All three of my dogs received their AMCA CHD certificates and number from the Alaskan Malamute Club of America - so their numbers and certificates are now online, on each of their pages. They already had the Australian number, from the Australian Malamute Club of Victoria, and which essentially has a program operating in the same manner and with similar methodology.

Because of the harness business and the freeze dry food business, I decided to add a phone number, and also use it with the 'kennel' - the number is 1.613.294.8701.

I'm currently finishing the Web site - http://campingmealscanada.weebly.com/ - to carry Thrive Shelf Reliance freeze-dry foods (hoping to launch end of March) - however if you would like to hear about this product (or already know you like freeze-dry foods for camping, general use, etc and want to order), please contact me by Email as I can manually input the orders. There is no difference in the taste with fresh or frozen vegetables (and no chemical-sauces added - a can of vegetables is a can of vegetables and a can of fruit is a can of fruit, for example - but with dozens of servings in it). Shipping is $20 minimum (anywhere in Canada) so to make it cost-effective you would want to order at least $50 until they get a warehouse in Canada, later this year (though you can order any amount) - but that would give you a fantastic ability to try the smaller sizes, and many types, without committment - although it is not the most economical way. Powdered eggs (hard to find), sour cream and butter will also be available, in addition to standard and tropical fruit, green, orange, red and yellow vegetables (and potatoes) and a chicken, beef, turkey, ham (and TVP (texturized vegetable protein for those who can't or don't like to eat meat - or want something different) - and even a few basic deserts! YAHOO! My Summer is looking up!

It has been available in the USA for several years and has excellent reviews. Originally, it was available via retail (regular stores) but the company changed to 'consultants' who sell the product. Working in the computer industry, I I can see why; many, many people under the ages of 40, buy more from the Internet, than anywhere stores. As the ages drop, they do not watch television (and purchase shows, without commercials, instead), they do not listen to local radio (and miss the local commercials), have only used cellphones, never owning a home phone, and rely heavily on friends refering products, rather than commercials.

You can buy a few items, at irregular intervals once a year or once a week - anything), you can order a 'set' amount (ie $50) to arrive automaticly every month, and save some money. There is a huge range of products available (in many sizes) - and I've been looking for this type of food (in Canada) for a very long time, to take camping, in the RV, and to also be able to feed the dogs (for convenience) when travelling. I can buy dehydrated food for the dogs (and usually use Harvest Foodworks for me) but they are very small portions and very expensive to eat longterm or over extended periods of time.

This companies products are entire foods, with little to no preservatives or chemicals in 95% of them, and include dozens of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, deserts and 'extras'. The foods would also be useful for cutting down waste in a fridge, emergency preparedness, camping, hunting, 'spare' ingredients (rather than a trip to the store), HEALTHY snacks for people, diversity, without waste, if there is only one or two people living in a house. I will be setting a small Web site up for it where people can order directly from the companies Web site, under me, or can Email me their order and I will input it for them. I can also 'host' a party for you, at your location so you, so your friends and family, can 'try' the products BEFORE buying them anywhere in Eastern Ontario.

This product is both nutritious and cost-saving! They range in prices from a few dollars to $20 to $30 per 40 - 60 serving tin. They have a very long shelf life (even when opened, as is the case with most freeze-dried food) and primary uses would be:

• Everyday home use with meats, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and grains (including full meals to snacks)
• Emergency, Short and Long term kits (for cars, boats, power outages, camping, hunting, cottaging)
• Bulk food storage systems for large scale use, with entire shelving systems

The primary benefits of the products are:
• Nutritonal values are retained, unliked many canned, frozen, packaged or dehydrated foods
• Long term, safe, storage for emergency use, financial hardship, camping, hiking, RV-ing, Coattages, Parties, School and Work Lunches
• Diversified fruit, vegetable, meat choices, without the waste, cost or preparation time
•  Cheaper per serving than many 'grocery store' counterparts, and available year-round instead of seasonally
• North American-sourced products with limited, to no, preservatives or chemicals

Yukonjak's Seal of Distinction and Yukonjak's Ernie - Ooky and Ernie - recieved three more passing grades, each, for health certifications! Ernie had what will probably be his last thyroid check (registered this time), the new dentition certification (that the dog has the correct number of teeth), and his patellas cleared. Ooky went too and also recieved her dentition, thyroid and patella certification, as well! Last thing to do with Ms Ooky is spay her, have her hips done again, to compare to OVC from five years ago, and take all three dogs in for new CERFs this Summer. Tinker's CERF (eyes) is valid until August 2012 since I'm breeding her. Each dog has had: Hips, elbows, eyes, heart, patellas, dentition, thyroid and degenerative myelopathy certification - in addition to donating some DNA for future research for the breed, recieved their CHD certification through the Aust Club. Another DNA test - for polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamutes - should be available May 2012 - and they will all be tested for that, as well. 'PN' as we call it, is an extremely debilitating disease - and completely preventable IF both parents are tested and proven clear. If however a dog 'carries' or is 'affected' then it can actually be bred safely as long as to a 'clear' - which is why it is important to know the status of as many dogs as possible. Unlike OFA certfications, DNA certifications can very, very quickly elliminate the disease.

Just for reference, Ernie's mother is Ooky's grandmother (and Tinker's great-grandmother). The original Yukonjak dogs (mostly Bearpaw and SkyFyre) are in all my dogs, multiple times - especially in Ernie.  Cascade's Sabre Bear (mostly Williwaw/Targhee and very old Wakon) is Ooky's grandfather - and Ernie's great-grandfather (although Ernie is older than Ooky) - and ultimately Tinker's great-grandfather. And, the Snowlion in Ooky and Tinker, is obviously heavily related to the original Yukonjak dogs as both began with Sky Fyre, a working kennel (who showed, too).

So, if you have three generations, as heavily related as I do, clearly the smart choice is to test all of them, if you are breeding from any of them. Fortunately, all three have many, many working dogs from the few working kennels out there (Sky Fyre, Snowlion, Storm Kloud, Strawberry Mtn, etc) and anyone who works their dogs, doesn't want 'sick things' on a trail or pulling ...

Our Bertie lost his final battle, of many, yesterday. While he had not been well for a very long time, with several problems, you are still never really prepared for it. We will miss him, as will his very best friend, Ernie. While he wasn't related to my other dogs, Bert, Ernie and Ooky had many, many special times together. Bert would have turned eight next week :(

Tinker, Slushpuppy's Special Sleigher, passed the remaining certifications for various OFA health standards for Alaskan Malamutes. She was graded as excellent on her hips, and recieved pass or clear for elbow dysplasia, patella, cardiac (heart), thyroid, and eyes. She is the first Alaskan Malamute certified under the new OFA Dentition program (Veterinarian-certified and meaning she actually has all her teeth). She is degenerative myelopathy clear, carries long coat and has AMCV Chondrodysplasia Certificate #160. All four dogs had their DNA registered with OFA, for future testing and research, but it has yet to make an appearance on the OFA record. I phoned them Friday to ask why, and they do have everything, and it's just behind - along with the results for two more DNA tests.

Last Summer, Ernie was 'given' Ms Tinker's appointment for all these tests due to Ms Tinker coming into season so she couldn't be done when I wanted to have her done. But just in between the time of Ernie being OFA-certified last August, and Tinker in February, several new DNA and OFA tests became available. Five years ago, when I was first testing Ms Ook, there wasn't much - hips and eyes - and everything else I had to acquire the information and learn about, as the years went by. At any point I've discovered a Malamute afflicted with a disease, I've tested the dogs for it - if one is available. Every test you see under my dogs names, has a known, traceable Alaskan Malamute afflicted with that disease, regardless of whether anyone else is testing or not. Do not, for an instant, believe someone when they say "X only affects other breeds, not this one ... blah, blah, blah" - as I traced real information, real medical studies and diagnosis, I found at least (generally a lot more) one Malamute with each of the diseases for which I am testing. Sadly, there isn't a test for 'everything'.

After Ms Ook had her basic hip, elbow and eye check, five years ago, with our Canadian OVC (no longer available), I became more and more interested in the health checks - and started looking into other tests, and taking the other dogs. Bert failed everything for which he's been tested. Heart, elbow and one DNA test became better-understood and its importance in testing, accepted, and so my dogs were tested for those diseases. I 'work' the dogs and even the 'neuters' deserve to have me make sure they are structurally sound to do that work, particularly coming into old age. So the neuters have been tested. Consequently, it wasn't a bad idea to take old Ernie back - he actually had OVC hip Xrays when he was young. But I wanted to make sure he was ok, years later, so it seemed like a good opportunity (plus I'm looking at some of his relatives as a sire for puppies with Tinker). It definitely doesn't hurt to check them if you are actually doing strenuous activity with them, breeding dog or pet. These health tests are designed, first and foremost, as an indicator of the health of the dog being tested; that someone may breed from that dog is an immediate second ...  

Patella also became a bigger issue, as more Malamutes are diagnosed with the affliction, though it's typically a young dog disease, as is elbow dysplasia. But in the last year multiple tests are now available for Alaskan Malamutes, with at least one not yet commercially available (polyneuropathy). At the point the tests become available, I've tried to take the dogs back in for whatever they are. When Ook has her hips and elbows re-certified with OFA this Spring (and to be spayed as she is past breeding age) she will have her patella and dentition certified - and one final thyroid test. One of the kindest things you can do for an 'older dog' that still 'working', is to have the hips examined a second time, to ensure they remained free of dysplasia (and other things). The 'bad thing' isn't finding something bad; the 'bad thing' is not knowing - and leaving something untreated!

Since I was sick the majority of the week, and grounded inside for much of it, I added a lot more information to the 'diet' section of my Web site. I posted nutritional breakdowns for common food items, along with the real requirements for one of my 85 pound dogs, to compare. If you want any of the files, ask me, although I did put some items in the 'download' section. I also uploaded videos, one of Ernie eating a raw fish, to the HEALTH SECTION, under NUTRITION - and one of Tinker, the Solo Sled Dog, to the WORKING SECTION under SLEDDING (and also under MY ALASKAN MALAMUTES, TINKER). And I added most of the certificates I've recieved for various dog-related courses, seminars I've taken.