Displaying items by tag: dogs

Wednesday, 02 January 2008 19:18

Meet the Expedition Dogs

Dog Team The following 24 dogs have been selected for an intensive training for the 2007 Baffin Island Expedition. At the end of our training phase, 20 of these dogs will be chosen to continue with us on the expedition. Each one brings its own unique personality to share. Some are shy while others are outgoing and playful. Some are noisy and eager on trail. Others sit down in the snow and grab a nap anytime the sled is stopped. Some of these dogs have traveled to the Arctic on previous adventures while others have spent all of their lives in Minnesota. Some have worked for the U.S. Forest Service hauling lumber and supplies across the frozen lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Others have run in races in Minnesota, Montana, and Canada. Check out the dog bios below to get to know each our canine friends!

	Bones is a tough, strong 8-year old from original Steger Polar Husky blood lines. He has numerous expeditions under his belt and has a beautiful blond coat that keeps him super warm on cold northern nights. His favorite pastimes are pulling hard and eating.
	Bullet is a 3-year old 65 pound grey village husky who was born in northern Canada on the coast of Hudson Bay. He is curious and has a winning personality and a very expressive voice. Bullet makes many friends in the dog yard as he is easy to get along with and loves to play.
	Carlos is 3 years old and also from original Steger blood lines. He is a handsome, grey, wolfish-looking dog. Weighing in at 90 pounds, he pulls hard and also has the brains to go with his good looks.
	Cilantro is 2.5 years old He is 60 pounds worth of hard-pulling sled dog. He starts to dance on his hind legs when he knows mealtime has arrived. This enthusiastic Alaskan husky has two brothers trying out for the team as well: Thyme and Basil. Cilantro is showing promise as a fast moving leader.
	Didgi is 2 years old and mottled brown and white. He is named for an Australian native instrument, the didgeridoo since he has a playful sing-song bark. He is a pure- bred Canadian Husky from the coast of Hudson Bay and loves attention from people.
	Frankenstein (Frankie) is a 7 year old and a three-time Iditarod veteran. This brown Alaskan Husky is no stranger to hard work and long trips. He has recently been spending time up in front of the team in lead and is friendly but shy. At 60 pounds, he is smaller for an expedition dog but tough and you will hear his big excited bark at feeding time.
	Jake is a classic-looking Canadian Husky. He is a 70-pound strong man who has white fur with striking black spots on his face and ears. He is motivated to do any task set in front of him. Break out the harness and he is raring to go.
	Jimmy is a very big dog with a very big head. He is 4 years old and pulls like a horse. He is a very enthusiastic fellow who really digs in on the uphills. In the dog yard, however, this guy knows how to relax and definitely appreciates a good belly rub.
	Jones is a 10 year-old veteran of many short and long dog races. He is 50 percent Canadian Husky and 50 percent Alaskan Husky. He was the lead dog on the championship team in the 2005 Hudson Bay Quest. He has been a trusted lead dog for years and is someone you want on your team when the going gets tough. He is 64 pounds and tough as nails. He has pulled a sled over 25,000 miles in his life time.
	Nyla is a beautiful 5 year-old Polar Husky who is proving to have the confidence and drive to stay out in front of the team as a lead dog. She is very responsive and affectionate towards people. Her warm, white coat is thick and she has tough feet that will keep her happily running across Baffin Island this winter should she make the team.
	Pepe is a leggy 9 year-old polar husky who enjoys running with his brother Rudy. He has traveled far and wide, including traversing Ellesmere Island with a pack on his back. He is enthusiastic about anything that is put in front of him (especially his food dish!). He is social and is always ready to play with his neighbors in the dog yard.
	Sasha is a strong, muscled 5 year-old white husky whose bark you will not forget (he seems to be saying "hubba hubba hubba!"). He is an amazingly strong athlete with a strikingly nice coat. Sasha resembles his father, Tuvik.
	Simma is an affectionate 5 year-old Canadian Husky from northern Manitoba whose color and shape make her resemble another famous animal that lives in Canada, the polar bear. Simma has amazed her trainers with her work ethic and rise to athleticism this season. She's tough and strict and keeps her younger running partners in line.
	Skid is a 2 year-old Canadian Husky whose first experiences with pulling a sled were not typical of a dog who is now one of the hardest-pulling dogs in the yard. He got his name by pulling back on his neckline and skidding on his paws for his first few runs until he figured it out and he started pulling . He is grey and white and weighs in at 65 pounds.
	Sonny is a 3 year-old white Polar Husky whose mother, Nyla, is also in the running for the Baffin Island teams. He is a very mellow, 70-pound dog who amazes us with his pulling prowess. He is shy when you first meet him but warms up fast and becomes very affectionate.
	Sparky is a 3 year-old pure bred Canadian Husky whose sleek black coat and white markings make him an eye-catching addition to the team. He is small and weighs 60 pounds but has lots of personality to round him out. He enjoys playing with his buddy, Denali, in the dog yard.
	Teekona is an older dog with previous experience running in lead. He is an explorer at heart, and sometimes abandons the trail to chase down a chipmunk or squirrel. Tall and strong, he can set the pace for the rest of the team. He is a mellow personality in the dog yard but enjoys attention, often letting out a low happy groan when his back gets scratched.
	Tuvik is a 7 year-old Greenlandic Husky who has traditional Inuit-bred genetic lines. Perhaps the hardest-pulling dog in the yard, he revs up the team by barking and being the first to rise and jump in his harness after a break. Tuvik approaches everything in his life with exuberance and could teach us all a lesson or two about enjoying life.