SPK Dog Log

The Five Litter turns 2 years old today. Their mother is Chica and their father is Clyde. Overall, this litter is a group of high-energy, happy dogs – a lot like Dad. Five, Rodney and Ginger all live on wooden platforms together due to their rock chewing tendencies. It’s no wonder… Chica lived on a platform during her entire racing career. Ernie lives in the front of the yard, whereas Scooby lives off to the side – where there is plenty of room to stretch his long legs.

All five of these pups have tremendous appetites and will nearly eat the food scoop as well as the kibble. This trait is passed down from their father who is the ‘best and fastest’ eater at SP Kennel. They had a magnificent yearling season and we look forward to training and racing these dogs in earnest this coming season.

High Five – is a big boy who looks even larger due to his big head. He will most likely weigh over 60 pounds. Despite his size, he can be a calm, sweet dog. He thoroughly enjoys leaping on top of his house and getting bum scratches and kisses. Five is one of the yard sentries and will bark with a low bass ‘WOOF’ if anyone new or different approaches.

High Five on his dog house with a big head and a stripped nose.

Ernie – is the only pup from the litter who is slight of build. Because of this, he has always been the ‘fast, sprinty’ one. He also looks more like a husky. Ernie is very happy and playful with many of the other dogs in the yard and his BBFs right now are Sandy and Daisy. He can be shy but his tail is always wagging.

We luckily snapped a photo of Ernie with out his tail moving.

Ginger – is a good sized female with a stocky build. Her ‘ginger’ coloration resembles that of a yellow lab and her non-husky, floppy ears give assistance to her retriever image. But… Ginger does NOT chase tennis balls. She would gladly eat them. She is also a sentry and is loudly opinionated when it comes to visitors. Ginger will also be shy to strangers.

We promise… Ginger is NOT a yellow lab. Wait until you see her in Lead next season!

Rodney – is a big goon. He has not lost his chatty, puppy nature and will definitely get your attention in the yard. Nearly 90% of the time his mouth is wide open with something important to say. Rodney’s focus is somewhat lacking. But he probably runs more miles in the dog yard then any other SP K dog. He is ready for Fall training… now! Rodney would like to be a cuddly sweetheart and appreciate cuddles and pets, but he has a hard time standing still.

Rodney poses for a photo; Let’s be honest… This is the real Rodney!

Scooby – is wired. He is in constant motion. He has learned to jump on his house if he wants to be petted but he has an awfully hard time standing still once he is up there. He is one of the few dogs in the SP Kennel yard that looks like the “typical” sled dog. Of course, this is thanks to his mother’s genetics. Scooby is one powerful dog who will need to run off some energy before he can focus on a goal.

Scooby sports a very stylish ‘husky’ coat.

Scooby OUTTAKE: He loves to flirt with Wedgy. Can you curl your tail a little more?

We don’t want to spring the great news on everyone last minute, so… Quito is pregnant! Her due date is July 25th. Clyde is the proud father of this summer litter.

Quito is looking good with a small pregnant belly.

Quito is healthy and happy. She has been eating well. Much of the time, Quito has the run of the kennel. But she also has an indoor whelping box and has been spending time both indoors (on warm days) and outside.

Quito laying on the cool floor during a warm afternoon.

A slightly embarrassing photograph of the pregnant girl.

No matter where you visit in the great state of Alaska, a visitor can find exceptional adventure mushing and/or sled dog programs and tours during the summer. Some of these operations are located on glaciers and visitors can actually experience sledding on snow and ice. Other operations have cart rides or kennel tours. Any first time Alaskan visitor should at least see one of these operations and experience the enthusiasm of the Alaskan Husky.

SP Kennel does not have one of these Summer Tour Programs. Instead of bringing visitors to the kennel, the kennel goes to to where the visitors are: Denali National Park. Aliy and Allen speak to thousands of Holland America and Princess Cruise guests.

Their job is very entertaining since every SP Kennel presentation also involves an Alaska Railroad Train ride. As the train travels north, towards Denali, Aliy and Allen give a short ‘how we got into dog mushing’ talk and follow it with a ‘what is all this sled dog racing about’ speech. They pass out SP Kennel postcards to all and give away kennel t-shirts to a lucky few. The entire train ride is 2 1/2 hours and they will talk to between 500 and 700 guests per day. This specific Denali Express to the Wilderness Train (DEX) runs once or twice a week depending on the cruise ship schedule.

Allen and Aliy entertain train passegers with stories about sled dogs and adventure.

“All aboard!” The train stops to pick up Allen and Aliy; Winding north toward Denali.

Why doesn’t SP Kennel have a Summer Tour Program in Two Rivers?
SP Kennel is Aliy and Allen’s home. Inviting ten, twenty or several hundred visitors — no matter how friendly and happy they are — is a bit overwhelming. Although the kennel is a fantastic place, it can only be shared on a significantly smaller scale. That’s because the SP Kennel visitors’ lounge is also Aliy and Allen’s living room / kitchen / dining room. When a visitor enjoys a cup of coffee at the kennel, they are sitting in the same chairs that Moira, Chris, Wes and Wendy wrestle over all winter long. It’s the same spot that the kennel crew plans race strategies, food drops, handler calendars and daily chores. And the visitors better not mind dog hair… it’s everywhere! When a visitor drives onto the kennel property there is a 100% chance that a dog is running around somewhere. It also takes a little extra effort to drive the local Two Rivers roads. There is about 2 miles of a gravel or dirt trail/ road that leads to the kennel door step. There has been one motor coach attempt the driveway but the driver was very talented and did an 18 point turn in order to exit.

With howls on our minds, remember this when Nomex was just four months old?

Click here to read the original post.

We’re not big fans of fireworks here at the kennel but we do love a good group howl!

Happy Fourth of July, not just to those in the USA but everyone else too, because… why not?

Alaska is a big state.

SP Kennel is in Two Rivers which is in Interior Alaska – approximately 375 miles north of Anchorage. Anchorage is the biggest city in the 49th state and quite a popular tourist destination. Allen and Aliy travel to ‘the big city’ periodically during the year. (Most notably on the first weekend of March for the Iditarod Start.)

Aliy and her dad, Doug, stand overlooking 4th Avenue in Downtown Anchorage.

Last week, Aliy found herself in downtown Anchorage. What does a musher do all day when there are no huskys to tend to or races to run? Well… day dream about huskys and plan for future races, of course. Aliy, her dad, Doug, and good friend Barbara spent half of the day ‘touring’ Anchorage.

They went to the Alaska State Troopers Museum first. Aliy now has a new favorite ball cap!

After that, they found 4th Avenue (even with out trail markers or the help of sled dogs).

After they got the ‘bird’s eye view, they walked down along the sidewalk. Both of these were entirely different perspectives than the Iditarod route which travels down the middle of 4th Avenue. It was peculiar to see the street from an entirely different perspectives.

The first stop on 4th Avenue was the statue of ‘Balto’ in front of the Fur Rondy Coffee Shop. They paid their respects to an awesome dog. And who can pass up a good cup of coffee? Then they went to the Alaska Public Lands Building. The computerized Alaska map was fascinating – Aliy and Doug played with the interactive tool from Anchorage 1,000 miles to Nome — with a few side trips to Katmai, Gates of the Arctic and Atigan Pass. It was an adventurous day! Just as they were leaving a large wall map caught Aliy’s attention. She said “I bet this will be the easiest trip I’ve ever had on the Iditarod Trail!”

Remember when we used to walk all eleven of the fire pups – together?

We hope you enjoy this Slow-Mo Sunday of the chaos that is three-month-old Fire Pups!

Saturday June 25th was the first day to sign up for Iditarod 2017. Both Aliy and Allen turned in paperwork (Aliy actually turned in Allen’s paperwork, as he was working on the Princess Cruises Train in Denali all day.) But, Aliy was in Wasilla to share the day with many Iditarod Volunteers as well as Mushers who showed up for the picnic.
Fifty-two mushers signed up to start the 2017 race. HERE is the list.

Iditarod Trail Headquarters, Wasilla, Alaska; Aliy turns in race paperwork.

Aliy and Dallas talk dogs; Mille, Aliy and Joar.

Martin, Aliy and Dr. Stu Nelson; Aliy and Mark Nordman.