Terrors Team Report – Steve Wormald – 1973

Recent History

The Terrors started again virtuaiiy from scratch at relief 1973 after an apparently disastrous year in 1972 with no leader or supposedly potential leader, and hence spent the summer following the other team in the unit except on a very few days. (Janet, still in the team, had been a leader in 1971).

Juno and Duek bad been lobbed to the Debs during the summer of 1972 in exchange for Debbie and Myth, who were reckoned to be possible leaders. Still no luck (if luck be the word).

Thus at relief 1973 the team stood at:

Debbie, Myth, Janet, Clough, Roald, Pete, Ceris, Thorax, Dwarfy, Cleve (these last three to retire,)

The team as suggested by the 1972 doggy man was:

Janet, Tralee, Roald, Clough, Pete, Ceris, Thorax, Chey, Shem and Beorn

After relief, the teams were reorgnised yet again to balance them all up, and to give teams (like the Terrors) a chance at least,

Thus we were then:

Duek, Craven, Mitya, Juno, Ceris, Chey, Ratti, Roald, Janet

Myth returned to the Debs, Debbie to the Gaels, and Juno and Duek rejoined the Terrors, with the expectation of Duek as leader. Clough was reshuffled to the Giants to allow the introduction of a pair from Halley, Chey and Rattie which would have meant three lurky dogs (Ratti, Clough, Roald), Tralee stayed in the Giants as their rightful new leader. Pete became a spare dog, then joined the Debs, and another pair, Craven and Mitya, introduced to assist Duek at the front.

After the trip Ratti was exchanged for Pete (again). As an afterthought, Pete is equally so, if not more so, a worker, but not so heavy (I’m not sure that matters).

Duek perfomed splendidly in the short Autumn and Winter trips, considering her previous status, and has contined to improve in leaps and bounds throughout the year. She has given minimal trouble and now is as good as most of the leaders at Stonington. I don’t say she’s the best, but more than adequate and very reliable and steady.

Craven and Mitya provided excellent, particularly Craven, initially until Duek gained confidence, and then for reasons explained later, moved back in favour of Janet and Chey, and later still, in early summer, for Juno and Ceris.

A relatively light team, they performed excellently in the summer, although in December heat they lost some of their verve, Whenever traveiilng in the cool of the early morning they were excellent, but when the sun began to make its effect known, Pete and Chey particularly were badly affected and obviously tthis showed in the power of the team.

Janet was flown out in December to to allow Fiona to be introduced for running-in.

All except Roald can be let off, freely in the field. On base beware letting off Craven and Ceris, who play up occasionally, particularly Ceris who heads for a bitch and keeps away from you. In the field he follows you around like a guide dog.

Craven and Pete rarely come when called, rather sit where they are until you fetch them.

The running order with Janet in the tean is very straightforward, and was only varied to train up Fiona with dogs who change sides easily etc.

Juo, Janet , Mitya, Pete

Duek ————————————-

Ceris, Chey, Craven, Roald

Spanning

Ceris

Janet

Craven

Pete

Duek

Roald Mitya Juno Chey

On base I try to span then using the bitches as much as possibie. Pete aggros with everybody (at a distance) as does Ceris.

Craven Mitya Chey Duek Roald Pete Janet Juno Ceris

None of the team chew, but Roald easy to transfer to the night span so he’s better off there. He and Mltya chew at the trace when they are excited, so it saves that problem, Mitya, Juno and Chey when let off will follow you around faithfully or oome when called, so they are very easy to span on the night span. All the others can then just be spanned where they run In bad weather or deep soft, but otherwise I let them off, except Craven, and give them the few minutes freedom they deserve. Similarly, on a morning I let off Janet, Ceris and Duek, and don’t clip them on until the sledge is lashed up, night span and all, then clip them., Juno, Chey and Mltya on as I walk up to the front. Again it gives them a run to get some of the steam and shit (literally) out of them, and also avoids you having to untangle traces having been revving in circles on the trace.

At the end or the day, be ready with whatever pickets axe you are going to use. If its good surtaoee, get the axe In the back, then smartish up front before they tangle. Its no good thumplng and screaming at then cos its your bloody fault. If you stand around and unlash the sledge etc (it happens) before you picket the front of the team you are asking for trouble, you’ll just have to unclip them sort out the tangle. If it’s soft surfaces or they are tired get straight up front , they won’t pull the sledge forward. (Famous Last Words).

Again if the spans come up at feeding time, it’s still no good thumping and kicking them, it’s your fault for for being too idle to put the right picket or deadman in.

As said, none of the team chew, but keep craven away from the sledge as he is partial to leather collars and the like. Similarly Roald likes to sleep on a comfy bed, and if the night span is slack enough to let him reach the sledge, he’ll pull off the pup tent or tent bag to sleep on. He hasn’t chewed one yet.

Personally I believe in having a last check before you leap in the tent, and tighten the traces if they are at all slack. It means the dogs are that much nearer and that much more fractious.

I don’t span anyone on Duek’s running trace, ae it just increases the chances of the picket or axe there being pulled out. Slmliariy on the night span end, hence the short length of wire at the end. Duek can be spanned anywhere (except next to Janet) and nomally lives on the Krab on a double side trace. She likes to lay next to the sledge and also the double trace gives her that much more freedom as she can’t go round in a circle.

The team responde to ‘sit’ when starting off in a morning,

They don’t sit but they know the general Idea of not revving too much until you are ready. Personally I think it’s a waste of time to try and train this sort of obedience if it doesn’t come too easily. As sitting was the only thing the Terrors were able to do well last year (I’m told) with the influx of new dogs I didn’t bother with that one. I have’t lost the team thie year. They want to go, you want them to go, so get on with it. They will sit you make them, and occasionally when revving on the trail I made a point of making then walt just to remind them, but generally, if they are keen, don’t spon it.

When you have to break up a fight, or chastise severely. USE THE THUMPER, not spades, ice axes or your boot. You’ll forget sometimes, which is normal, but you’ll forget once too often and lash out with the wrong part of your boot and do some damage, i.e. broken ribs, broken tails or internal damage which you don’t notice a few days late and don’t connect with the kicking. Since October I haven’t used the thumper except for fights (not always in the Terrors!) When a fight starts, USE the thumper, its safer for them and you,

HOUND BY HOUND, starting with little Duek

DUEK

Keen Leader, will go all day long without any signs of flagging and still goes mad each day when you let her off. It’s not that she hadn’t been working because she IS a working leader, and hard, and if she shows any kind of becoming otherwise, thump her. Responds to commands well now after a year, if doubtful will follow Juno or CEris until shouted at sharply when manoeuvering. Once she knows she’s right, she’ll pull the lot round on a long trace – on a short one she hasn’t a chance. She bears to the right when camping, or thinking she’s camping, stop her if you aren’t ready for her to go, and Persist that she does what you want. She’s eager to please and you will have more trouble with the front pair than with her in this respect.

Her Good Points are: Fantastic on steep hills, revs and stays up, and has NEVER attempted to turn round. Very friendly and doesn’t sulk after chastisement, (but may cower on haunches until you’ve touched her again to reassure). Good In crevassing, doesn’t pull away in panic, but won’t cross immediately if she isn’t too happy. Accept this and try again, if she stiil won’t, have a look, she’s usually quite right. Trun her to run along then try again and she’ll go if it it’s OK. Don’t believe this shit about Survey teams not being manoeuverabie (?). It all depends on the driver.

Duek wili manoeuvre with the beet of them If you have the patience to work her. I make a point of getting her to go into camp so that she parks the sledge where It should be, rather than letting her go where she wants to. She’ ll cooperate when she knows you mean bisiness. On the other hand, if you allov the team to be unruiy, and do what they want, you’ll lose your manoeuverabliity. Similarly if you are led into camp at night by the other bloke, or out in the morning, you may as well give up and be led through the holes etc.etc. Duek good at manoeuverlng, especially on base, and your problem is always to find a front pair to help rather than hinder, particularly on base.

Bad Points – She sometimes will drag on very steep downhills, eg, bottom slope of Sodabread, so you have to be particularly carefui to have enough braking pover or you may get into chaos. She hates glare ice, but now happily cross it with a bit of encouragement. Wanders a bit on compass bearings, but she gets there, and responds well to corrections. If she doesn’t respond after a couple or three commands, don’t hesitate but thump her straightaway. I found having done this she then responded immediateiy and also didn’t wander so much. She also runs off to the side of a track in whiteout (as most leaders do to be able to see it), but this easily corrected by putting your pennant dongler to the side to correct the slip.

She’s an ace, and you’ll love here. She hasn’t had a single day when I would have put anybody else up to do better.

JUNO AND CERIS
Brothers who rarely fight and work extremely weil as a pair, anywhere, They swap sides automatically. A good steady front pair since September, they had been running second pair after a disastrous tryout at the front on base. Think it will be worth trying them again on base now they have had a season in the there. Ceris is the worst particularly when he’s on the sea ice for pulling straight for base.

Both are no trouble in holes and will follow Duek across anything. Manoeuvering, Juno will sit down if he’s puzzled and then Duek has to be really sure she’s doing right and then she’ll pull him back on his feet. Ceris will pull off towards camp when approaching it at an angle, so again Duek has to be treated with patience to be confident to drag him back. Ceris is more of a revver than Juno, Both are very friendly, Juno the moreso, but Juno also bite if a leg is within range when he’s being thumped.

Juno’s tali goes down automatically when you shout at him, or Duek, loudly, but it doesn’t stay there for long – don’t worry about it.

Both relative lightweights, but good steady dependable workers.

BEWARE. Ceris is the fastest stuffer in the business,.

Also Juno can and has led, (purely for my curiosity), so if Duek ever does have a bad day try him.

JANET

Steady and a heavy bitch. A hard worker who still puts on weight in the summer, flown out at 86lbs. The equivalent of any dog, and with three bitches in the team with Janet as one, the team would be equally as strong.

Swops sides OK, she does run alongside Chey on the same side, just stop and call her name and she’ll go round.

A revver at front pair, with Chey, occasionally slacks there, but a shout or mild thump wili cure her. Her big defect at the front is her tendanoy to do right-angled sweeps at the Bilghtest Auk or Irra. This messes you, Duek, the team and her (when she gets smashed for it) so better to remove her from the place of most damage to second pair. The maln reason for moving her back is to get a younger and longer term pair up, i.e. Juno and Ceris, a bitch at front pair always being liable to a spon. Can lead (led the Guards on hols, during the winter,and excellent when following. Her turns are done in units of 45 degress or more, or not all. Friendly except to Duek, they now have a mutual non-agresslon pact. Was advised not to have them in the same team by Bryan Jones as they were reputed to fight almost daily. I had two fights all year. Stamp on them both early, Will growl when Duek minces up to her span, chastise them both verbaiiy (Janet for growling, Duek for provocating) and should be no prob.

CHEY

Soft as a brush, a hard strong willing worker but I feel he has comparatively little stamina in warm weather. In the winter this probien didn’t show itself, nor in the summer tilwe were travelling in ridiculous hot weather.

He willingly run on the rightt. Is good at front pair with Janet, but tires and pulls wide, slows the team. Excellent in holes. will cross anything probably because he’s too thick to reallse the danger. Knows the commands and reponds occasionally. Is good as sole “front pair” on base as will follow Duek faithfully, but Janet will distract him. Can be awkward to harness and unharness when tired as will roll over. Don’t stand for it, make him stand up and if he won’t easily, walk away and do somebody else.He only wants affection but it can be very trying.

A lovable Iad who is relly goft, but he also the King Dog and can be a sod to break up in a fight.

MITYA

Getting old, limps badly at the end of a travelling day, in left foreleg. A great character who works his heart out despite his leg, also fights hard and often with Chey, unless jumped on. Works constantly and steadily. His barking on hills and stopped on the trail is a great “rev” feature but can be dodgy when parked and facing downhill, so watch this.

Good at front pair early in 1973, but slowing now. Was desperate in holes at the tront, so better for all nearer the back. Regular running mate of Craven’s, also regular fights between but not very serious ones.

Think twice before lobbing him next winter, or even summer for a younger pup, as if he’s still working he will be invaluable for the journey down. Very friendly and affectionate, you’ll love him.

CRAVEN

A steady hard worker, very occasionally takes a short easy break very craftily, this is given away because he keeps looking round to see if you’ve noticed.

Is good at front pair but happier at the back, worls harder in ratio to how near the back he is. Not afraid of crevasses and he taught and gave Duek the confidence to cross holes. Accepts running with Mitya as a fact of life and puts up with being jumped on regularly when Mitya is impatient to be off and can’t be.

Runs happier on the left but will change over if running with someone who runs there also.

Arrived from Halley with the balding tail which he still has despite various attempts at treatment. Doesn’t seem to bother him, although when it was completely bald at one stage he did seem to have a complex about it, and leapt on anyone who went near his rear. Can be let off and won’t go away but neither will he generally come, so I generally left him clipped on. Good lad, his main attribute being his steadiness. Has lead and knows the commands but not too happy about it.

ROALD

A desperately hard worker, probably the hardest in the team, and also lurky. A terrfic revver, just can’t sit still on the trail, will yap and tug, and often manages to start the sledge, so beware. Chastisement has had little effect on this except t make him more lurky., so now I just accept the fact and try to be prepared, although occasionally I still thump him for it when he’s done it in a particularly awkward spot – we all have a temper.

Prefers to run on the right but will change over. Will not run in front pair, and loves to be at the back. Ran on normal clip and spanned on normal clip, until off twice in three days, due to tangles and deadmen melting out while on station. Once you’ve had him off for a day (the minimum) you won’t want it to happen again.

My personal opinion is that you’ll never be able to let him off, but he’s more than worth his weight in the team. Accept this and the lurkiness together.

He may try to slip his harness when being chastised, so a good hold and a well-fitting harness is essential. Once he knows you he’s easy to handle, but try not to lose your tempter with him until you know him, as he can be a bit awkward. Will tug at the main trace when revving, he doesn’t actually chew it but neither does he have a beneficial effect on it. Again trying to cure him increases his lurk and doesn’t help at all, so just be aware and leave it at that apart from whenhe’s obviously having a chew. His loudly shouted name usually stops him.

PETE

Another desperately hard worker, who’s usually aboslutely shattered at the end of most days. Pulls out to side badly, and will only run on the left, hence he’s very liable to harness rub. Many attempts to solve this with different shapes and fits has had no effect. Very prone to heat and dehydration, collapsed three times on trail during summer. Probably due to his somewhat “hairy” dark coat. His hairy tail also gombles up sumpin awful with meat and blubber. He ran with it permanently downfor the first month of the summer til I gave it a haircut, and later a comb! Then he was happy. Watch out for this.

Can be let off, but rarely comes when called, usually because he’s flaked out, so I tend to leave him on the trace. A great guy, very friendly, you’ll grow to love him.

That’s them. I hope you have as good a year as I had with the Terrors, they were great. My last bit of advice is to drive them and train them as per the experience of the last 25 years, and not the last few years revolutionary whims. The dogs did alright before the whims.

Would appreciate a note on how they went on after your first year.

Steve Wormald – Stonington, March 1974