Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures

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Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Nature's Kennel

PO Box 5
McMillan, MI 49853
Tel: 1-906-748-0513
Email: info@natureskennel.com

Journals

Adventure Journals

Welcome to our life of adventure! Check out the latest kennel news, stories of your favorite sled dogs, and more!!
For more journal photos, click on the racing photo gallery.

Friday, April 30th, 2010 The girls (Ryne, Vanessa and Jennifer) are patiently awaiting their depature to Alaska. There's a few last minute glitches in the trail brake operation, which Master Mechanic Ed is tryinig his best to fix. Their trip is most likely delayed a day, but they should still arrive on time. Jennifer is headed to Skagway with her 9 dogs and 9 of ours, and Ryne will be headed to Juneau with 42 dogs to work with Sebastian Schnuelle's glacier opeartion. So, while they are all rolling in the dust in the dog yard trying to get packed...here's a couple of cute baby Nate photos. Oh, and I guess I'd better actually include a dog update...Yooper and Whistle are headed south with Opal Krout to Alabama. Yooper will love the southern comforts this winter, and Whistle is being reunited with two of her puppies whom Opal already owns. I hope there's still room in the king sized bed for everyone! Posted by Tasha



Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 (from Ryne) If there were one word to describe this week it would be TRAVEL. All within a week, we will arrive at Nature’s Kennel and then drive five days to Alaska! Yesterday, Vanessa, Katy (mom), Mike (dad), Alaska and I drove from Durango to Albuquerque for our return to Nature’s Kennel. Alaska slept some of the way, as one picture shows. And of course, safety first! (The other picture shows Alaska with her seat belt on). Alaska absolutely loves road trips, but I don’t think she quite realized all that would go into air travel. Once we arrived in Albuquerque, she hopped right into her crate for the flight to Chicago, then on to Marquette, Michigan. She seemed relaxed enough on the motionless conveyer belt, but as the belt began to rotate, she was less than pleased. I must admit, like a worried parent, I was slightly anxious as Alaska disappeared into the dark luggage hole. But upon arriving in Chicago, my worry was put to rest as I saw the attendant playing with Alaska through the crate while unloading her from the plane. In Marquette, we were greeted by the ever-smiling Maliko. We were all happy to be back on the ground, but I think Alaska was the most pleased as she playfully sprinted around the parking lot. Last night, instead of driving the two hours back to the kennel, Nate and Lindsay were so generous and invited us to stay at their house outside of Marquette. Not only did they provide us with a delicious dinner and homemade bread, but also Lindsay made fruit pancakes for us this morning. Alaska thoroughly enjoyed her stay as well since she got to play with their two Beagles, Mya and Amber. Thank you Nate and Lindsay! For the next few days, we will be busy packing and preparing the 60 dogs for the long drive north to Alaska! The word of the week couldn’t be travel without this five-day continuous drive to Skagway and Juneau for the summer season. I’ll keep you posted on the epic drive! Posted by Tasha


Saturday, April 24th, 2010 "As worthless as a skylight in an outhouse." Marty, our trusty truck mechanic (you guessed it, talking about our Ford 6L deisel engine which is going in for repairs again. I am so glad that our dogs run better than it does.) Since this is about the puppies, I hope you do not find this journal worthless without more up to date photos but Tasha has the camera with her. I promise more puppy pictures soon but for now.......................THIS IS THE PUPPY UPDATE: Ayn Pups; Huckleberry and Gallea (Montana theme) These two rascals are incredibly mature for their age. They are super active and love to wrestle. But then again what puppy out of the Momo line is not the most playful thing on the planet. Huckleberry has no fear and is already to take on the world. He is going to be a handful because he will sas me when he feels that I am taking too long getting my chores done. Gallea is not shy but she will let her brother explore things first. She is the athlete and will run circles around the brave Huckleberry. Bruny Pups; Bomb, Ob-"Sid"-ium, Dust, Ash, Cinder, Lava, and Magma (Volcanic theme) No maintenance! These guys have voracious appetites and five of the seven are sooooooo friendly and outgoing for such young pups. Two of the little buggers are lazy and have to be woken up to eat every single time. That is Ok though because Krister, one of our best human Guides of all time, is very much the same way and he still gets the job done. Ash is my favorite puppy of all 28 right now because when I give the "kids, kids, kids" call to signify that it is time to eat, she comes running out of the house. Now keep in mind that these pups are only 4 weeks old and can barely walk. So when I say "run", it is a drunken sailor run the entire way. Gotta love it! She will beat her siblings to the food dish by at least 10 seconds. Emmie Pups; Triton, Auger, Mussel, Wentel, Conch, Tulip, Olive and Coquina (Seashell theme) These guys will need a lot of hands on because they are very immature. Emmie and her siblings were very much the same way when they were young though too. In fact, her siblings did not really grow up mentally until they were about two years old. Tasha would argue with me that Onyx and Jade are still not grown up at four years old. I was hoping that having her bred to Clark would help put that Momo line maturity into the pups but it appears to not have worked. If anyone has a free weekend and wants to come hold puppies all day, these guys could use your help. I am very serious with that offer! Emerald Pups; Not named yet Overall as a litter these guys are my favorites. They are huge and soooooooooooo with it. They are younger than Bruny's and Emmie's pups but much larger and more developed. (Except for Ash of course, she is the smartest and fastest.) One of the funniest things I have seen in a while happened yesterday. I woke them up to eat and they must have been in a deep sleep, because they all jumped up with huge eyes, and started drunken sailor walking around their house. Every time they banged into each other, which was often, they growled. It was like college football players at a frat party at 2 in the morning. After about ten seconds they calmed down. I guess you had to be there. Vixen Pups; Not named yet They have their eyes open now and are as cute as we thought they would be. They are going to be the most adorable pups ever! I hope they are fast too. Posted by Ed



Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 (From Ryne) As I have mentioned, I grew up in quaint little Durango, Colorado amongst the Rocky Mountains (although by McMillan standards, Durango is a bustling metropolis). And like most small towns, everyone knows everyone. On a short trip to the grocery store, I’m sure to see at least five people I know, meaning that any “short” trip is never short. But this is one aspect that makes the town so wonderful. That, and Durango by definition is dog-crazed. Everyone has a dog, or two, or three, and they bring their dogs everywhere. The dog park is not just a place of exercise, but it’s a social scene. Like a bar, the dog park has regulars depending on what time you visit. Ruby the German Shepard frequents the dog park around 6 after work, whereas Chacha the lab visits on her lunch break. You can expect to see a dog in many cars, most yards, and a good number of the retail stores. Knowing Durango’s obsession with dogs, it is no wonder that our little Alaska, sprawled out and posing for the camera, wound up on the front page of the Durango Herald. John Peel, a columnist for the paper, wrote a wonderful article about our recent school presentations and my dog sledding dream job. I’m so glad that I was able to go to my local schools and share the wonderful experiences I’ve had at Nature’s Kennel. Thank you John Peel and 9-R teachers! Ms. Hillmer’s 6th grade class from Team Ocelot wrote some fantastic thank you letters with a few follow-up questions. I’ll do my best now to answer those questions! 1. Austin asked, “Have you ever seen a shopping cart sled?” and “What percentage of people actually make it to the finish?” a. Austin, I must say that I have not yet seen a shopping cart sled, but that just leaves room for you to create one! Find an old cart, attach a couple runners, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. It might not steer the best, but that will only make it more fun! This year, 71 people started the Iditarod and 55 finished. Now, my math is a little rough (even though I’m currently a math major), but that means 77% of mushers finished. You’ll have to check my work. 2. Darby asked, “Could the race be deadly dangerous?” a. Luckily, Darby, no mushers have died on the Iditarod. The qualifications are becoming more and more strict to help keep the slate clean! 3. Molly asked, “How long does it take until the pups are ready for a race?” a. This is a tough question, Molly, because it depends on the puppy and it depends on the race. This year, we had an incredible litter called the Steeler puppies that ran in the Taquahmenon Race at 7-8 months old! In the Iditarod, the youngest dogs are around 1 ½ years old. I hope I answered your questions and thanks for the opportunity to visit your class! Posted by Ed


Monday, April 19th, 2010 I thought Ed would be enjoying his nights at home this week! Nate and I and our trusty old deaf senile sensitive treat loving dog Momo are on the road this week visiting Grandma and Grandpa. We told Ed we were working, but there's actually more playing than work. We have a couple of baby showers to attend, have lots of walks to take, and yes, we did squeeze in a day of school programs just to make dad feel like we were working hard! I thought Nate was enjoying his vacation, but last night he was up a LOT being fussy, gassy and apparently missing his father. Don't worry Ed, we aren't coming home early, but enjoy those restful nights while you can! Posted by Tasha


Sunday, April 18th, 2010 "Uh-huh, yeah.... popcorn, huh, Ah, ah, popcorn, oh, oh!" James Brown, Mother Popcorn Doesn't that quote just make you feel good? Or say, "What?" Throughout my life, I have had morning feel good songs that will change as life does the same. My morning wake up song for the time of my life when Tasha and I were first married was by James Brown. The memory makes me smile. You see, the morning feel good songs are not necessarily for me. I am blessed that when I wake up, I hit the ground running. The music is for whoever I am around. For example, Phil my roommate on the glacier was woken up with "Because We Can, Can, Can!" He was the best tentmate anyone could ask for but was only mildly entertained by my antics. Anyway, this is such a feel good time of the year. The days are longer, which allows more outside work to get accomplished without the aid of a headlamp. My current projects are improving the driveway and making our sledding exit trail even safer. This project also coincides with firewood collection. All of these tasks are much easier before the ferns and forest undergrowth emerge. The evening has been filled with equipment repair and marketing for next winter. All of these things are enjoyable so it makes for long days with short deep sleep. Tasha is currently in Lower Michigan on business. She has a few school programs scheduled as well as a couple of meetings. OK, she is showing off baby Nate too! I really miss her and Nate while they are gone but it also feels really good to be able to sleep solid for more than 3 hours without a baby interruption. Another advantage of Tasha being out of town is I get to turn the house into a production facility. The dining room table is now my office desk (so I can casually glance out my "office" window and look out over the kennel while the dogs play) and is scattered with folders, papers, and my computer. One couch is my bed and the other couch is piled with tugline/neckline rope that I tie whenever a new Netflix movie arrives. The kitchen has one pot, one bowl, one mug, and one spoon in the dish drainer. This allows for coffee, cereal, pasta and sauce. Throw in an occasional shower and man can not only survive but can get some serious stuff done. Speaking of getting stuff done, Maliko is awesome! The rest of our Guiding crew left in March but Maliko has remained strong. She is currently taking care of over 100 dogs and making it look easy. Over 50 of our dogs leave for the glacier at the end of the month and Maliko has been running all of them in harness using an ATV in order to keep them in shape. She even took 15 of the dogs up to Lake Superior for a beach play party a few days ago. Thank you Maliko! For those of you in the area this summer, Maliko and Tasha will be hosting tours of the kennel. I think the hours will be 11-5, Thursday-Monday. Maybe they will even have popcorn available. Oh! Posted by Ed

Friday, April 16th, 2010 (From Ryne) Over the past two weeks, Vanessa, Alaska, and I have been touring schools in the 9-R school district in Durango, CO (my home town) and giving hour-long presentations on dog sled racing and the Iditarod. What a thrill it has been! During the presentations, the students have the opportunity to bootie and harness Alaska; model a Cabela’s suit, big mitts, and Trans-Alaskan boots; and explore the ins and outs of a real racing sled. Thank you Greg and Gretchin Dubbit for lending us your sled! I’ve been very impressed with the depth and thoughtfulness of the questions. During my presentation for Ms. Colyar’s second grade class, I explained how the dogs pull four-wheelers in the Fall to build muscle, just like human athletes lift weights. One student raised her hand and asked if the quads were on and in gear during training. And she was in second grade! I was quite impressed that she understood and recognized the difference. After her question, I made sure to mention that the four-wheelers are in gear during Fall training. Other questions were more common, like “Where do you sleep?” or “What happens if you loose your dog team?” Judging by the number of times I was asked, “How can I train my own dogs to pull and lead?” there will soon be lots of new mushers in the dog sledding community! Of course, the real reason that the presentations have been such a success is Alaska. She plays her role perfectly, slowing melting onto her back and getting belly rubs from swarms of kids. When I call her up to the front of the room for a demonstration, she jumps to hear feet, then gracefully trots amongst the rows of students, stopping periodically for a pat on the head here, a scratch on the back there. I think Alaska believes she is a budding movie star. When a photographer came from the paper, Alaska must have thought that it was her big break into show biz. She slowly rolled over, placed her paw on the photographer’s knee, and then cocked her head. Don’t worry though, we’ve kept Alaska’s ego in check. We are frequent visitors to the Durango Dog Park, along with Maybel the hound dog and Luka the lab. All the dogs remind Alaska that sprinting across fields, swimming in the river, and rolling in “sweet” smelly things are way better than posing for cameras. When it’s not too hot, Alaska also pulls me on my longboard, which turns out to be a great way to work on gee/haw commands. Posted by Ed

Thursday, April 15th, 2010 Without a doubt, Erie is one of the happiest dogs we have ever owned! He is also one of the strongest dogs too! He is a hard charging, really fast, great eating, tough footed superstar........... that hates running lead. In my 2009 race team, 22 out of my 24 race team members ran a good solid lead. Erie was one of the two that did not (Sebastion was the other). Actually, Erie will run lead for me but he hates it! This is really strange because both of his parents were superstar leaders, and his brother Superior is a natural born leader. Another amazing trait of Erie is his recovery time. In the 2009 UP 200 I dropped Erie with a forearm injury. This was a huge disappointment to me for several reasons; one is I never like to see any of my dogs injured, two because I would not finish the 200 with all of my dogs, and three- the Iditarod was starting two weeks later and the injury would mean that Erie was out of the line up. One of my favorite Veterinarians, Dr. Nick, was at the checkpoint and could tell I was bummed. Dr. Nick told me that Erie would be ready for the Iditarod. He explained that he was a perfectly conditioned three year old that LOVES to run. I don't know if he was just trying to make me feel better at the time but he was right. Not only did Erie recover in those two weeks, but he finished the Iditarod as one of the best dogs in my team. Not in lead though of course. I would like to thank RESHA SLED DOG EQUIPMENT for sponsoring Erie in the Mighty Mutt Club. Jim and Jennifer of Resha not only sponsor Erie, they provide us with our tugline and neckline rope, and they are also some of the best neighbors that any person could ever hope for. Thank you both very much for all that you do! I am looking forward to seeing you in ten days! Posted by Ed

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 More news from our sled dogs turned pets... Count Chocula living in Belding, Michigan with Daisy and Curtis Cook. "I have to give you a Count update. I love him more every day - this December we acquired a small kitten who decided to find our house during a snow storm then last week we got a beagle puppy named Lucy. I think Count's dream has been to be a father because he is the most kind and gentle creature I have ever met. First Harriet used him as a scratching post when she first arrived and Count still seems to adore her. Lucy pounces, plays, pulls, and chews on Count and he simply lies there taking the abuse while wagging his tail. Today they played "chase" throughout the house, all three of them seemed to be in their glory. Must be sled dogs and beagles are a natural fit. I see even Kazoo has a new beagle friend! What fun..." More from Peanut Butter...A glimpse of life with Peanut Butter and Rusty the Cat: "Today began with Peanut Butter stalking/chasing/pacing after Rusty, the Cat. I realize that I don't need end tables, lamps, rugs or kitchen table chairs as they tend to get in the way of the 'hunt'. This turns the chase into an obstacle course which is now an early morning exercise program and silly me thinking that I have to stop the nonsense which only gets me bruised and I end up on my a#$! Jim owes me big! And it better not be flowers or a silly houseplant" And this week from Connie: "Peanut has been with us a week now and overall he's adjusted well to his new home and we've adjusted as well & learned a few things. For me, to wear shoes around him, a real toe crusher! I've learned to not put a blanket or chew toys in his kennel because he will only shred it to pieces...He's learned that just because there are people sitting around the table does not mean he can jump up on that table. He is having a hard realizing he is not the center of attention..Most importantly, Peanut has learned that if he flashes his smile he can get a few hugs. And he will decide when to the hugging is done. As for the other 4 legged family members, Sam (the family dog) has learned that he really needs to lose a few lbs to be able to keep up with Peanut Butter - as well as mom and dad!! Rusty has found out that no matter how many times he swats Peanut in the nose, that big goof is not going to go away. Yep, I think we are a perfect fit! But don't tell Jim this because he'll only say I told you so!!"--from Connie who is still waiting for her flowers :) Posted by Tasha


Sunday, April 11th, 2010 She Sells Sea Shells Down by the Sea Shore…no, the sea shells are not for sale, but they are adorable! Thanks to Mighty Mutt Club members Lauren and Alex and their love for the beach and collecting shells, Emmie’s puppies are officially named. The boys are Triton, Auger, Mussel, Wentel, and Conch. And, the girls: Olive, Tulip and Coquina (Quina). We have been working hard on getting them lots of attention, and have even recruited Tasha’s nieces and nephew to give some puppy love. Their eyes are all open, and they even got a pedicure today as we clipped their tiny nails. Emmie is a very protective mother, and is doing a great job keeping them all fed and cared for. The last of our litters for the spring came today to mama Vixen. She has five tiny puppies to care for tonight. All are healthy and doing well. I think baby Nate is going to be busy this summer walking puppies down the trail! He isn’t too fond of them yet, but did take time out of his busy schedule to pose for a photo with his cousin Ellen, and pups Gallea and Huckleberry. Posted by Tasha



Saturday, April 10th, 2010 "Bright as Alaska in December" as the saying goes. Well our "Alaska" is bright, very intelligent as a matter of fact. She quickly won over the friendship of our Guides this past season and then weaseled her way into the Guide house every night. It was not too long after her new independence that I got to run her in harness. I put her in lead, a position that I was fully aware she knew how to do. She immediately decided that she no longer had to hold the team out nor listen to me. That did not fly. It may work with others but after a brief discussion, Alaska was holding the team out and then she proceeded to run a beautiful, hard pulling lead the entire day. When we stopped, she was so disgusted that she would not even look at me. She does not turn three until next month and she has already run and finished two Iditarods (both with Trent). I really look forward to the challenges that Alaska has in store for me this coming season when she enters the main racing team. As long as I am clear of my expectations, I am sure that her brains will come in really handy. Especially if she gets paired up with one of my "December in Alaska" dogs like Onyx or Arlo. Thank you Beth for joining the Mighty Mutt Club and selecting some brains for the 2011 team! Posted by Ed

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 Chocolate and Peanut Butter, named for two of Ed’s most favorite foods, have found wonderful family homes this spring. But, before I share their stories, we have to thank Lee and Claudia Nowak for joining the Mighty Mutt Club to sponsor Lady Bird and Rhu. I’m including Lee and Claudia in this “dogs who found homes” entry because I know that if they could, Lee and Claudia would adopt every sled dogs we own! Lee and Claudia are the biggest dog sled fans known to man, or should I say, dog. Claudia has been and Idita-rider with Ed at the start of each of his Iditarods (yes, all 5 of them!) and she rode with Pat at the ceremonial start this year with Lady Bird and Rhu as her leaders. Thanks Lee and Claudia for all your volunteer work at races, all your support for our kennel, and all your dog lovin’! Sorry you won’t be able to visit Peanut Butter and Chocolate any more, but it sound like they are living the sled dog dream: Peanut Butter: Living with Jim and Connie Levline in Midland, Michigan “First off, he is the sweetest dog I have ever been around...and funny too! Of course, we know he is not trained to sit, lay down, etc...that being said, when we tell him to sit, lay down or even jump up on the bed...he tilts his head this way and that as if to say 'Huh??' All that is missing is the scratching of his head. Sam (our dog) and Peanut circled and sniffed each other for about 10 minutes then went in different directions for 10 more minutes - met up again and decided to be friends - they wrestle around and as long as Sam is winning. He is a happy camper but as soon as Peanut gets the lead - Sam decides enough is enough and stops. That means Peanut is giving another 'Huh??' look! So far, Peanut has taken Jim on several walks - there isn't a leash long enough for either one of those too! Yesterday afternoon, Jim decided to let Peanut off the leash since he did so well when we first got home...yeah, that wasn't thought out too well as Peanut kept running farther away from Jim (I'm up on the deck, laughing because I can see where this is going to lead)..all the while, Jim, between calling Peanut back and saying, this isn't looking good and oh crap and starts running after him. By this time, Peanut is sure this is a new and fun game to play and I am beyond chuckling (I can see how adoptive parents can lose weight - specially if they think like Jim!). Peanut circles around the barn in the field next door...Jim decides on the sneak up on him approach & goes the other way which Peanut must have knew would happen by the sound of Jim's heavy breathing...Peanut backtracks causing Jim to start with his own commentary (and I am still 'observing' up on the deck)..with Peanut running towards me/the house or just a new direction. I knelt in the grass and called him to me, with a few laps around me and Jim's return, Peanut Butter was very agreeable to letting Jim hook up the leash. Ed, you were right, Peanut would rather wade than swim! He headed straight for the pond and waded until he was belly deep and proceeded to drink the pond dry. Sam, of course, sat on dry land, looked at Peanut and mentally shook his head. Needless to say, Peanut Butter has settled in pretty good and appears to be happy with us, thank you so much for trusting us with him. He completes our family perfectly! P.S. Both Jim and Peanut Butter slept like babies last night!” Chocolate: Living with Jeff and Jomay Bomber, Naubinway, Michigan “This is an update on Choco's new home and adventures since leaving sled-team headquarters. 1. Choco has had a great education in the wonders and benefits of the modern truck. He has learned that it transports him from our beach home to the Millicoquins River Trail where he runs 5 miles in circles to my two miles. I had to bribe him with a few hot dog tid-bits to get him into the truck at first---I think he thought I was taking him to the Vet or something---but he's getting used to it. On our first "walk" I made the terrible mistake of trying to keep him on the leash for the first mile. Imagine a 51 year old guy trying to keep a sled dog on a leash going up hills and down river banks and thru the brush and watching him lap up half the river. I quickly retired the "choker" collar and gave him a regular collar. I think he would choke himself to death for the run on one of those. However, I was worried that if I let him off the leash he wouldn't come back to me after getting the scent of a deer, whatever. That tells you how weak my knowledge was of sled dogs. Little did I know that he would go out and come back and circle and want to keep tabs on his "musher". I felt relieved. However, I wasn't sure who the "musher" was, me or Choco? I think I mostly followed him. But what a joy it is to see him run freely thru the woods, coming back to check on me every 100 yards or so. At that point, I lost about 3 pounds. 2. Well, a sled dog can't be kept inside all day while his parents are away. Thus, I bought a kennel and took a day and a half to excavate the area near our big garage on the shady side and place drainage tile and landscape fabric under pea gravel and put in the dog house and a then a shade on top and about 500 dollars later Choco had his outdoor home. I lost about 4 pounds more over that. My arms are still sore. 3. Next, I sunk a deep metal stake with a rotating chain out by our main entrance so in the morning I can get up in my robe and step out onto the porch and put him on his "chain" so he can do his business and hang out for awhile while I make my coffee. Every morning my lovely wife then wakes up and comes downstairs and asks "did you let him out? Did he pee?" Yes, I say, then I go upstairs to get ready for work. Jomay seemed indifferent to having a dog again, more concerned about whether or not he "piddled" again on the carpet than if Choco was happy in his new home. I thought maybe this dog thing was a bad idea until I saw her feeding Choco an egg with his food this morning. It turns out she has been giving him an egg a day with his food. I told her maybe we shouldn't spoil him too much as he's not running sled anymore and we don't want him to get too fat and out of shape like his owner. She said well we have been walking him everyday and he needs the calories, isn't eating much of his dry food and this will help his coat stay shiny. In short, Choco has a new, happy Mommy in Jomay. 4. Poor Choco, he's been paraded up and down the town of Naubinway and has been introduced to all the movers and shakers and every kid knows who he is and where he lives and he's been darn near petted to death. He has made so many new friends I can't count them. Tonight the teenagers took him to the beach on this beautiful warm day and let him run in the sand and into the lake and back and chase seagulls to exhaustion. Then, they had the bright idea of giving a sled dog a bath at the neighbor's home because they knew his Dad would be a bit mad about the whole concept of a sled dog returned home full of the Lake Michigan Beach. Imagine a bathroom full of teenage girls and a sled dog getting a bath, getting dried with a blow dryer and about 27 towels full of thick black hair. I tried not to be too angry, letting them know that a blow dryer on a sled dog's hide is not a good thing. First of all, it will dry him out, and he really doesn't like life that warm. Suffice it to say, that won't happen again. However, I have to appreciate the love and affection they have for Choco. After multiple cell phone calls and pacing up and down and worrying about how the trip to the beach was I lost about 2 more pounds. 5. Even more distressing is that Choco has quickly acclimated to sleeping in the house, on the rug, on the kid's bed and he'd rather be inside with them than out. We have taken this lovely wild outdoor beast and converted him into an inside, domesticated, snack, egg-loving pet. So, I'm sending my apologies that we have taken this beautiful sled dog and made him into a pet dog. I hope you can forgive me, but I can't resist. Choco has lightened our hearts, lifted our spirits, and got us back into the great outdoors. I am very thankful that I got to experience the sled dog "thing", and particularly our beloved Choco. Suffice it to say, you don't have to worry about this dog being in a loving adopted home. He's already one if the family and has a safe home for life.” Posted by Tasha


Sunday, April 4th, 2010 Sorry I’ve been away from the journal updates for a bit. I’ve been adjusting to the new “puppy” in the house. He’s a great puppy…pees, poops, eats, and sleeps at all hours of the day! There’s a few other new adjustments taking place as well. Many of our dogs have new homes and I thought you’d get a kick out of some of the stories from the sled-dogs-turned-city dogs! Sally Ride: Living with Sharyn Rose and Eden Wells in Ann Arbor, Michigan “Ride is, to put it plainly, simply a super dog. Here are a few of her accomplishments: she has learned to walk on leash like a pro, she learned to sit for a treat, she learned to lay down on command. She met and made good friends with our cat. By the third day she was getting me up to go outside to potty (mind you, I think she was trained day one by watching our other dogs because she has never had an accident). She is gentle and sweet, and yes, a little bit lazy (I don’t think she misses running miles a day, although she is happy to go running or biking with us). Ride, by just being her gentle sweet non-aggressive self, made friends with our one little dog that initially showed some fear aggression . She NEVER barks! (quite a treat after living with my two Lhasas) and she is simply a joy to be around. Everyone who meets her is likewise impressed with her gentleness and beauty. Ride shows so much intelligence, she has taught us what she needs by quiet, simple insistence. For instance she let us know she did not need to be kenneled (gently resisting and then chewing up the tray) until we let her out alone for several hours and as you might guess, she was well behaved and relaxed on our return home. We are SO happy to have her as part of our family. I am now a real fan of the Alaskan Husky, a breed I did not even realize existed. Thank you so much for this wonderful dog.” Kazoo: Living with Fred and Debbi in Birmingham, Michigan “Kazoo is doing well and having a great time in his new home. He and Rupert (a beagle) are like to brothers. Kazoo has taken over the end of the bed and a corner of the couch. Rupert has the other side. The boys got to stretch there legs this weekend when I took them to one of the Oakland county dog parks. I was so proud of them. They were off leash and had the best manners of all the dogs. I think their goal was to meet every dog there.” Ruby: Living with Jessica Bryant in Birmingham, Alabama “I thought you guys might like this picture. Ruby loves to play with Cooper. He keeps her young.” This update was worth posting because I think Jessica has been our most patient adoptees for any of our dogs. She adopted Ruby four or five years ago (or maybe longer, at least I’m sure it seems like it!). Ruby is Starman’s daughter, sister to Jade and Onyx, and was a WILD puppy. Jessica came up here for a tour, and for some reason, still unknown to me, fell in love with Ruby and wanted to adopt her. I gave her all the warnings that this probably would not be the best dog for someone living in an apartment, but she insisted that we ship (literally, on an airplane) Ruby to her. Jessica has toughed it out, worked through all of Ruby’s antics and sent this photo this week. The most amazing part is that Ruby is sitting still (never mind with a small dog on top of her!). Thanks for all your patience, Jessica! Posted by Tasha



Sunday, April 4th, 2010 The face says it all. It was a great season MSU! Posted by Ed


Friday, April 2nd, 2010 Please note that I did not write this story on the first of April, that way you know that it is true. "The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once." H.V. Prochnow Tasha's (human) birthday is September 17th. This date is easy to remember because Tasha's (canine) birthday is September 15th. But the date still causes problems. You see, I am usually driving back from Alaska with the dogs that have been on the glacier all summer during this time so I miss being with Tasha (human) on her birthday. Now, this is not as bad of timing as Nate's birthday. Nate being born on March 12th places it during the race so unless we fly Nate into Ruby or Kaltag, I will miss every one of his birthday's until his 18th when he could be out on the trail with me. Anyway, back to Tasha's (human) birthday. On September 17th of 2007, Tasha (canine) decided to start giving birth on the drive back from Alaska. Two months prior it had been a planned breeding to Maple and we knew the due date was going to be while we were on the Alaskan Highway but we were hoping that she would keep her legs crossed. In the back seat of the truck while Krister (human), Jake, and I took turns driving, Tasha (canine) gave birth to nine puppies. This was the start of the "Freedom Fighters" litter. Eight boys: Luther, Ali, Wallace, Flynt, Gandhi, Crazy Horse, Krister (canine) and one girl; Ayn. Ayn was named after my favorite author and arguably one of the greatest freedom fighters of all time, Ayn Rand. In the two and half years Ayn (canine) has been alive, she has lead an Iditarod team through the stormed ravaged 2009 Iditarod, she has run with the main team in the Tiaga 300 and the Race to the Sky 350, and she has given birth to two adorable pups named Huckleberry and Gallea. Now she has been sponsored by Corey Shinn in the Mighty Mutt Club too. Corey shares the same birthday with Ayn and Tasha (human) as well. Thank you Corey! and I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY now in case I forget as I am driving 50 dogs down the Alaskan Highway. Cathy, THANK YOU too! Posted by Ed

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