SPK Dog Log

We’re off to the races! The Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog race starts this Saturday, January 9th in Glennallen, Alaska. We’re excited to have two young, strong teams competing against a full field of 48 other teams this weekend.

SP Kennel has had considerable success at the CB300 with Allen and the Black Team being a six time, and defending, champs along with many top 10 finishes. Aliy also enjoys success running the Red Team in what we consider to be a good benchmark for our teams at this mid-point in the season.

The race this year follows the same route as last year, starting at Glennallen with checkpoints at the Red Eagle Lodge in Chistochina, Meiers Lake Roadhouse, Sourdough Campground and Mendeltna Creek Lodge, finishing back at Glenallen. The course traverses several rather large hills and over several rivers and lakes, and is very a good test of dogs’ and mushers’ fitness.

At this stage the forecast for this weekend is for a warm race but we’ll update you closer to the time. As the recent weather in the area as been warm, snowy and sometimes rainy, the latest update from the race committee is that “The trail crew has been evaluating conditions along the race course and most of the trail challenges appear to be in the Glennallen Highway corridor section of the race. Alternative start and finish locations are under consideration, as well as additional trail segments to make up mileage. The board will make an official announcement as soon as possible regarding these adjustments.” We’ll keep you updated.

With just two SPK teams in this year (as opposed to three for the previous two years) there will, unfortunately, be many dogs left at home. Allen and Aliy have some difficult decisions to make to finalise their 12-dog team rosters. We’ll let you know the Black Team and Red Team line-up on Friday.

The handler crew will be a little different this year with Chris, Mark and Wes following the teams in a couple of trucks. Although Chris is a CB300 rookie, he know the dogs and mushers well after training all season with them. Mark handled at the race last year and Wes has been to the race a few times so they know the lay of the land and it will be a strong, well drilled team in support.

Macgellan will be following from the Lower 48, updating with some stats and tidbits when he can. Moira is still in NZ and will be following along like you! Watching and refreshing the GPS trackers and yelling at the computer, also updating when possible. Internet and cell coverage is not a constant on the ground during this race so we will do our best to get the information, and maybe a pic or two, from the team to you.

The CB300 website will have a leader board and keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates also.

LET’S GO!

We have talked a lot about the SP Kennel Puppies but what about their Moms? How are they doing after whelping this Fall?

Olivia is 8 1/2 years old this winter. She had six puppies on September 23rd. She weaned them when they were 5 weeks old. Her milk completely dried and she was ready to train several days later. She still plays with her pups several times a week and is very ‘motherly’.

Olivia started training in harness the end of October. Her first month of training was similar to SP Kennel’s first month of Fall Training with short, slow runs to slowly build up her strength and endurance. She was able to train in a small team this first month. The second month we gradually increased her mileage and speed. She was brought into training with the main team on their ‘short mileage’ days or was running in lead with the Yearling squad on their longer runs.

We believe that Olivia will be able to race the Two Rivers 100 or 200 on January 22nd. If she is healthy and happy after this race she will continue to slowly train up for the Iditarod. She needs a solid two more months of training and must stay healthy in order to make an Iditarod team. We believe that she can do it with out much difficulty. Currently, Olivia weighs exactly what she did this time last season at 44.2 pounds… and she looks GREAT!

Quito is 9 1/2 years old this winter. She had seven puppies on October 11th. She weaned her puppies at 5 1/2 weeks and started short runs several days later. Quito’s milk did not drop low and therefore her body shape altered very little. She looked trim even while nursing! We kept her free running through out her pregnancy and while nursing pups. She was only sedentary and indoors for the initial week after the puppies birth. She still runs loose before and after runs now — often jumping in the Play Pen with her puppies.

Quito’s first month of training in harness was excellent. We had a small team: Quito, Mac, Chica and Chena who trained together regularly. Therefore, she had very consistant training miles. She never seemed winded or tired. The second month of her training we have slowly increased her mileage and speed. Currently, she has been in harness training for 6 weeks.

Quito is the main leader for the Yearling Team now. They are training for the Two Rivers 100 Race – two 50 miles legs separated by a significant rest. This race will start just shy of Quito being in training for 2 months. The Yearling Team is the perfect stepping stone for her to get in shape. The team is slower and lacks the intensity of the Main Team. She runs in lead and can set a pace that she is comfortable traveling. Quito will continue to train after this event and it is possible that she can become fit enough to race on the Iditarod Black Team. But… one race at a time!

Quito looks like a Rock Star and is a little over her ideal weight at at 47 pounds.

Happy New Year! For the new year we have a new feature on the DogLog…

Due to popular demand, we have opened up the Dog Fan Club to include the Coffee and Golden Harness litters so you can show your support for the youngest members of our family.

Checkout the Puppy page for more details about each little one.

Sanka and Decaf; QT

Will you choose Sanka because your grandma used to drink Sanka Coffee? Or perhaps you’ll choose Barista because you are one! Are you an All Blacks fan? Do you think Q.T. really is the cutest puppy in the world? There could be 101 reasons to become a fan of any or all of the new generation of SP Kennel athletes! Tell us your reasons and join their fan club!

We’ll also do a specific ‘puppy fans’ draw later in the season.

Click the button below for instructions on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

The Golden Harness litter is 11 weeks old! See them having some fun in the Puppy Play Room.

The Coffee pups are growing up fast!! Watch as they have some fun in the puppy play room.

Aliy and Allen trucked 28 dogs up to the White Mountains National Recreation Area earlier this week. The trail conditions were ideal, as was the temperature, for a long training run. The moon was out for much of the night, so they didn’t even need their headlights to see the mountains, dogs and beauty all around.

Before the teams left the trucks, all dogs were harnessed and bootied. Sleds were packed. Mushers were dressed and ready. The dogs were nearly getting bored simply waiting for the mushers. Sometimes (okay… most of the time… things just take longer than they should!)

Aliy noticed that the dogs were just sitting around and sulking because they had to wait. So, she grabbed her video camera and ‘interviewed’ the crew. For those of you that know her, you can tell that she’s had a cup or two of coffee!

Here they are ‘Ready to Roll… but waiting on their Mushers!

Congratulations to Patricia who has won this week’s draw. Patricia is a fan of KODIAK.

Kodiak was a born leader. He is confident in himself and his skills. Kodiak seems older than his years due to his calm exterior – he has learned from some of SP Kennel’s best. Look for Kodiak to be up front on many of the most competitive teams this season.

As we just ran the Solstice 50, Patricia’s winner’s prize pack includes Two Rivers Dog Mushers Association merchandise and some other kennel goodies.

The next fan club draw is will be during the Copper Basin 300! If you haven’t already won this season or if you are a new member your name will be in the next draw.

Click the button below for instructions on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

We hope you all enjoy the festive season.

Coffee litter puppy pile taken during Portrait Day in November