Nordenden tracks in december

We have a great variety of tracks to run and to go for walks directly outside our doorstep. This photos was taken around winter-solstice with temperatures far below zero but snow barely covering the ground. Wolfdog Poukin on top of Farmenrøysa.

VASSFARET

Chasing

Felix with his semi-wolves

Our Dutch Niece

Amani is Skarvs Dutch niece and has inherited a propensity for a "flying" gallopp. She loves to run and is exercised regulary and extensively in the forests outside of Doorn in the central Netherlands. We look forward to test her movements in the snow on skiruns in the mountains.

Her running mate on the first picture is the mother of Ax; Duet.

To sustain a springy gait and supple movements.

A lazy animal like the wolfdog needs physical challenge to keep its body and joints in the best condition. The heavy wintersnow requires full flexion and extension of the animals limbs. During the summer; climbing the rocky hills is a perfect exercise.

A cold july.

Snow, slippery slides, fog and wind prevented us climbing the highest peak. Nevertheless enjoying the great outdoors.

Exercising the wolfdogs

Exercising the wolfdogs is best done jogging in the forests at a lazy wolftrot speed or crosscountry skiing when the ground is covered by snow.

Hiking Blefjell with dutch wolfdogowner.

After bucketing of rain nearly the whole saturday we appreciated the sunday sunny walk from Sigridsbu to Bletoppen and across some of the highlands. The wolfdogs Ax and Skarv had a nice day not meeting other people than one Catalonian on the highest point of Ble. Apart from this single specimen they were happily trotting the highlands like being wild in real wilderness. This walkabout was also a celebration of the small female wolfdog Ax`1 year birthday.

Reindeer at Norefjell

In southern part of Norway wild populations of reindeer still runs the moores. What a complete experience to encounter a pack of wild game with your wolf on the leash.

Blefjell at winter.

Skiing at higher altitude, preferably above 1000 m above sea level, is much easier done offtrack than lower down. The snow is denser and makes a harder surface. The dogs can run on top of it. The wind press the snow and makes it perfect to ski on. Usually I prefer going away from tracks with my wolfdogs.

Blefjell at summer.

An approximately 2 hours drive will take us to a montain-region that we visit frequently. Either we walk for a 1 day hike or a full weekend with the night spent at the cabins "Sigridsbu" or "Eriksbu". Reindeers sometimes cross our tracks in this regions.

Wolf

Wolves have an efficient and rational gait. Besides their wild nature and their social instincts,  their efficent and springy gait is what fascinates me about wolves.  Wolves are lazy and will be a huge disappointment should one try to use them as working dogs.  They are not proletars, but aristocrats by nature.

Wolfdog Skarv

Skarv has an amazing way of moving in the heavy snows. He puts the footprint of his hindfeet exactly in the footprint of his frontfeet. His track is then on a perfect single line which is very seldom seen in any breed of dogs. Skarv has a very heavy and dense wintercoat which makes him look like he has much shorter legs than he has for real. He is a leggy and narrow-chested fellow which only is displayed in his summercoat. I present him in both summer- and wintercoat.

Wolfdog Poukin

Poukin is a rather submissive female wolfdog. Poukin has a super springy wolfish trot. She has mothered 3 rather astonishing sons; Skrim, Skog and Skarv. Her springy and efficient trot is transmittet to her offspring.

Wolfdog AX .

Ax was given to me by Gerard de Moore and Marijke Saarloos in the Netherlands. She is a purebred Saarlooswolfhond. Ax displays a normal Saarlooswolfhond shyness, but she is far from as submissive as my other female Poukin.