Tag: Dog Sled ride

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Alaskan Huskies News

Gift a Sled Dog Sponsorship This Holiday Season

©whitneymclaren 6709

A Non-Traditional Gift For A Dog Lover

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us have begun feeling the pressure that comes with finding meaningful gifts for our loved ones. While finding the right gift can be tricky, Trail Breaker Kennel offers the perfect gift idea for the animal lover in your life: their very own Alaskan sled dog sponsorship! 

Sled dog sponsorships serve as unique gifts for animal lovers and dog sledding enthusiasts alike. We offer a variety of sponsorship options to accommodate your preferences and your budget.

Why Should I Sponsor a Sled Dog? 

Not only do sled dog sponsorships make great gifts, but they help provide our team of huskies the love, care, and training they deserve. When you sponsor a sled dog at Trail Breaker Kennel, you

Help Us Care, Support, and Train Our Dogs

Sponsorships directly support the care and training of our incredible dogs by helping us fund the costs of food, vet care, training, and more. By gifting a sled dog sponsorship, you play a direct role in our dogs’ success as sled dogs and their excellent quality of life. 

Get a Gift That Keeps on Giving Throughout Sledding Season

The recipient of your sled dog sponsorship will receive “pup-date” emails throughout the winter season, race updates, and recap emails, as well as a holiday gift delivered to their home! 

Support Deep-Rooted Alaskan Culture

Dog sledding and racing is a deep-rooted part of Alaskan history and culture. When you sponsor a sled dog, you help us preserve and promote this incredible tradition. 

Sled Dogs Mushing In Alaska

What Will My Loved One Receive? 

Once you find the dog or puppy you’d like to sponsor; you can choose between gifting a full sponsorship or a bootie sponsorship. 

Full Sponsorships Include 

  •  Four “pup-date” emails throughout the winter season (September – April) every other month, keeping you informed about your dog’s progress
  • Your name or business name published on the Trailbreaker Kennel website as your dog’s sponsor
  • A Christmas gift!
  • Personalized competition update and recap emails

Bootie Sponsorships Include

  • A training update on your sponsored dog, providing you with insights into their progress and development
  • A personalized training/race recap
  • Your name or business name published on the Trailbreaker Kennel website as your dog’s sponsor

Not Ready to Sponsor A Dog? Gift a Kennel or Team Sponsorship! 

Kennel Sponsorship

For those who want to gift a deeper connection with the Trailbreaker Kennel team, a kennel sponsorship is the perfect choice! Perks of a kennel sponsorship include

  • Bi-monthly updates straight from the trainers, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life at the kennel
  • The opportunity to have your business name featured on the Trailbreaker Kennel website and gear (if applicable)

Team Sponsorship

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, team sponsorships are available for $25, $50, and $75. By gifting this sponsorship, your loved one will be considered an integral part of the Trail Breaker Kennel Team! Benefits of team sponsorship include:

  • An end-of-season recap in April giving you a comprehensive overview of the team’s achievements and experiences.
  • Your name is listed as part of the team on the Trailbreaker Kennel website, highlighting your support and involvement.

Dog Sled Rides Make Great Gifts, Too!

Along with dog sponsorships, Alaskan dog sled tours are fantastic gifts for dog lovers!  Visit us in Alaska, and meet the huskies for yourself! Trail Breaker Kennel is a mile drive from the Fairbanks International Airport and is located 15 minutes from downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. Book your dog sledding tour with us!

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News Trail Breaker History

The Legacy of Dog Sled Racing Continues

Susan Butcher Pulls Baby Tekla Monson On Dog Sled

The Legacy of Dog Sled Racing Continues

For the past few years Trail Breaker has taken a brief recess from racing, but this season we are proud to announce that your favorite Trail Breaker dogs will be hitting the trail and competing in two mid-distance sled dog races! We’ll have more details near the bottom, but first, let’s dive a little into our past. We are proud to continue the legacy of dog sled racing from our founder, Susan Butcher.

Susan Butcher At Finish Line Her First Year With Dick Mackey Behind Her (he Won)78

The Foundation Of The Mushing Legacy

Kennel founder, Susan Butcher, ran her first Iditarod in 1978 at age 24. She finished 19th and with that finish, she became the first woman to place in the top 20. That race sparked a love for racing in Susan and she went on to run the Iditarod every year until 1994. Susan loved training Alaskan Huskies and saw her entire kennel of dogs as her family, but this maternal nature in Susan would not be satiated until she herself became a parent. Susan retired from competitive dog racing when her eldest daughter Tekla was born.

Fast forward a little, as Susan and David Monson were now raising strong, independent, and passionate daughters, Tekla and Chisana. They wanted to share their love of mushing with their daughters to encourage them to find their own passions. So as kids, Tekla and Chisana would go with their parents on training runs with the dogs, learning how to harness and hook up a team, and of course, learning about the importance of the trust and be trusted relationship.

David Monson Susan Butcher Tekla Monson

Growing Up In Alaska

Neither parent of the Butcher Monson household pushed their daughters to pursue a career as mushers. Susan wanted her daughters to find their own passions and share that joy with the rest of the world. Once the family moved from their bush homestead in Eureka to their Fairbanks kennel Susan enrolled Tekla in classes in The Arts: dance, music, and theater. She saw that Tekla had a creative spirit and she wanted to foster that love and encourage her the way she wished she had been encouraged to pursue her love of animals and the outdoors.

Tekla Monson grew up as a tough and rugged young musher, but also a creative and crafty child. She would spend the cold winter nights writing plays, knitting hats, and sewing quilts. When Susan passed away from Leukemia in 2006, 11-year-old Tekla threw herself into her artistic pursuits. She would make videos and write songs with her friends and family and became very active in the local ballet school. Losing her mother so young made Tekla a fiercely independent and confident teenager. At 14, Tekla decided to explore the world outside of Alaska by attending a boarding school in New Hampshire where she discovered her love of Theater. Even then, Tekla returned home every summer throughout high school to work with the sled dogs at Trail Breaker and share her mom’s story with guests of the kennel.

Tekla’s Time Away From Trail Breaker Kennel

Tekla grew into a young adult during her time on the East Coast. She developed a love for storytelling and tight-knit communities. She attended Wesleyan Univerity in Middletown, CT where she studied Theater with a focus on Set and Costume design. During trips home to Alaska, she would tell her friends and family about the adventures she was having. They often told her they saw the same light and passion in her eyes as they had seen in Susan’s when she discovered dog mushing.

After college, Tekla spent two winters in New York City pursuing a career in Theatrical set and costume design. However, she noticed something did not feel right about living in the big city. She began to crave the large open spaces and rolling hills of her home in interior Alaska. As she helped her friends and collaborators in New York City tell their stories she realized all the stories she wanted to share were at home in Alaska. In December of 2019, Tekla packed up her room in Brooklyn and moved backed to Fairbanks.

Tekla And Susan On The Iditarod Trail In 2004

Carrying On Susan Butcher’s Legacy

Tekla managed and trained the Trail Breaker dogs throughout the pandemic winter of 2020. She was delighted to be home and knew her decision to move back to Alaska was the right one. Mushing through the rolling hills for their Eureka homestead, Tekla finally felt a place where she could let her joy for life settle. Although her schooling and traveling had given her joy and introduced her to the great passions of her life, Alaska would always be her home.

Last winter, Tekla was out in Eureka training the dogs with her friend and handler Kiana Korta. While there, Tekla began to contemplate how to keep Susan’s empowering story alive for the next generation of Alaskans. In December they received news of a new 200-mile race that was going to happen the following March on the Denali Highway: The Ididn’trod. Having never competed in a race before, Tekla and Kiana decided to run the Ididn’trod together and give the newest generation of Trail Breaker dogs some race experience and continue the legacy of dog sled racing. Kiana and Tekla finished the race in 30 hours in 7th and 8th respectively with wind burnt faces, happy dogs, and a newfound love of dog racing.

Tekla Kiana

Dog Sled Racing Is In Full Swing

Now, back to our exciting announcement! This winter, the Trail Breaker Kennel dogs will be back on the race trail! Starting January 8th, Tekla will compete in the 300-mile Copper Basin. This is Tekla’s first 300-mile race and is a qualifier for the 1000-mile Iditarod – she hopes to run the Iditarod in 2024 or 2025! On January 25th Kiana will be the one to hit the trail and compete in the Willow 300, another 300-mile qualifying race. Both mushers have been training the Trail Breaker huskies throughout the fall and winter in preparation for the January race season. Make sure to follow @trailbreakerkennel on Instagram and Facebook for updates from both mushers. We wish them happy trails as they embark on this next adventure!

Get Involved in Our Race Season

Out of 35 Trail Breaker Kennel sled dogs, Tekla and Kiana will choose just 12 all-stars to join them on the trail. Stay tuned for an announcement from us on social media with which dogs will be joining Tekla on the Copper Basin. Before that announcement, get to know all the Trail Breaker Kennel sled dogs here. Learn a bit about each dog’s personality and what role they play at the kennel. And, if you’re interested, choose your favorite to sponsor for the 2022 race season and become a member of the Trail Breaker Kennel team!

Sponsor A Dog Today!

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Alaskan Huskies

What Breed Is An Alaskan Husky Sled Dog?

Alaskan Huskies with Musher

 What Breed Is An Alaskan Husky Sled Dog?

We often get asked, what makes a dog a sled dog? And, what exactly is an Alaskan Husky? Many also remark that the dogs that take them on their Alaskan sled ride look a lot like a dog they’ve seen before. We will give you some basic information on what makes the Alaskan Huskies unique. And how sled dogs are an exciting part of Alaskan history.

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Alaskan Husky History In The Making (Or Mushing)

The ancestors of the many of the sled dogs that live today in Fairbanks, Alaska, were Alaskan village dogs. These village dogs lived with native people thousands of years ago as hunting companions and pack animals. These Alaskan native dogs were known for their double hair coat and rugged feet. But, most importantly, they could withstand the challenging arctic conditions with a great attitude. 

When European settlers made their way to Alaska, they learned that horses could not live and work well in the freezing temperatures. It’s not easy to trudge through the snow with long knobby legs and short hair. So the native Alaskan dog became highly sought after as the main form of transportation for generations.

During the Alaskan or Klondike Gold Rush, an estimated 100,000 prospectors made their way to western Canada and Alaska. This migration increased the popularity of the native Alaskan dog as transportation. There was so much demand for dogs that people assembled sled dog teams of whatever large working dogs they could find. 

Today, Alaskan huskies are long-distance endurance athletes. They embody all the adventure hard work and loyalty of their ancestors

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Purely Bred For Purpose, Not Purebred Dogs

According to the American Kennel Club, the Alaskan Husky is not a purebred, let alone a recognized dog breed. Instead, huskies are defined by their purpose: for use as an athlete sled dog. So we are breeding Alaskan Huskies for their abilities that make them great at what they do. It’s likely that all working dogs were bred for specific purposes. 

Of course, for the Alaskan Husky,  no one came along to say this dog is everything it needs to be in look and size like other working dogs. Our Alaskan Huskies are still evolving, and are bred for what matters most to dog mushers today.

Alaskan Mushing

For An Alaskan Husky, It’s What You Can’t See

You may think an Alaskan Husky Sled Dog should look like a Siberian or the Malamute. While you can see some similarities to these purebred dogs, there will be many different variations in an Alaskan Husky. When assembling our sled dog teams, we look for qualities that are not always evident in appearance alone. 

Some Qualities We Look For In Our Alaskan Huskies:

  • Strong pack instinct because they must work closely with people and other dogs.
  • Great Personality
  • Fur coat can be short to medium length, with a very heavy undercoat for cold weather because temperatures here can drop as low as 80 degrees below freezing (-62.2°C)
  • Highly Trainable
  • Loads of energy for running long distances
  • A healthy dog with a healthy appetite

At Trail Breaker, we breed our dogs for what is on the inside. That’s why we get a lot of diversity on the outside.

  Alaskan Sled Dogs

Ask An Alaskan Husky Training Expert

This is just a taste of what you can learn at Trail Breaker Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s an easy trip from the Fairbanks, AK Airport! We are here to help you experience the Alaskan Musher life with its rich history. Contact Us or Book your visit today!

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News

What is it like to be an Alaskan Musher? | Riley Dyche 

Riley Copper Basin 300

Meet the Mushers at Trail Breaker Kennel: Riley Dyche 

What is it like to be an Alaskan musher? That’s a good question that we get a lot. Earlier this season we sat down with Tekla Monson to chat about her first sled dog race. Today, we are chatting with veteran Iditarod and Yukon Quest musher Riley Dyche, Trail Breaker Kennel’s very own Kennel Manager.

Riley spent the first 18 years of his life in the small town of Farragut, Iowa. It wasn’t until he went to college in Leadville, Colorado, that he was introduced to the world of sled dogs. In 2013, he moved up to Alaska and has since opened his own kennel, participated in countless mid-distance and long-distance races across the state of Alaska, and joined the team at Trail Breaker Kennel.

We caught up with Riley before the busy summer season to learn more about Alaskan Mushing from a musher’s perspective in 2021! We think you’ll learn a little bit more about Trail Breaker Kennel, Alaskan Huskies, mushing, Sled Dogs, and more!

 

What sparked your initial interest in sled dogs and mushing?

I grew up with hunting dogs and always had an affinity for working dogs, but it wasn’t until I went off to college that I started working with sled dogs and learned about this lifestyle. That’s where my passion for the sport of mushing began.

How long have you been with Trail Breaker Kennel?

I had heard of Susan and David’s story when I moved up to Alaska in 2013. When I raced in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest, I learned more about David’s story. In the fall of 2019, I joined the team at Trail Breaker. I’m honored to continue Trail Breaker Kennel’s legacy and have an opportunity to learn from the mushers here.

Who are other mushers you admire?

While training in Eureka this winter, Brent Sass (three-time Yukon Quest Champion) was a great friend and neighbor to me. He’s a great musher, and I was fortunate to learn from and mush with him this year. Working at Trail Breaker has allowed me to learn more about David and Susan’s philosophy. It’s no shock why they are held in such high esteem in the mushing community.

What races have you participated in? Which are you planning to?

I have raced in both 1,000-mile races in Alaska: the Iditarod and Yukon Quest. I have also competed in quite a few mid-distance races: the Two Rivers 200, Old Mail Trail 200, and Copper Basin 300.

What is your mushing goal for 2021 and beyond?

My goal is to maintain a kennel of happy and healthy dogs. The time I spent in Eureka at the Trail Breaker homestead really benefited my dogs and me. They are a fast, strong, happy, and smooth-moving team. In the future, I hope to become a serious contender in the Iditarod. That is where all of the best teams in the world congregate, so I want to show that my dogs and I can hang. I’m fully aware that it’s not an overnight process to get to that caliber, so I’m putting in my time and doing all I can to become the best musher I can be.

Anything else we should know?

I never grew up thinking that I would become a musher. But I’m happy I did! This career path has allowed me to share a mutual passion for mushing with my amazing canine athletes. I feel most at home when I’m on the trail with my dogs, exploring the great state of Alaska. I wouldn’t trade this in for anything.

Riley @ Tbk
Riley enjoying a sunny day at Trail Breaker Kennel

Keep up to date with Riley and our Sled Dogs in 2021!

Make sure to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what’s going on with Riley and all of the mushers at Trail Breaker Kennel in 2021!

Meet all of us in Fairbanks, Alaska!

Trail Breaker Kennel is conveniently located a mile from the Fairbanks International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Fairbanks. Learn about Alaskan Mushers and why we have so many 5-star reviews for yourself by booking your Alaskan tour with us!