There’s No Stronger Way to Meet the Unknown
October 4, 2020 2:54 AM Subscribe
Working with dogs in the wilderness means negotiating countless shifting variables: snow and wind, wild animals, open water, broken equipment, each dog’s needs and changing mood. I learned that plans, when I made them, were nothing but a sketch; the only thing I needed to count on was that the dogs and I would make decisions along the way. What My Sled Dogs Taught Me About Planning for the Unknown By Blair Braverman [From the NYT's series on resilience, via Farnam Street.]
Lovely writing and a helpful perspective.
posted by merriment at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by merriment at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
I loved this, thank you. It provided some real comfort.
posted by Kemma80 at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Kemma80 at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2020 [3 favorites]
Fantastic article. Thanks for sharing ❤️
posted by supermedusa at 12:39 PM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by supermedusa at 12:39 PM on October 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
(Slightly off-topic.)
"They know their own power — that they’re stronger than me, much stronger, and if they turn or stop when I ask them to, it’s because they’re choosing to listen and trust me."
That is the first rule of Husky/Malamute ownership. They make a choice whether to do what you want, and they do that with every choice. You don't train a husky as much as you have an ongoing series of choices agreed upon.
posted by ITravelMontana at 1:22 PM on October 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
"They know their own power — that they’re stronger than me, much stronger, and if they turn or stop when I ask them to, it’s because they’re choosing to listen and trust me."
That is the first rule of Husky/Malamute ownership. They make a choice whether to do what you want, and they do that with every choice. You don't train a husky as much as you have an ongoing series of choices agreed upon.
posted by ITravelMontana at 1:22 PM on October 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
For a change, do read the comments at the NYT piece. There's some arguing about whether dog-sledding is abusive, but most of it is wonderful dog stories.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 1:47 PM on October 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 1:47 PM on October 4, 2020 [2 favorites]
Thank you. I needed to hear this. I just printed it out and stuck it to my fridge as a reminder.
posted by natabat at 10:19 AM on October 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by natabat at 10:19 AM on October 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
Psst, NYT photo caption writer! What on earth were you thinking, not telling us the names of the dogs shown in the photos? Harrumph!
posted by Lexica at 12:30 PM on October 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Lexica at 12:30 PM on October 5, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by k3ninho at 5:43 AM on October 4, 2020 [6 favorites]