Nature's Kennel Mighty Mutt Club 2010-2011! Ed, Ryne, and maybe even Tasha will be racing an incredible group of dogs during the 2011 season. Sponsoring a Mighty Mutt helps cover our dog's supplies, care, and feeding along the trail. So, grab some friends, choose a mutt or a pack of mutts, and cheer for your superstar along the trail to Nome! We do allow more than one person or group to sponsor the same Mighty Mutt because we know there are some kennel favorites. There are two Mighty Mutt Club Membership options listed below. Did we mention that maybe even TASHA will be racing?
Something new at Nature's Kennel! With a Lead Dog Mighty Mutt Membership you can choose an entire new litter of puppies from our "Young Superstars from 2010" to sponsor instead of one of our superstar adult sled dogs. We have offered litter sponships in the past, but this is the first time that we've offered members the opportunity to NAME THE PUPS IN THE LITTER!!! We have four females due in March/April so grab some friends, brainstorm some names, and own the naming rights to a Nature's Kennel litter. The fine print: We may ask you to rename a pup or pups if the name is inappropriate. For example, the name of one of Tasha's old boyfriends.
$100 Team Dog Mighty Mutt Membership
With the Team Dog Membership you will receive a 2011 Nature's Kennel Mighty Mutt Club T-shirt, a photo of your Mighty Mutt, an NK racing poster, a set of used booties used by your Mighty Mutt in a race, a 2011 MMC Patch, and your name or business name displayed with your Mighty Mutt on www.natureskennel.com!
$500 Lead Dog Mighty Mutt Membership
The Lead Dog Mighty Mutt Membership includes: all of the benefits from a Team Dog Membership plus a 2011 Iditarod poster autographed by all of the finishing Iditarod mushers, a 2011 Iditarod calander, a 2011 Iditarod DVD, an embroidered harness that your Mighty Mutt wore in the races, NK coffee tumbler, an Iditarod Insider Subscription, an Iditarod patch, and an Iditarod program!
To join the Club and sponsor a Mighty Mutt, either print off theMighty Mutt Formor click on the Paypal "BUY NOW" button. THANK YOU!
The Young Superstars from 2010:
Emmie Pups 2010 Female Born: 03/29/2010 Proudly sponsored by: LAUREN AND ALEX! Mother Emmie is not only a beautifully built smiling bundle of love but her brothers: Onyx, Jade and Jasper are all on our main race team. Father Clark is probably the best sled dog I have ever run and one of the most fun too. Emmie has proudly given birth to 5 boys and 3 girls of varrying colors. Lauren and Alex have chosen a seashell theme for the litter of pups so the final name selection is going to be a lot of fun! The names are in..... the boys are Triton, Auger, Mussel, Wentel, and Conch and the girls are Tulip, Olive, and Coquina! Thank you Alex and Lauren!
Bruny Pups 2010 Female Born: 03/28/2010 Proudly sponsored by: GREAT LAKES GEOSCIENCE! Mother Bruny is a new dog to the kennel that we purchased from Eric Morris this spring(In 2009 Eric was running one of the best dog teams I have seen). The father of the pups is Hobo, one of Lance Mackey's superstar lead dogs in recent years. We are expecting this group to be furry, leggy and loud! The five girls and 2 boys now have names courtesy of GLGS. The theme is volcanic and the boys are named Bomb and Ob-"Sid"-ium and the girls are named Ash, Cinder, Dust, Lava, and Magma. Thank you Steve and Joyce!
Emerald Pups 2010 Female Born: 03/31/2010 Proudly sponsored by: In Loving Memory of TAL TISCHER! Mother Emerald is a tightly wound bundle of energy that LOVES to run. Father Clark is very much the same. Together they have combined for five girls and one boy that should be a handful to get headed in the same direction but once they do, look out! Barbara and Beth have decided to name Emerald's family after an Alaskan theme in honor of Tal who "loved the northwoods and puppies". The pups names are now Elias, Kenai, Susitna, Chugach, Aleutia, and Talkeetna. These names replace the nicknames the pups have been developing over the past few weeks; 2-dot, wooly-booly, sassy girl, sassy-girl 2, porci, and porci-2. Thank you Beth and Barbara, your names are so much more creative than ours!
Vixen Pups 2010 Female Born: 04/11/2010 Proudly Sponsored By: GREAT LAKES GEOSCIENCE! Mother Vixen is our brown eyed girl. She can melt any heart with her adorable looks. Oh, she is an awesome sled dog too. Father Clark, is, well you know by now, even better! We call these puppies the "woolly bullies" as they are very wooly like mom, but not bullies at all. They are just about the sweetest things on earth! Vixen's pups were named by Great Lake Geoscience, sticking with geology terminology, we have: Bog, Puddle, Delta and Brook.
Huckleberry Male Born: 03/10/2010 "Huck" is a character. He is amazingly confident and is always up for learning something new. At this point, he is not as athletic as his sister Gallea but he makes up for it with guts.
Gallea Female Born: 03/10/2010 What a little speed demon! Gallea can run circles around her brother. She also loves to wrestle. Her brother will be sound asleep and she will pounce on him to get him to play.
The Race Teams:
Luke Male Born: 9/15/2002 Proudly sponsored by: The Carris Family! Luke is the go-to Iditarod leader and was Ed’s main leader in the 2008 Iditarod, but you would not know it if you saw him in training. He hardly ever pulls. He seems to know when running is important and when it is not. Luke is also very serious. In fact, weI call him “Lucas” because he seems to be too distinguished to just be Luke.
Caullie Female Born: 6/12/2005 Proudly sponsored by: Performance Promotions Group!
Caullie, aka Cauliflower, is another hotshot from the vegetables themed litter. She’s one of Ed’s favorite dogs due to her jolly and cheerful outlook on life and confident conduct. Any time that you approach her, whether it’s walking by her house in the kennel or unloading her from the dog trailer, Caullie will become a ball of merriment, hopping up and down with one paw in the air.
Lady Bird Female Born: 06/13/2004 Proudly sponsored by: SQUARE ONE! and CLAUDIA NOWAK! Lady Bird Johnson would be proud to have this dog sharing her name. Being an advocate for beautification within the United States, LBJ human would have found Lady Bird canine’s lovely white coat and proper etiquette a wonderful addition to the dog world. Of course, she may look adorable and innocent with her signature head tilt and expressive smile, but do not be fooled! Ladybird is our secret weapon. When running lead, she has been known to nip the calf of the musher whose team is slowing her down. All in good fun of course.
Mad Max Male Proudly sponsored by: In Loving Memory of MAX WEISBAUM! EVERYBODY loves Max. Whether you’re human or canine, Max is a quick friend. Don’t be afraid by his deep throated bark; he is just a large goofy dog who enjoys playing with everyone he is near. It’s true, Max is missing a few brain cells, but it’s not his IQ that wins you over, it’s his puppy playfulness and happy-go-lucky attitude.
Martha Female Born: 6/13/2004 Proudly sponsored by: SHERI WEISBAUM! Martha, a member of the presidents and first ladies litter, is named after Martha Washington. She's calm and can be quite shy, but once the harness comes out, Martha is a ball of energy. In the gangline, she puts on a show by springing up and down with all four feet in the air. If dogs played sports, Martha would be an olympic volleyball player with her vertical. Not only is she a good team dog, but Martha can lead as well.
Onyx Male Born: 11/4/2005 Proudly sponsored by: MICHELE SENG! If human, Onyx would have long since been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. He is continuously running, whether it’s in circles at his platform or along the Iditarod trail. The only time that he sits is when waiting in the gangline before a run, a time when all other dogs are exploding with energy. With a flowing tail and black eyeliner accentuating his eyes, Onyx could be called pretty, but since he is such a beast of a sled dog, it would be better to call him handsome.
Ayn Female Born: 09/17/2007 Proudly sponsored by: COREY SHINN! Ayn is one of the super stars of the kennel. At only a year and a half old, Ayn finished the Iditarod and the Taiga 300. During a run, her usual playful, puppy attitude is put aside, and she becomes completely focused on the trail ahead. At only 40 lbs, she is one of the hardest pulling dogs in the team. Of course, Ayn also loves her fair share of bed time and is well known for her exceptional snuggling capabilities. Ayn will tuck her head between your chin and shoulder, nuzzling in for the whole night.
Erie Male Born: 7/18/2005 Proudly sponsored by: RESHA SLED DOG EQUIPMENT! There is never a sad moment in the life of Erie. Erie's radiant happiness is as consistent as his tight tug line, and he can always be counted on to have a wagging tail to greet you. We believe he has an uncanny resemblance to Bartok the bat in Disney’s Anastasia with his floppy ears, goofy facial expressions, and willingness to please, but you’ll have to visit and give us your opinion!
Arlo Male Born: 3/18/2003 Proudly sponsored by: Cici and Rob Birnberg! There is no other way to describe Arlo but WEIRD. Of his many bizarre traits, completely submerging his head in the snow and rubbing his rump on the underbelly of the dog next to him are a couple of the crowd favorites. Arlo is always happy and jazzed for any activity. A strong puller and dependable leader, Arlo has run loads of races including the Iditarod multiple times.
Superior Male Born: 07/18/2005 Proudly sponsored by: Cici and Rob Birnberg! Happy dog, happy dog! Commonly referred to as “Sup-daddy”, this 70+ pound dog is a muscular bundle of love! If we thought we had 11 other dogs that could keep up with him, we would put him in lead for the entire UP 200. We did not think that a dog this large could hold up for the entire Iditarod, so he was on Jake’s team as a test in 2008. He made it to Safety, 20 miles from the finish line!
Alaska Female Born: 05/16/2007 Proudly sponsored by: BETH GIWOJNA! Alaska knows how to work the crowd. As one of Lady Bird’s offspring, Alaska has inherited the charming smile and signature head tilt, but she has also developed her own method for winning everyone over. Alaska will slowly melt before anyone and roll over for a belly rub. She is so trusting that she’ll become completely limp and let anyone hold her like a baby. She’d be a perfect addition to any peaceful rally, and even Gandhi would commend her passive resistance.
Rhu Female Born: 6/12/2005 Proudly sponsored by: LEE NOWAK! Rhu, or Rutabaga, is one of Ed’s superstar leaders. During the 2009 Iditiarod, during which bitter cold and extreme weather were common, Rhu lead Ed through the toughest of trail. Around the kennel, her slight build and calm demeanor can sometimes be overlooked. Of course, once in the gangline there is no questioning whether Rhu is in the team. Her excited pterodactyl cry can be heard for miles around and is always a topic of discussion at the starting line chute.
Crazy Male Born: 09/17/2007 Proudly sponsored by: COOKIE SHEVIN! One of the most gifted athletes on the team. He is named after the famed Crazy Horse and runs with a wildness that could carry him across the West. Looks and ability make him a twin to his sister Ayn. It would not surprise us if the two of them lead us across the finish line in multiple races.
Krister Male Born: 9/17/2007 Proudly sponsored by: Jim and Connie Levline! We predict Krister to be one of our main leaders for the 2011 race season. For a young dog he is extremely mature and always seems in control of himself. He has a really happy tail and it seems that he even smiles when trying to charm us into letting him run lead. Krister is named after our superstar guide, Krister Raasoch and seems to have the same charm too.
Fiddle Male Born: 12/23/2007 Proudly sponsored by: CARLA THOMAS! You gotta have a fiddle in the band! And our Fiddle definitely makes his presence known. He is loud, jumpy, and his strings are wound tighter than an Iditarod race between Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson. Fiddle has a great coat, tough feet, eats everything in sight and pulls like a freight train. In addition, he is pretty cute too.
Eros Male Born: 02/14/2006 Proudly sponsored by: Fred Austin, Debi Chrysler, Rupert, and Kazoo! Eros is the epitome of a green, energy efficient POWERHOUSE. He’s always calm and patient, but the second he hears “Ready, Let’s go,” he throws his full weight into the harness, cruising along at a smooth, effortless trot. Eros also absolutely loves to free run, but beware. He’ll sprint around the kennel then come hurtling down the aisle toward you, and unlike most dogs that stop before reaching you, Eros will leap with all four feet off the ground into your arms, all 60 lbs. Though it’s not the best display of manners, his excitement lets you know that it’s the best day ever.
Chong Male Born: 10/12/2004 Proudly sponsored by: JAMES TENNIS! Chong is just as much of a performer as the comedian he was named for: Tommy Chong from Cheech and Chong. At the beginning of runs and races, Chong is well known for his "Donkey Kong pound" where he'll leap up and then pound his two front legs into the ground with an accompanying deep throated huff. As one of the most affectionate in the kennel, his love for life and spunkiness can excite a whole team.
Luther Male Born: 09/17/2007 Proudly sponsored by: KAREN KEITH! Luther can easily be compared to a raccoon with his bandit eyes and playful, curious behavior. Even at three years old, Luther acts like a puppy, bounding down the trail and pawing at the dog running next to him. When Luther does decide it’s game time, he pulls harder than most and is a huge asset to the team.
Jester Male Proudly sponsored by: BETH BEARER! Unlike his name suggests, Jester doesn’t joke around but is a solid and dependable member of the team. He is a strong leader and responsive to every command. Of course, he does put on a show whenever the team isn’t moving, slamming into his harness and jumping up and down.
Flynt Male Born: 09/17/2007 Proudly sponsored by: ROBERT GOODMAN! One of Ed's favorites, he is as cocky as his namesake, Larry Flynt. This dog can run with the best, and he is not afraid to admit it to anyone. He has the speed for sprint racing and the endurance to run forever. His father, Maple, is one of our best dogs ever, and we think Flynt can outdo his father.
Gremlin Female Proudly sponsored by: RENEE SCHNEIDER! It is easy to overlook Gremlin. Quiet and easy-going, Gremlin gets along with everyone in the team and rarely causes a fuss. However, if Gremlin is removed from the team, it is quickly noticed. Gremlin pulls more than her fair share and never, ever has a slack tugline. She is the mother of the infamous Steeler puppies, and her tireless work ethic was passed on to the pups.
Gimli Male Born: 8/20/2003 Gimli is the old bird of the kennel, complete with a turkey gullet. He is all business. Many find him to be a rather troublesome, cocky male, but once you’ve gained his respect, he’ll be your driving force behind the team. Like his brother Clark, the faster the better, so putting Gimli in lead will ensure that you get to your destination fast! In the gangline, there is no dilly-dallying for old Gimli, but on free walks, Gimli always stays close by, lazily trotting around. Gimli is incredibly affectionate and loves to rest his chin on your collarbone, looking you square in the eye, while you give him a rub down.
Kar Male Born: 11/9/2005 No one would guess that Kar is the brother of Coach, for Kar could not look or act more different. Kar is one of the most unique looking dogs in the kennel with his one floppy and one upright ears and his cute grey beard. His calm, composed demeanor and slow, effortless pace make him appear older than his youthful five years, but when racing there’s no doubting his dependability.
Clark Male Born: 8/20/2003 Clark is one of the best sled dogs in the kennel and a stud for many litters. He is one of the few to have never missed a training run and completed every race he has entered, including multiple Iditarods. Even after running 300 miles, Clark will still look like the race just started and spring to his feet after a brief rest. Always animated and playful, Clark is a go-to leader, trying to pick up the pace and speed up the team, especially around corners when there is a chance his rider will fall off.
Cupid Male Born: 2/14/2006 Cupid is as lovable as his name suggests. Most of the dogs in the kennel can give hugs, but Cupid’s hugs are exceptional and much more embracing than any other dog. He will actually wrap his paws around your back and not let go! Cupid has passed his hugging style onto his puppies, the Steelers, but no one can do it as well as Cupid. A two time Iditarod finisher, Cupid is one of the hardest pulling dogs in the kennel.
Coach Male Born: 11/9/2005 Coach is a very unique dog. Some might even deem him "special." His happiest times are right after a run when he gets his face scratched and free running around his house and platform, although he never strays more than 20 feet away. Coach is one of the hardest pulling dogs in the team, and his strange gait has earned it's own classification: the Coach funk. A well behaved dog, he is a steering wheel in lead.
Gus Male Born: 6/12/2005 Gus, short for Asparagus, is one of the late bloomers of the kennel. Until he was three years old, he was on the ‘for sale’ list. How lucky we were that no one else realized his potential! Now one of the main leaders at the kennel, Gus has surprised us all with his unfailing trot, always-cheerful attitude, and gold star behavior.
Jasper Male Born: 11/4/2005 There is never a sad day in the life of Jasper. With the way that Jasper bounds around the kennel, one would never guess that he’s actually one of the slower dogs. Luckily endurance, not speed, is what is needed for the Iditarod, so Jasper remains one of Ed’s main team dogs. Always a good eater, Jasper will devour whatever is placed in front of him, making him an easy keeper.
Jekyl Male When Jekyl first arrived at Nature’s Kennel, the name Mr. Hyde might have suited him better. He came with the reputation as a fighter and shy around new people: however, with lots of love and care, Jekyl is deserving of his name and rarely relapses to Mr. Hyde. Running and rump scratches remain Jekyl’s favorite pastimes.
Sprout Female Born: 6/12/2005 Yet another from the vegetable litter, Sprout is an athlete like the rest of her siblings. She’s the quietest of the bunch, and every now and then exhibits an independent streak. Sprout has been known to take off across the parking lot when let loose during road trips and do a little exploring of her own. Always affectionate, Sprout will sleep the day away at the kennel, lounging in her barrel.
Hera Female Born: 2/14/2006 Hera, a sibling in the Valentine litter, is as loveable and sweet as the rest. One of Pat Moon’s favorite dogs, Hera had the privilege of sleeping in bed, under the sheets almost every night while training for Pat’s 2010 Iditarod. She prefers to sleep most of the day away, relaxing either in bed or in her barrel, but the second it’s time to run, her tug is tight, and she’s a force to contend with.
Prancer Female Born: 06/06/2006 Prancer, Vixen’s sister, is as happy and playful as her name suggests. She has a beautiful, smooth gait and a thick, colorful coat, giving her the nickname Prancer Dancer. There is not a dog in the kennel that doesn’t get along with Prancer, and everyone remembers her exceptionally friendly attitude.
Vixen Female Born: 07/06/2006 Vixen is a morning dog. Not to say that Vixen isn’t a rambunctious ball of excitement all the time, but there isn’t a dog in the kennel that is more thrilled to see someone in the morning. With her black and white markings, she almost looks like a Border Collie, but her wooly coat and hairy feet are sure signs that she’s built for the cold.
Emerald Female Born: 07/30/2002 Emerald is a unique one. Spunky and playful with the males, confident and cocky with the females, Emerald always adds a different twist to the team. She has a reputation as a chewer and has been known to chew everything within sight in her excitement to run. During Ryne’s UP 200 race, Emerald first chewed her neckline then her tugline during a break and trotted up the trail without the rest of the team. A true team member, she came running back once she realized that no one was following her.
Tuuli Female Even though Tuuli is one of the smallest dogs in the kennel, she is a natural powerhouse. Whenever stopped for a break, Tuuli will pull expectantly and bark until it’s time to go. A lover and attention hound, she also can be very independent. Tuuli once lead her puppies on an adventure through the surrounding forest for a few hours, sending all at the kennel on a wild goose chase. Luckily, a neighbor tracked down Tuuli and her two pups, Enzo and Bolt, and brought them home.
Banjo Male Born: 12/23/2007 The energizer bunny would have a hard time keeping up with Banjo. His excitement and liveliness cannot be matched, although his energy isn’t always channeled in the most productive manners. Banjo is still a puppy at heart. When he gets bored during long runs or races, he’ll entertain himself by snapping at surrounding brush or cleaning up the trail by picking up and eating the lost booties from other teams. If his attention is focused on pulling, he can substantially change the pace of the entire team with his naturally smooth and powerful strokes.
Juneau Female Born: 5/16/2007 Hands down, Juneau would win a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like contest. When laying on her platform, she’ll tilt her head to the side and cross her paws. All that Juneau needs is a big white hat and bouncy blond curls, and you’d swear that Miss Marilyn Monroe was visiting the kennel. But don’t worry. Juneau doesn’t just act; she’s a real sled dog too.
Cindy Female This wild girl is a ball of muscle and a lot of fun. Her tail wags all of the time and her love of life is contagious. Along with her sister Megan they are the youngest members of our team and two of the most fun.
Meghan Female What a beauty! She is built for speed and has stunning blue eyes. Megan is one of the smallest dogs on the team and youngest too but we expect great things from her on the trail to Nome.
Judge Male Born: 09/17/2007 Judge is named after one of our favorite people on the planet, Judge Charlie Stark. The human Judge is calm, collected, and full of wisdom. In contrast, the canine Judge is cocky, hyper, and full of energy. He is almost a carbon copy to his father Maple who is one of the greatest sled dogs we have ever run so we expect great things from Judge.
Wallace Male Born: 09/17/2007 Wow! Perfect build, drives hard, and he is focused beyond his years. He is named after the Scottish Knight, Sir William Wallace who is remembered as a national hero. We expect great things from this small redhead but "national hero" might be asking too much.
Hoover Female Born: 06/13/2004 Hoover has been one of the superstar leaders for Trent Herbst's Iditarod teams these past two years and is on her third Iditarod. Calm and composed like her sisters, Hoover keeps all those puppies in line, leading by example. Because of her stellar performances, Hoover has graduated from Iditarod puppy trainer to competitive race athlete and will be joining the main teams for fall training.
Jade Male Born: 11/4/2005 Jade is a wonderful dog to have in any race because he is a natural born leader. Not quite as athletic as his brother Onyx but he makes up for it by running smart. Jade has the distinction of being on the last place team in the 2007 UP 200 and then on the 2008 first place team. He finished Iditarod as a two year old in Ed’s team and we expect much more of the same in years to come.
Dent Male Born: 08/06/2006 This dog can pull hard! Dent finished the Iditarod strong with Trent in 2009 but was plagued with mild injuries in training all season in 2010. We are hoping that a summer off with mild free running can bring this superstar back to full shine for 2011.
Bruny Female We just purchased Bruny following the 2010 season but we are already expecting great things from this sweetheart. She raced in a few mid-distance races as a yearling but then missed her second season due to a pregnancy. This will put her a little behind the rest of the team as far as experience goes, but I think she will make up for it with her athleticism.
Curry Male Born: 01/01/2002 Curry is new to the kennel but will be the old man on the race team in 2011. He was purchased mainly for breeding but it would not surprise us if he still makes the cut for racing. He has run and finished the last seven Iditarods and led Zack Steer to a 3rd place finish in the 2007 Iditarod. Curry is so good that even Lance Mackey leased him in 2007 for the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Greed Male Born: 05/01/2007 This guy is a huge happy bundle of fur and muscle. He is still young but has already won the award, "Hardest dog to take a picture of". This sweetheart never sits still.
Mohawk 2008 Female Born: 06/27/2008 Another Mohawk at Nature's Kennel! The first Mohawk we purchased from Susan Butcher and she ended up being a foundation dog for us. The most recent Mohawk we bought from Jon Little and are expecting great things from as well.
Nougat Male Born: 06/01/2007 We are really excited to see what Nougat can do in 2011! He has a high strung personality that is very similar to Starman. This can be a good thing or not-so-good thing. Under Ed's direct supervision I am sure that Nougat will choose the correct path for his energy and it will be a good thing.
Vandal Male Born: 06/13/2008 Vandal is not an Iditarod proven dog yet but he has proven to us that his lovable personality fits right into Nature's Kennel. He is ultra playful when not in harness and that is one of the traits necessary to make the main race team.
The Young Superstars from 2009:
Stinky Feet Male Born: 06/28/2009 Proudly sponsored by: Ryan "BIG O" Ohse! Stinky Feet is a prodigy. Already bigger than almost all the pups, Stinky Feet knew what to do in harness from his first run. He's always been loving, but because of his large size, he didn't always show his love in the most gentle manner. Our guides would show up with scratches and scrapes from Stinky Feet's overzealous affection. We know that in no time at all, his energy and strength will make him a phenomenal sled dog.
Ham Female Born: 04/09/2009 Proudly sponsored by: Mike von der Heyde! Ham is one of the superstar Steeler pups, named for linebacker Jack Ham. At just 11 months old she is the biggest girl out of her litter and the kennel. Since her first time in harness, she has been a natural. She has never had a slack tugline, However, she is still a puppy, and every now and then some puppy traits come through. She loves to dip snow on runs (more because it’s just so much fun sticking your nose in the snow and not because she is thirsty). Having said that, she can be very focused too and has even run lead with an experienced leader. She raced the 8 mile Taqhamenon race in January, and we expect to see more great things from this young and adorable pup.
Enzo Female Born: 08/16/2009 Proudly Sponsored By Michele Strzelecki! Enzo is one of Tuuli’s pups and is as speedy as an Enzo Ferrari. Although, she’s actually named after the main character Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain. Enzo is going to be a tall female and has the confidence to match. On puppy walks and during dog parties, Enzo won’t take sass from anyone and holds her own even against older dogs. With Tuuli and Solomon as parents, Enzo is going to be a rock star!
Leakey Female Born: 11/13/2008 Leakey is just as smart and driven as Mary Leakey, the famous archaeologist for whom she was named. Even with her slight frame, Leakey pulls as hard as the big dogs and never has a slack tug. This is Leakey’s first year pulling sleds, but already she is a natural leader and starting to respond to commands. We have high hopes for this little powerhouse.
Fossey Female Born: 11/13/2008 Fossey is another pup from the scientist litter, and is named after Diane Fossey, who studied the vanishing mountain gorillas. A hard worker, Fossey is a force, but she’s still a puppy at heart and enjoys playing just as much as pulling a sled.
Carver Male Born: 11/13/2008 Another scientist puppy, Carver has the intensity of George Washington Carver. When he focuses on something, there is no diverting his attention. Hopefully soon, we can convince him that he should focus on pulling, but like most young dogs, more interesting things often catch his eye. Like his siblings, Carver is built beautifully and a natural athlete. We look forward to his racing career!
Einstein Male Born: 11/13/2008 Einstein, named for Albert Einstein, is as smart as his namesake. He’s an up-and-coming leader, and as you can tell by the picture, has figured out how to work his way into the house and get some couch time. Few others are given the privilege, but Einstein with his sensitive feet, snuggled with Tasha on the couch, helping her recover from a broken leg two winters ago.
Edison Female Born: 11/13/2008 Edison inherited the cheerful attitude of his mom, Vixen, as well as her furry coat. He is the furriest of the scientist puppies and is immune to the cold, often choosing to sleep under his house in the snow instead of inside. Even Edison’s feet are hairy! His weather proof coat will help him in the Iditarod some day!
Darc Male Born: 05/05/2009 Darc is named after Ed’s uncle, and like Uncle Darc, Darc canine gets along with everyone. A lanky and playful pup, Darc goofily bounds around and visits all his neighbors when he has the chance.
Chuck Male Born: 05/05/2009 Another from Ed’s aunts and uncles litter, Chuck is actually not too similar to Uncle Chuck. He is one of the least athletic in the litter and has not quite figured out the whole sledding thing just yet. Chuck will bounce up and down in the gangline like a bunny, looking around, not at all focused on the run. Every now and then he’ll reach out and snap at the plants as he frolics by.
Sally Female Born: 05/05/2009 Sally is the troublemaker of the bunch. When younger, Sally would never follow on the puppy walks, choosing instead to sprint into the kennel and snack on the leftover meat scraps. When it was time for the puppies to return to the pen for dinner, Sally would be stuffed, so not even food could entice her back. Sally is always a happy, squirming ball of excitement.
Pat Female Born: 05/05/2009 Pat was the first in the litter to figure out how to be a sled dog. Even though she is named from Ed’s Aunt Pat, there is very little resemblance. Aunt Pat was serious and organized. Pat canine is goofy and playful, pulling straw out of her house instead of tidying it. To her credit, Pat does ‘clean up’ the poop around her circle.
Scott Male Born: 05/05/2009 Scott is another pup from the aunts and uncles litter. He gets incredibly excited whenever anyone comes to visit, and when younger, Scott would leap up for a hug and whine and whine while you petted him. Always playful, Scott gets along with everyone.
Bolt Male Born: 08/16/2009 Bolt, named after the Disney character, is ENORMOUS. Tall and leggy, he is going to be quite a sled dog. Bolt is friendly and affectionate with everyone, although he is known for getting into shouting matches with his sister Enzo. Enzo and Bolt will stand face to face and bark back and forth at each other, both to stubborn to give up.
Blount Female Born: 04/09/2009 Little Blount is named after Mel Blount, the famous defensive back of the Pittsburg Steelers. Like Mel Blount, Blount canine is small and a powerhouse for her position, but that’s where the similarities end. Mel Blount was feared due to his physical style of play. Blount canine, though sassy, gets along with everyone. We think that Blount is slightly cuter as well.
Bradshaw Male Born: 04/09/2009 Bradshaw is named after the famous quarterback Terry Bradshaw a.k.a. “Mr. Steel Arm.” With his athletic build and silvery streaked coat, perhaps we should nickname Bradshaw Mr. Steel Paw instead. Bradshaw is still really playful and adores going on walks so he can run around like crazy. Hooked to the gangline, however, he works his butt off and can be counted on to be no-nonsense.
Stallworth Male Born: 04/09/2009 Stallworth is named after Johnny Stallworth from the Pittsburg Steelers. Next to Cupid, he is the best hugger in the kennel. He will jump up and wrap his front legs around you. Whose heart wouldn’t melt at that? He gets the good hugger genes and handsome looks from his dad, Cupid. As part of the Steeler litter, it’s a given that he is one talented sled dog. You can be sure that he will pull his heart out for you, and he will become your best friend in the process.
Franco Male Born: 04/09/2009 Franco, for Franco Harris, is the Steeler pup that seems the most grown up and mature out of the 7. He has no time for playful fooling around and can be counted on to be the most focused out of the team. When not pulling, Franco is really affectionate and loves to have your undivided attention. Franco is a handsome dog and has already proven to us that he is a force to be reckoned with. His litter should be renamed “The All Stars” because every single one of them is just fantastic. There is no way not to fall in love with him.
Swann Female Born: 04/09/2009 Swann is another Steeler pup named after Lynn Swann. She is a gorgeous dog with the most beautiful red coat and an adorable face. Just like her brothers and sisters, she is a natural and works super hard. She is really playful on walks and loves to play with the younger puppies, but hook her up to the gangline and she is as focused as the rest. When we stop on a run she is always the most impatient one to get going again and will whine and howl until we start moving again. She raced the 8 mile Taqhamenon in a team with her sisters and did really well. What more can we say but watch out for this force of greatness.
Lambert Male Born: 04/09/2009 Lambert is one of the four male all-star Steeler puppies, named for the linebacker Jack Lambert. Like Jack Lambert, Lambert is smaller and actually looks most like his sister Blount. He is as adorable as the rest of them and works just as hard. What else would you expect from puppies with parents Cupid and Gremlin. Walk up to Lambert, and he will act like he missed you so much in the five minutes that you’ve been gone that he can hardly contain his excitement to see you again. Like his brother Stallworth, he gives pretty good hugs.
Garbage Male Born: 06/28/2009 Garbage is in no way comparable to trash, although he might smell like it! He's picking up how to pull quickly and has the build and athletisism to be quite a sled dog someday! Garbage was named after the favorite phrase of a past guide: "that's garbage!" But Garbage is no joke, in a couple years he will be a force to contend with!
Barbie Female Born: 06/28/2009 Sassy! Is the best way to define this crazy puppy. Barbie is named after Jake's Mom who is also quite lively and spirited. We predict her to be a valuable member of the team in years to come. If it turns out that she does not like to pull, she could still be a cheerleader on the sidelines.
Love Female Born: 06/28/2009 Her name says it all. Love is incredibly...loving. She's the smallest in her litter and was always picked on by her siblings Stinky Feet, Etan, Sheldon, Garbage, and Barbie. Her one defense was her speed. Little Love would race past her littermates to safety. We have high hopes for this little athlete, as she's shown that size doesn't matter.
Sheldon Male Born: 06/28/2009 We would like to say that Sheldon is very wise like his namesake Dr. Sheldon Berkowitz, but this has not been the case as a pup. Canine Sheldon has been a food bully, a house bully, and a downright rabble rouser. He is starting to mature and may someday develop the wisdom of the human Sheldon. For now though the only resemblances between the two are a little bit of gray hair and a horrible golf game.
Etan Male Born: 06/28/2009 Out of his litter, Etan is known as the troublemaker. He was a master at slipping out through the gate. Etan would return back to the pen for dinner, but he would manage to slip out after he'd eaten his full, and it was no easy feat to catch him and put him back in! A bit sassy, Etan had to spend some extra time with the big dogs to help "put him in his place." Of course, like all the puppies in his litter, Etan is incredibly friendly and warm.
The Masters- Not retired but not racing:
Hedgie Female Born: 7/12/1999 Proudly sponsored by: ELLEN DHASELEER! Hedgie is new to the housedog squad as of this year, but boy, is she a natural. She spends most of her day up in the bedroom or sleeping next to the wood stove. Her daily exercise consists of the regular puppy walks and an occasional puppy run, keeping the young ones in line. More shy than her bedmates Tasha Canine and Momo, Hedgie is a harder one to get to know, but once you do, you have a friend for life.
Bert Male Born: 10/1/2002 Bert is the retired superstar of the kennel. He’s raced multiple Iditarods, Beargreases, and placed 1st two years at the UP 200. Even though he’s retired, Bert hasn’t completely hung up his harness. He is the main leader during puppy runs and helps to train our up-and-coming racers. Goofy and patient, Bert puts up with all the crazy puppy antics and teaches them how a real sled dog works.
Tasha Female Born: 09/15/2002 Tasha Canine is another one of the house crew. Her favorite person happens to share her name, so you rarely see Tasha Human without Tasha Canine in tow. Tasha Canine, or T.C. for short, has learned that as long as her children are superstars, she can sleep inside all day long, so she makes sure to teach the puppies manners. Other than puppy wrangler, Tasha has also taken it upon herself to keep the birdfeeders squirrel free. She’s still working on it.
Mohawk (Momo) Female Born: 8/23/1996 Mohawk, a.k.a. Momo, is the matriarch of the kennel. She has passed her loveable and cuddly personality on to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It’s too bad her token mohawk can only be found on a few of her offspring. At 13 years old, Momo can get away with anything, including barking in the kitchen until someone gives her cheese, her favorite food.
Big Ben Male Born: 10/5/2002 Where do we begin?? Big Ben (and brother Starman) were purchased by Ed in Nome at the end of Iditarod in 2005. Ben has become the charmer of the kennel, has run in three Iditarods and has led Ed and Tasha's UP 200 winning teams. Ben would be voted most likely to be kennel president (and would even get Tasha's vote too). Although Ben is no longer racing, he is still a top pick for tours.
Starman Male Born: 10/5/2002 The only dog we have ever seen that could probably run the entire Iditarod without stopping. Starman sired 5 male pups and as two year olds, every single one made the main Iditarod team. He loves to give kisses and ignore commands. Even though he was not ready, we finally decided it was time for Starman to retire to tours.
Boom Male Born: 09/15/2002 Boom is the brother of Luke, Tasha, and Yooper and is just as adorable. He has an unsual gait due to his wide butt, or his "mother's butt" as we call it since it has a slight resemblance to Raven's (his mom). Easy-going and mild, he is sometimes overlooked, but if he's removed from the team, it's easily noticeable.
Bonfire Male Born: 1/4/2003 Bonfire is one of our lovable gladiators. He runs, eats, sleeps, and used to like to fight. A true gee/haw leader, he has been up front in Trent's Iditarod team for the past couple of years showing our young dogs which way to go. He has already finished three Iditarods, proving his strength and stamina as a sled dog.
Sebastion Male Born: 1/4/2003 Sebastion is the meanest dog we have ever owned. His head is covered in scars, he is missing one canine tooth and half of his other one, and somewhere along the road his brain fell out too. He developed pneumonia during the 2008 Iditarod which slowed him down for a few days but even that couldn’t keep him from fighting for too long. Even so, he is one of the best sled dogs we have had the privilege of running.
Pringle Female Born: 07/07/1998 Pringle is a great old lady who would love to be running with the rest of the crew but physically can't do it. She has some arthritis in her joints but still LOVES to hobble around the kennel and sleep in other dogs' houses. We've given her the nickname Officer Pringle because she has the bad habit of trying to boss eveyone else around, females in particular. With her grizzled face, large growths, and stiff walk, Pringle won't be winning any beauty pagents, but her personality definitely makes up for anything that her appearance lacks.
