Meet the dogs of Squid Acres Kennel
RETIRED DOGS
These are dogs that have retired from racing. They may be couch dogs or puppy walkers or may still like to run, just not at a racing pace.
- STOUT
STOUT
Male, 63 lbs, DOB 3/13/2007
This boy came from tough village lines and his single puppy status trained him to be an incredible dog at fetching a ball, shaking your hand, or off trail leading. The tougher it gets, the more focused and amazing he becomes. Finished 2012 Yukon Quest in lead, but his body and hair are not suited to distance racing, so he sleeps on the couch, keeps the squirrels at bay and teaches the puppies what growling means!Sponsored by CINDY and DENNIS MOREHART!
- NOVA
NOVA
Male, 75lbs, DOB 7/5/2013
Nova gets so excited about everything that he usually knocks his house over or rips the lid off to let us know what he is thinking. He finished both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod as a 2 year old. And continued stomping out miles for many years. Last year, Last year, Nova suddenly didn’t want to or couldn’t run anymore and we found out he had a thyroid problem that is easily treated with medicine. He is back in the team at a slower pace this year with the retired dogs, but also is living life inside now.Sponsored by KELLI and BRUCE BURTON!
- THULE
THULE
Female, 55lbs, DOB 9/6/2010
Smyth/Mackey lines and the daughter of Stumpy. She is a finisher of both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod. She can often be found scratching her back on her house after a run! She is the proud mom to the cool cars litter 1.0 and 2.0. These pups are making up the core of our team! Thule is now retired and training all pups to become the amazing dog that she has been!SPONSORED BY ERIKA DAVIS
- BORON
BORON
Male, 85lbs, DOB 3/22/2012
AKA ” the Donkey”. Boron is our largest and strongest dog. Boron has raced but his intensity combined with his size keep him from making the distance. They say that those who cannot do, teach and so we have Boron in the most important roll here at Squid Acres, he is the main leader for the yearling and puppy teams. He will spend his time teaching them how to be amazing sled dogs.Sponsored by LORI RABE!
- CUDA
CUDA
Male, 63lbs, DOB 7/5/2013
Cuda was one of our go to leaders and was never dropped in back to back Yukon Quest and Iditarods as a two, three, four and five year old! This summer, Cuda suddenly lost his eyesight. He was diagnosed with SARD (sudden acquired retinal degeneration). He is physically healthy otherwise and still loves going out on short jaunts with the retired team and teaching the yearlings.Sponsored by Sue and John Mills
Also sponsored by Barb Kane and Nicolle Castille
Sponsor a retiree for $100 (learn more about sponsorship)
LEAD DOGS
These dogs have proven that they have what it takes to be a lead dog while racing! They are the driving force of the team and get us where we need to go on the trail.
- UNCLE JESSE
UNCLE JESSE
Male, 60lbs, DOB 7/27/2014
Uncle Jesse has an old, sweet soul about him and shows a confidence about him, like ‘he’s been there before’. He is turning into one of our go to leaders! In 2018, he finished the Iditarod the same way he started it, barking and harness banging! And then repeated that with YQ and Iditarod finishes in 2019. We are excited to bring Uncle Jesse to the start line this year!Sponsored by BRIAN WESTENBERG and granddaughters
- CHEVELLE
CHEVELLE
Female, 45lbs, DOB 7/5/2013
Nicknamed Gazelle, this girl is fast, smart, super athletic and always wants to be out front. She barks for the first 5 miles of a run, telling the team to go faster! She runs in lead and all positions. She is a multi Yukon Quest and Iditarod finisher! This girl is not happy unless she is running!Sponsored by KRISTINE HARDING
- TRAX
TRAX
Male, DOB 7/17/2016
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. Trax is the most mild mannered of the all the pups and can often be seen sitting off to the side staring intently at you. He is very similar to his older brother, Cuda. He is a smart boy who learns quickly and nothing phases him! He finished the Yukon Quest as a two year old and Iditarod the following years and ran some of the race in lead. That is where he likes to be!Sponsored by DEB SIMPSON DAVIS!
- JOPLIN
JOPLIN
Female, 45lbs, DOB 8/22/2016
Joplin, named after the famous Janis, came to us from Hey Moose! Kennel and she fits right in. She is a happy girl that is always smiling and loves everyone. She has been running in lead and stomping every run she has done so far. In her first year of racing, she finished Kuskokwim 300 in lead, Yukon Quest and Iditarod! We are excited to see how this girl tackles this race season!Sponsored by PAT MARINAC!
- FREDRO STARR
FREDRO STARR
Male, DOB 5/19/2019
Fredro Starr is an energetic, goofy boy who loves to be a sled dog. If he had it his way, he would never leave the gangline! He loved running in the puppy wheel and there already perfected his 1000 mile trot! He ran Iditarod like a champ as a 2 year old, only being sent home because of a broken toenail. He is sure to be in all the lineups for many years to come!
Sponsored by CLAUDIA and JOHN BERGES!
- BUGSY
BUGSY
Female, DOB 7/25/2019
Bugsy is well known for her battle cry in the dog yard and during training runs. She’s the cheerleader that every dog team needs! She ran part of Iditarod in 2022 and ran lead for several hundred miles! This girl is a firecracker!
Sponsored by JAYNE AND FRANK CHAVEZ
Sponsor a lead dog for $500 (learn more about sponsorship)
LEAD DOGS 2
These dogs have proven that they have what it takes to be a lead dog while racing! They are the driving force of the team and get us where we need to go on the trail.
- NEKO CASE
NEKO CASE
Female, 53lbs, DOB 8/22/2013
The leader of the pack! She is as beautifully gaited as her siblings. Neko loves playing with her neighbors and harness banging to get going down the trail! She is leading the team with confidence finishing the Yukon Quest and Iditarod multiple times! Mostly in lead! Last year she ran almost every mile in lead in both YQ and Iditarod. She loves her job! She is the mom of the 90s hip hop artists and the Russian leaders.Sponsored by DEBORAH COLBY!
- WILD TURKEY
WILD TURKEY
Male, 60lbs, DOB 3/5/2015
Turkey is our first puppy to name himself! He would wake from a deep sleep and come running whenever we said Turkey, so since the rest of his litter is named after Bourbon’s, Wild Turkey it is! He has a calm, sweet demeanor without a harness, but once he is hooked up he is CRAZY! He has the attitude and confidence of a leader and proved it his first year racing! This guy ran almost 2000 miles in lead during races last year! And he just keeps getting stronger!Sponsored by Eric Svensson
- SABLE
SABLE
Female, 50 lbs, 7/8/2010
A bit shy until she gets warmed up to you, but a real lover. She wags her tail like a cat and sounds like a seagull when she barks! She runs all positions but really found her spot in lead. She has finished multiple Yukon Quests and Iditarods and even finished Iditarod in single lead! This girl has now started 15, 1000 mile races and has only been dropped once for an illness! What a superstar! At 11 years old she is still going strong!Sponsored by AYANA CRAVEN!
- COUPE DE VILLE
COUPE DEVILLE
Male, DOB 7/17/2016
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. Coupe demands attention and is always at your side barking for something. As a two year old, this guy finished Yukon Quest in our 6th place team and Iditarod in 7th place and was still barking for more! He has become a pretty confident leader and after his break out season racing, we are expecting great things from this guy. He is also the dad to the hip hop artists litter from Neko!Sponsored by NICOLLE WISNIEWSKI!
- SIERRA
SIERRA
Female, DOB 7/17/2016
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. She was almost renamed Benjamin Button as she was born looking REALLY old! She has lost her grey face and has turned into a beautiful dog. This girl is a firecracker! She finished the Yukon Quest and made a great showing in the top Iditarod team last year, running lead much of the time. This girl is a superstar! She is also the mom to the Grateful Dead song litter.Sponsored by KAY LAWSON!
- SHOSHANNA
SHOSHANNA
Female, DOB 7/25/2016.
Out of Daisy and Wizard, this litter is full of happy, waggy pups. This girl is smart and fierce. She never stops moving and her distinctive wiggle and thrown back head when you call her name will always make you laugh. She is always the first to let us know it’s time to get moving again. This girl has finished Iditarod and has become a main, reliable leader in training!Looking for a Sponsor
- IROC
IROC
Male, DOB 7/17/2016.
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. Iroc is very independent but also never strays too far from his people. He doesn’t need a whole lot of attention from either humans or dogs. He is just very content. He finished the Yukon Quest as a two year old and Iditarod, the last two years. He has run in lead reliably the last few years and deserves the recognition:)Sponsored by Taylor Emanuels!
Sponsor a lead dog for $500 (learn more about sponsorship)
TEAM DOGS
These dogs are just as integral as lead dogs. Without a team, where would we be?
- GINGER
GINGER SPICE
Female, 45lbs, DOB 8/22/2013
This little girl is full of spunk and curiosity! She definitely has a rock stars hairdo! She has a beautiful trot that sets an easy pace for the long haul. She has finished the Yukon Quest and Iditarod multiple times and was barking for more at the finish line! She doesn’t ever want the trail to stop! This year, she hasn’t missed a step in her dance routine!Sponsored by Linda Ray
- VOLT
VOLT
Female, DOB 7/17/2016
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. Volt is the smallest in the litter but she has the biggest personality. She is almost identical to her brother Astro and has the same speed and agility. This girl will make you laugh! She finished both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in top 10 teams as a two year old. Pretty sure this girl will be at all the starting lines this year, as well!Looking for a Sponsor
- ASTRO
ASTRO
Male, DOB 7/17/2016
Cars litter 2.0! This is a repeat breeding of Thule and Blue that has produced some of our best dogs. Astro is the punk of the litter. Always in the middle of things, he has the eyes of a crazy puppy. He is fast and agile and is the life of the party! He loves his job as it directs that energy and he is leading the yearling team with drive and confidence! Astro finished the Yukon Quest and Iditarod as a two year old!Sponsored by MICHAEL WHALEN!
- RAGNAR
RAGNAR
Male, DOB 5/5/2017
Ragnar is probably the most mellow sled dog you have ever come across but when it’s time to run, he is up and ready! He loves to snuggle, despite his large size, and he loves to run! He finished his first 1000 mile race last year and was ready to keep going. This summer he decided he wanted to be a lead dog!Sponsored by ALAN KOLSKI
- CLYDE
CLYDE
Male, DOB 7/25/2019
Clyde is the relentless optimist. He is always happy and giddy to run on the line next to all of his friends! His beautiful coat of dark and tan fur is always a showstopper. He ran Iditarod as a two year and showed us he has the attitude and energy to keep going the distance!
Sponsored by Timberview Farm of Virginia
- LAIRD
LAIRD
Male, DOB 7/25/2016
Out of Daisy and Wizard, this litter is full of happy, waggy pups. The only boy in the litter, Laird looks like a carbon copy of his dad. Happy, fierce and independent, hopefully, this guy will continue in those footsteps of his dad, Wizard. Laird finished the Yukon Quest as a two year old and Iditarod multiple times. He has never been dropped from a race and has now started leading the team around on training runs!Sponsored by Kate Yeske and Nukluk
Sponsor a Team Dog for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)
TEAM DOGS 2
These dogs are just as integral as lead dogs. Without a team, where would we be?
- DJ SPINDERELLA
SPINDERELLA
Female, DOB 8/17/2019
Spinderella is a petite powerhouse whose energy keeps the team rolling. She’s known to possess magic at the kennel for her ability to acquire other dog’s food bowls and stack them together in neat order.
Sponsored by Sherrie Bencik Family
- QUEEN LATIFAH
QUEEN LATIFAH
Female, DOB 8/17/2019
Queen Latifah’s energy never seems to quit. Her yips and yaps let the whole yard know when it’s time to run! She has started showing confidence in lead and hope to see her at a start line this year.
Sponsored by KATE FREDRICKS!
- LADYBUG MECCA
LADYBUG MECCA
Female, DOB 8/17/2019
Ladybug Mecca is spunky, bouncy, and always ready to work. Her work ethic speaks volumes for her age as she charges ahead towards her bright future self!
Sponsored by TINA FRIEND!
- Q-TIP
Q-TIP
Male, DOB 8/17/2019
Q-tip is the only boy in this litter of mostly girls. He is an animal on the gang line at hook up, pulling lines and leaping 10 feet in the air. But once he gets moving, he is all business and looks like a pro.
Sponsored by Barb Kane and Nicolle Castille
- LIL KIM
LIL KIM
Female, DOB 8/17/2019
Lil Kim is a standout as she is calm but fierce. Patient but anxious. The look in her eyes communicates she was born for this! She never ceases to amaze us with her hard work and relentless determination.
Sponsored by Ruth D’Amico
- T-BOZ
T-BOZ
Female, DOB 8/17/2019
T-Boz has an endearing smile complete with lots of energy like her sisters. She jumps into her harness and excitedly awaits her favorite moment of taking off out of the yard! From there she holds the line for a few hundred yards making sure she doesn’t get left behind!
Sponsored by AMY GOODWIN and URSULA!
Sponsor a Team Dog for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)
YOUNG GUNS
These dogs are just coming up the ranks and learning the ropes of training to race.
- BUFFLEHEAD
BUFFLEHEAD
Male, DOB 6/26/2020
Bufflehead is everybody’s best pal. He aims to please and is always attentive to the human requests. All puppies gravitate to him for play and snuggles because of his sweet, caring and playful nature! Bufflehead has been running confidently in lead already as a youngster!
Also sponsored by JOHN McGILL and DIANE LEWIS
- PIPIT
PIPIT
Female, DOB 6/26/2020
Pipit marches to the beat of her own drum while wandering the tundra in search of new adventures. Her independent curiosity is admired by all as she leads the way into new territory! She has blossomed into a beautiful girl and is already running lead confidently. She has the funniest fox hop when she gets excited.
Sponsored by Karen and Jack Fredericks
- TATTLER
TATTLER
Female, DOB 6/26/2020
Tattler is an inquisitive pup who tips her head dearly when she is spoken to. Despite her name, she is a loving, quiet girl who always is steady and smooth. The dog you never have to notice int he team because she is perfect. She has also been running lead!
Sponsored by MELLISA REDDY!
- YELLOW LEGS
YELLOW LEGS
Male, DOB 6/26/2020
Yellow Legs vocalizes loudly and proudly in regards to all of his needs, just like the bird he is named after. He has a wild story of being lost for three days up high on a mountain and barking at us to come get him. As soon as we had a helicopter coming he just walked right out to us! He is so confident and full of himself, we all think he will be a one of a kind amazing dog. Let’s see what ya got, Yellowlegs!
Sponsored by Saralyn Cohen
- HARPOON
HARPOON
Female, DOB 7/29/2020
Harpoon is feisty and fearless. Harpoon is the name most yelled into the yard as she is always causing mischief or mayhem! She is super strong in harness and barks while running or stopped! This girl is going to be great!
Looking for a Sponsor
- PANDORA
PANDORA
Female, DOB 4/1/2022
With a name like Pandora and born on April fool’s day, we were not sure what to expect from this girl. But she is already showing us she has the stamina, brains and drive to be an amazing sled dog. She will be put in harness for the first time sometime this fall and she is sure to crush it!
Sponsored by Kit Kennedy and Trish Cox
Sponsor a Young Gun for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)
YOUNG GUNS 2
These dogs are just coming up the ranks and learning the ropes of training to race.
- CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER
CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER
Male, DOB 7/8/2020
China Cat Sunflower is a shy guy with new people but will attack you with love once he knows you. His exuberance carries over to the his love of being a sled dog. He is the perfect worker in harness and is already leading confidently. He has all the makings of a great dog. Now, if we can just work on that shyness.
Sponsored by Serena Melville and Bimini
- DARK STAR
DARK STAR
Male, DOB 7/8/2020
Dark Star is an intelligent dog who peers into your soul with his engaging eye contact. He is the biggest of his litter mates but still a very agile capable dog. His excitement and happiness is contagious and we love having this big guy in the team.
Sponsored by Paige Reddy
- RIPPLE
RIPPLE
Female, DOB 7/8/2020
Ripple is one athletic pup! She leaps, bounds, and bounces circles around her brothers and sister as she runs free. She’s sharp, independent, and a great listener. And she is probably the toughest dog we have ever met.
Sponsored by CAROL McINTYRE and RAY HANDER in honor of their dog, Ripple!
- TERRAPIN
TERRAPIN
Female, DOB 7/8/2020
Terrapin is always eager to burst out of the pen to start her walks! Her large ears are sure to put a smile on your face and then her wiggles will make you laugh. This girl loves attention and loves to run. She makes it hard to get a harness on her with her anticipation! She has started to run lead and we think this confidence will just grow in her.
Sponsored by Ruth D’Amico
- TRUCKIN
TRUCKIN
Male, DOB 7/8/2020
Truckin lives up to his name as he keeps on truckin’. He has a tough exterior but like most he is really just a sensitive guy. He loves attention and loves running. He also loves barking and pestering his neighbors:) He has been running lead confidently already and we expect him to follow in his parents, Sierra and Uncle Jesse’s, footsteps and be a go to leader someday.
Sponsored by Ayana Craven
- CASSIDY
CASSIDY
Male, DOB 7/8/2020
Cassidy is a big boy with a heart of gold. He stands out from his siblings with his bright white coat (often stained in blueberry juice), adorable ears, and charming smile. He is a tank of a dog but uses it in all the right ways. He loves to go and will let you know if you are stopped too long! Like, most of his litter mates, Cassidy is already running in lead confidently and we are excited to test out his abilities this year!
Sponsored by MARTI HEMWALL
Sponsor a Young Gun for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)
