gains nothing in the challenge we really did have a lovely day out.  At Working and Pastoral breeds Champ show under J Shore Wheeler  Kebne takes 1st in Graduate dog  and behaved perfectly even in the Challenge.  We attend Leeds Championship show and  Kebne wins his class, Graduate Dog  under breed specialist Louise Forster but nothing in the challenge on this warm day.  Both Kebne and Glacier have had their  eyes tested and both come back clear .
June 2019   -   Back to the UK for a few weeks for a judging appointment at Honley Open, Yorks, however, due to terrible weather this agricultural show was cancelled on the morning and due to be rearranged.  All was not all lost as we still have a house to finish renovating and a couple of business ideas to pursue that may keep us on road for longer. The dogs love the van and happy sleeping and traveling within, so not long now before we head back out to Sweden and will catch for more snow than last time.  At Windsor Championship show Kebne takes  2nd in Graduate dog  and behaves impeccably even in the extreme heat and 3am set of
April & May 2019- Spent touring Scandinavia in our new VW Crafter van. We are back in the UK for June for our Summer kit and supplies, then head out van living till February 2020.  Denali, Alpine, Kebne & Glacier are looking forward to this adventure after I left Royal Mail in January.  The van is minimal and spacey so they can sleep loose and have this adventure lifestyle.

March 2019 - Way hey! Double high results this week!  At the biggest dog show of the World  Kebne takes 2nd in Junior Dog  class!! Qualifying him for Crufts 2020.   Glacier takes VHC  as she just doesn't have the show presence or coat as her rivals so she's now retired for a few years and see how she turns out as an adult. She does gain  2nd in Good citizen class  which was her highlight and mine also. 

Kebne sits his  Gold KC Good citizens obedience  exam and passes in a strange venue at night and outside! What a boy.  This is our  first Gold  for a male dog, and a second ever for us but more beautifully special as both were born here.  Big bones for him tonight.  Our second home has sold and we are sprucing up our cottage getting it ready for rental.  If we do everything now back to brick and floor boards then hopefully it will need very little attention over the next 10 years! Thus keeping us on our travels for longer.  We are back in June for a Month just to finish off the final decoration and boiler fitting and for our judging appointment at Honley Open show.

February 2019     - Match night starts with a bang.  Kebne enters Scunthorpe match night in  Junior class (BJIM)  and wins putting him through to the challenge where in a full row of quality takes  Best in Match ! At only 16 months old!  How lovely.  That's more rosettes and trophy's on the mantle piece.   Even though both youngsters are clear of genetically carried CD and AMPN by parentage, I have them tested directly so they have certification with their names on.  Both are clear.  I have Alpine tested for Long coat gene out of interest and as predicted she is a non carrier.  Glacier therefor is also a non-carrier like Kebne who was tested a few Months back, as is the whole litter.   

January 2019  - First day of the New Year and we drive down to Coventry Ladies Kennel Society's Open show.  They haven't any Malamute classes on so we enter AVNSC Working as it's a day out and stops us partying the night before.  Kebne wins his class,  1st in AVNSC Working Junior  and Glacier wins her class,  1st in AVNSC Working Graduate ! It was a long busy day and although we stay for stakes classes the amount of dogs still there and entered were around 30.  We were happy to give Kebne another good run around the ring in close proximity of other dogs.   Boston champ show was held in Peterborough were we attended with just Kebne.  He came a very respectable  4th in his Junior Dog  class and behaved well in this new surroundings even though we knew where the high placings were going to go.   Both pups have their swabs taken to prove they are not carrying AMPN and CD.  Glacier and Alpine both have long coat gene test also out of interest.   January's highlight was Kebne pulling his first qualifying pull of 1400 lb one pull over the minimum, meaning he has  one leg of his WWPD !  The only other dog to do this was his father Mackenzie. Delighted is an under statement. Three more to do..  Alpine is awarded her  AWPD'B   that has taken me a year to send off! Bad Mum. 40 miles of back packing and she look forward to doing more..

December 2018 -     Off we tootle up to York again for another attempt at weight pull.  I give Glacier the day off and enter Denali, Alpine and Kebne.  Denali hasn't had a go for over 3 years and was too rusty in technique yet still pulls to 1000 lb.  Alpine pulls like a train to 1000 lb and sweet Kebne pulls 1100 lb and half way to 1200 lb.  What a star!  All four dogs have been titre tested for their rabies to keep their passports stamped for easier travel. Likely not to be necessary done more out of interest.

November 2018    - It was a rather wet day but regardless, we decided to pop to weight pull with all the kids up in York.  Denali is feeling more like himself now he's on medication and Alpine looked like she was up for some fun today.  I entered Alpine in normal class with her already achieving her working team dog advanced title twice (120 sledding miles x2) but she wasn't interested as she has never pulled a trolley of bricks before! It just shows you how different these activities are.  I dropped her to novice class and she pulled all the way up to 1000 lb after she twigged the purpose of today.  Glacier wasn't too keen today so I need to do some one on one with her, yet she still pulled to 800 lb and Kebne being the star he is pulled to the maximum of 1000 lb.  What a star!  It was a funny day and we always laugh whatever they achieve.  I will never take any sport too seriously and scream at a dog! They do what they want to do and always end on a high with a smile.  On the 25th we take the long drive down to Stroud open show with the pups.  Kebne wins 2nd place in Junior and Glacier wins her first Post Grad class! Nothing in the challenge due to maturity not on our side, but thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with a stay in a hotel and then meeting up with friends for lunch on the Monday.  Match night at Scunthorpe club was attended well as we placed Kebne in Junior.  He won his class making him Best Junior in Match and then shortlisted at the end for Best in match and gained the reserve! Well done Kebne at 14 mths old.

October 2018  - Finally the weather is cool and we can start training for later in th e year.  We set off up to York as the temperature is 10 degrees so we have that on our side which looks promising for sled dogs to jump into life..  I put both pups in Novice class where we can use it as a training day for them.  They are only 1 year and 1 month so this is ideal to start.  Kebne goes first and starts the pulling at 400 lb, and pulls 7 times meaning he pulled the maximum allowance at 1000 lb.   Glacier has a go also in  novice and pulls 6 full pulls to 900 lbs! I am purely delighted at these results for beginners in a totally alien environment full of howling and testosterone! We will be back next Month!    
September 2018   -  We start the month off with a blast! Reluctantly we drive down to Birmingham Cham p show to show Glacier and Kebne under breed specialist John Phillips.  Glacier takes  3rd in puppy bitch  and Kebne wins  1st place in puppy dog  class and then takes  Best Puppy In Breed!! 
Critique: Puppy Dog. (3 entries, 1 Abs)  1: Darlow's Iceclimb Ascent. Young male with appropriate proportion of head to muzzle. Dark oblique eye. Scissor bite, nice outline and beautiful tail set, adequate bone for age, a little shy but very beautiful efficient movement won him the class. Look forward to watching him mature.  BPIB .
We   then sit our obedience exams on the 13th.  Kebne joins the first class and passes his  Silver test  with ease and then Glacier in the final class, sits her exam and  passes GOLD . Our first ever Gold dog and she is still a puppy at 11 months old. We are delighted and will carry on in this group as we enjoy going so much, its more than just a training club, they are our friends as well now.    Both pups really have been so easy to train, even though I have siblings they are trained independently to make sure they get exactly what they need.  I maybe have found it easier due to experience in the breed and have become far more patient, or because they were born here they didn't have the 10 week old new home learning curve. Either way they have delightful. 
On the 15th we head North for the day to Darlington Champ show.  Here under Finnish  judge Dr Annukka Paloheimo, Glacier takes  3rd in Puppy Bitch  and Kebne gains  First in Puppy Dog , putting him  Best Puppy Dog/Reserve Best Puppy in Breed . 
At Nidderdale Open show now they are out of puppy we entered them in the special yearling classes.  We are only still 12 Months but the class is for 12-24 Month so we really are at the bottom of the age scale.  Kebne in  spec yearling Malamute class takes 2nd  and wins £3 then in  AV Novice Dog Stakes  (any age) he is shortlisted from 9 dogs and  takes 2nd  even though he is still a baby.  He wins £5!  Little Glacier who still feels like a very young pup in  AV working special yearling takes 2nd  beating a lovely husky and wins £3 and another £2 in  AV Novice Bitch Stakes with her VHC  position.   She was handled by Paul my friend as both stakes classes clashed.
Fresh out of puppy we attend the 13th Alaskan Malamute specialty Championship show down near Coventry under Breed specialist judge, Mo Boyd.  Glacier gains  2nd place in Junior Bitch  out of 4 cracking girls. The star of the show was Kebne who  wins his Junior Dog  class at 1 year and 2 weeks old beating 5 well put together dogs then gains  Reserve best junior dog in specialty show !  He now can be called 'RBJISS Iceclimb Ascent'.  Critique:
Junior Dog (5 Entries, 0 Abs)  1st: Miss AL DARLOW Iceclimb Ascent.
Handsome dog not in full coat, but coat was harsh as it should be, good head with very dark eyes and pigment, nice arch to neck and solid top line on the move, moved true on the away and return, balanced angulations, good spring of rib, nice short pasterns and hocks strong arched toes, .moved with drive.
Junior Bitch (4 Entries, 0 Abs)  2nd: Miss AL DARLOW Iceclimb On Point
Well balanced girl forgot all of her coat, dark eye dark pigment feminine head with correct bite, good shape and proportions strong arching neck leading to steady top line when on the move, good tail well carried, spring of rib is good, enough for bone.
Kebne is tested for the long coat geneand theresult is negative .  He does not carry this gene, just like his da.
August 2018  -  We sadly have to say an unexpected  good bye to Mackenzie.  Times are tough and no words can explain how we feel right now.  He was simply amazing and no dog on this planet will replace his skills and devotion to us here.
July 2018  - We have a  quiet July due to the exceptional hot weather here in the U.K so have a month off from sports and just attend obedience with Kebne due to the girls being in season at the same time.    Critic from 3 Counties dog show are published. Our first show with the pups:
Puppy Dog - Iceclimb Ascent. (Kebne) 8mths old. A promising youngster with a lot to like.
Head was in proportion to body with correct eye and ear placement. Good length to neck. Plenty of bone.
Good feet. Harsh texture to coat. Angulation good throughout. Steady mover.
Puppy Bitch - Iceclimb On Point. (Glacier) 8 months old. A promising youngster with another great expression.
Correct eye and ear set. Good length of neck. Good feet and bone. Angulation good throughout but preferred movement of 1. What lovely words from a very knowledgeable judge, Liz Bruns.  We have Glacier and Alpine in season and far too much heat to do anything sled dog related. Its nice to get our rental ready to sell and use this time for our plans for November.
June 2018 - Super busy month! At under 9.5 months old Kebne passes his  Bronze  KC obedience award with an exceptional Gold style re call and Glacier passes her  Silver  award.  Its taken weekly attendance from 12 weeks old but priceless to have this bond of communication.  Both are signed up for their next level.  Border Union Championship show under breed specialist Jim Broadberry, Kebne gains  first in Puppy Dog  and Glacier follows suit with  first in Puppy Bitch  leading  her onto  Best Puppy In Breed !!
Three Counties Championship show under breed specialist Liz Bruns, Kebne and Glacier  BOTH gain second places  and  Qualify for Crufts 2019 !!  First ever show and they qualify together in Puppy bitch class of 4 and Puppy dog of 3.
May 2018 - Kebne enters match night in Junior (as Glacier is in Puppy class) and beats another much older dog  winning  his first trophy!
April 2018   - As soon as we are home the pups are informed we have passed our  puppy foundation  obedience and one week later Glacier is invited to sit her  Bronze Kennel Club  good citizen exam and passes!!! We are over the moon that our trip hasn' t affected their training and only improved with the amount of time we have spent together.  Both are enrolled in the classes of the next level.
March 2018  - Four   weeks holiday up in Arctic Sweden as a little treat for the pups.  The whole trip was to train the kids in long distance travel, get some manners on the stake out cables and socialise them with a team of Greenland Dogs at Coldfront Adv  entures sled dog trails.  We stayed a week in a beautiful remote cottage, with no running water and only basics and plenty of van camping in between living from the van.  It was only -16 on the coldest night but its these temperatures that the dogs come alive to work.
February 2018  -  Busy month renovating our rental   property but still   attend 3 times a week training. Kebne is doing well in puppy obedience and completely come out of his shell thanks to the dog trainers letting him work at his own speed.  Glacier is happy with the big dogs in the Bronze class. 
January 2018 -  Back to club for the New Year!  Monday and Tuesday at Scunthorpe and Brigg Ringcraft training and Thursday nights at Grimsby for KC Obedience.  The College has let me split the pups to one in Puppy and one in Bronze! I'm so grateful else it would mean another night out during the week to accommodate the second pup.  Alpine does two last legs of back packing carrying 30% of her body weight. This completes above the minimum requirement for her UK Bronze award   and her American WPD award . Well done Alpine its always a pleasure having a girls day and picnic.  Alpine wins Best Open in match night.
December 2017 - Both puppies Kebne and Glacier have been to dog show training in Scunthorpe each week and loving the attention.  From the New Year they will be having the full training and be on the mats for hands on touching from the judges.  Mackenzie gets the green light from USA for his Advanced title.  Officially he has his WTDA title. 110 miles of sledding in a team in Sweden last March.  Well done lad.  Not bad for a then 9.5 year old.  We've had enquiries about Mackenzie as a stud dog.  So he's been tested for the Long coat gene.  DNA diagnostics have confirmed he is NOT a carrier of the Long coat gene.
November 2017  - Decision time!  Who's staying?  We decided based on the show tests ,  puppy attitude against  pack compatibility.  They have to work,  play and   l  ive    together which is paramount in the decision.  Little grey girl and seal boy fit   the bill.  However the choice between the boys has had me up all night as the grey was my favourite.  He's stunning.. but he does come across as a little bit stubborn, awkward and dominant in times in play. 
Please welcome 'Iceclimb On Point'  G la cier and 'Iceclimb Ascent' Kebne .    Puppy Aria and Grey boy affectionately called 'Pete '  have gone to
their new homes, to be much loved active pets to parents who both lost their last malamutes too young.
Iceclimb Arete the seal bitch is going to Allenheads to Carole and Famil  y, who have lots of experience in rescue Malamutes.
Iceclimb Crux the grey boy (now named Monty) is going to Simon and Mary in York who have had previous dogs from the Seacourt kennel and Hyteton kennel..  Please see their page  here:

October 2017  -   Spent raising puppies!

September 2017 - We have some puppies here! 4 beautiful little bundles joined us safely on the morning of  16th September.  All growing well and had a full vet check at 3 days old. A text-book delivery of two grey & white and two seal & white.   A dog and a bitch of both colours.  After sleeping 8 hours solid on my sofa, her waters broke, she then tootles to her whelping box and started to get comfy only for the first bundle to arrive within an hour.  By 12 midday, all four were here and feeding on a very relaxed mum.   She was a natural and let me weigh and handle them in front of her or used the opportunity to go toilet whilst I took care of the necessary bits.  I'm still in shock of there being more than the scanned TWO puppies, shocked at how smooth and effortless the birth was and also having two seal coloured ones in there!  Both pedigrees carry a lot of Mountain Home genes, so I think we've found the answer!

July 2017 - France bound for two weeks with all 3 dogs.  Doing a tour of the mountains and camping in the high cold spots! Alpine and Mackenzie's results for AMPN and CD come back: All  are clear and non-carriers.  

June 2017 - We head of to the Isle of Man for some camping and seeing what this island has to offer.  Its stunning.  Like a mini Lake District. The dogs love going on the ferry and its free(!) for once! Lovely 5 days in mild weather and a couple of damp days. Perfect for waterfall hunting.
 
March 2017 - Back to Sweden for another epic trip. Nearly 6 weeks up North.  Alpine has fun on both teams, but her main job was to help Mackenzie succeed on a distant over nighter.  They loved it and Kenzie gains his WTDA (confirmed Dec 17)  Denali goes on a friends Greenland dog team of who he has never met and gains 2 legs of a Lead dog title. He's only one short now!  We join our friends Carolyn and her new business venture 'Cold Front' Sledding adventures.  Rain and Minx don't join us this time as they have a little brother to entertain! He is far too young to be worked with us and it's not fair to split the 3 up, so we borrow Carolyn's crazy dogs! Huge thanks for letting us! x

November 2016 - Alpine and Mackenzie have their hips scored.  Fantastic results. Alpine's are 3:4 and Mackenzie's 3:2

July 2016 - Kenzie and Alpine have their eyes tested. Both are clear and healthy .

March 2016 - We nailed it! 4 Countries, 5800 solo driving miles to the top of Arctic Sweden for 3 whole weeks of exploring. Van camping for all but 4 nights, I had a ball with my 3 dogs and borrowed 2 from the Sledog kennels, good friends Nicola and Stuart. -23 was the coldest night. Sledding everyday in up to waist deep snow. Little Rain completes her WLD and WTD that's working lead dog and working team dog titles and my Denali gains his Advanced   'Sledog Dream Seeker to Iceclimb WTD WPD AWPD'B' WTDA' and so does little Alpine 'Sledog Indian Ocean to Iceclimb WTD WTDA' She worked fantastic as a team dog and looks to have great potential for weight pull.
Over 120 miles Alpine and Denali worked for in pure raw Arctic conditions.  She is only two legs off her working pack dog for British and American titles. Then we can do some serious stuff on the hills!! Multi night fun.

*We have some time out as we are struggling with losing Kinley*

November 2015 - Sad times.  Kinley's health goes down hill.  She stumbles in the yard and can't get up. I put her to her feet and shes fine.  I now know there could be a time when she falls whilst I'm at work and I'm worried.  She has diarrhoea and nothing is calming it, so I take her to her favourite vet for a check up.  Her bloods show that shes poorly inside.  Her original Cushing's would mean she should never have steroids as they would accelerate her condition, yet they worked for nearly two years as a last resort in 2013, and we agreed to see 'how she goes'  now there is severe liver damage and an internal bleed.  On Johns request he says he can't do any more and I need to let her go.  I'm not ready and she is still eating and walking fine.  I respect John and all his miracles he has preformed over the many years on my animals and I decide that we are going to have two full days off work and do everything we possible can to maximise our fun, love and happiness together.  We celebrate having nearly 14 years together walking her favourite routes on the Viking Way, we camp in front of our open fire downstairs like we are on expedition on a hill in the Lake District, she eats what ever she likes! Steak, pasta, chocolate, treats, biscuits and chicken, and as much as she wants.  it doesn't matter. We are living like queens and doing what we like.  For the first time (ever) she sleeps on my duvet on my leg.  She always likes her own space so she knows.  She needs comforting and I hold her all night, both nights.  I called the vet out the following day and requested that we sit in her favourite spot together cuddling, and he lets her go in my arms. Just Kinley and me, how its always been. It's crucified me and nothing prepared me for losing my best friend.  Infact this section has been missed out of our News and only added in June 2017 because I couldn't bring myself to write it.  Her photo is in our van and she will always still be with us.  Miss you baby girl xx

October 2015 - Alpine and Denali have a back packing trek together along the Horkstow tops. Alpine's first ever 30% pack and she took to it like a duck to water! Yes I'm so pleased! The full 10 miles. That's her first leg of the UK bronze title   and first leg of the American Working Pack Dog . This is Denali's last leg of 4 , subject to confirmation he is now 'Sledog Dream Seeker to Iceclimb WTD WPD AWPD'B'  The following week Mackenzie finishes his last set of 4 of 10 miles. Subject to confirmation, he is now 'RBPISS Sledog Forest Mist WTD WLD WWPD WPD AWPD'B'  Super proud doesn't come close. They are naturals, I just go along for the fun.  The boys are now ready for over night wild camping trips on the mountains so we need volunteers as our witness if anyone into the hills is game?

September 2015 - Kenzie does a 3rd set of 10   miles around local villages in a 30% back pack and Denali does 10 miles at 30% the following week. My poor postie legs!

July 2015 - All our modifications all work after a little tweaking and a few emergency phone calls in France to my brother the V.W expert and pro at anything van wise! We have a week van camping with the 3 dogs, I have been back regularly to ring craft after the committee all changed, where we have been welcomed back in with open arms. Alpine and Mackenzie adore this night now and love socialising with the other dogs there. Our dog back packs are back out and ready to rock and roll.  I love being alone lost in nature just with my best friends and are already half way through the Alaskan Malamute Working Association (UK) back packing Bronze scheme. Following dreams is what we do best, dreaming, planning and then achieving.

June 2015 - Soo exciting! I need to keep costs down to travel more so I'm keeping my Scudo van for a little longer. I've sat and designed exactly what modifications need to be done so that all the dogs can travel safely with plenty of ventilation, whilst still have a comfortable bed and accessories for me too. We are running behind schedule as I will be driving to France to see the Tour de France 2015 next Wednesday, driving from North Lincolnshire down past Geneva to Alp d'Huez to Monaco. Wild camp for a few days and then drive into Paris for the night and then home. I was hoping for an epic 2 week tour taking in a week in the Pyrenees, and around 2000 miles, but my dear Kinley picked up a nasty stomach bug 6 weeks ago. Even though she has made a full recovery I still feel I cannot leave her for as long as this so a short break with my 3 youngest will be just perfect and I can always set off home early if need be.  Modifications so far: all dog boxes ripped out and replaced with pine wood with big solid mesh giving 50% more air movement with the doors open. Fitting of a 12V leisure battery with 500 Amp inverter. Dog fan fitted to roof (12V) which sucks and blows with button fitted in dash, this fan sounds like an aeroplane taking off, so maybe will have to always wild camp! Remove able top dog box door with clip in hygiene fabric, strong ply structure that all fits onto a metal frame, giving me a top bunk bed.  This system means I can either travel with all 4 dogs securely or have 3 dogs and a bunk. I normally only van camp with 3, or simply just take my tent or sleep van width. (Always a way) We have a lovely new Blue tooth radio so I can answer calls and play great tracks through my IPod all fitted. A little ply table built around the stereo for 2 IPhone and the IPod with drinks holder. I've made some Union Jack curtains for behind the seats, fitted new blue and black seat covers and sewn Union Jacks on top. We have some fancy dark grey lino going into all dog boxes and my area, and the finishing touches of Union Jack cushions and Union Jack vet bed for the dogs! We will certainly look like we are supporting all British riders with style! My van engine has had a full service and engine flush, so she's running beautifully.  MacKenzie, Denali and Alpine have all been bathed and groomed to Cruft's standard to make sure they are immaculate for travel. I do this for many reasons: Firstly if you can see their skin through their thick coats, you will be able to check everyday with a comb for any ticks or foriegn bodies. You can remove all the hair they don't need, I go to the heat and then park in the cold on each day so they need to be able to cope. Less hair and smells in our close quarters and THEY feel great, prancing around new towns representing British well socialised Malamutes. I have fitted their Scalibor collars   one week in advance to get into their system onto their clean bodies.  These collars are recommended for Southern travel to France and Spain, as they protect against Ticks, Sandflies and Mosquitoes.  All these horrible insects carry deadly diseases, so for the sake of £15 each I KNOW my dogs have protection as far as I can against them.  They will be used with Frontline for flea prevention and obviously wormed within Pet passport regulations for re-entry into the U.K.

May 2015 - Alpine is now Pet Passported ready for foreign travel :)

March 2015 - At the end of the month we have had the back packs out and been doing some flat ten milers with Mackenzie and Denali, they have been carrying 20% of their body weight for their Bronze British back packing and ready for some wild camping of 30% body weight in early April.  These hopefully will continue on with their Packing Advanced titles of which ties nicely in with me taking up novices on the hills as part of my Mountain Leader work.  My clientele haven't wild camped before and so this is a great way for me to practice my teaching skills and have some fun with the dogs bagging some summits en-route!

February 2005 - Time to be spontaneous again, pack the van with all 4 dogs and shoot up to North Allerton for the weekend straight after work. What a lovely place with so many walks over the Moors. We will definitely be back after all the dogs were shattered from hiking. There was plenty of snow still around for them to roll in!  On the 22nd I drive down to Derby to finally sit my rules and regulations exam in judging , I pass with 98%. Thanks to the Bernese Mountain Club for providing this seminar and refreshments.

January 2015 - We travel up to Aviemore in the Highlands for a week of hiking with the dogs over the beautiful hills in the snow. All 4 dogs wanted to go, so after making Kinley's box into a duvet box (4 winter ones!) all wrapped around into an igloo she was as warm as toast and all comfy for the full week. The other 3 had a ball playing in the snow on a mixture of trails and terrain suited towards each age and needs.  We have been invited by the committee of Chesterfield & Pinxton kennel association to judge Malamutes and Greenland dogs on the 14th of June, which is very exciting!

December 2014 - The temps are so cool, the dogs are out in harness every other day. Little Alpine has tried her harness on and loves it! Small steps for this little youngster as she's only just over a year old and is a little thing, so she will be trained up slower than the rest at her pace.  We have loops of around 4.5 miles within 4 miles of our home and fully utilise our rural village life as much as we can.

November 2014 - The Kick bike dog scooter has been all maintained ready for our evening and early morning dog training.

October 2014 - We end October with a fabulous weekend in the Lake District. As soon as we get there its all 4 malamutes walked around the beautiful Keswick and then Sunday afternoon we walk for hours around Thirlemere reservoir letting the dogs run in and out of the water after a good hike in the trees at low level.

September 2014 - Wayhey! More cycling. The Tour of Britain gets underway and you guessed it! Bring on the Tour chasing with the dogs in tow and a bit of van-camping we head down South driving through the night (France style!)  Hill walking and chilling with the dogs.

August 2014 - At last a quiet month! Kenzie has a lovely long hiking day out just with me walking over the Peak District's Kinder Scout summit. I haven't ever walked in this area before and really look forward to more exploring here. Little Alpine gets her day with just mum on a hike along Flamborough head, its relatively flat over the beautiful cliff tops so we spent the whole afternoon walking in the sea breeze till dusk. 

July 2014 - I steward at East of England Champ show for my friend Jill. The month then ended up even crazier when I decided I wanted to drive to the South of France on my own to watch the mountain stages of the Tour. 4 pm I booked the ferry for a midnight crossing. My van full of supplies to last over a week, two of my dogs (Mackenzie & Denali) and my road bike. 16 hours of driving later we arrived in the Pyrenees to cycle over Col Du Tourmalet (6939 ft) and Col De Peyresourde (5148 ft). Taking the dogs abroad on my own was a first and certainly worth the hassles of vets trips etc, especially watching them run along the beach, in and out of the sea as the sun sets on the horizon, knowing we have the whole place to ourselves for the night!

June 2014 - Denali's certificate for his WPD arrives from America - one camp out and 30 miles of hiking, here's to working towards his Advanced title when the weather cools. Our Le Tour stage one in a day final total is £461!! The cheque has been posted off to help the rescue Ireland malamutes, I'm sure they will make good use of it.

May 27 th 2014 - Boston & District Canine Society evening open show at Newark show ground. Little Alpine is entered into Junior Malamute class, and comes 3rd in a tough class and then takes Best Puppy in breed. The little cutie refused to stand still in the challenge as she found the evening a little rushed as I had been at work in the rain all day and raced home to get them ready for the show, which sometimes just doesn't have the same effect as a good long run or play in the garden!

May 18 th 2014 - The biggest challenge of my life completed in just under 12 hours. Total length of our Le Tour Challenge was 131 miles due to off route water collection, tea and toilet stops. The official route of the tour of stage one is 118 miles for the race, as its the Grand Depart they will do a tour of Harewood House, Leeds,  making the days cycling 121 miles total. We had to deviate as this is private land and improvise around the sides. The hottest day of the year with the sun directly on me, and I tackled 3 massive hills, 4,430 ft of elevation gain, average speed of 10.4 mph, maximum speed of 31.8 mph. We passed over 'Kidstones', 'Buttertubs' and 'Grinton Moor' all starting from Leeds railway station at 7am. We slowly peddled back in to Harrogate at 10.45 pm ready for the 11.05 pm train back to Leeds. This day has been amazing I think we have raised over £420 for the rescue malamutes   which I am sure will be of great use to them. Cycling this route was not only the longest mileage I have ever covered (we had a little party when the GPS stated '100' miles!!) it was also a dream to complete a full stage of the Tour De France and feel the pain of what these athletes endure. I have no idea how they do this for 3 weeks and in half the time! Somehow after arriving back home for 1.30 am and only 4 hours sleep I went back straight to work. No aches or pains or sun stroke, just tiredness and slept in between jobs for 2 days. I'm so happy that the training plan I devised 3 weeks prior worked and I certainly will stick with it. Slow and steady with plenty of fluids, eat nutritionally balanced food and ample gels/energy substance. Even having a nasty virus and spending 4 days in bed the week before didn't stop me!  To sum the day up I thoroughly enjoyed the trip as difficult as it was, it seemed to go on forever, the last 20 miles felt like 80. The hills were so much fun to ride down, we saved a lamb off the road and put him back in his field, moved a baby bunny off the road, found £20, took the hair pin bends a little too fast, laughed, nearly cried, spat my dummy out only once, were a bit ill at half time, ate over 20 iso gel packets, drank 10.5 litres of water (!) and ended up as high as a kite from some crazy energy jelly's, which should be on the band substances list. I never do the same challenge twice, so whats next?

May 2014 - What a great start to the month. We attend obedience every Thursday night for Denali and Alpine, and when we arrive this week on the 1st they are planning our test. But we have a problem, the first class is puppy obedience which we have already done and the second slot is Bronze/Silver award. So we decide to re-sit puppy's test and put Denali in for his Silver as I attend all dog events as the only handler/trainer and this way I won't end up with 2 dogs going for silver at the same time, should Denali pass. After Alpine had a lovely hour of re-sitting and passed again (!) I decided to take a gamble, put BOTH dogs in and see if a volunteer would try with Alpine in the same class, even though she didn't know any of the 9 older dogs there or the handler. Wow! How delighted to see my little girl across the room doing all the tasks asked without even acknowledging Denali and I watching. Denali did not batter an eyelid either which is amazing seems they are inseparable at home. Alpine passes Bronze KC Award and Denali passes Silver KC Award in obedience . I'm speechless as I never thought we could gain so much from such young dogs and ever possess a 'Silver' rosette!!  Last week we visited the Alaskan Malamute rescue kennels in Doncaster to bath the 3 neglected ones handed over from Ireland out of 41 dogs. I cried as I scrubbed the poor little faeces covered and urine stained emotionless 18 month old girl called Blanca. She is the size of a 4 month old puppy with a horrific fear of humans and dogs. Her bowels give at any moment due to not being able to cope.  I bathed her twice and then thoroughly brushed Angel the other female. This days events made me think of a money making challenge to help them fit back into normal life and mend the poor things.  On May 18th Myself and colleague will be cycling the whole route of Stage one in Yorkshire of the Tour De France route.  Its downloaded in gpx. file on map my ride and now on my Garmin Montana 650 ready to use. 126 miles in one day. !!!

Whilst at the Malamute open show in Leicester on the 3rd we take £55 in sponsorship for this challenge, whilst Alpine places VHC in Minor Puppy Bitch then 3rd in special rescue stakes Junior class,   Mackenzie takes Reserve in special working certified dog from a large class of dogs who have working titles. Alpine's litter sister Rain takes second in minor puppy and second in the stakes, looking so settled and happy on her first show, they really are little twins.

April 2014 - I finally get round to changing the kids names over. Denali and Alpine first. We now have "Sledog Dream Seeker to Iceclimb" and "Sledog Indian Ocean to Iceclimb" We have a small technicality with Kinley's name. She has been very poorly since our trip in the Lakes. Barely eating and numerous trips to the vets. I have enrolled her at what I can only call the best vets in the Country, 'Swanbridge' in Swanland. They are amazing. Blood tests instantly taken and results in hand within 15 mins. All reveal an extremely healthy internal dog. This was enough for me to fight for her. Sleeping with her for two weeks, monitoring during the night, hand feeding cooked meat and 3 weeks off work, have brought her back to being herself again, like nothing had ever happened.

Alpine passes her Foundation award in Obedience . Mackenzie wins the Open class at Scunthorpe Canine Association match night. I attend a day of learning on the 2nd, Canine Physiotherapy seminar . Only basic stuff but has helped me with Kinley's treatment. Ten mins a day has got her from a walk to the end of the street and back to a whole 2 miles this week. I intend to keep up with the exercises on all my dogs to strengthen and improve mobility.

Alpine has her first dog show over the Easter Holidays. In the Junior class of Malamutes, she is up against some much older dogs and comes a respectable 3rd. She let the judge go all over her and moved lovely after an hour of walking the show grounds to find her feet. There's a lot of unfamiliar noises in the agricultural buildings and it is very easy to scare a young dog, so I played it by ear and gave her lots of praise introducing her to different people and buildings.  Mackenzie is entered in the Open class and comes 2nd , which I take my hat off as the dog in front is a very nice well known competing working dog. Alpine: 21/04/14- North Lincs Dog Club Open show. We enter today hoping its an inside show. Little Alpine hasn't shown inside and I'm sure it will be maybe too daunting. It's packed full in just 2 halls so we decide to just use the day for socialisation and see how she feels. In AVNSC Working Junior 1st (no puppy class) She wins over 2 other Malamute puppies older than her.  We showed on a loose lead and didn't stack her, she free stood well and didn't need to hold her tail as it wagged! Then she takes the AVNSC Best Puppy, Then goes in to the Working Group Puppy with 10 other amazing working puppies and takes GROUP 3 Working Puppy . I'm over the moon as the day was all about practice and socialisation. Thanks to the Judge and his kind words Mervyn Casling (Meranne) who I had never met before.

We have donated a full set of grooming equipment and a day of our grooming services to the rescue Malamutes (41) that have come into rescue. I knew the breeder from my early showing career, 2002, and would never of expected this. We will be fully de-matting and gently handling these young neglected emotionally and physically damaged Alaskan Malamutes. So my next crazy charity challenge this year will be for these poor dogs. I have been to the rescue kennels previously when dropping off a young adolescent last year that needed admitting, the kennels are stunningly clean and with great knowledgeable staff. I look forward to helping them again.


March 2014 - What a great start to a slightly drier month, puppy Alpine enters a busy Match night at Scunthorpe Canine Association. Stakes first, which is for all ages. She wins   over an adult English Toy Terrier. Then Puppy Walk class. Here she beats a beautiful older puppy, a Rottweiler. Then seems the KC have recently changed the puppy walk/puppy rules in the challenge, she can go through to the end and guess what?? She beats the older puppy class winner, the Boston Terrier, taking BEST PUPPY IN MATCH . First 2 rosettes and a fiver for me. Brilliant, she flowed with a loose lead, which is all we set out to do, the rest would be a bonus. Cruft's is around the corner but the Lake District calls us.

We enjoy a quick get away to the Lake District for 3 days for Kinley's Birthday. All four dogs enjoy this break with Denali completing his final 10 miles of back packing . This make him "Sledog Dream Seeker (ai) WTD WPD" very proud. Mackenzie enjoys a fab winter climb of Helvellyn in the snow and the girls enjoy shorter walks in town and eating ice-cream. Whoops...

East of England Championship show have invited me to steward , offer accepted even though it is on a Tour De France stage, now that's commitment!!

February 2014 - "ICECLIMB" Sled dogs is born! We finally have an affix linking all our dogs together except poor Mackenzie. He has a stud book number and is in their published book so he cannot have his changed. Sssh don't tell him, he may not notice. Alpine is doing great at obedience and is standing 4 square at show classes. Kinley's health seems stable and so her Birthday (12!) is going to be spent in the Lake District instead of going to Cruft's.

End of January 2014 - We shoot up to Fort William to climb Ben Nevis (our first Winter climb) getting to over 700 metres before an ice axe would be needed. I would of been fine, but there is no way Mackenzie would of slowed down enough for me to hold him back. Denali gets lots of scooter time around the forests and some lovely sea front walks aiding socialisation. Then we drive to Aviemore, North East for 1.5 hours, to play in the snow over there and walk miles in Glenmore Forest. Denali finishes a 10 mile hike 2nd leg of WPD , leaving only one leg of ten before he gains his back packing title. Such a lovely area with the snow covered mountains, white water and isolation. Just what this little travel friendly family love. Alpine travels excellent and fits into the holiday like she's always been with us. Just me and 4 dogs was far easier then anticipated, with each having different needs and exercise requirements, I just have to abandon meal times and work everything around them!

January 2014 - Alpine is now enrolled at 3 training clubs, attending 3 times a week. Broughton Dog training in North Lincolnshire for obedience, working on Puppy Foundation award set up by the Kennel Club, Scunthorpe Canine Association on a Monday night for ring craft and also to Trent Toy and all breeds in Scunthorpe for show training. She has settled instantly and feels at ease knowing her job at the time. We have booked her into 5 shows up to May. Denali is now booked on Silver award obedience and being a fun lad playing more then working and Mackenzie still goes to show training on a Tuesday night.  The Greenland Dog Club of the UK have asked me if I would like to take over their Website management. I am delighted to accept and help the club. Boston championship show invited me to steward on the Thursday with 2 different judges and with my good friend Nicola. I think we laughed more then worked, but regardless had a lovely day learning lots of import and other breed information.

December 2013 - We travel down to Boston & District Canine Society to sit our ' Hands on Assessment - 50 points of the dog' test. All counts towards my dog show judge career and we pass first time with all 40 correctly identified points and all 10 structural balance angulation connecting points! This goes nicely with my Confirmation and movement certificate gained in 2003.  AND Oh my word, I've done it again.... news to be broadcast on the 23rd! ;)  All is revealed! Baby Alpine has joined the pack ! She is a little future show dog and a co-owned partnership between the Sledog kennel and myself. This is an honour to us, to be trusted with such a precious baby.  She is adorable, sweet and gentle. Kinley, Mackenzie and Denali all love her and kiss her little nose. I thought we may have a little bit of jealousy, but nothing. She has fitted in like she has always been with us. All the kids get daily one on one so maybe they all know that they will still have lots of attention. All 3 Christmas days of our holiday we have walked miles and miles over the Viking Way, puppy having socialisation of in and out the van and short walks. She now knows the van and travel is an adventure. Now we are working on sleeping through the whole night (already only wakes up once) lead training in traffic and toileting. The next few weeks will be puppy obedience and show dog training.

November 2013 - At last! Another judging appointment at the Nordic show in Coventry, judging Greenland Dogs. A lovely entry of 6 (a lot in Greenland terms) I thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the terrible M1 of which I had given myself 4 hours to do a 3 hour journey and still struggled.

October 2013 - At last we are back in the cool sub 10 degrees weather. All 3 furkids have had a battery shoved up their bums! These dogs need their harnesses and that is exactly what we have been doing. We have open countryside within minutes from our home so early morning and evenings the dogs are running 4 mile minimum on the bike attachment or my scooter. We visit the Scott Polar Research Museum down in Cambridge. A great day out of learning of Polar exploration and the history of sled dogs..

August 2013 - At Scunthorpe Canine Society Open show Mackenzie takes 1st in his post graduate class AVNSC working. After a 3.2 mile run at 5 am I think we have managed to calm his enthusiasm.

July 2013 - These months are for too hot for this Arctic breed.  So our evenings and very early mornings are used to our advantage and we have been running with them on a loose walky belt for 4 miles around our beautiful countryside. Kenzie and Denali came back from our holidays very fit and this has to be carried on.

June 2013 - Temperatures were mild so we shoot off to the Lake District mountains to sleep wild! Denali pupsters first night in a tent with mum. We are training to become an official mountain leader (sML) so starting the climb at 9.30 pm and hiking through the darkness until pitching camp at 2.30am was all part of the plan of night navigation by head torch. A very enjoyable weekend with our friend Chris, teaching him the ropes of map reading, route planning and observational skills. Denali came to learn his mountain skills and footwork. (so far, so good) Leg one of WPD completed.

April 2013 - We are all home and exhausted from our dream trip under the Northern Lights and a trip over the Arctic Circle up to (Lapland) Abisko. We adored our foster dog, and can not thank Nicola and Stuart of 'Sledog' Alaskan Malamutes & Greenland dogs for loaning her to us. The boys loved her, and together ' Minx' gained her Team dog title for working as a valued and happy go lucky team dog, earning every scrap of it. The boys have done me proud also and Kenzie earned his Lead dog title .  All 3 completed an Advance leg in Team Dog, Kenzie in Lead.  I sled these dogs over the mountains and wilderness, unaided and single-handed for over 75 miles in windchills of -12. That's quite an achievement for a single female. Now I have had this amazing achievement of running a team of mixed dogs from different homes over their true environment, its put a small dampner on the 3 miles of sled dog racing we have in the UK! 

March 2013 - We miss Crufts this year, even though Mackenzie is qualified for life. We are too busy packing and sorting the dogs for Sweden. End of March and we're away on the ferry to Sweden.

February 2013 - The boys finally complete their Team Dog title with two more 10 mile runs in the forest. Excellent! We just need a third dog if we want any Lead Dog titles.  Mackenzie and Denali both have WTD after their name.

January 2013 - What a great way to start this years training by having a shot in the forest at a different title "Team Dog" which is gained after 4 sets of a minimum of 10 miles working with at least 2 Alaskan Malamutes, pulling their 3 wheeled rig with me as musher and treat giver!  The boys do me so proud with 20 miles on consecutive days in a freezing forest, working together in harmony. Tears filled my eyes as we cross the line, seeing how happy my boys were with what seemed effortless team work. I never thought I would run a team so easily without barely commanding them, how lucky I am to own this dream team! All those early frosty morning and late evening training sessions and being exhausted from work are paying off. That's half of WTD (Working Team Dog) Well done lads! You've earned your holiday in March.  Both boys now have Pet Passports.   They now can leave and enter the UK as long as the conditions are met.

December 2012 - This has to be the best month to date! We are now the proud owner of a top spec Bewe dog sled now in the UK. Its mint! Brand new and sat in my house to be starred at and polished daily ;)  This is a professional Mid to Long distance freight sled and will be perfect for our foreign travels.

End of Nov 2012 - Wayhey! Mackenzie does it! 4th ever pull and he gets his  WWPD title! 1900 lb and comes first in his class of 11 dogs. The new boy takes over ;) He is now called 'Sledog Forest Mist WPD WWPD' (Working Weight Pull Dog) confirmed by A.M.C.A. Denali pulls all the way in Novice class to the maximum 1000 lb.  And finally after ten years I put my own two malamutes together and have a team instead of borrowing all the time!

November 2012 - Denali has his first go at weight pull in Novice and pulls an amazing 900 lb! Not bad for a first attempt and for the youngest. Mackenzie does me proud as usual for his 3rd ever weight pull and again gets a 3rd leg towards WWPD title. Clever boy, one more left then its time to work on team dog awards, as working on a team on a racing rig is his specialty.

October 2012 - A big life changing decision has been made. My contract with Royal Mail has been reduced by personal choice to give us more time to dog groom in Barrow Upon Humber, and so far has given me double the old time with the dogs. They are now run in the early morning and evening at least twice a week up to 6 miles, being at home more is priceless and not many would take this gamble, but feel it has paid off already and welcome all my new customers growing weekly!

July 2012 -We rest our dogs in the warm months for minimal training. It has to be around 10 degrees or below to get the best out of your sled dogs, they are an Arctic breed after all. So these are the months I jet off to the Peak District every weekend to hit the water in the kayak and grit stone rock and quarries for climbing.

June 2012   - Due to the dog grooming business going full steam ahead I thought it was time I treated the furkids to a little back packing trip. Mackenzie enjoys over 16 hours of packing over 2 days, covering 30 miles and a wild wilderness mountain camp. Our first leg of Advance Back Packing Phew! Exhausting stuff and now is under way for his next set of letters after his name. Only 50 more miles to do and he will have the Advanced American title in Advanced Working Packing to go with the letters and stud book number he already has. Hopefully we'll attend 2 more weight pull events and finish off his weight pull title too shortly.

May 2012   - Denali gains his Bronze obedience award at the Alaskan Malamute UK speciality show! At last we have cracked it, what a bright pup.

March 2012  - Denali wins Dog of the year qualifier at Trent Toy & all breeds ring craft! He can go into the challenge later in the year

February 2012 - Denali takes part in match night at our local club for show training, qualifying for ' Dog of the Year' beating 1 adult dog and a puppy after skipping puppy of the year.. WOW. Then goes in puppy class beating 7 other puppies then takes ' Best Puppy in Match '. 2 rosettes and a trophy, excellent little pupster. We are invited to Judge at Newark Dog Club courtesy of Jill and Jim Broadberry, judging Alaskan Malamutes and Greenland Dogs, great day with lovely dogs.

January 2012 - We did extremely well in the Highlands of Scotland in Arden Grange sponsored Siberian Husky Club of GB sled dog rally. Coming 8th out of 21 strong teams! We have beaten all our previous run times, and are truly overwhelmed. We cannot thank Nicola and Stuart of the 'sledog' kennel for breeding our two youngest Alaskan Malamutes and for loaning 'Sofi' the prettiest most hardworking, determined Greenland Dog I have ever had the pleasure to run. Greenland Dogs have not been used in competition here for 8 years, and Sofi was the only one here this year. So we've made a little bit of an impact on what these dogs are capable of. We then shot down to the Lake District to climb 'Dodd' as a treat for their hard work. Having Sofi travel with us for a week was an absolute pleasure and with all our dogs being socialised well with other dogs over the last 9 years, it was like she had always been involved in our pack. All sled dogs NEED this interaction with a lot of time and commitment, especially if you are interested in competing. You get what you put in, back on the trail and in your home. They are not easy. They are a life choice. Every picture you see on this site has taken hours of repetitive training and hard work to achieve.

Early January 2012 - Denali pupster gains his first obedience award. He has only attended 3 weeks out of an 8 week course, however, he still did everything asked for in his assessment. So he has a rosette from winning best puppy walk in show training at Scunthorpe Trent Dog Club and a puppy foundation obedience certificate from Broughton Dog Training Club. What a pup!!

December 2011 - Mackenzie has a second go at weight pull, organised by the Alaskan Malamute Club of UK. Again he equals his last pull weight of 1400 lb, meaning he now has 2 legs towards another WWPD title. Only 2 more to do and he can have more letters after his name.

October 2011 - We have a new office dog! Little baby Denali our 3rd Alaskan Malamute. He is from good strong working lines from the UK Sledog kennel, through an artificial insemination (a.i) from the Mountain Home kennel in America. His mum (Mackenzie's sister, Aria) is already a working pack dog. We have great hopes for a committed strong team member with good show prospects. Training has commenced for this seasons sled dog rallies and also Mackenzie's training for weight pull.   Gains first leg in WWPD on his first ever competitive pull!
Kinley our old girl, nearly 10, has the all clear from the vets after her recent operation to remove a cancerous tumour in her adrenaline gland, meaning she had the rare form of canine cushing's disease:- At this point we can thank Mackenzie for helping to diagnose the problem, which I cannot stress should not be over looked. He tried to mount her obsessively even though she is neutered and would become a frenzied state licking her urine.

Adrenal-based Hyperadrenocorticism: An adrenal tumour responsible for secreting too much cortisol. 50% of these are benign (adenomas), and 50% are malignant (adenocarcinomas) and are inclined to spread to the lungs and liver. Again, the interplay between pituitary and adrenal messages is lost, and the tumour keeps secreting too much cortisol irrespective of what the brain is telling it. 15% of Cushing's cases are adrenal-based. In these dogs, one adrenal gland tends to be extremely enlarged (due to the tumour and the overproduction of cortisol that goes with it), and the other tends to be extremely small (to try to compensate for the overactive larger one). Her symptoms were: loss of guard hair, bald patches, dark skin patches, excessive thirst (polydipsia), extreme appetite, unable to hold her urine, hair growth had stopped, pot bellied, loss of muscle on her rear end, looking 'cow hocked' and existing coat turning red. The following tests were carried out: ATCH and Stim testing, bloods and urine. ALL showing healthy results. It was only that Mackenzie insisted on mounting her and obsessive licking of her urine that showed an internal hormone fault. The Adrenealine gland tumours can secrete 23 different hormones NOT detectable by tests. Only on opening her up (after a healthy ultra scan) the tumour was found. This tumour has been removed and after plenty of TLC and a 7" and 5" scar she is recovering well. She's back on anti-biotic at the moment due to a allergic reaction to the internal stitches (that were under the staples) so these have been removed also.

We also Judge   at Newark Dog Club match night thanks to the invite from Jim and Jill Broadberry. Lovely entry and great dogs.

September 2011 - Mackenzie gains a 1st at Birmingham Championship Dog Show in Limit. Thank you Jim Broadberry, he is now qualified for Crufts for life, and has a stud book number. 

June 2011 -Mackenzie finishes his last leg of his Working Pack Dog qualification and is catching us up with his certificates of achievements. His final leg involved a 6 mile hike over the Lake District mountains, a camp over night, then a return trip down in the rain. Well done lad! We also took advantage of the stunning scenery and bagged 11 Wainwrights too. These dogs love the outside adventure and can happily hike for miles. He is now "Sledog Forest Mist WPD".

May 2011 - Mackenzie walks around the hills with his backpack on in the rain courtesy of Ian and Aimee in Cumbria, and gains another leg in the American Working Back Packing title, WPD leg 2

April 2011 - Mackenzie gains a stunning Best of Breed rosette being shown in Newark at an open dog show and has had a fantastic couple of days back packing in the Lake District. Going over the 'High street' summit, he gained his first leg of his back packing title . Well done to all dogs that have achieved this! Its far from easy carrying 3 days and 2 nights of equipment between you and your dog!

March 2011 - We pass our In house rock climbing instructor certificate at the Indoor climbing wall in Hull. Rock City employ us as and when required for beginners and children. I'm also policed checked with certificate.

January 2011 - Were back from the isolated Cairngorm mountains, in the Scottish Highlands, after competing in the Arden Grange Siberian Husky club of Great Britain's working rally. Our second year racing the dogs up there. Mackenzie worked his heart out over the 4 miles with his little malamute friend 'Nickle' from the Snobruk kennel and Sue her owner. We came 8th   out of 13 teams and raced on the dry land rigs not dog sleds like January 2011.  Now we will be working towards our back packing titles to show his true ability on the hills, he loves to walk for hours on end, so I'm sure he will have the first leg plus some, by the end of the year.

September 2010 - Mackenzie: 18/09/10 Darlington Championship dog show 2nd in Post Graduate Dog class (2/11) Under Mrs Erna-Britt Nordin (Sweden). Then goes back into the challenge!

May 2010 - Mackenzie takes Best of Breed at Cleethorpes Open Show

March 2010 - Mackenzie enters his second rally - Sherwood Forest by BSHRA, my sled dog team then came 2nd out of 8 teams on dry land rig

January 2010 - Mackenzie enters his first rally - Arden Range Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain dog sled rally in Aviemore 2010, 9th out of 17 teams.  Not bad for a first ever competition, and first run on the snow ! Running with 'Amber' from the Snobruk Alaskan Malamute kennel, thanks to Jane and Craig for my little pocket rocket. Boy she moves!! Our new friends from Sweden Marit from the Northernmost kennel pop over for tea and chat at our home to meet Mackenzie. They spoil him and bring him toys. Marit has similar lines to us so there is always plenty to talk about.
2007 - Mackenzie gains Reserve Best Puppy in Specialist Show AMCUK Open show.  His litter sister gains the BPISS