Tag: Trail Breaker Kennel

Enjoy The Fall in Fairbanks, Alaska

Post author By Tekla Monson
Post date October 6, 2022

Alaskan husky dogs playing in Fairbanks Alaska Fall changing leaves.

The Seasons Are Changing At Trail Breaker Kennel

We are ready to usher in the Fall here in Fairbanks! As we have wrapped up our 2022 Summer season, we wanted to send out a big “Thank you!” to all our fantastic guests who have visited us this summer. It’s been so lovely to welcome people back to the kennel from all over the United States and beyond this season, and we’ve had many great moments with all of our visitors. We also appreciate all of the 5-star reviews!

During the summer, our guests have learned about the history of dog mushing and Trail Breaker Kennel. We taught how to dress for cold and dark winter runs with the sled, how we train husky puppies from day one, and MUCH more! Our Alaskan guides shared fun stories from their adventures (and misadventures) on the sled and answered many good questions regarding the ‘dog sled’ racing lifestyle and our world of dog mushing and Alaskan Huskies We are leaving the season with unforgettable memories and inspiration to make this coming winter yet another successful one for the whole Trail Breaker crew!

Create A Lasting Connection With An Alaskan Husky

We have quite a few guests who return to the kennel from as far as Florida or overseas for tours with us in Alaska. Sharon and her husband Kurt are two return visitors who have been to Trail Breaker Kennel multiple times. They have said they have enjoyed coming in different seasons. And, sometimes, extra unique connections are made with these repeat visits.

A lovely Floria couple first met Havak as a puppy and fell in love with him. They’ve since been back to visit us a few times, both in winter (pictured), and the latest time they met was this summer. Of course, we made sure that they got some extra Havak time (see Havak, Sharon, and our guide Kiana pictured).

They’ve also decided to become Havak’s sponsors, and we’re so excited they’ll have a chance to help support Havak and stay updated on Havak’s season through our sponsor updates. It’s beautiful to have our dogs be cared for and loved by so many people, and we’re lucky to have such fantastic support from you all. Find out more about becoming a dog sponsor.

What To Do In Fairbanks This Fall

The change of season means a change of priorities around Trail Breaker Kennel. The cooler mornings mean we can take the sled dogs out on longer training runs to prepare them for race season. Tekla Butcher-Monson (TBK General Manager and Race Musher) has already started the process of putting miles on the Varsity and JV race teams!

TBK Tour Guide, Katrina Handler, has been spending time working with the rest of the kennel, getting them ready for adventures and expeditions this winter. As the miles are still relatively short, Tekla and Katrina have opened their training runs up to Fairbanks guests for the Fall season. You can book your autumn “SLED DOG CART RIDE” to see what it’s like to run dogs or have a sled dog experience in Alaska before there is snow on the ground.

In preparation for the snow flying and longer miles, some of the

TBK crew headed out to our remote training camp in Eureka, AK (150 miles north of Fairbanks) to prepare for November, when Tekla and the dog racing team will head out for a month to train for the racing season. The training camp in Eureka is the same remote training camp that Susan Butcher used to train at years ago. The Trail Breaker Kennel guides and a few Alaskan Huskies enjoyed the weekend raking, brush cutting, chopping wood, and picking berries (pictured).

Support Us This Season at TBK

As we head into the winter/race season, many people have asked us how they can help support the Trail Breaker team! First of all, if you can, come and visit us in Fairbanks and book a fall or winter tour with us. We are also happy to announce that our Race Dog Sponsorships are open for the 2022/23 race season! You can also sign up for our newsletter to get information about updates, race season, sponsorship, and more!

Sponsorships are so important to sled dog racing because they allow us to give our beloved huskies the best care possible to stay happy and healthy while doing what they love. Tekla and the dogs plan to run 2 mid-distance races this winter and are so excited to bring sponsors along on the journey as part of the team. Learn how to become a sponsor today!

Tags Alaska, Alaskan Huskies, autumn, Fairbanks, fall, fall tour, Trail Breaker Kennel

Alaskan Huskies News

Welcoming 2022 In Fairbanks, Alaska

Post author By Trail Breaker Kennel
Post date January 4, 2022

2022 has arrived and winter is in full swing here in Fairbanks, Alaska. With the temperature dipping below negative 40, our days have been spent keeping the dogs happy and doing our best to stay warm. Our evenings have been spent huddled by the fire, sewing dog jackets, booties, harnesses, and any other gear that might be in need of repair. The work doesn’t stop, even at 40 below. This weather has been great for preparing us for the upcoming race season, which is fast approaching and expected to be a cold one.

Dog Teams Training In The White Mountains

Our team will be competing in their first race starting on January 8th, the Copper Basin 300. Being so early in the season, the team could be up against some pretty cold temperatures and tough trail conditions. In order to prepare for that, we need to be equipped with the best gear for ourselves and the dogs. Staying warm can be tricky business up north. Some of the dog’s high quality everyday gear includes dog jackets, booties, harnesses, high calorie food, meat snacks, fat snacks, and much more. Our dogs are high performance athletes, and they get treated as such! While the mushers aren’t quite as high performance, it can still be a chore keeping ourselves warm. We don’t have the nice, thick coats that the dogs do so we depend on high quality gear made specifically for these temperatures and conditions.

Mushers Working Hard

(and taking some breaks to eat pie)

As you know, we’ve been teasing some exciting new changes here recently, and we’re thrilled to say they are finally here! From the comfort of your home, you can keep up to date with our teams and information on their races as we head into 2022. Head to our website and click here or on the Racing tab for details on our mushers Tekla Butcher-Monson and Kiana Korta, which races they’re training for, and information on how you can sponsor the kennel and their teams!

Alaskan Husky Puppy Update

Our Fairbanks’ Puppy Litter is officially grown! On November 13, the youngest members of our crew, including Cushman (pictured), turned one year old! This year, these guys will be participating in some fun runs while learning the ropes from their more senior teammates. They’ve still got a couple of years before they are on the race team, but they are more than excited to participate in tours and short runs. They still have more energy than they know what to do with. Some things never change!

Get To Know Our Mushers & Sled Dogs

You can also meet the huskies of Trail Breaker Kennel! To do so, head to the Our Huskies tab for information on each dog and amusing descriptions of their unique and special personalities. Just like us humans, no husky is the same! You can even sponsor your favorite member of our team (or even the one you think is cutest!)

We wanted to make it easy for you and all those who have supported us through the years to follow along and get to know our team a little better. Of course, many of you know Susan’s story, but now you can follow along as her legacy in the mushing world continues through her eldest daughter Tekla.

We would love for you to visit us and experience the Alaskan Musher lifestyle for a tour in Fairbanks Alaska for a winter or summer tour! We are just a short drive from the Fairbanks airport, and can accommodate the whole family!

Tags Alaskan Huskies, Fairbanks, Fairbanks Alaska, Mushing, Sled Dogs, Susan Butcher, Tekla Monson, Trail Breaker Kennel

Alaskan Huskies

What Breed Is An Alaskan Husky Sled Dog?

Post author By Trail Breaker Kennel
Post date December 15, 2021

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

Tags Alaska, Alaskan Huskies, alaskan husky, Alaskan Husky Breed, dog breed, Dog Sled ride, sled dog, Trail Breaker Kennel