Coldspot in Fairbanks asked Aliy if she’d drop by during this weekend’s “Pet Appreciation Celebration”. Saturday from 11pm to 3pm, Aliy, Mickey (Kennel Mom), Beemer and Viper were special guests at the Coldspot celebration. All four of them talked about dogs, to dogs and with dogs. (See a theme here?)
A great time was had by all!
Beemer enjoyed the Crowd; A young fan knows the secret ear scratch.
Beemer says “Can we take her home?”; Beemer’s long lost niece (just kidding!)
It here. The temperature was 29 degrees this morning. I guess Mother Nature has decided to cooperate with us today.
The dogs are excited and the Mushers are excited. What a GREAT day to start training. The first team of the year is a mixture of young and old.
Pud is in lead with Scruggs. Pud is flying to New Hampshire next week for his retirement from SP Kennel so we thought it was only appropriate for him to step in and run as the primary leader on the first team of the season. Why not go out in style?
In swing is Dingle and Nacho. Both Rock Star solid SP dogs.
The next two dogs are very young. Cayenne and Champ turn one year old on September 7th. This was a big day for them and they were happy to be a part of it. Each of these youngsters is attached to the mainline with both a tug line and a neck line. They are running by themselves so that they don’t get confused with a partner. This is necessary on the first few runs so that they get the “forward” concept from the beginning. As you can see by 1/4 mile down the trail… they got it! (Of course, Aliy did run in front and beside them for just a little ways!)
Puppet and Woody are next in the team. They are a nice solid, long legged pair.
Nelson is in wheel by himself. His twirling and crazy nature hasn’t seemed to let up through the summer — thank goodness!
Here we go!
Is your clock ticking?
Our clock is ticking!
September 1st is the first day that SP Kennel dogs train in harness.
Our harness rack has been empty throughout the summer. But… it’s time to move the harnesses. Thanks to Howling Dog Alaska for providing us with fantastic harnesses for our dogs. Our system is a little bit different than your traditional set up. But, we love it. And better yet… our dogs LOVE it. I think we’ll stick with it!
Here is an older post to our harness system: HARNESSES
An Empty Harness Rack; Harnesses still hang indoors
The pups will be 6 weeks old tomorrow! To celebrate their birthday and a beautiful late summer day in Two Rivers, Doug and I took the fivesome for a romp in the field. Their personalities are developing. Scooby just loves everybody and everything. Rodney is an instigator. Ginger is Ms. Independent. Ernie is mellow. Five seems pensive.
These pups are just so wiggly. With much trial and error, we did get puppy portraits to document this 6 week milestone and hopefully show a bit of their individualism.
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| Scooby, the social butterfly. |
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| Rodney, the instigator, tries to look innocent. |
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| Ginger, the Adventurer. |
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| Mellow fellow, Ernie. Almost a twin to Five, below. |
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| Five, the Thinker. His all black nose and longer guard hairs distinguish him from Ernie. |
Hope you enjoy. We sure had fun running around the field with them.
Kennel Mom
Have you ever wondered what some of our mushing trails look like in the summer? Let Tig show you the Chena River during the summer.
Chenega Native Corporation has sold the Clarion Suites in Downtown Anchorage. As many people know, Clarion Suites has been SP Kennel’s home away from home for many years. We are greatly appreciative to Chenega for the many years that our dogs, mushers, handlers, family and fans all stayed at Clarion Suites. We were treated like royalty.
Aliy stands underneath the “Aliy Hotel Banner”; SP Kennel dog truck sits in its reserved parking space in front of Clarion Suites
We have met so many great people through our relationship with Chenega that we have come out far ahead. Our business relationships have turned into life-long personal friendships.
Linda Steiner ~ Director or Sales and Marketing; Barbara Swenson ~ General Manager
Aliy and one of her best buddies; Allen, Aliy and Ranger at a hotel sponsored event
Clarion Suites team with Scruggs before the start of the 2013 Iditarod
Charlotte, Aliy and Dingle at a downtown event; Aliy carried a laminated photo of the Clarion Suites team in her Iditarod sled every year
Thank you Chenega! And thank you to the dedicated staff and personnel of the Clarion Suites Downtown Anchorage.
Here is a video of the Chica x Clyde puppies:
This week we celebrate quite a few birthdays here at SP Kennel.
The Car Litter turned 7 years old on the 10th of August. We took the siblings; Beemer, Olivia, Rambler, Scout and Viper; for a celebratory walk on their birthday morning. Honda is in Oregon, Hummer is in Fairbanks, Malibu is in Anchorage and Ranger is just down the road.
Beemer shares a secret with Allen at the Iditarod Start 2014; The Car Litter snuggles (plus Tug and Cutter)
The Honky-tonk Litter won’t be outdone because they celebrate NUMBER SIX on the 15th of the month. Boondocks, Lester, Scruggs, Willie and Waylon (Hank is in Texas and Bubba went to Canada years ago.)
Boondocks and Aliy pre Iditarod 2014; The Honkey-tonks first race ever. On the Truck (L-R) Hank, Boondocks, Scruggs, Bubba, Hummer (one year older), Waylon (even wearing a jacket then!), Lester (you can see his buttocks)
At the end of the week, August 17th, the Latino Litter hits the “Big One” – 3 years old! They are no longer youngsters. All five siblings are here at the kennel: Felix, Izzy, Mismo, Nelson and Pepe. They have been loud and obnoxious about their upcoming celebration all week long. (Okay… they just might be loud and obnoxious all the time.)
Izzy thinks that since she’s half the size of Mismo, she should get twice the birthday snacks as he gets. Nelson has quipped “You bought me the best present, right? Me. I deserve the best present. You know that, right?” Pepe just keeps jumping in the air – all four feet at a time! Felix can’t stop insisting about the flavor of the cake frosting “It’s gotta be salmon, Red salmon! Not Pink. Not silver. Red salmon!” He seems to be getting a little pushy. Mismo just looks from one sibling to another… “Izzy, you’re full of it! Yup, Felix… you’re right Red is best! Wait a minute Nelson how was your Iditarod this year… that’s right you didn’t go! Gosh Pepe… you can really catch some air!“
Mismo and Felix leave the Iditarod starting line 2014; They were quite a handful!
Quiet, reserved and usually very PC, Tug Boat, shares her birthday with the Latinos, although she turns 7 years old. She is always such a sweetheart and a joy to be around, we were surprised when she said “Please don’t put me in the Play Pen with those Loco kids!” So, Tug will get her own birthday biscuit.
Happy Birthday to them all!
