Meet the Dogs

The Dogs

The canine athletes of YoopAK Kennel and Tours are a diverse group of dogs, each with his or her own set of likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. In our kennel standards we look for a love for pulling and working in a team, a THICK double coat capable of camping in the heart of Interior winters, large tough feet for rough snow or overflow, compact and thick build which makes hauling heavy loads a breeze, a fierce appetite, and a friendly disposition.

Fun Fact! When mushers have a litter they often use a theme to name the puppies. For an individual new to the kennel its a quick way to learn who are siblings! Check out the profiles to see each dog's litter theme and try to spy littermates!

Allier

DOB: May 2014 Sponsor:
Position: Leader
Weight: 50 pounds
Litter Theme: Wines
Pronounced Al-LEE-air, this girl is a fireball. Allier joins us from Bravo Kennel. When she was just 22 months old Allier ran the Iditarod, completing half the race in lead! Endless go and drive, she is does not play well with other females. We are excited to have this sweet girl in the kennel.

Bugs

DOB: May 2018
Position: Leader
Weight: 50 pounds
Litter Theme: Looney Tunes
Bugs is a rising star in the kennel. Raised on a bottle, Bugs loves people! She loves to give hugs and soak up all the attention anyone will give her. This young girl is an up in coming leader. We're excited to see what she has to offer as she continues to mature!

Chara

DOB: April 2018 Sponsor:
Position: Leader in training
Weight: 50 pounds
Litter Theme: Boston Bruins
Chara a real powerhouse. At the young age of one and a half years old Chara trained for the Yukon Quest 300. He has an endless desire to work with the team and shows great promise as a leader. The bigger the country and farther the miles Chara is happiest. At home he lets his youth show and is a very playful puppy. We are excited to see what Chara has instore!

Dyson

DOB: May 2010 Sponsor: Lee and Debbie Freedman
Position: Leader Brimley, MI
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: Vacuum cleaners
Dyson has been with the YoopAK Kennel since our beginnings in 2014. His calm laid back nature has been an asset for training the young up and comers. Generally he prefers human affection over play time with his teammates. Dyson has led us down many trails and he has many more adventures to still experience!

Flash

DOB: July 2017 Sponsor: Emma Ware, California
Position: Leader
Weight: 50 pounds
Litter Theme: Lightning
Flash is a real riot! Quirky and playful Flash loves people and dogs alike. Like his brother Voltage, Flash shows real promise as a maturing leader. Flash really proved himself last winter, training for a 300 mile race and loving every minute of it. His big smile and enthusiasm is contagious. We look forward to the many adventures we will have with Flash!

Fly

DOB: April 2017 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 45 pounds
Litter Theme: Sponsor's Choice
Fly, the new girl on the block. Fly joins from Dalton Gang Kennel in Healy. Both of Fly's parents finished the Yukon Quest 1000 multiple times with the Dalton Gang. Barely three years old Fly shows all the promise to rise to her parents' level. A lover with a sweet personality Fly loves people and will be a great addition to tours.

Gale

DOB: February 2018 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: Hunger Games
Gale is a big boy with a lot of leg! He's an enthusiastic two year old with a lot of promise. Gale is a horse to wrangle when harnessing because he just wants to go! Once he has let out all that energy Gale is a big teddy bear. Like his brother Haymitch, Gale will be given the opportunity to try lead as he matures and for now he runs wheel and team.

Gus

DOB: June 2017 Sponsor:
Position: Leader in Training
Weight: 55 pounds
Litter Theme: Lonesome Dove
Gus (short for Augustus) is all go! At times squirmy and hard to handle because all Gus thinks about is running down the trail. He eats like an alligator and can be a bottomless pit. Despite his enthusiasm to eat he gets plump quite fast! Gus' father is a multi time Yukon Quest 1000 finisher and we suspect Gus has the same ambitions.

Haymitch

DOB: February 2018 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: Hunger Games
Haymitch, brother to Gale, is the more mature of the two. He loves his job and is quite focused. Haymitch has never met a stranger and enjoys meeting guests. As he matures Haymitch will be tried in lead to see if he has the makings of a future lead dog, but for now he primarily runs team and wheel with his brother Gale.

Hubie

DOB: May 2018
Position: Leader
Weight: 45 pounds
Litter Theme: Looney Tunes
Happy, happy, happy. There really is no other way to describe Hubie. His puppy enthusiasm oozes from him and he loves to be the center of attention! Silly and sweet this guy loves to be in your lap for attention. Despite his goofy, immature nature he's a great worker in harnesses. We are excited to share many more adventures with this loveable guy.

Katahdin

DOB: January 2016 Sponsor: Stephanie and Chase Teeple &
Position: Leader Lee, Debbie, and Ashley Freedman
Weight: 65 pounds Brimley, MI
Litter Theme: Appalachian Trail
The only puppy born in his litter, Katahdin has always been a unique individual. Focused and driven from a young age, Katahdin was leading his six dog team at just seven months of age! Intelligent and soft tempered, Katahdin always wants to please. His favorite position is single lead!

Little John

DOB: April 2014 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 70 pounds
Theme: ----
Little John joined the kennel named "Jumbo". Along the way the nickname Little John seemed more suited to him and it stuck. Large and strong, he's a real sweetheart with a soft personality. When he's excited to go Little John's big booming bark is like no other!

Piper

DOB: 2010 Sponsor:
Position: Leader
Weight: 45 pounds
Litter Theme: Airplanes
Piper joined the kennel fall of 2019 from Willow, AK. Ryan has known Piper since she was just a tiny pup and spent several years running Piper in her youth. Now, she is retiring from long distance racing and has a comfy dog bed in the house. She still enjoys leading and running with her team. Generally shy with large groups of new people, Piper often will sit out the tours.

Q-Ball

DOB: 2015 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: "Q" litter
Q-Ball the resident Hollywood Dog. With a personality for the movie set and looks to match Q is a favorite amongst guests. A real workhorse, Q-ball LOVES people and being with his husky companions. There is no mistaking Q-ball with his flashy markings and blue eyes! Q often runs team or wheel with Little John, they are true BFFs!

Rowdy

DOB: April 2009 Sponsor:
Position: Swing
Weight: 60 pounds
Silly and sweet Rowdy is a barrel of laughs. Don't let his age fool you, he may be eleven years old but he has energy for days! Those grey hairs around his muzzle are indicative of all the experience he brings to the team. Generally, he sticks to running the tours and shorter loops.

Voltage

DOB: July 2017 Sponsor: The Stover and Sinke Families
Position: Leader in Training Mattawan, MI
Weight: 45 pounds
Litter Theme: Lightning
"Small but mighty" has been Voltage's motto since he was a tiny puppy. At 8 weeks old he was the constant trouble maker, leading his siblings off on naughty adventures! Voltage has been learning the ropes from veteran leaders Piper and Dyson and shows all the promise of being our next main leader. Voltage took the charge and led the team during difficult runs and huge mountain climbs last winter, we are excited to share more adventures with him!

Woodrow

DOB: June 2017 Sponsor:
Position: Team
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: Lonesome Dove
Woodrow is the sensitive soul of the kennel. Sweet tempered Woodrow will greet you with a soft "yodel" and loves if you will sing back to him. He is most comfortable running in the middle to back of the team. In the team he is a strong dog with a lot of drive!

Baxter

DOB: February 2016
Position: Mascot & Official Greeter
Weight: 60 pounds
Litter Theme: Baxter State Park
Baxter is the official greeter and mascot of YoopAK Kennel and Tours. Baxter joined the kennel at eight weeks old from a local musher. She is half Akita, half freight husky. She takes great pride in watching over the property and has no desire to work in a team setting. Instead she entertains the kids and works one-on-one for wood hauling.

Glacier Girls

These girls three show a great deal of promise for becoming future working dogs! Eagle and Taku are littermates, born October 2019, and Moulan is just a few weeks younger born December 2019. The next year of their life will be about socializing, exploring the world, and enjoying puppyhood. Fall of 2020 they will get their first taste of trying on the harness and beginning their schooling in dog sledding.