Artikel im Calgary Herald

Max said as much as he loves dogsledding, it's the nature of his dogs that makes it so worth- while. They have great per- sonalities. It's a relationship of trust. You have to trust them and they have to trust you, or else they'll quit on you."
Max said it's always been his dream to enter Alaska's gruelling Iditarod race, but said he would need a larger team of dogs for the l,700-kilometre route between Anchorage and Nome.
For now, Max and Kathrine said, they're happy with their life and any dreams of glory can wait. "We're living a different dream," Kathrine said with a smile.

Artikel im Calgary Herald vom 28. Dezember 2001 High River Couple finds life mush better LAUREN MACGILLIVRAY - CALGARY HERALD
Max Schmid takes his team of Siberian Husky sled dogs for a workout near his High River home.	Max and Kathrine Schmid admit it may have been a mid-life crisis that spurred them to move with their dogsled team of four Siberian Huskies to High River from Switzerland. Lured by Canada's vast wilderness and opportunity for endless snow-covered trails, Max ditched his job as a pre- press manager and Kathrine left her dental assistant position. More than two years later, they say they have no regrets - just freedom. "It was really difficult to take them (the dogs) for a run in Switzerland," said Kathrine, 45. "There wasn't as much room. We were always bumping into other people or dogs." Max, 42, added, "We thought, "Why not try?"
Settled in a spacious two-storey home in a quiet High River neighbourhood about 4o kilometres south of Calgary, the adventurers have a large fenced-in yard to accommodate their dogsled team, which consists of Bess, 14, Irok, 7, and Kiri and Kiowa, 5. Max said the fence is a must for Siberian Huskies because they are bred to run and have hunting instincts and an independent nature. Bess, for instance, was true to her breed when she charged off on the Highwood River to chase a deer and was sprayed by a skunk. The canines get their chance to explode full throttle when they're harnessed to the sled, taking instruction in German during a run along the frozen Highwood River, or in open stretches of Kananaskis Country. "They're not easy dogs to have," Max said. "They need a lot of exercise. But if you're willing to put in the effort, it's very rewarding. When you get out with the dogs you forget everything. It's hard to describe, once you've been out there with the sled and the dogs. It's just amazing." Although the sled is built to carry one person, the couple sometimes squeezes on together if the snow is wellpacked. Harder snow cuts resistance. If not, they take turns. They now run their own Web design company, Webbmax, which allows them more time to hit the trails. "It's made a big difference to our lives,"said Kathrine, looking relaxed while leaning back on a kitchen chair, wearing a sweatshirt bearing the face of a husky. Max said the most expensive part of dogsledding is buying the equipment, including special harnesses and collars, a training cart with wheels for dry land and a winter sled, which costs about $1,5oo. Keeping four Huskies costs the couple about $26o a year in regular veterinarian bills and about $1,2oo each year for food. The real effort, Max said, is training the team "You need to know what you want the dogs to do," he said, adding instructive books and professional advice are the ultimate guides. They (the dogs on the team) peak in about five years if they're trained properly."
Max said as much as he loves dogsledding, it's the nature of his dogs that makes it so worth- while. They have great per- sonalities. It's a relationship of trust. You have to trust them and they have to trust you, or else they'll quit on you." Max said it's always been his dream to enter Alaska's gruelling Iditarod race, but said he would need a larger team of dogs for the l,700-kilometre route between Anchorage and Nome. For now, Max and Kathrine said, they're happy with their life and any dreams of glory can wait. "We're living a different dream," Kathrine said with a smile.