Wasilla is the Official headquarters for the Iditarod dog sled race that runs over 1100 miles in 9 days. Dream a Dream Dog kennels is between Willow and Wasilla. It is a working sled dog farm with 49 dogs in training. (they have 80 during the winter!) After recommendations from the locals we booked the 3pm “private tour.” By the time we left at 6pm, we felt like pro’s and a bit like family! The education started with a film tracking the owner and the dogs on the 2002 Iditarod race, with a long Q&A session about everything from how do you and the dogs eat on the trail to each of the layers of clothing required to survive the extreme temperatures. It is a grueling experience, only for the dedicated and slightly insane! I guess those long Alaska nights give you ample opportunity to be both by March when the race is traditionally run.
We were then taken out to the surprisingly neat & orderly yard where all the dogs are. We had a chance to play with three new 10 week old pups as we participated in their training – a hike through the woods ! They bounded and raced up and down the trails and in and out of the creeks while we laughed, and swatted enormous mosquitoes! Back at the yard Misha, the kennel master, taught Suzie and Rebecca how to harness the dogs (see the movie posted) and the three of them managed to get the team of 16 hooked up to the ATV – 4 wheeler. We rode in the back as the dogs did what they love to do - run! Working the dogs in the summer is important, but tricky. The dogs love to run so much, that they do not know when to stop and will easily overheat. We stopped and gave them a water break- with the girls dipping out bowls for each dog. We all thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, and learned so much from the experience - you know Suzie was in heaven!
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