Briar's Patch Sled Dogs LLC ...The Team That Dares to Dream...Iditarod Bound, March 2008!

Circle is a confirmed “sweetheart”, and as a 6 year-old, has had lots of chance to fine tune her interpersonal skills. She loves people – all people – and is pretty convinced everyone comes just to visit her. She and her brother Skagway love water, and she would just as soon drag the team into a creek or pond as go by it. Circle is also named after a point on the Yukon Quest, and unfortunately she has lived up to her name. She works very well at slow speeds and in a shorty harness, but doesn't have the speed to keep up with where the team is developing.

The youngest member of the 2006-2007 team as a yearling, Corey is just coming 2 now. His first year with the team was one of tremendous physical and mental development for him, as well as gaining his first race experience during the Eagle Cap 200. Whereas everyone else rested in the checkpoints, Corey ate well and then busied himself looking around at all the goings on. By race's end he was a pretty pooped pup…and I bet he'll figure out when and how to rest this year!

Fay, one of the older dogs at 8 y/o, is also the only one not originally bred as a distance dog. She was originally a sprint dog, as you can see when you look at her small size, finer features and short thin coat. She has made the transition to distance work without a hitch, and has all the heart and work ethic you could ever want. A shy girl, she is uncomfortable around strangers, so just put a harness on her and get out of her way. She's very sweet when you get to know her, and the mother to Gem and Crimp, who bear the family resemblance.

Gem just turned 5, and like her Mom Fay, is very shy around strangers. Unlike her Mom, she will overcome the stress of having strangers around in order to eat her meals, but unlike her Mom she is very unwilling to be handled by strangers…so of course, she gets to practice that a lot. Gem is an excellent point and team dog, and is now learning to lead just as her brother does. She's slightly bigger than her Mom, and with a little more coat, so while you might think she'd get lost in a snowdrift, there's a whole lot of dog in there.

Gerry just turned 6, and he is one of those rare “born leaders”. He'll work well at any position so long as he gets to go, but put him in lead and he gets a truly manic look in his eyes…he relishes the responsibility, and let's GO! Or put another way…whenever I have mushing “adventures”, it's usually with Gerry in lead. A gentle big guy, he never causes any trouble in the kennel or on the truck. Gerry is my “go to” guy when the going gets tough. He knows a lot about hanging tough, having survived a bloat and torsion, as well as bouncing back from hypothyroidism.

Nova is a 3 year-old, who sometimes acts like she's going on 6 months…talk about young at heart! Although a year ago she definitely earned her nickname of “Nova the Nutcase”, she has finally started accepting more responsibility and settling down (a bit). This spring she has even done some preliminary work at lead. She is a bubbly, outgoing and happy girl, always up for a good ear scratch or rub down. Nova had a bit of bursitis last season and although she trained well she didn't get the chance to race, so hopefully she will remain healthy for this season.

Oslo , an older guy at 8 years, is also known as our kennel “spokesman” – he has an opinion about everything, whether you ask him or not! Oslo is unique in that he is primarily a “red dog” meaning of Alaskan village dog bloodlines – tough as nails, not a lot of finesse or manners, and quite the character to have around. Oslo 's attitude is always there, and he works as hard as anyone. 2006-2007 was his last racing season, but he still has many years ahead of him as a spokesman and fun representative of the breed and running recreationally. Oslo has been proudly sponsored by Denise Currin, who said his picture “spoke to her”…just wait'll you meet him in person and he'll talk your ear off!

As a 6 y/o, Reebok is one of the original group of dogs who form the foundation of the team. She has the smarts and ability to lead and lead well…when she can focus. As a young dog she often found herself having too much fun up front, and forgetting her job! She's settled down and developed into a nice leader. She is one of the best athletes on the team, always making it look easy. She still loves attention, and loves to nibble your ears, especially if she can find them underneath your hat!

Rope, who along with his brother Tie forms the team we know as “The Boys”, is a MAJOR cuddler. Luckily I'm usually standing when he wants to snuggle up, as I definitely do not have enough lap for him to crawl into. As a 4 y/o he is now fully mature and with the heaviest coat in the kennel there's definitely a lot of dog there. Like his brother Tie he also leads, but a he's emerging a little more slowly as his self-confidence builds. He continues to develop nicely and is a real asset to the team in whatever position he runs.

Shasta, a 4 y/o, is a big strong rangy girl with a go for broke attitude…when she isn't trying to get away with murder. She paces, a “lazy” gate, and knows she's not supposed to – but she'll look back as she switches into it, just to see if I'm watching or not. She's fun to have on the team, and really keeps me on my toes. She's a great team dog, and did a super job in wheel for RTTS 2007.

Sinclair is just coming 5, one of the original tiny pups I brought back from my first team trip to MN in summer 2002. She is quite a serious girl, and will yell at her line mate if they're goofing off. She is a good leader, but sometimes worries too much. Given the opportunity she is quite the cuddler, and in the dog yard her job is “scout”…she's the first to sound the alert when someone approaches. She enjoys leading and also works well back in the team. She has finished RTTS twice.

Skagway just turned 6, and is a solid team worker – please don't ask him to lead, thank you very much. Named after a point on the Yukon Quest trail, he fully embodies the sled dog physique and mind, always eager to go and see what's around the next corner. When we start training longer miles in the fall, he's one of the first who needs more food as his body shifts into overdrive. He can enjoy quiet times too, and loves the attention from rides and kennel visitors.

Smoke, a 5 y/o, was originally bred in Alaska , and came to Minnesota and then to Oregon , so when she goes back to Alaska for Iditarod, she'll have come full circle. Named Smoke for both her color and her constant motion as a pup, she remains the proverbial “Energizer Bunny”. Not a leader, she is a sparkplug for the team and can “drive from the rear”. She does a super job when not distracted by a passing team. She is a solid team member for every race she's done.

Summer was born in the winter, February 2003 to be exact. She's a very focused dog, with lots of drive. She's primarily a team dog, runs really well at point, and is now learning to lead as well. She's a little on the shy side, but that disappears when she's in harness. Nothing fazes her, and she and Smoke were a dynamo pair in wheel for our first RTTS in 2006. I'm really glad to have her on the team and whether it's training or racing, she's always a big contributor.

Tie, a 4 y/o, along with his brother Rope (their Mom was Knot) are referred to as “The Boys”. The Boys love to work in harness, love to run, love to eat and love to get attention – you'll hear about it if they feel they're missing out on any of them! Tie is an excellent young leader, willing to learn and eager to please. Oh yes, and he loves to give big, wet, sloppy kisses!!

Tumble, like her half-sister Shasta, is all lover with people, and can be a bit of a stinker around the other girls. Her nickname used to be “Tumble who likes to rumble”, but since being spayed, she's a joy to live with and have around in the dog yard. Tumble is a 5 y/o, and another proverbial always on, always going dog. She has been a real catalyst to the team both in training and in all the race teams which she's participated. And she loves to squint at you to get you to cuddle with her!

As a 4 y/o, Utah will be finally “settling down” this year – as much as is possible for this bundle of energy. He is always active, so much so that in the kennel he is working on demolishing his 5 th tether pole ( Utah 4, Dog Yard 0). Utah is intelligent and quick, and as his confidence and experience grows his leader potential continues to develop as well. He is a “girl-sized” little boy, and so balances out some of the big girls like Shasta.

Injured Reserve and the “JV” Squad

Crimp, litter mate to Gem and half-brother to Sinclair, is the original “Mr. Go” – rain, blizzard, mud, none of it matters. Amazing, considering his early puppyhood when his nose was crushed by an older puppy…he's named for the “crimp” in his nose! With his airway compromised, he seemed destined to be a pet. But he decided he wanted to be a sled dog, learned how to compensate with his breathing, and when given the opportunity to lead, he never looked back. Now his challenge is recovering completely from a toe amputation. If he can, he'll definitely help lead the Iditarod team. If not, he can cheer us from the sidelines and keep the off-trail crew company.

Dane, one of the 3 puppies I took last fall who were born early August 2006, is now a "seasoned" 10 months old, and she thinks the world is her oyster. Very confident, she is also quick to learn and discovered that she could in fact wait until released to come in the door (during her first house visit to start to learn some rudimentary manners). In every way imaginable she is quite a handful, and I look forward to her initial training this year. She's gonna be fun!

Gus, who is just coming 2, is a few months younger than Corey, and thus did not train with the main team last fall. He is painfully shy, but once in harness and hooked up, pulls with consistency and enthusiasm. He's the first shy boy I've had, but the girls have trained me well. When you look in his eyes, you see a dog in there…I look forward to helping him understand what all he can do.

Gjetost (YI-TOS, rhymes with "Hi Joes!"), another of the August 2006 pups, is the sister to Dane, yet their personalities are completely different. Gjetost, whose name is Norwegian for goat cheese, does seem to be living up to her name (being a bit on the dense side). A real sweetheart, she tends to be everyone's favorite pup. When she encounters something new, she assumes it must be scary until proven otherwise. So my job is to build her confidence and help shape that raw sled dog talent of hers.

Shout, the last of the August 2006 pups, is ever so slightly more reserved than Dane, way more confident than Gjetost, and loves to investigate whatever the house cats are doing! She got her name because her Mom is Twist, and she's growing into a leggy cuddle-bug when she's not being a wild and crazy pup. As with all the pups, I look forward to her training and shaping as she discovers all the wonderful things she can do.