Meet the dogs of Squid Acres Kennel

RETIRED DOGS and CATS!
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.

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!

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 and Sue Mills!

SABLE
Swing dog – 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 13 years old, she is officially the matriarch and spends a lot of time on the couch.

Sponsored by Ellie Mason

UNCLE JESSE

UNCLE JESSE
Male, 70 lbs, 7/27/2014
Uncle Jesse is the sweetest of boys and the most honest worker you will ever encounter! He is a gentle brute, being very sweet with his paws as he asks for attention and also still breaking tug lines and snaps! Uncle Jesse is the dad to Pandora and the Grateful Dead litter and he is also an actual uncle to many dogs in the yard. He has finished multiple Iditarod, Yukon Quests and mid distance races but is now retired from racing and helping to train puppies!

Sponsored by Kate Yeske and Nukluk!

WICKET

WICKET
Female, DOB 8/01/22
Ok So not all of these are retired dogs but they all play important roles here. Wicket came to us as a kitten to help us get our rodent population under control in the old lodge building. From day one, he has taken his job very seriously, not even letting a single mosquito last very long in there. Wicket is friendly and playful, comes running when called and likes to go for walks. He was definitely raised with dogs!

Sponsored by Ella Fisk!

RIOT

RIOT
Female, DOB 11/27/22
Riot is Wicket’s sister from another litter. We figured he needed a hunting pal, because who doesn’t? Riot came here full of confidence, agile and friendly. She loves pets and attention and will launch onto your back if you bend over to pick something up! She loves being carried around like a baby, but don’t let that fool you! She is quite the huntress herself!

Sponsored by Natalie Monacci!

Sponsor a retiree for $100. Retired dogs can have more than one sponsor. (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.

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 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. He has become our go to leader and trainer of the young dogs in lead.

Sponsored by Deb Simpson Davis

JOPLIN

JOPLIN
Female, 45lbs, DOB 8/22/2016
Joplin, named after the famous Janis. She is a happy girl that is always smiling and loves everyone. In her first year of racing, she finished Kuskokwim 300 in lead, Yukon Quest and Iditarod! She has become our go to leader and is a serious leader that is great at teaching the young dogs the ropes in lead! Watch out for that tongue though! She loves giving kisses.

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!

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.

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 has become one of our go to leaders. He LOVES being a leader and has finished many 1000 mile races as well and many mid distance races.

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!

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 and Iditarod, and many mid distance races. He has run in lead reliably the last few years and deserves the recognition:) He also has a woo that seems to always be making fun of us. Silly humans:)

Sponsored by Ayan Craven!

Sponsor a lead dog for $500 (learn more about sponsorship)

LEAD DOGS 3
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.

LADYBUG MECCA

LADYBUG MECCA

Female, DOB 8/17/2019

Ladybug Mecca is spunky, bouncy, and always ready to work. She, like Spinderella, loves to hold on to her bowl. You can sometimes hear her barking in her house. That’s just her, playing with her bowl:) She has become a confident leader and loves running with her dad, Coupe!

Sponsored by Kelley Tomsett!

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 or eat! She has been running confidently in lead in training and in mid distances races.

Sponsored by KATE FREDRICKS!

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. She quietly and confidently runs in lead and helped lead the Yukon Quest 550 team to a fourth place finish last year!

Sponsored by Ruth D’Amico

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. She has become a confident leader along with her sisters and has finished Iditarod and multiple mid distance races!

Sponsored by Claudia Berges and Jennifer Tobits!

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! At 10 years old, she is amazing and still going strong, loving every step of training!

Sponsored by Erika Davis!

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 loves playing hockey with her food bowl! She finished both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod multiple times. Pretty sure this girl will be at all the starting lines this year, as well!

Sponsored by Kristine Harding!

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 has finished multiple 1000 mile races and is always ready to keep going. He loves people and hence summer tours are his favorite, saying hi to all the guests and making them laugh with his antics. He is definitely a ham!

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! His funny antic is stomping on the snow to push it as us when we stop. He is not a fan of stopping and can easily pull the snowhooks to get the team moving again.

Sponsored by Gary Beckley!

LAIRD

LAIRD
Male, DOB 7/25/2016
Happy, fierce and independent, Laird is old reliable. He has finished every race he has ever started including multiple Yukon Quest and Iditarods. He is the dad to Harpoon and they love running together. Laird’s harness banging has broken more harnesses and snaps than any dog we have ever had. He absolutely loves his job!

Sponsored by Josey Strathe!

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!

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

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?

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. Bufflehead is one of the biggest dog in the yard and has been running confidently in lead. Last year, he finished the Copper Basin 300 and the Kuskokwim 300!

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. She finished the Copper Basin 300 in lead and also finished the Kuskokwim 300! She is the mom to the Stout litter born this summer.

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! She Finished the Copper Basin 300 and the Kuskokwim 300 last year.

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 finished the Copper Basin 300 and the Kuskokwim 300 last year and is running lead confidently!

Sponsored by Claudia and John Berges

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!

Sponsored by Momma Jayne!

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 has a year of running under her belt and she is a pro! She has been crushing it in lead this year and has just turned into a super serious but also fun dog. We are excited to see her shine this year.

Sponsored by Trish Cox

Sponsor a Team Dog for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)

TEAM DOGS 3
These dogs are just as integral as lead dogs. Without a team, where would we be?

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 Katie & Wally Maurer!

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. He has been leading confidently and we hope to see him at the start line in lead this year!

Sponsor by Riley Benjamin-Meyer!

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. She has been running lead with so much exuberance, she might just be our next go to leader!

Sponsored by Carol McIntyre and Ray Hander!

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 Interior Graphics and Printing

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 Team Dog for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)

YOUNG GUNS
These dogs are young and just learning the ropes of mushing!

LAGERTHA

LAGERTHA
Female, DOB 4/19/23

Lagertha is fearless, athletic, smart girl, named after a Viking Queen with the same qualities! She is so fast and smart in this year of boys, she is constantly figuring out how to best outrun and sneak attack them when they least expect it! She is a half sister to Pandora and she is showing the same smarts and agility as Pandora so we imagine she will take to the harness just as well.

Sponsored by Deborah Colby

IRONSIDE

IRONSIDE
Male, DOB 4/19/23
Ironside is a big, strong, happy boy who loves his sister, Lagertha. What she may have in smarts, he makes up for in size in the game of play and is sometimes able to use that to his advantage! Ironside has mastered the Sit command quite quickly, knowing it sometimes comes with a treat. When on walks, he will come running full speed to a sit right in front of you, hoping to get the first of several treats handed out. We are excited to put this guy in harness.

Sponsored by Sarah Smith

STORM KING

STORM KING
Male, DOB 5/30/23
Storm King is already mimicking his name sake and will probably lead us through a big storm someday. He is smart and has a ton of energy. He is also very loyal, sometimes preferring to sit in your lap or hang back with the humans while the other pups run off to play. He is the smallest of the 4 boys from this litter of giant boys.

Sponsored by Kathy Carlson

VELVET MERLIN

VELVET MERLIN
Male, DOB 5/30/23
Velvet Merlin is a sweet, docile boy with the sweetest almond eyes. He is the quietest of this set of rowdy boys and also the thickest! He’s not afraid to assert himself at the food bowl! He loves the adult dogs and always uses his free time to socialize with them. Maybe an old soul, saying hi to his old friends?

Sponsored by Kay Lawson

SPOONLICKER

SPOONLICKER
Male, DOB 5/30/23
Spoonlicker was named for the white splash across his nose, looking like he just ate something and had it all over his face. He definitely eats like a hog and is always asking for more. As the biggest boy in this litter, he usually gets what he asks for! Spoonlicker is also very human oriented, always looking for approval, and treats…he likes treats.

Sponsored by Kathy Carlson

NARWHAL

NARWHAL
Male, DOB 5/30/23
Narwhal is very distinct looking with one blue eye and one brown eye. He reminds us of his grandpa, Cuda, as a puppy, already having a 1000 mile trot and not in any hurry to get anywhere. Cuda went on to finish back to back 1000 mile races 4 times, often finishing in lead. Narwhal has some big shoes to fill! He currently loves carrying sticks around and eating anything, especially berries.

Sponsored by Kay Neznik

Sponsor a Young Gun for $250 (learn more about sponsorship)