SPK Dog Log

All the signs are here that summer is gone and winter is on its way. Dog training is in full swing. The thermometer hovers around 20 degrees F in the mornings. We have had two snow events – about 2 inches of wet stuff that coats the trees and makes the morning roads slick. And I unearthed my long underwear, down jacket and winter gloves last week.

Aliy and Allen made their last presentation of the season for tourists on Princess Cruises’ Denali Express train. Their focus now is late fall maintenance projects and training, training, training!

Meghan’s summer stint working at Alaska Fire Service ended last week and she is back living in the handler’s cabin down the driveway at SP.  She is running teams, feeding and scooping, and bonding big time with the Fire Litter. She has even managed to match names with individuals, a real challenge with this huge, wiggling mass of puppies.



Snow dusts the porch at the SP Handlers’ Cabin

And in mid October, Moira returns to SP Kennel from her family home in New Zealand. More on her time in the Southern Hemisphere  later, but suffice it to say that during the past year she has lived in winter in Alaska, then winter in New Zealand and back to winter in Alaska. Now there is a trooper!!

Moira, left and Meghan, right. M&M return to SP for the 2013/2014 Racing Season.

All of these changes point in one direction for Doug and me. SOUTH! Our little house in the woods is almost ready for winter. Just need to drain the water system and turn the heat off. On Saturday, right after Sammy’s 6th birthday party, we hop a plane back to our winter home in Florida.

What a summer it’s been here in Interior Alaska – the Canine Warriors Testing, a forest fire evacuation, weeks of 80 degree temps, prolific veggie gardens, a litter of 11 pups and building projects galore for Doug.  But mostly it’s been a time to enjoy our kids (Kaz and Aliy) and their families. Many thanks to them – Kaz, Ray and Sammy and Aliy and Allen – for being the best!! This is a pretty great family to be part of.

Mickey and Doug heading off to FL

So, we’re off to enjoy our beach, pool, golf and kayaks for a few months. See you all in March for Iditarod  2014.

Mickey is headed back to Florida soon. She enjoys seeing the dogs in action, so she jumped on the back of the ATV 4 wheeler a few days ago to join Aliy. She quizes Aliy about the dogs. So… listen up!

During Fall Training, obviously we can’t use a sled. There is no snow and probably won’t be for several weeks or a month. But, since we consider early training miles very important, we need to get out and train. Therefore we use an ATV 4 wheeler to simulate a sled.

The plus is that the dogs really don’t care… they just want to run and pull! The minus is that an ATV is loud.

We use the ATV with the motor running and in gear. Yes, the dogs could pull the 500 pound ATV down the trail, but they would actually pull it too fast. We are trying to establish base miles at 7 to 9 mph. If the dogs were left to their own desires they would lope down the trail at 14 mph. So, in order to keep the speed reduced and not cling to the brake  for the entire training run, we gear the ATV into a lower gear and let the engine slow the dogs. It’s like using a “Jake Brake” on a dog team.

So, on many of the videos you will hear the ATV engine purring in the background. We apologize for this, but imagine how our mushers feel! (VROOOOMMM!) Anyhow, at least they are out with the dogs!

Puppies are routinely vaccinated at 8 weeks of age. But, that’s not the kind of “shot” we are talking about!!

Here are the FIRE LITTER 8 Week old Glamour Shots.

Amber; Hotshot

Coal; Commando

Daisy; Chena

Violet; Nomex

Torch; Tinder

Mickey & Spark; Spark

All puppies are sponsored.

All SP Kennel Dogs and Puppies are currently Sponsored.

Our Dog Sponsor program is by far our most popular. We have often been asked “Why don’t you allow a dog to have more than one sponsor?” But, our kennel policy has always been about bonding with our individual dogs. An individual dog, deserves an individual sponsor. Many of our Dog Sponsors have had long-term commitments to “their” dogs and have personal connections. We have no desire to lessen this connection by adding multiple sponsors.

The program runs on a seasonal basis, from October to April. If you are a current Dog Sponsor, we will contact you in October about renewing your sponsorship. There is a wait list for future available dogs and puppies. Please email us at SPKDogLog@gmail.com to put your name on this list.

Dog Sponsors annually receive a custom dog sponsorship package. This package varies from year to year and always includes personalized photos, cards and SP Kennel team gear. We’ll share details about “your” dog’s personality and quirks, giving you an insider’s look at the dog in the picture. As the sole sponsor of “your” dog, your name will be displayed on all dog team cards, brochures, website posts.

In addition, if your dog runs the Iditarod or Yukon Quest, we will send you his or her unique Race Dog Tags… Truly a treasure!

Lastly, you are welcome to visit the Kennel and spend some time with your dog. If you’re strong and sure footed, you can even take your dog for a walk! Sponsors who find themselves at races — even the Iditarod Start in Anchorage or at the finish line in Nome — will have access to their dogs for personal pep talks or congratulatory hugs!

All of our dogs are listed on The Dogs of SP Kennel Page. This page will be fully updated with new Dog Portraits in October.

Although Racing Dogs are the most likely to see action in the current season, don’t overlook the Yearlings and Puppies! They are the future of SP Kennel and offer the longest-term opportunity for you to participate in the life of an SP Kennel sled dog.

There will be a new Become a Dog Fan Program starting at SP Kennel in November 2013. People will be asked to become a “fan” of their favorite dog or dogs. For a small fee, a Dog Fan will then become a voting member of the SP Kennel Dog Fan Club. At various times of the season, there will be Fan Awards given out to the dogs with the most fans. At the same time, the names of all the Fans will be put into a drawing for SP Kennel Fan gear.

We came back from a training run yesterday and set up the camera to capture the actually Unhooking. We always show the running… what about when they get home?

SP Kennel needs about 50 bales of straw each winter for dog bedding in dog houses and in the dog trucks. September is usually the perfect time to buy it from local farmers. What a surprise we had this week when we went to buy our bales.

The price is $12 per bale! For local straw! We usually pay between $5 and $7.

Alaska’s crazy summer weather took a toll on large scale straw production. Extreme heat and no rain was the first blow. Wildland fires burned fields as well as forests. Then, just as we hit harvest time, the rains came in torrents. There is little straw around and Alaskans with livestock and dogs are panicking. And the price skyrocketed.

“In the past 15 years, the most I’ve ever paid for a straw bale was $11 and it was shipped from Washington state,” said Aliy.

Allen unloading precious bales. Though a small item in the SP budget, the price shocked us!

As Allen tucked the solid gold bales in the back of the dog barn for maximum protection, he shook his head. “It just ain’t right!” So true.

SP Kennel dogs are great sled dogs because they love to run, love to pull and love their mushers. The best way to raise these puppies is to love them back. Eleven puppies is a lot to love, so we do the best we can to share the wealth! Here are some photos from the last few days at SP Kennel.

L-R: Mickey watches as Allen entertains Daisy and Spark; Sam and Tinder

L-R: Linda seems to have collected all eleven puppies!