Domestic Affairs

Clearing a Path

After feeding and scooping and then preparing and eating my own breakfast I went into my garage to try to clear some paths and horizontal surfaces.  I'm expected a Nor' West Company customer this evening, and he and his wife want to check out a lot of different items.  Since everything is packed in wooden crates in my garage, making space for their shopping trip took some time and effort.  You may recall that this is at least the second, if not third time this week I've worked at it.

Even when tidied up my garage is a mess.  I have mushing gear hanging around in one area, a canoe under construction in the main bay, and a bad habit of not putting things away when I'm finished with a repair or a project.  Add to it storage of materials for future projects, including a fair amount of historically authentic linen and woolen fabrics, leather and hardware and you can imagine how much of mess it can become.

Today it was a major focus, and I'm pleased with my progress.  After four hours of concentrated effort and a trip to the dumpster station I no longer feel like I should be embarrassed by it.  It isn't perfect, but it will do for a while. 

One of the things the customer wants is some black powder for his muzzleloading rifle.  I had to fetch that from the magazine, which is located a safe distance from the house.  I was a bit concerned about having to shovel out a patch, but it turns out there isn't enough snow to make doing so a worthwhile use of time.  Just stride on out, and barely get your shoes covered. 

Food for the Horde

While doing my house keeping I was stuffing a bunch of dog booties into a bag for storage when the dogs started barking and carrying on in the way that tells me I have a visitor.  I had lost track of time so was surprised when the crew from 49er Feeds showed up to deliver my latest dog-food order.  They were just in time, as I opened up the last bag from my last previous order last night.  I really enjoy doing business with that company, as they are willing to deliver for only $5.00.  The very reasonable delivery fee saves me at least 3 hours in driving, loading and unloading the feed. 

Early Christmas Gift?

Well, it isn't so much a gift as it is a pay-back.  Our electrical company (Golden Valley Electrical Service) sometimes estimates electricity useage rather than reading the meter.  Every so often they have to reconcile the estimated usage against the actual.  I got my electrical bill today, and it was WAY less than I expect in winter, when the lights are on and furnace running so much more than during warmer and lighter seasons.  When I checked out the details I found that they had adjusted the bill by a bit more than $100.00 to make up for overestimating my power usage.  I'm pleased with that.  It means I might actually make it to next pay-day without having to tap into my savings account.

Still No Snow, Though...

  

The lack of snow and wheels on which to train the team is weighing heavy on my mind.  We've gotten a couple of tiny flurries today, but nothing like a real snow-fall, and the long-range forecast isn't offering any near term hope.  On the positive side, it doesn't include any particularly bitter low temperatures either, so I should be happy about that.  If we don't get adequate snow between now and my next R&R I may have to start begging the loan of a machine so I can get these dogs out and about. It is so sparse that the Two Rivers Dog Musher's Association is contemplating cancelling the Solstice 100 race.   

I'm going to have the make the purchase of a used four-wheeler a high priority between now and next August, along with stripping out the engine and power-train from the dead one, to convert it into an unpowered, free-wheeling training cart.  [Sigh] Just one more thing to have to spend money on.  

OK - it's time for me to feed, scoop and love-up on the dogs.  Catcha next time.

Swanny 

 

"Clicker" Training 'Line-Out'

Many of the problems I had with my attempted sled run the other day (see Lots of lessons in a single run) was a result of Orion's enthusiasm to run.  He was so excited he couldn't resist trying to 'spin' in his harness, which of course results in a really ugly tangle.

The solution, of course, is to train him to "line out" like a proper sled dog.  "Line out" is a cue given to ask a dog to stand, leaning into the harness, to keep the gang-line tight.  Orion's behavior the other day proved I didn't focus on that behavior enough while introducing Orion to the harness last year.

I was wishing I had a video camera I could have set up to record today's training session, because it would provide a good example of how easy it is to train a behavior using strictly positive operant conditioning methods - aka "clicker training".

The first step is to "charge the clicker", basically just communicating to the dog that we are starting a training session and there are really cool treats to be earned.  Since many of my dogs are already very familiar with clicker training, I charge the clicker by asking the dog to perform very familiar behaviors in exchange for a click and treat.  After 3 cued 'sits' followed by 3 cued jumps up onto his dog house I took Orion over to the gang line, and harnesses him up.

Orion actually helped with the process, shoving his head into the neck ring and lifting each foot in turn to properly don the rig.  I hooked the harness to the tug-line, then stepped backward a couple of steps.  Orion naturally followed my movement and I clicked the moment the tug-line was taught, tossing him a cookie.  After two more repetitions he was happily leaning into the gang-line without prompting, so I then hooked up his neck line.

Next, while still standing in front of him, I started working on duration, clicking only when kept the tug line taught.  First for 1 second, then for 2, after a few reps waiting for 3, and so on.  With duration steadily improving I to a point where he easily held the position for 10 seconds without fidgeting, I started the cue.  Since that is a change I reduced the duration criteria to five seconds, and within a few reps he had apparently figured out that the cue asks for the specific behavior. 

Next, I started moving around as I gave the cue and he performed the behavior.  This is intended to teach him that the behavior should be repeated regardless of what I may be doing.  Within a half dozen reps he was giving me a nice 'line out', on cue even when I was standing behind him.

He was doing SO well that I decided to raise the criteria again.  Since I was changing one criteria I moved to his side to reduce the pressure, and started shaping a more 'pretty' line-out, clicking and treating only when he was standing with his head pointed straight ahead rather than looking at me.  After 6 successful repetitions I ended the session by letting him free run around the kennel, visiting all his kennel mates while I put the harness and gang-line away and moseyed back toward his house. 

So, in one training session lasting no more than 20 minutes, he relearned a basic behavior and handily dealt with 4 different changes in criteria.  That's fairly remarkable progress.

Of course Orion has some advantages that make this kind of progress possible.  He has been clicker trained literally since the day he opened his eyes.  He is normally very food motivated, and today even more so I conducted our session about two hours before his supper time. 

In the next session I'll start by reducing all the criteria just a little bit, until he remembers what it is that I'm asking.  I'll continue to shape that elegant "nose forward" position just because I really like the way it looks (I can be quite vain when it comes to my dogs, and he looks quite noble in profile).  I'll also work in increasing duration and latency (the time it takes for the dog to react to the cue and perform the behavior) and probably call it a day.

In future sessions we'll continue to work on duration and latency, and bring in some more changes such as asking him to line out while standing beside another dog, then later while I hook another dog beside him, and even later when I hook up dogs in front or behind him, and so forth. 

I have some other dogs who could benefit from similar remedial training, so I think I'll have plenty to do with the dogs over the next few days, even though there isn't enough snow to go mushing.

Charges Against Horse Killer Dismissed

Some of you may recall that a bit more than a year ago I wrote of a case here in Two Rivers in which a person shot two of her neighbors horses, killing one and wounding the other. I was (and remain) upset that the FNSB Animal Control Division referred the case to the Alaska State Troopers rather than immediately investigate it as an animal cruelty case, and AST took nearly a week to send an officer to the scene to investigate. The shooter admitted she had fired her weapon, but insisted that she did so in protection of life and property, and that she had not intended to hit the horses.

The question at issue was whether firing a gun in a populated area and in the direction of a heavily used trail system, striking two horses, was or was not reasonable. It was my position (and remains my position) that "reasonable" must be defined by a jury who can hear and analyze the totality of circumstances to reach a unanimous decision. Quite a few folks put as much public pressure as we could on law enforcement and the district attorney's office to file charges, and finally, nearly five months after the event, the district's attorney filed a charge of Misconduct Involving Weapons in the Fourth Degree - "discharges a firearm with reckless disregard for a risk of damage to property or a risk of physical injury to a person under circumstances other than those described in AS 11.61.195 (a)(3)(A);"

The case languished in the courts until last week, when apparently the district attorney's office dismissed the charge. When I contacted the DA's office to ask why, I was politely but firmly told that such information is confidential, and shared only with those who are directly involved with the case.

There are several possible reasons why the DA may have made that decision. It's possible that the owner of the horses, who has since moved out of state, refused to return to testify. Since the U.S. Constitution allegedly guarantees the right to confront your accuser and the right to a speedy trial, he may have decided that any further attempt to pursue the matter would be unconstitutional. Some might believe that the DA was just unwilling to take an animal related case in front of a jury. I don't necessarily think so, but there is that little nagging thought that it is possible.

In any event, the case is now nothing more than a notation in the shooter's rap-sheet, which isn't particularly impressive even for such a small community as Two Rivers. Punishment is defined as consequences of a behavior that make the behavior less likely to be repeated in the future. Scientists have shown that punishment is effective only when the consequences are both timely and severe. Any consequence introduced too late or too little qualifies as nothing more than retribution. Although a conviction of a class-A misdemeanor can result in severe punishment, more than a year after the fact is nothing close to "timely."

Unfortunately, we still don't know whether shooting a neighbor's animal who follows your own animals home is or is not considered reasonable in this community. There is plenty of case law to show that killing wildlife that is enticed onto your property does not qualify as defense of life and property, but very little about domestic animals.

I doubt this particular person will ever again be confronted with similar circumstances, but if she were I suspect she'd probably choose a different course of action. 13 or 14 months is a long time to have the sword of Damocles or the threat of the law hanging over one's head. As far as I'm concerned, that has probably been more retribution than even the most ardent animal rights fanatic would ask.

That doesn't get the FNSB Division of Animal Control, the Alaska State Troopers or the District Attorney's office off-the-hook. Their indecisive approach to this incident shows a terrible lack of competence when it comes to animal related cases. If this case demonstrates 'doing their best', then doing their best isn't nearly good enough.

The most important lesson of this situation is a reminder of a very old saying - "Good fences make good neighbors." If you keep your critters under control this sort of thing won't happen in the first place.

Update, 12/02/09:  There is an article in today's issue of the Fairbanks Daily News Miner that confirms the D.A. dismissed the charges because the victim was not available to testify and more thoroughly explains the shooter's side of the story.  To read the story just click HERE.

Historical Sled Dog Harnesses (Part 3)

Click on images to view full-size

Running Into a New Century

At some point in the latter quarter of the 19th century, someone had a very bright idea.  This unkown dog musher figured out that if he were to hook up his dogs side by side, with harnesses attached to a common single gang line, he could double the number of dogs on his team while keeping the length of the team manageable.

Who or where this new "Alaskan hitch" (sometimes called a "Nome hitch") originated is unknown.  Photographs from the period show this rig most commonly used by early 20th century mail team drivers, while the majority of mushers seem to have held fast to the older single-file rig.  The Alaskan Hitch was introduced to the mushers of the famous World Champion Dog Race at the Northern Manitoba Trapper's Festival (aka "The Pas") in 1920. 

A passage from the scrap book of Roy H. Johnson, and appearing on the NMTA website, reads "In the race of 1920, Walter Goyne, who was born in Ruby, Alaska, made history when he came out of the frozen hinterland of Alaska to compete in the early Le Pas Dog Derby.  When Mr. Goyne arrived in The Pas that day many years ago, he discovered that all the local mushers were using an old style toboggan for racing, with their dogs hitched in tandem style.  Goyne brought with him the famous Alaskan dog sled with his dogs hitched in the now famous Alaskan hitch, that is, dogs are two abreast with the leader centering the team in front. Northern Manitobans of that era were quite skeptical of Goyne's sled and "new" hitch and in fact gave him little chance of winning that race of 1920.  But when the race was over, and Goyne had won by an easy margin, the skeptics were forced to eat humble pie.  Today Goyne's Alaskan hitch and sled is being used by all famous mushers in Northern Manitoba, the East and the St. Paul Winter Carnival whose dog races date back to 1889." 

The 'new' Alaskan hitch called for some modifications to equipment that had remained essentially unchanged for 200 or more years.  The most glaring changes included an X-shaped breeching that held the harness traces at nearly the correct height to work with a common gang line, and the addition of a singletree (aka 'spreader bar') to prevent the harness from pinching the dog's hips.

The two harnesses I purchased from a neighbor probably originated some time between the first and second world wars.  I've seen harnesses of similar style and materials constructed after World War II, but those invariably incorporated webbing that was apparently war surplus material, dyed olive green or more rarely, khaki. 

One of these two harnesses is larger than the other, obviously intended for a somewhat larger dog.  The traces on these harnesses are attached directly to the hane, rather than using a hame-tug attached to an O-ring.  The hames of both collars appears to be bamboo, as illustrated in the 1898 drawing at the top of this article.  The webbing of both harnesses was of white cotton (confirmed by burn test), but are apparently from two different sources or lots, as the thickness and weave pattern is different between them. 

The larger of the harnesses is in the best condition.

 The tab that covers the top of the collar has a stamp, indicating that it was probably made by a professional harness maker, a trade that was rapidly disappearing in the 1920s and 30s.  It is somewhat obscured by age, so I'm not able to glean enough information to determine who that manufacturer may have been.

 

 

The backband is of pretty thick leather, and the belly band of thinner leather and considerably more narrow than the backband.  The belly band attaches to a small D-ring using a snap hook, which is attached in a manner that shows the opening of the hook was intended to face away from the dog when in use.  

The single tree is heavily aged, and is probably original to the harness.  The eye bolt to which the tug going from the harness to the gang-line attached is similar to any modern eye bolt you might purchase in a hardware store, but the square rather than hexagonal nut is evidence of a much earlier origin.  The harness doesn't have any extraneous decoration at all.

I believe the second harness may have been worn by the musher's lead dog.  Historically it was common for mushers to hook up wheel, team and swing dogs side by side, but to have a single leader hooked into the front of the gang-line.  This harness is decorated with two wool yarn poms, reflecting a tradition of decorated standing irons from an earlier century.  The collar of this harness is much more worn than that of the larger.

The back-band and belly-band are of one piece of webbing, and it appears that the ends were intentionally opened up, probably in order to salvage the hardware.  The squared wood singletree is probably a replacement for a broken original, and the tug eye appears to be made of stout wire that was clinched back into the wood.  

Interesting...

Interesting Weather

The high temperature at the house thus far this morning was 39 degrees F (3.8 C).  Right now it is 37.  Those figures are 'above', not below as would be more likely.  A very strong chinook is blowing over the Alaska range.  Unfortunately, chinook winds are dry winds so it looks like the little snow that's on the trails will be melting down quickly. 

Interesting Good News - Abner

I received an Email from a friend who is tight with Abner's new owner.  She wrote "As Abner is healed up, I harnessed him up and ran him beside Libby in a 2 dog team with the 4 wheeler. He did perfect! So now we’ll run him routinely. 

Interesting Time in the Dentist's Chair

I thought I had lost a crown, but instead it seems I shattered a tooth.  Fortunately it didn't break into the root.  Now I do have a temporary crown on it, while the new one is being formed.  The temporary crown will be replaced the very day I next get off duty from my place of employment.

The procedure was more uncomfortable than the damage, but what must be must be.  My mouth is really a wreck, but my dentist has done me great service over the years and as a result I still have quite a few of my original teeth. 

Interesting Plans for the Day

OK, I confess.  I don't necessarily have any interesting plans for the day.  I'm going to care for the dogs, put my six-dog lines back together with a new cable-filled gang line section and some cable neck lines to thwart Sheenjek's new hobby of line chewing, and just do this and that around the place.  If I can develop a degree of confidence in the four-wheeler I may try running some dogs later. 

I may also shoot some photographs of a couple of antique harnesses I bought a few days ago, to discuss here on the blog.  We'll just have to see how the day progresses.

This evening I've promised a friend to help repair a dog sled.  It needs some hardware and a couple of of stanchions re-tied.  I recently learned how to do that from master sled builder Dave Klumb, and I'm looking forward to practicing my newly developed skill.  OK, I'll make another confession - the promise of a home cooked meal is another powerful motivator. 

Lots of lessons in a single run...

Sunday, 28 November:

2 miles – home to trailhead and return.

Torus (single lead)

Orion (single team)

Sheenjek (single wheel)

Nels was attempted in wheel but dropped due to a chewed through tug line.

Let’s just call this one the run from hell.  The plan was to run 4 dogs to test the trail.  That’s because my four-wheeler is dead and can’t be trusted for running dogs.

First I harnessed Sheenjek and put him on the line to do as he wished while I worked my way up.   Mistake #1.

Next was Nels, with his harness hooked to the gangline, but his collar to the drop chain.

Third was Orion, who tried eating his gear straightaway.  I distracted him from that and moved to Torus, then back to Orion, then to Sheenjek who was chewing a neck line, then to Orion, then back to Torus, then back to Orion (who had spun out of his harness).

Finally got everyone lined out, only to find Nel’s tug line chewed through.  With Orion going nuts I didn’t want to mess around a lot.  I stripped off Nels’ harness, got Orion straightened out again and headed to the sled as quickly as I could to get ‘em moving.   That was mistake #2.

Damned if Orion didn’t spin in his harness just as we were leaving.  Nothing to do but keep ‘em moving for a bit, albeit under control.  No question about it, it is nothing but tough sleeding out there with every rock, stump and tussock exposed.  The main trail was even worse with ruts from four-wheeler tires wrenching the sled this way and that.

I was finally able to hook down at the turn around point, and got Orion’s harness fixed.  Fortunately it stayed fixed for the return trip home. 

Ultimate lesson – there isn’t enough snow on this trail to run even a small team on a sled.

Oh, when I put my gear away I found that Sheenjek wasn’t satisfied chewing through two neck lines and a tug line.  He had nearly chewed through the gangline, releasing his team mates, as well. 

Historical Sled Dog Harnesses (Part 2)

The Lukosik Harness

Dave Lukosik collected this sled dog harness, which was in use in the earliest part of the 20th century.  Dave wrote that the harness was originally collected by Bob Majni of Macedonia, Ohio(outside of Cleveland) on one of his artifact hunting trips to the Yukon and Alaska!  He hiked the Klondike trail from Skagway years ago and put together a "Yukon Gold Historical Exhibit" that he traveled around the country(US, Canada, Alaska) over the years.  He has been a collector for more than 30+ years.

As the photos will show, it saw hard use and was repaired several times.  That's not surprising because dogs are notorious for breaking stuff.  If you examine the collar of the lead dog's harness in the image below, you can see that it has been repaired or reinforced the same way as the Lukosik harness.



The Lukosik harness is constructed basically the same way as the one made by Bruce Bachelor in the 1970s, depicted in Part 1 of this series, with hame tugs that attach to an O-ring, to which the traces are then attached.

The circular hame of this harness is constructed of iron or mild steel bar, turned up at the ends and lashed together.  Historical harnesses may have been lashed with rawhide babiche or with snare wire, which was readily available in the fur trade.  Be tightening or loosening the lashing, a little bit of size adjustment is possible.

In the detail below, you can see that the hame tug is wrapped around the circular iron hame and then fastened back on itself.  By attaching the hame tug or traces in this manner, the padding of the collar helps prevent harness rubs that would be an inevitable result if the trace or tug were wrapped around the entire collar.

 A profile view of the harness shows the variety of hardware that was used in it's construction.

The length of the hame tugs are adjustable with a buckle.  The backband is adjustable with a peg buckle, and the traces and belly band connect to the O-ring with a simple snap hook.  What I find most interesting about the hardware is that it is all identical to horse harness hardware that remains available today.  I haven't seen the split copper rivets that were used to attach the belly band to the ring in years, but I do remember they were available back in the 1960s and '70s, while I was just a lad.

In the next part of the series, we'll take a look at a couple of newer artifacts.