The Joyful Journey Of Leap, The Husky Puppy, Who Pulled a Sled For The First Time

Advertisement
  • 01
    Dog - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Y'all know Leap.
  • 02
    Dog breed - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Leap is our only puppy this season. 12:26 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone
  • 03
    Vertebrate - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman That means that, as an only child, she's done a lot of firsts by herself. Like her first visit to the retirement garden.
  • 04
    Canidae - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Her first big, ahem, leap.
  • 05
    Snow - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman And her first snow!
  • 06
    Dog breed - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman She's grown into a strong, confident, adventure-loving tweenage husky who is somehow completely different and completely the same as her puppy self.
  • 07
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman But there's one thing she'd never tried yet. Something that's part of what makes her who she is. 12:40 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 5 Retweets 1.1K Likes
  • 08
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman She'd never pulled a sled. 12:41 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 5 Retweets 1.2K Likes
  • 09
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Today was a gray day with fresh snow and a whole afternoon to spend playing in it, and the older dogs are happy and chill after some long runs. It seemed like the perfect moment for Leap's rookie run. 12:45 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 4 Retweets 1.2K Likes
  • 10
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman But who should she run with? 12:45 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1 Retweet 981 Likes
  • 11
    Mammal - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Lead dog legend Pepé would guide the way, of course. Who better to take Leap under her wing?
  • 12
    Dog - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman And Pepé's daughter Willow could lead with her. You up for a baby run, Willow?
  • 13
    Canidae - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Willow said absolutely. HA XLII
  • 14
    Canidae - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Pepé has a tradition of zooming to check out the trail before each run, and Willow went with her. Just to make sure everything's a-ok. Clem watched them go.
  • 15
    Vertebrate - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman A minute later, they zoomed back and positioned themselves in front of the sled. Trail's good, let's go!
  • 16
    Mammal - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman I picked Clem to run with Leap, behind the leaders. He's three years old, calm and mature, and I thought he'd be a great mentor as she learned the ropes.
  • 17
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Teaching a new sled dog to pull is very complicated. Here are the steps: 1. Put the dog in harness. 2. They pull! 12:57 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1.6K Likes 17 Retweets
  • 18
    Mushing - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Leap has seen the big dogs run a thousand times, but she's never done it herself. Clem and Pepé and Willow were howling and jumping with excitement. Leap looked back at me, hopeful but confused. This was a whole new thing and she wasn't sure what her role was yet.
  • 19
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Just do what feels right, I told her. 1:01 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 2 Retweets 1.1K Likes
  • 20
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman There's no pressure in these situations, because there's no way for a dog to be wrong. If they love running, they get to run. And if it's not for them (which is v rare) then that's cool too, and they can be a rec dog or a porch husky or a pet, whatever makes them happiest. 1:03 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1.5K Likes 14 Retweets
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman As you can see, pulling is instinctive but dealing with the gangline isn't. When Leap put her leg over the gangline, I slowed down to let her fix it herself. She learned in a few seconds and was ready to go again. 1:21 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 1.2K Likes <>
  • 24
    Dog - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman At the edge of the field, I stopped to give Leap (and the other dogs) some praise and pets, but she was having none of it. She was having way too much fun for breaks. Time to run more! And MORE!
  • 25
  • 26
    Text - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman Leap won't run long distances until next year, when she's older and closer to fully grown, but for the rest of the winter she'll be taking short runs with the older dogs and the retirees. I can't wait, and I think it's fair to say that she can't, either. 1:29 am · 2 Jan 2020 · Twitter for iPhone 4 Retweets 2K Likes
  • 27
    Dog breed - Blair Braverman @BlairBraverman This is just the beginning of a million adventures to come. I'm so proud of our girl! TAILAALAA

Tags

Scroll Down For The Next Article