Introducing a Member (s) - Vol.7.

Name: Gary Oke & Lucy Teal
Member since: 2015
No of Dogs: 13
Dog(s) name(s), sex, age(s) and breed(s): Geeze Emma, I thought you said these questions were easy!! :D
Loki, Male, Husky, 6
Tia, Female, Husky, 8
Kaala, Female, Husky, 5
Honey, Female, Husky, 5
Dylan, Male, Husky x Heinz variety, 5
Ludo, Male, Husky, 3
Rocky, Male, Husky x Bassett Hound, 6
Khaleesi, Female, Husky, 3
Pixie, Female, Husky, 2.5
Vixen, Female, Husky, 2.5
Finn, Male, Husky/Mal/GSD, 19months
Roxi, Female, Husky, 4
Sasha, Female, Husky, 19months
(phew!!)

Occupation: Gary ; Self Employed running a Doggy Daycare Centre. Writer, producer and performer for a horror entertainment company.
Lucy ; Dog Walker and K9 Hydrotherapist, Writer, producer and performer for the same horror entertainment company

Lives in: Glossop

Dog sports participated in:
Gary ; Canicross, Scooter, Rig
Lucy ; Canicross, Bikejor, Rig

Question 1: How did you start in the sport?
Gary ; After getting Loki in 2011 I soon realised that a normal trot round the block would never be enough for him and an off lead roam in the hills was out of the question so after researching found canicross was the way forward and it grew from there. I remember a friend of mine at the time joking that before I knew it I would end up with 6 Huskies, a van and a rig. I told them not to be silly, I would never have more than 2 dogs.....I now have 13 Huskies, 3 vans and endless equipment.
Lucy ; I BLAME GARY (*Emma note – I am laughing a lot!!)

Question 2: Which was the first dog/dogs you raced?
Gary ; My first proper race was with Loki at the 10k Thunder Run at Catton Hall in 2013
Lucy ; Honey at 10k Thunder Run at Catton Hall

Question 3: How did you come to own your dog(s)?
Gary ; I got my Rottie Juno from Manchester Dogs Home in 2010 and noticed there were 10 Huskies there. Having known a Husky owner/breeder previously I knew they were a specialist breed and thought it was strange there were so many in a generic rescue. So when I got home I did my research, found out they were a breed in crisis so decided when she was settled that Juno's companion would be a Husky. I then got involved in Husky rescue and am a rubbish Fosterer (in a good way). Lucy and I then started racing multiple categories and found we were quickly running out of options for dogs to run so the pack grew :) We changed our jobs to fit 100% round them so we could accommodate more rescues dogs.
Lucy ; I TOTALLY BLAME GARY  (**Emma note: hahahahaha)

Question 4: Interesting fact about your dogs -
Some early members of our pack had behaviour issues or had no interest from people to be rehomed. Some were 'aggressive', 'feral', 'escape artists', 'unhandlable', 'destructive'...etc..etc. I'm not saying we haven't had our issues with them but we've found that working them in dog sports and as a team really has helped overcome their issues. Our core pack truly does amaze us.

Question 5: Interesting fact about yourself -
Gary ; I've worked with Duncan Bannatyne on a TV Show
Lucy ; I used to be a Butlin’s Redcoat and was an Olympic Torch Bearer in 2012

Question 6: Biggest achievement in a race
Gary ; Had a disastrous day one in a race (going the wrong way and being over taken by an ex foser dog I trained) to then doing so well in day two I actually managed to place.
Lucy ; When Pixie and Vixen came in they were extremely scatty. They had been put in a kennel for the last 6 months of their lives and only thrown scraps of food and had no human contact. The Fosters before us did amazing work but they were still very flighty when they came to us. They couldn't walk on a lead and collar and we had to keep leads on them in the garden to catch them when they went out for a wee. Last year I ran them in their first ever race, in Novice canicross category and they were absolutely amazing. Would have placed if I'd have not chosen to run 'not for competition' ;)   
    
Question 7: Dogs favourite treats - Natural Chicken Strips (I'd get the name of them but if I opened the cupboard right now there would be a riot).

Question 8: Favourite Song
Gary ; Iron Maiden, Number of the Beast
Lucy ; David Essex, Hold me Close

Question 9: Favourite Film
Gary ; Flatliners
Lucy ; Labyrinth

Question 10: Favourite cake
Gary ; Carrot Cake
Lucy ; Anything but Carrot Cake (YUCK!!)

**Emma note; and this is why we love our NATB members :)!!