Hi Everybody,

Spiffy here writing from snowy Stemboat Spring, the home of the world’s most comfortable dog collar, the air collar. A lot has happened since I last put paw to paper, not least from my home town of Stemboat. I think the last time I spoke to you we were off to Montana for the Race to the Sky, and what a race it was. For us sled dogs this is one of the great races of the world and this year it celebrated its 25th anniversary. Our team ran a good race, but as many of our dogs are young so we did not win this year, but there is always next year. Saying this all was not bad as the second place in the race was taken by another Steamboat team, Jarle Halsnes with a team of 12 dogs.

The race to the Sky Montana’s premier winter sporting event and is recognised as one of the most challenging and beautiful sled dog races in the world. It is an unusual test of physical power, mental toughness, teamwork, and the special bond between man and animal and takes place over 350 miles. Working together, they negotiate the trail through Montana’s scenic Rocky Mountains. The race was featured in the new movie starring Christopher Lloyd, Call of the Wild 3D, along with the fantastic Zima X-back harnesses that I wear and you can get at our stand at Crufts (Hall one, stand 125).

This year, for the first time, we also had the junior Race to the Sky and saw a great team of young mushers take part. (More information on the race can be found at www.racetothesky.org). (left the junior mushers)


It has also been a fantastic week for Steamboat in the Winter Olympics at Calgary. Steamboat is known around the globe simply as Ski Town, U.S.A. and has produced more winter Olympians than any other town in North America, now a record 84 and counting. Including the 2010 Games, Steamboat’s Olympians have represented eight different countries, made 148 Olympic appearances during 17 Winter Games. On Thursday, Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane won the Gold and Silver Medals in the 2010 Olympics' Nordic Combined event, which pairs ski jumping with cross country skiing. These medals followed Spillane winning the Silver Medal earlier in the week in his individual combine event. What a week for Steamboat. On a personal note why can’t mushing get recognised as an Olympic sport, I am sure you would all like to read about your favourite dog, winning a gold medal, how cool would that be!

Now to news from the UK, our British company is expanding and as my friends in the old county have explained to me they are getting so many requests for the complete range of dog products that they are expanding their range, not only to include my favourite Spiffy Dog Air Collar collar. ( If you are not wearing one, why aren’t you?) And the other fab Spiffy Dog products but they are expanding their range of harnesses to take in the famous Zima X-back harnesses that my team mates and I wear, as well as the fantastic fleece walking harnesses, that are made for them by Cosy Dogs in Lancaster. To this end they are changing their company name to Xtra Dog an all encompassing name that will take in Spiffy Dog, and the other products they sell, all for greater good of dogs, their training and wellbeing.

Don’t forget the team will be at Cruft this year, in Hall One, stand 125 and our dog behaviourist friend Marie Miller, will be on the standstand Thursday-Saturday, (I would wonder what she would have to say about some of my antics, but that’s another story!) so drop by and say hello and if you ask nicely my friend Arapahoe might even offer husky cuddles to special visitors.

Till next time keep wagging those tails

Spiffy xx

Back to Montana

Well we are heading back to Montana for the Race to the Sky a fantastic race that I know the team who are running the Grizzle T sled are very excited about. This race is also significant for us as it organised by Jack and Pam Beckstrom from Adanac Sleds who make the most fantastic sled dog harnesses, in fact their company invented the "X" back harness that we sled dogs wear. Our team use these fantastic harnesses too. If you are coming to Crufts this year at teh NEC in Birmingham (March 11-14), go and see the Spiffy Dog (Europe) team as they will have some of these great harnesses on their stand in Hall 1, stand 125 along with the Spiffy Dog collars and leads.

Pam has written a short piece about the upcoming race, so I shall hand you over to her.

"Montana’s Race to the Sky has 21 mushers (15 for 350 mile marathon and 6 for junior race) signed up to run this year’s 25th anniversary dog sled race. Mushers from Montana, Washington, Colorado, Canada, New Jersey, Michigan, Tennessee, Idaho, and California are preparing to head out on the trail next weekend starting at Camp Rimini, at the foot of McDonald Pass near Helena for the 350 mile mushers and at Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln for the start of the junior race and restart of the 350 mile race.

This year, organisers of the premier race have added a Junior Race to the Sky. The junior dog mushers will be running from Hi Country Snack Foods (Sunday, February 14, 10:00 start) to the White Tail Ranch (about 50 miles) with a mandatory layover before proceeding to the finish line about 50 miles away at Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake. This 100 mile continuous race has six mushers schedule to run ranging from 12 years old to 16 years old. Included in the Junior Race to the Sky are: Lacey Hart of Livingston, Montana, Jenny Greger of Bozeman, Montana, Justin Fink of Gladwin, Michigan, Aiyana Ferraro of Victor, Montana, Eimanne El Zein of Edmonds, Washington and the latest entry from Josie Thyr of Cataldo, Idaho.

The 350 mile race will start at Camp Rimini at 10:00, Saturday, February 13. The distance mushers will run to the finish that day just off the Woodville Exit near Butte. Mushers are predicted to finish that leg between 5:00-10:00 p.m. that evening.

Fifteen mushers are entered so far in the 350 mile race are: Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington, Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee, Montana, Jarle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Lachlan Clarke of Buena Vista, Colorado, megan Routley of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Washington, Kim Darst of Blairstown, New Jersey, John Fink of Gladwin, Michigan, James Bardoner of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Ryne Olson of McMillan, Michigan, Kris Hoffman of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana and Doug Wurzelbacher of Chilcoot, California. Officials expect a few last minute entries to come in this weekend.

The restart of the 350 mushers will start Sunday at noon from Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln. This starts the continuous portion of their journey and they will be following the junior mushers into White Tail Ranch Checkpoint.

Also on Saturday is the Junior Vet Check at the corner of Park and Dakota in Uptown Butte at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Come and see the dogs have their physicals before they run 100 miles and then head to Woodville to see the bigger teams finish the first leg.

Checkpoints for this year’s race include Camp Rimini near Helena, Woodville Exit near Butte, Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln, White Tail Ranch near Ovando, Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake, Owl Creek wilderness checkpoint near Condon and back to Seeley Lake, finishing under the start/finish archway at Hi Country Snack Foods.

All checkpoints are accessible by car. The White Tail Ranch and Owl Creek wilderness checkpoints are not operational for the public but the rest of the checkpoints are accessible by car. The public is encouraged to take part in all the events."

Thanks Pam! If you can't get to Montana then I hope my English friends will see you at the NEC for Crufts. Remember we are in Hall 1, stand 125 and we may be able to reveal some exciting new Spiffy Dog designs coming out later this year.

Until next time ... Keep Wagging those tails

Spiffy xx