SPK Dog Log

Nome is the central hub for many outlying villages. It seems strange and backward… but Aliy is in Nome before being Golovin, Elim and White Mountain?!?!

While in Nome she is visited retired SP Kennel husky, Hotshot, and his new family. This was their first reunion post retirement ans lets be honest… Hotshot is in LOVE with Mallory.

Aliy took a few moments to swing by the Nome Women’s Shelter talk to some ladies there and enjoyed fresh bluberry pie with coffee.

Aliy is staying with Curtis and Kamey – THANKS GUYS!

Throughout the month of March, the Iditarod takes over the 1,000 mile Iditarod National Historic trail. During February the race route is planned, staged, coordinated, marked and even groomed for dog teams. The Iditarod staff, volunteers, Iditarod Air Force and the trail breakers travel village to village establishing the race route. Then – – BAM! – – ten days of March zoom by and so do the Iditarod dog teams. In the many villages, the route is down Main Street; passing by houses, post offices, clinics, shops and schools.

But Iditarod National Historic trail is not just used by Iditarod mushers. As a matter of fact, the mushers are more like guests. The Southern Route Iditarod map (left) shows how the trail links many towns and villages. The Northern Route and the Fairbanks Route connect even more villages. The Iditarod trail is, in fact, the highway many Alaskans use on a daily basis. A lot of villages in rural Alaska have no road access, but they do have trail access. Villagers travel along this trail just like folks around the world travel on their local roads and highways: they visit neighbors, go to the store, go to school, travel to birthday parties and celebrations or simply ‘go on a drive’ along the Iditarod trail. Much of the trail can only be traveled after freeze up by snowmachine (Alaskan terminology for snowmobile.) But there are also sections that are used during the summer months by boat. The Yukon River is both a summer and winter super highway, as are the bays and waterways along the western coast.

The Mushers of the Iditarod dog teams that are racing for the top places do not spend much time resting in any one place. Their ‘run-rest’ schedules are calculated from the start and they stop at strategic locations. Sometimes these rest breaks are in villages, but never for very long. So socializing with locals is often limited simply because of time constraints. John Baker, Iditarod Champion and Kotzebue resident, is very conscious of this fact. He will come into a village, be swarmed by well-wishers and fans and immediately say: “I need to tend to my dogs first then I will happily talk to you all.” Some mushers have learned from John or have their own routine to interact with folks as much as they can. There are also Mushers whose less competitive race strategy gives them more rest time in village checkpoints. These Mushers often spend more time visiting with locales. All of this is very important to the Iditarod.

The reality is that Iditarod Mushers need the support of the villages. Yes… many mushers are incredibly tough and can handle challenging situations on their own – often navigating the trail with very few village stops. But as the saying goes: “You never know what’s going to happen.” In the past, mushers have been forced to take extended refuge in villages due to impassable storms or because their teams needed an unplanned rest. Both Aliy and Allen have spent over 24 hours in the village of Shaktoolik due to winter storms.

So, the fact is that Aliy has been welcomed by the amazing people who live along the Iditarod Trail for the last 17 years. In nearly two decades, on any given year, she has never spent more than:

• several minutes passing through the tiny town of Golovin
• a few hours in hours in Elim
• 8 (ish) hours in White Mountain 

Therefore the time has come for her to say “Thanks!”

The Dogs are ready to be packed and head out West!

With the financial support of her primary sponsor Matson, and the logistical support of Golovin, Elim, and White Mountain, Aliy will visit travel to each village, visit with the communities and give school presentations from August 28th until the 30th.

For this trip, Aliy is bringing with her: husky stickers (donated by Verizon), “Iditarod” notepads, buttons and DVDs (donated by ITC), stuffed toy huskies (donated by Matson), a set of 17 Iditarod Education Programs and other Alaskana books for each village (compiled by Tricia Brown and purchased by ExxonMobil) and personalized Jeff Schultz Iditarod posters (donated by ExxonMobil.)

Aliy is also bringing with her the heartfelt ‘Thanks’ from many of her Iditarod competitors who would like to offer their tremendous gratitude for everything that the wonderful people of Golivin, Elim and White Mountain do for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

We will try to update this story often and post photos from her trip.

One week out! It’s pretty exciting to think that our 2017 – 2018 mushing season is about to begin. The Fall season is in Two Rivers is definitely upon us and the dogs know it. There is cool moisture in the air and the mornings are brisk. Check out the weather forecast for the next week:

There is quite a ‘to do’ list that we still need to do check off before we are fully prepared for harness and hook up next Friday:

1. Check the ATV 4 wheelers – we have used them very little in the last 9 months in comparison to the many, many miles we will put on them in the next few months. So, oil change, tire check and all around vehicle inspections are needed.
2. Check training mainlines – we need to look through all the tug lines and snaps. Our training lines get lots of wear and tear from mud, ice and grime.
3. Check harnesses – we use Howling Dog Harnesses and a “no neck line” system. The dogs are not limited by a second leash attached to their collar so they can run forward or backward and they can face any direction they choose. This system obviously requires a lot of training and patience. Good etiquette and manners doesn’t happen overnight. The first month of Fall training is more about team union and expectations that mileage. HERE is an older post about harnesses.
4. Size harnesses – we have small, medium, large and xtra large harnesses. Body shape and weight both play into what size an individual will wear.
5. Make dog team rosters – the first few training runs we pair mature dogs with some of our more energetic youth. If we can help it, we like to put dogs into teams that all live in the same area of the yard. That way, after the run, we can let them all loose to run back to their houses and the ‘put away’ is much easier.
6. Determine a start time – we will have some new help at SP Kennel this season so we want to start the dogs as well as the mushers off on the right feet (paws.) The best time for a husky to train is when it is coolest… thus very early! We will see how excited the crew is to start harnessing at “Oh Dark Thirty”!

Here is a look at a National Weather Service chart showing temperature fluctuation throughout a 48 hour period for Two Rivers, Alaska. We monitor this chart as well as other weather service data:

NOTE: On Sept 2 we will have a brand new list starting with all the stuff we forgot on Sept 1!

Sometimes when we retire dogs from SP Kennel they are not always ready to go to a couch. We have been known to retire dogs from long distance racing to a local dog-first recreational kennel and one such kennel belongs to Rod, Julie and Edie, just a few miles from SPK.

Over the last 10 years, we have retired Zorro (edit: not Zorro Mackey), Skittles, Butterscotch, Spoog, Tatfish, Fang, Moxie, Bonita and Shiner to Rod, Julie and Edie’s care.

From Julie and Rod…

“When SP Kennel recently reposted their December 2008 video subtitled “Go get Tatfish,” it made me laugh. Tatfish hasn’t changed at all. (Photo on left.) He’s been at our kennel just a couple miles down the road for a few years, and we still have to hook him up last because his exuberance usually leads to tangles. He’s still a sweet, funny, playful boy — in fact we designed a corner of the dog yard with him in mind so he always one, or three, other dogs to play with all the time. Last year, Tatfish made it onto Edie’s Junior Mushers team and loved being able to go all out for 6 or 7 miles. Edie’s team, made up of more-or-less retired distance dogs, will never be able to compete with the top sprint kennels she’s running against, but she, and they, have a great time.”

“We’ve been fortunate enough to share our home with several SP Kennel dogs over the years. They are the oldest — Zorro at 17-plus years (photo on right is Zorro napping in the kitchen) — and the youngest, Shiner, 6, in our kennel and still form the core of our team. Zorro, despite his advanced years, is the first one at hand if there’s food around.
Zorro shares a big pen with Freddie and Butterscotch and is either eating, sleeping or walking. He still doesn’t have an off switch.”

“Butterscotch and his sister Skittles are the best two dogs we have ever had, and may ever have, in our team, as well as two of the sweetest. Skittles is a full-time house husky now. (Photo on left is Skittles helping pick blueberries.) She usually sleeps in Edie’s room or one of the dog beds in the living room and has the full run of the house and yard. She knows Grandma across the street always has a biscuit handy. Her favorite perch is the rug by the kitchen sink when I’m cooking. I’m a messy cook and she’s happy to help clean what I drop. Butterscotch will come inside if it’s cold, but he much prefers to be outdoors hanging out with Freddie.”

“Spoog and Moxie are our two go-to leaders, and are also easily the loudest dogs in the yard. They can hear the ladle hitting the edge of the bucket before we even open the front door to feed, and will let everyone in the neighborhood know that supper is coming. Spoog is also one of the most powerful dogs in the yard, something I’m usually reminded of on the first run of the season as I rub the grass stains off my chin after hooking him up. Moxie is currently excavating a basement apartment for his dog house. Or looking for buried treasure. Or burying a few more dog bowls. Anything to get more attention. (Photo above is Moxie admiring his deconstruction work.) “

“Our other two SP Kennel expats are Fang and Bonita. Both are strong, steady team dogs. We tried to convince Bonita that she wanted to be a mom, but no puppies. Instead, she’s the kennel’s fun police and lets us know if Tatfish and the others in the play corner are having too much fun.
Or if Edie and her friends are in the backyard.
Or the wind is blowing.
Or the cat is on the back deck.
You get the idea.”

Aliy and Allen were in Anchorage for a few hours this past week and were able to catch up with Scruggs.

Thankfully, he now is quite easy to “catch up” with at his new home. Scruggs, his new furry BFF, Molly, and Barbara are all happy and healthy. The threesome are getting along great and have gotten used to each other’s habits with only a few quirks. Scruggs seems very content at this loving home.

Yup… he has jumped 4 paws into his retirement.

Scruggs and Allen pose in the backyard; Molly says “What about ME?!?”

Scruggs has no physical signs of being gone from home for those 2 weeks. His rear toenails were quite worn down originally, but have grown back some now. He seems more comfortable with the sounds of the neighborhood and truly enjoys his own backyard. Scruggs, Molly and Barbara are a great family. Molly is very patient with her “new man” as he rips the squeaky out of most of her squeaky toys. Apparently Scruggs is more of a natural bone kinda guy. Not surprising.

Bone euphoria; Molly and Scruggs at the front window Look Out.

The last few weeks we have been enjoying the summer in Two Rivers. This year the temperatures have been warm and the Dog Walks have often involved a pond or creek. The ‘countdown’ to harness training is on the calendar, so enjoy the summer while you can kids!

Here are two fun videos:

Five years ago today Olivia and Nacho had their first litter of puppies: Kodiak, Dutch, Junior and Lydia. The four adults that they have become are phenomenal sled dogs and companions. They are often in lead of the very best SPK teams and have tremendous futures ahead. Even better than that, each dog is a superb individual with loving and happy temperament. They are the very best kind of dog to have either pulling your sled down the trail or sleeping next to your Lazy Boy recliner. Happy Birthday kids!

Thanks to the Secrets dedicated Dog Sponsors: Trish, Sue, Cliff & family and the Chaffins. As well as all their enthusiastic Dog Fans!

And then there’s Tig! Tig came to the kennel as a 7 week old pup when we had a small number of retired in-house sled dogs. We thought… “Why not shake things up around here and get a Lab?” She has been doing that for 9 years – shaking things up. Happy Birthday girl.

The differences between huskys and labs are sometimes vast – even though they have grown up in the same environment. The huskys LOVE to pull, run like the wind, work as a pack, howl enthusiastically and don’t particularly care for water. The lab doesn’t pull, trots down the trail with a hurky-jerky gait, is somewhat a loner, can’t comprehend ~ much less attempt to howl – and would love to swim and fetch sticks all day long. And oh yea… don’t forget about the squirrels.

We have to admit that the two dog breeds sometimes rub off on each other. For instance, Quito now runs into the forest wherever Tig is and immediately looks into the trees (for squirrels.) Of course Quito would immediately eat it – not fetch it – if she ever got one. And Mac, after years of watching Tig fetch sticks, has taken to the water. He even “swims for fun” now.

But, the funniest sight is to watch Tig as she is surrounded by 50 huskys howling. The sound is awesome and deafening. Tig just sits there dumbfounded. She looks like Allen and Aliy standing at a concert in Stockholm, Sweden. What the heck are these guys saying?! After 9 years, Tig still can’t howl ~ even Allen could learn some Swedish in 9 years!!!