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Race Team Dogs!

These amazing animals are what make it all possible and we are honoured and priveldged to share our lives with them.  Every fall there is a pool of dogs considered for the race team and than like any team as training progresses the core team is determined with several staying on the sidelines in the event they get "called up".  This years training season started the first week of September once the temperatures reached 10 C.  There are currently 20 dogs in our training pool and we thought you would enjoy meeting them.  All of these dogs when not racing can be found out with our customers running tours and some people have asked about sponsoring a particular dog.  For more information on this opportunity check out our "sponsor the team" page.

	Andy A new young member to the race team this year, Andy & his sister Snowball were born in January 2007. Their parents are Foxy and Ninja. Not exactly a planned litter, more a fall training run romance..... However with both of their parents on the race team they have great potential!!! Hank named Andy after Rick Swenson's (the only 5 time winner of the Iditarod) famous lead dog "Andy". Andy ran as a yearling on Tanya's raceteam in the 30 mile mile in Maine last winter and performed wonderfully! He is very sweet but also a bit of a ham, energetic and funny!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Jill Johnson & Daughters & Curry Motors!
	Aster Aster moved here as a 1 year old in 2005 from a mid distance racing kennel that was moving along with 5 other dogs. He and his brother Hosta are almost identical twins and both are funny, shy guys, but what runners!!! Both have been on Hank's race team the last 3 years and easily made the cut again this winter, they run in the middle of the team generally. Their favourite thing when they first came here was our exercise yards. The first time they got to run free they got running so fast they kept crashing into things they got going too fast to stop!! Both brothers have a  favourite game of "catch me if you can", they are always the last ones loaded in the trucks, but once it is just them in the yard than they get worried they might get left behind and miss the run so the game ends fast!!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Jack Virgin!!
	Beauty Like her name a very pretty girl Beauty is now 4 years old. Her siblings are Ariel, Belle & Jasmine, the "Disney Princess" litter out of Jewel & Bear. Beauty is almost an identical twin to Belle, except that she has 2 blue eyes. Beauty loves her exercise yard time and usually can be found leading a game of chase. She rooms with her sister Ariel. Tanya picked her to be on her 30 mile Maine raceteam last year and she did awesome, she has moved to Hank's mainstring this year!
	Blitz The spitting image of his dad Blizzard, except for his striking single blue eye Blitz is only 2 years old and considered a "pup" on the raceteam. His mom is Teemo and his siblings are Miss Jane & Jed who are also on the raceteam & Elly who is his little sister. Blitz is a happy, outgoing, joker who loves attention and fun. He lives with his best friend, brother Jed!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Tony Melchiorre, Casey Cox!!
	Charlie At 2 years old Charlie is actually a girl, even though her name suggests otherwise!. She was named as part of 2 litters we had which some got named for the Top Gun movie. Her siblings are Jester & Maverick (also on the racetam) and Howler, Viper, Abby & Rosy. Another amazing litter, all the pups look very simliar with Candy & Aster being their parents. Charlie lives with her best friend Scully. A very smart, contemplative girl it wouldn't surprise us to see her start running lead some this fall.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Anne White!!
	Ebony A 3  year old daughter of Stinger & Hosta, like her siblings Ebony looks nothing like her parents but identical to her brother Granite. She lives with her sister Gem and thoroughly enjoys her yard play time. Ebony (or Ebby as sh is more commonly known) was on the race team last year and easily made it again this year. She generally runs in the middle of the team.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Wendy Wilkins!!
	Gem A 3 year old daughter of Stinger & Hosta, like her siblings Gem looks nothing like her parents. Almost pure white she is a sweety though and lives to run, whether it is in the yard playing with her sisters Pearl, Ebony and Saphire or running on the trail. She is also EXTREMELY loud when she is getting ready to run. This will be Gem's second year on the race team and she too like her siblings made the cut easily. She lives with her sister Ebony and likewise runs in the centre of the team.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Paul McInnes!!
	Granite Granite, aka Screech!!! If you heard him at supper time or getting hooked up to run, you'd understand the nickname. A sweet 3 year old boy and son of Stinger and Hosta his sisters are Ebony, Pearl, Gem and Saphire. Granite started running two falls ago as a yearling and quickly proved himself an up and coming star. By the end of the winter he was running lead on some trips with our experienced dogs. While the picture shows him chilled out during lunch break on a full day run, it is not a common site, he is one energizer puppy!!   Granite lives with Prince who he is good friends with. Granite made the cut no problem for the team and usually runs with Strider or Harley mid team.
	Hosta Moved here as a 1 year old in 2005 from a mid distance racing kennel that was moving along with 5 other dogs. He and his brother Aster are almost identical twins and both are funny, shy guys, but what runners!!! Both have been on Hank's race team the last 3 years and likely will be again this winter, they run in the middle of the team side by side.   Hosta is also the proud daddy along with mom Stinger of Granite, Pearl, Gem, Saphire and Ebony who are all on the race team, as well as his latest "kids" from Candy of Jester, Maverick, Nuisance, Rosy, Charlie & Scully.  All one year olds running this winter for the first time.  Hank and the guides are thrilled with them and Maverick ran a 30 mile race in Maine on Tanya;s team and did awesome!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Joe Novac!!
	Jay Turning 4 this fall, Jay is a unique looking dog, he is a son of Candy and Laser but has a very wolf look to him just like his brother Bear. Lynx, Robin, Raven and Foxy are their sisters. Jay is hard working, conscious boy who has run on the race team the last 3 years and will be on the team again this year. He loves playing on his off time and he and his brother Bear are best friends and playmates, but while running he is a boy that always gives 120% regardless of conditions. Jay runs in the back-middle of the team.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Marilyn Hubley!!
	Jed Jed is a sweet and quiet 2 year leggy boy. Son of little Teemo & Blizzard he looks nothing like either of them, but is almost a twin to his sister Miss Jane. Jed lives with his brother Blitz who is as opposite in looks as he is in personality. When Jed is standing back, Blitz is jumping all over you and when Jed is hiding under his bed in a storm, Blitz is celebrating. They make a great pair though and are best friends. Jed is doing great on the race team this year he LOVES running and team mentality is afraid of little when he is running with the "big dogs"!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Doug White and Karen Nikischin!!
	Jester Jester! So the question remains do we name the dogs for their personality so well or do they manifest the name we give them......Jester is a good case study! 2 years old and out of Candy/Hosta with many siblings also on the raceteam he has amazing potential. Looking almost a twin to his dad, his personality is much warmer & outgoing. He is the only one who when taking him out of th truck he somehow manages each time to climb over your head, and down the other side.... A joy to play and work with, he makes a lively, smiling addition to the raceteam!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Sylvie!!
	Lily A tough girl personality wise, but with a coat as soft as silk, you don't mess with Lily when she is focused as some of our males with tell you!! An amazing 6 year old girl who came to us in 2005 from a racing kennel, she has quickly become one of our main leaders. Her dad is Max and her best friend and running partner when doing tours is Stinger. Lily is definately one of the guides favourites for lead as she is always more than ready for her job. Lily had a litter of pups the fall of '07 after she chose (yes she chose!!) Harley as her suitor. This was after literally chasing away every other male that we thought would be a good dad.  Her pups ran this winter for the first time doing tours - Zeus, Strawberry, Abigail, Viper & Howler as their mom heads back to the race team, all are living up to her legend. There was no doubt Lily would be one the team this year.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Mike Webster and Leah Blenkinsop!!
	Loretto One of 6 race dogs that came to us in 2005, Loretto at 4 years old still has many puppy traits. She loves playing and horsing around and is rarely serious. She does love running though and has been on Hank's race team for 2 years and loves it. She missed last season as she was busy being a mom (proud dad Strider) to Teddy, Govenor, Bo, Little Bud & Paulina.  She was very happy to join the team this fall again though and has quickly resumed her spot as part time lead dog while her pups get down to some serious play time!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Donna and Rick West!!
	Max A new dog in our kennel in 2005 Max came with 5 other dogs from a racing kennel that had to move. He has turned out to be an invaluable addition to our kennel as he is now our main leader on the race team and an amazing animal, "The Maxer" as he is known. A beautiful, quiet boy around people, he is very dominant with his other teammates and sure keeps everyone in line if need be! A very intelligent dog, Hank has watched him cross a fast moving stream, only to drag the team up the trail to jump into the water at the perfect spot to be swept down again to the trail when crossing it again.  Always to be counted on he has some equally amazing offspring in our kennel. His daughter Lily is also a key leader on the race team, and Lily's pups, Max grandpups have tons of potential!  When you see Max he may look indifferent to attention but nothing could be further from the truth if you watch his eyes & tail. Max is now 10 years old and this may be his last season on the race team, a decision that will be as hard on him as it will be on Hank.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Dr. Laurie Brown, Judith Bamford (for Freddie & Mitch), Matt Nahachewitz!!
	Maverick Everyone loves Maverick. Another of the Top Gun theme, he is 2 years old. With parents Candy & Aster he is taking after both sides with his looks, a beautiful boy with a quiet, easy going, but EXTREMELY affectionate personality he fits into the raceteam easily. Maverick was introduced to racing last year in the Maine CAN-AM 30 on Tanya's team. He ran a very solid race so Hank was glad to have him try out this fall. He isn't disappointing! Maverick lives with Zeus.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Casey Cox!!
	Miss Jane A sweet little 2 year old girl, Miss Jane's folks are Teemo & Blizzard, her siblings are Jed, Elly & Blitz (the Beverley Hillbillies theme). Miss Jane is a tall, quiet, sweet girl with a great built so even though she is young Hank was keen to have her try out for the team. Easy going and even a tiny bit shy she is a great worker always keen to see what is around the next corner. Miss Jane (or Janey) as Hank calls her lives with her sister and best friend Elly Mae.
	Pearl A high spirited 3 year old daugther of Stinger and Hosta. Pearl is a very playful girl and gets extrememly excited as soon as there is a hint that she might be going for a run!!! Pearl lives with her sister and best friend Saphire and they play together constantly. Like her siblings this is Pearl's second year on the race team.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Debbie Lance Brooke, Katie Stinson and Laurel Turansky!
	Saphire A 3 year old daughter of Singer & Hosta, Saphire too is different then her folks, but just like her siblings, short coat & slim.  In many litters there is a pup that you "notice" personality wise and think they may be a lead dog.  Saphire was "that" pup in this litter.  The first to take off running down the kennel aisle even with 100 adults barking at her.  The first to take off with confidence in the play yards and run.  The outgoing, fun loving one.  this winter Hank started putting her up in lead on the race team some this winter and while still young her performance was stellar. Saphire lives with her sister Pearl.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Olivia McCallum!!
	Scully Scully is a 2 year old pup out of Harley & Lily, with parents like that she can't go wrong! She has a great build and a very willing to please attitude so she was a shoe-in for tryouts! Scully's name came from the X-Files show. She is a vively, fun loving dog who is always playing in the yards, pouncing, digging, stalking and chasing. She lives with the much more serious Charlie, but they are great friends!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Teresa Mitchell!!
	Snoopy Snoopy came here as a 1 year old in 2005 from a distance racing kennel along with 5 other dogs. Snoopy is a goofy kindof guy with some very unique quirks but is very sweet. He has run on the race team for the past 3 years and made the team no problem again this year. He lives and runs lead with our main man Max, who looks on his younger comrade as someone to keep in line. Snoopy's behaviour most of the time is impeccable!
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Caroline Wilson, Carol Moffatt & Marilyn Hubley!!
	Strawberry Snoopy came here as a 1 year old in 2005 from a distance racing kennel along with 5 other dogs. Snoopy is a goofy kindof guy with some very unique quirks but is very sweet. He has run on the race team for the past 3 years and made the team no problem again this year. He lives and runs lead with our main man Max, who looks on his younger comrade as someone to keep in line. Snoopy's behaviour most of the time is impeccable!
	Strider One of the newest dogs in our kennel, Strider arrived the winter of 2008 from a race kennel that needed to find him a new home.  The original breeder told us that he had been running lead as a 1 year old as he had so much heart and potential.  We quickly found that to be true and Strider joined the touring teams.  He wasn't in great shape so he would take off in lead "pulling" Murphy (an 11 year old retired race team leader), but 10 miles down the trail Murphy was pulling him.  Strider's spring romance with Loretto produced 5 adorable puppies, Teddy, Bo, Little Bud, Govenor & Paulina. While Strider and Hank have some differences of opinion at times when he is in lead there was little doubt to Strider joining the race team this winter.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Theresa Boots!!
	Zeus Like his picture suggests Zeus is a very "serious" hard headed boy. 2 years old and a pup from Lily & Harley, he has inherited both the harder sides of his parents personalities. He is a look alike for his dad Harley, right down to his cut ear that happened when he was a pup. Zeus is in his element on the raceteam and despite Hank's worry that he might be a trouble maker that has not proved to be the case, when he is running he is totally focused on the job at hand. He does enjoy attention very much however so don't hesitate to say hi to him! Zeus lives with Maverick who is very laid back so they get along just fine.
	- Proud to be sponsored by: Luka Nahachewitz!!