Welcome to Urban Mushing –
home of the Southern California Working Snow Dogs --- a group of humans and
their canine companions indulging in different fun dog-powered activities for
the working dog. Our dogs LOVE to run and pull and we give them a chance to get
the exercise they need and deserve through various “mushing” type activities
such as dog scootering, carting, bikejoring, canicross, skijoring,
weight-pulling, and yes, even dogsledding. Most of us are also avid hikers and
take our dogs backpacking as well as snowshoeing during the winter.
Our site is constantly
evolving, so please
check back often for updates. We hope to use this as a source of information on
different types of urban mushing activities, gear, equipment, and events and to
encourage others to exercise their dogs, especially the working breeds.
Interested in
learning more about urban mushing? In
addition to this website, we have a great discussion group for you to join!
Go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoCalWorkingSnowDogs/. Our discussion
group gives you local run locations as well as meeting times and the best conversation around with fellow urban mushers!
Also visit our new blog
for up-to-the-minute information regarding our activities, fun runs and pictures
from events!
It doesn’t matter where
you’re from or what breed of dog you have --- if you love your dog and want to
learn more about dog-powered sports, then you’ve come to the right place.
To get a feel for what we're all about,
watch this
news clip from ABC News which aired on December 8,
2007 covering our 2nd Annual Not-So Great Serum Run! You can also watch this
promotional video by Donna Meichtry, one of our
more creative group members who is studying video production. She still
has hours of editing to do before she completes the project but in the meantime,
enjoy this amazing 'teaser.' Are you hooked yet? To see even more, view and listen to our slideshow from our
recent Dogs Across America event. Also click Laguna Niguel,
Fairview Park 1and
Fairview Park 2 to see three video clips! For even more
pictures, visit our photo gallery!
Urban Mushing at the Pet Expo - What a Weekend!
...and I say that only because it was hot! It
started out hot on Friday but it got even hotter on Saturday and Sunday as
it climbed up to the upper 80s/low 90s. It is ironic that of all the
weekends to get a heat wave in April, it had to be this past weekend. We did
our best to keep the dogs cool and even had a kiddie pool as well as misters
set up for them on Sunday.
Nonetheless, it was a fun time. We were able to provide a little bit of
information and education by doing the demos and also talking to people who
came by the booth. Of course, Nichole was there showcasing her team of
malamutes, jindos and siberians pulling the Fritz-Dyck cart while Paul did
his demo on the sacco cart, and we also had a "backpacking with your dog"
demo. I had the scooter portion with the 3 brats and additional "props" were
ably provided by Heather and her malinois, and our two junior urban mushers
Zach and Dylan (Zach was even brave enough to scooter with a couple of giant
wolf hybrids during our last demo).
Thanks to the volunteers who came to help man the booth, to Dennis for the
album of pics of this year's activities, and to Three Dog Bakery for the
sample biscuits that we handed out to the event-goers. And a huge and
special THANK YOU once again to Tom and Tina Dunn of Double T Kennels
(http://www.doubletkennels.com/) and the Southern California Alaskan
Malamute Club (http://www.scamc.org/), as well as their crew, for making all
this happen. They have been coordinating this working dog exhibit with the
Pet Expo organizers these past three years and have even provided the booths
and other logistical requirements. All we had to do was show up --- it was
truly a great opportunity to give the public a little taste of what we do and
hopefully get some of their dogs involved in another alternative to getting
much needed physical and mental exercise.
Urban Mushing at
America's Family Pet Expo!
Costa Mesa Fairgrounds - Friday April 11 to Sunday April 13, 2008
We will once again be participating in this year's
Pet Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Gates open at 10 AM
and closes at 6 PM (Sat at 7 PM). We will be part of the working dog booth
providing information and giving three demos each day (11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM).
The booth/demo area is located at the Memorial Gardens, located inside the
fairgrounds right beside/behind the Pacific Amphitheater. The Pet Expo is a
fun place to visit so if you do go, please come by and say hi. (note: pups
aren't allowed inside the Pet Expo, other than those that are part of the
exhibits.) For more information:
www.petexpooc.com
Shaver Lake - SNDD RACING ADVENTURE - March 2 & 3,
2008!
It was nice to see old friends and make new ones. A huge THANK YOU to Hugo,
John and April for organizing this event and making us feel at home and also
all the volunteers who make events like this possible. Also Karen Yeargain
and Shae for words of wisdom (and thanks to Rainy for walking us through the
wax-on, wax-off process).
We all learned
so much thanks to our guest speakers, Carmen and Becky. We can't
wait for next year!
And thanks a lot to all who participated in the clinic --- it was great
to see both old and new faces alike. Special thanks to Benu for the canine
massage class (although I would rather train my dogs to give me one), Peggy
and Dennis for bringing over the barbecue grill (complete with cook), Kecia
for coordinating the potluck, Excel Futures (Mark and Chris Waggoner) for
providing the weekend breakfasts, Karen Liane for the chauffer service and
registration packets, Joan for her incredible photography and Matt and
Claire for opening up their home and playing host to our guests.
Our 2008 Urban Mushing Clinic will be at Fairview Park on Saturday February
23rd and Sunday February 24th! Carmen and Becky (co-owners of Alpine
Outfitters) are very excited about coming down here along with Sue
Scofield (of K9 NW Scooterers). They will share with us their wealth
of knowledge on mushing.
Schedule of Events
This is a great opportunity for newbies to see, touch, and try out different
equipment under the guidance of seasoned mushing folks and it's also a
perfect time for the not-so-newbies to learn new tips from the experts.
So if you want to meet up with these master mushers, then please sign up and
send in your registration form ASAP! Registration Form
Announcing...the 2007 (not so)
Great Serum Run and Potluck! We will be hosting this
FUN event on Saturday, December 8th at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa.
This year, we have expanded our horizons and will have 5 different races:
1 Dog, 1 Mile Junior Scooter race
1 Dog, 1 Mile Adult Scooter race
2 Dog (max), 2 Mile Open race (scooter, bike, sulky, sacco)
3 Dog (max), 3 Mile Open race (scooter, bike, sulky, sacco)
1 Dog, 3 Kilometer Canicross race
The races will be in dual start format and will be timed. We will have
prizes, awards and raffles for participants in the different events BUT even
though these are billed as "races", the focus is to have fun for the dogs
and have an excuse for the group to get together in a more organized
setting.
Three Dog
Bakeryin San Clemente is the only
Southern California
establishment that stocks a vast array of Alpine Outfitters harnesses, lines
and collars - contact them or bring your dogs in today!
Three Dog Bakery San Clemente
118 S. El Camino Real (at Del Mar)
949.218.3364
See Joan's "Amazing they
Are" montage of our incredible Urbanmushing Athletes and friends!
America's Pet
Expo!
April 13, 14, 15, 2007
Costa Mesa Fairgrounds
Here are a few pics of some of the demos that were happening at the
Pet Expo this weekend. As you will see from the slideshow, we need to give a
huge round of applause to all the volunteers who contributed endless hours
to make this event a huge success and to Tom & Tina Dunn for organizing
another great year. My hat goes off to you all!!!
And last but certainly not least, none of this would have been possible
without all the help from our illustrious canine ambassadors!! We are so
proud of you all. Just click on the link below and see our ambassadors in
action..... http://tinyurl.com/2asovd (thanks
Joan for the wonderful slideshow!!!)
Daily Pilot Newspaper
Article
January 21, 2007 Read the excellent article featuring our own urban mushing
group in the Daily Pilot - a branch of the LA Times - Costa Mesa/Newport
area!
Orange County Register Article
January 9, 2007
Our
urban mushing group was recently featured in the Orange County Register!
DOGS ACROSS AMERICA DAYS 1 & 2 FAIRVIEW PARK, ELSINORE BERM, POPPY FIELDS & BACK BAY
Day 1
of Dogs Across America was deemed a howling
success by everyone involved...we had great weather and better yet, great
company and GREAT dogs! Thirteen dog teams ran today - the number of
miles are still being calculated but it is a great start for California!
If Day 1 was a howling success, Day 2 will need to be called a
howling and yowling success!!!
Our site is constantly
evolving, so please
check back often for updates. We hope to use this as a source of information on
different types of urban mushing activities, gear, equipment, and events and to
encourage others to exercise their dogs, especially the working breeds.
nd
hopefully get some of their dogs involved in another alternative to getting
much needed physical and mental exercise.
learned
so much thanks to our guest speakers, Carmen and Becky. We can't
wait for next year!
Announcing...the 2007 (not so)
Great Serum Run and Potluck!
America's Pet
Expo!
