A Look toward the Next Generation

Two fun and fabulous bits of news appeared in recent days on the SP Kennel website/blog that made me smile. First, the five pups that I call "the survivors" were recently in harness and running for short distances with some of the older dogs before the snow disappears! This was very exciting to me. I watched a video clips of first Rodney and Scooby and then Ernie and Five in the positions closest to the sled as Aliy began their training. She said that Ginger was not as rowdy as her four brothers but that she too was being 'broken in' and there would be pictures soon. I can hardly wait! The boys are rangy and very active furkids, promising to be power house dogs.

As you may know, these puppies were just a couple of weeks old--eyes open and getting around but still very much babies when I visited last summer. Shortly after that I learned that the original litter had consisted of nine pups but a strange virulent infection hit and four of them did not make it. That is why I call these five The Survivors and feel they are both especially hardy and very blessed to have made it and be growing up into promising future champs. The parents, Clyde and Chica, both ran in this years' big races and are exceptional dogs. Chica is a full sister to Quito, the outstanding lead dog who brought Aliy's team into three superb second place finishes. I'll snag portraits of them off the SPK site to share before long as I do plan more posts on the SP dogs and bloodlines.

Anong the now two year olds, there are eleven pups from a 2013 litter produced by Nacho, full litter brother to Chica and Quito, with Olivia, another exceptional female dog in the SPK group. They are called the "fire" litter and most have related names.  Now also entering the regular pack are another eleven pups from a 2013 match of Quito and Biscuit, mostly with golf-related names. The SP folk --and other Husky breeders it seems--tend to get a theme for naming a litter to help keep them straight as to year and parents. More on these twenty two dogs shortly but as you can see, large litters are not rare.

The other item was news from a weekend mushers' event held at Two Rivers, AK where SPK is located and a number of other lesser known mushers live to including Sebastian Schnuelle who blogged from the trail on this year's Iditarod but has run the race in the past. this time Aliy and Allen did not compete but served as race marshals, dog handlers and Jack/Jackie of all relevant trades. There were fun races for small kids, juniors and adults. The kid's race was won by the grandson of Allen and Aliy, a five year old, driving two seasoned SPK dogs on his small sled! He sure beamed when he got the medal and grandpa and grandma looked pretty happy too.

Now Aliy, like me, got her kids "second hand and house broke" with her marriage but grandkids are 'yours' no matter what.  I could see the pride and joy in her expression. It's great to see a new generation coming along and taking up this fine sport. That was a feature of the Jr. Iditarod which made it special to me. I hope we'll see this young man with such deep mushing roots racing for real in a decade or so.  The circles of life go on which is very heartening.