I got into dog mushing two years after moving to Alaska from central Illinois. The dog team belongs to the Hoffman/McDonald family in Bethel whose daughter I am friends with. On day one I decided I was just going to help a few times a week, cleaning the yard and doing short runs. Within a week and after getting dragged around on my face by the team a few times I became hooked and quickly started spending all my spare time in the dog yard. These dogs have become my best friends and anytime spent with them is usually the best part of my day. In the hundreds of miles we have traveled together over this last year I have formed bonds of trust stronger than I have ever had before. We have an understanding that if they work I will take care of their every need and keep them safe and healthy.
We do several races a year but what I really enjoy is camping and traveling with these incredible animals. There is nothing that can compare to the peaceful place one finds himself in on a dog sled.
We setup this community so people can learn about the team, and donate money to help the team with dog food, booties, harnesses, and supplies. All that is required is a PayPal account. Woof Woof, give me your money!
Steve Nash is the main lead dog of the team. Named after a basketball player (of course), he's been on the team for about 5 years now. He's got a bit of attitude (likes to urinate on dogs), but his hardheadedness is also his strongest attribute. King of the dog yard, the best all around dog!
Foxy is my other main leader. She is the smartest dog in the yard and I think I have more control over her than the steering wheel in my car. She is super calm and enjoys her job. This year she fought a porcupine resulting in about 50 quills being stuck in her face and inside her mouth. She let me pull them all out on the trail with no problems, then continued to run 50 miles. One of a kind.
Berube is a huge yearling and already one of the hardest working, most valued dogs on the team. In the yard and around people he is the most relaxed dog of the lot. But as soon as he sees a harness he transforms into a screaming maniac. Berube also finished the 150 in his first year and only seems to be getting better. He prefers to run wheel but can go anywhere in the team with no problem.
Link is another dog we got from a local Iditarod musher. He started out really as on of the oddest dogs I have ever met. He was funny looking in the yard and even more strange looking in harness. With some one on one attention he has quickly become on of the best. Bigger than his sister Brandi, "the stink" loves to run and screams when he thinks the team is going too slow. Another young dog, he will be great in the future. ...more »
Link is another dog we got from a local Iditarod musher. He started out really as on of the oddest dogs I have ever met. He was funny looking in the yard and even more strange looking in harness. With some one on one attention he has quickly become on of the best. Bigger than his sister Brandi, "the stink" loves to run and screams when he thinks the team is going too slow. Another young dog, he will be great in the future.
« less full details »
This was likely Benito's last year of racing although I think she could have a few more. At 9 years old she can more than keep up with the rest of the team. People ofter forget about Benito as she is super low key. She makes no problems or noise but pulls like a maniac. She is happy to go all the time and is one of the all around best dogs on the team.
Diva has the most low key and lazy attitude out of harness of any of the dogs. In the team she keeps eager and never causes any problems. At 2 years old she has a bright future.
Sugar is one of the oldest dogs still running in the team at 9 years old. That said, she is still one of the fastest and eager of the dogs. This is was likely her last year of racing and she looks forward to a future life on the couch. On a team where basically all the dogs are even tempered and mild mannered she takes the cake.
Brandi is tiny. Weighing in at a solid 30 pounds we got her from a local Iditarod musher as she was far to small for his team. She is a super sweet and hard working young dog that runs harders and shows more enthusiam than most. She has run all the races with me this year and is shaping up to be a great leader one day.
Benji is a big, powerful yearling. In a team of pretty small dogs he looks like a wolf. We still have some kinks to work out with his reckless behavior in harness so he didn't make the team this year. He screams nonstop when exicited and cannot sit still in harness. Im hoping to chill him out in the next years. If I can figure out how to use him properly he will be one of our most valued dogs.
Social Web