Bebrovi

My husband, Patrik, and I race teams of sled dogs, specifically the Siberian Husky and, beginning this year, also the so-called European Sled Dog (pointer mixed breed). Our pack comprises nine Siberian Huskies and one pointer, who range in age from two years to thirteen-year-old grandmothers. 

Depending on the abilities and performance of our dogs, we race in various categories: SC1 1 (1–2 Siberian Huskies – scooter); C1 (up to 4 Siberian Huskies – trike); B1 (up to 6 Siberian Huskies – four wheeler). This year for the first time we’re entering the BKJ-M category (bicycle with one dog – men). Our season gets underway in September and comes to a close in March.  

I’ve been racing for more than 20 years; my husband began only a short while after me. Throughout our long career, we’ve enjoyed many wins and have even held the National Champions title. We race both at home in the Czech Republic and abroad. Experience has taught me much more than just how to win. To me, a win is every race finished in good health and every training session in which I see my dogs doing what they’re supposed to and truly enjoying the exercise. Their excitement and impatience when they see me getting the harnesses and the cart and leads ready, and the way they jump around in their pen and bark at me – ‘Come on already! We want to go’; that’s the biggest reward I could ever ask for, knowing that we’re doing it together because we love to run. 

Nature, the woods, dogs, silence :-)

As far as active breeding goes, I haven’t had much luck yet. Finally, after some twenty years, I succeeded last year in certifying a dog, and this year I also have a very promising bitch. In my long career, I’ve never had my own puppies, either because an individual had some ‘defect’ (height, eyes, hips), or I decided not to breed the animal due to personality problems. Keep your fingers crossed – my dream of having my own puppies might finally come true in the spring of 2021.

It goes without saying that we could never do what we do without high-quality food and nutritional supplements. Some might call it cliché, but it isn’t – an athlete who has what they need can continue actively living their sporting lifestyle for much longer. We found everything we need under one roof – the company VAFO and their Carnilove brand of dog foods, specifically the Wild Boar and Lamb variety. When it comes to snacks, our dogs like the duck chewbones the best, and at competitions we give our dogs cans (different varieties) to help keep them hydrated. We also use the nutritional supplements in VAFO’s Canvit product line, such as Chondro Super, Aminosol, and Yucca. Our season never gets underway without these three items. 

We’re members of the organizational team for dogsled races in Stochov near Kladno, and we’re involved in a purebred dog club, where I’m also a member of the committee.

Sincerely on behalf of the dogsled team in Holoubkov, 

Anita Bebr