Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Here is last part of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ANWR 2009 -- Part 4: Life With Dogs
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Here is Part 4 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Here is Part 4 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
ANWR 2009 -- Part 3: Panorama
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Here is Part 3 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Here is Part 3 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ANWR 2009 -- Part 2: Mushing
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Here is Part 2 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Here is Part 2 of the video series on our recent Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):
Monday, April 20, 2009
ANWR 2009 -- Part 1: Base Camp
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Everyone -- human and canine -- is back at the Kennel after some spectacular Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Here is the first in a 5-part series of videos:
Everyone -- human and canine -- is back at the Kennel after some spectacular Natural Extremes mushing adventures in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Here is the first in a 5-part series of videos:
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Happy's New Neckwear
Hi, I'm Happy! I'm always Happy... That's why they call me Happy!
As you can see in the photo below, I've got some new neckwear! It's not fancy or anything, but there's a pretty good story that goes with it:
It seems like no sooner did we get back to SP Kennel after the Iditarod than we were getting back into the truck and heading up to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on the famous North Slope of the Brooks Range. It was a long drive, but totally worth it because it is so beautiful up there!
My pack mates and I spent a couple of days putting in trails, which means we mushed through deep, new snow to create trails for Aliy and Allen to use when their guests arrive. It was hard work, but I really liked it because it's so out there in the wilderness where dogs like me belong!
Well, the next thing I know, all the humans are looking at my neck and making a big fuss. It turns out that I have a little booboo on my neck where some of my fur is worn off and my skin is exposed and raw. The humans think it's because I pulled so hard while I ran the Iditarod and put in the trails-- which I did! -- that my harness chafed me. I think it's because I've been doing so many Happy Dances!
Anyway, I didn't even notice it because -- well, you know -- I don't really feel things like that. But, because I'm now such a great sled dog the humans didn't want to take any chances of me getting hurt. So, the boss -- that's what we call Aliy -- gave me the neckwear right off her neck and put it under my collar to protect my booboo. The boss is always nice, you know, but she's really nice to me now that I'm an Iditarod dog!
The bummer is that they sent me home! So, now I'm back at the Kennel with the other dogs who didn't go to the North Slope. They've been asking me all about what it was like, and about the Iditarod too! The weather is getting sunny and warm, so I'm spending my idle time hanging out on my dog house. Hopefully I'll have some time to work on my website store, so I can make some money and buy myself some really fancy neckwear!
Please don't worry about me. My booboo is really nothing and I'm totally fine!
Love, Happy
As you can see in the photo below, I've got some new neckwear! It's not fancy or anything, but there's a pretty good story that goes with it:
It seems like no sooner did we get back to SP Kennel after the Iditarod than we were getting back into the truck and heading up to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on the famous North Slope of the Brooks Range. It was a long drive, but totally worth it because it is so beautiful up there! My pack mates and I spent a couple of days putting in trails, which means we mushed through deep, new snow to create trails for Aliy and Allen to use when their guests arrive. It was hard work, but I really liked it because it's so out there in the wilderness where dogs like me belong!
Well, the next thing I know, all the humans are looking at my neck and making a big fuss. It turns out that I have a little booboo on my neck where some of my fur is worn off and my skin is exposed and raw. The humans think it's because I pulled so hard while I ran the Iditarod and put in the trails-- which I did! -- that my harness chafed me. I think it's because I've been doing so many Happy Dances!
Anyway, I didn't even notice it because -- well, you know -- I don't really feel things like that. But, because I'm now such a great sled dog the humans didn't want to take any chances of me getting hurt. So, the boss -- that's what we call Aliy -- gave me the neckwear right off her neck and put it under my collar to protect my booboo. The boss is always nice, you know, but she's really nice to me now that I'm an Iditarod dog!
The bummer is that they sent me home! So, now I'm back at the Kennel with the other dogs who didn't go to the North Slope. They've been asking me all about what it was like, and about the Iditarod too! The weather is getting sunny and warm, so I'm spending my idle time hanging out on my dog house. Hopefully I'll have some time to work on my website store, so I can make some money and buy myself some really fancy neckwear!
Please don't worry about me. My booboo is really nothing and I'm totally fine!
Love, Happy
Monday, March 23, 2009
Happy's Last Night In Nome
Hi, I'm Happy! I'm always Happy... That's why they call me Happy!
I am happy to share this picture with you because it shows Bridgett hugging me at the finish line here in Nome.
Bridgett is soooooo nice to all the dogs and she has always been nice to me, but now she is really nice to me. What a difference there is in my life now that I'm an Iditarod dog!
Do you think this picture makes my nose look weird? It's true I have kind of a hound dog nose, but does it really look like that? And what's up with that big bulge on the top of my head? It must be something wrong with the picture, because I do not have a bulging head. Do I? Wow, looking at yourself can really make you crazy.
I think maybe looking at yourself should not be on the "Happy Do List." This picture doesn't make me very happy after all. Do my cheeks look fat? Oh, stop the madness!
Anyway, if you look at the picture really carefully, you can see two special things: One is the piece of reflective tape that Allen put on my collar ring so that drunk snow machine drivers would see me at night and not hit me. Was that nice of him, or what? The other is my very first piece of jewelry! That's right, the little red tag you see on my collar ring is my Iditarod identification tag. It has my team number on it and also a letter for my place on the team. All the dogs got them, but this is my first so it is really special. I've never dreamed I would ever have jewelry. Can you believe it? Me, a poor village dog with jewelry!
Everything is happening so fast that I'm a little topsy-turvy! I'll be flying out tomorrow and won't get back to the Kennel until late on Wednesday, so it will probably be later in the week when I write to you again. I can't wait to get back and see all my other Kennel mates. A lot of them don't have any jewelry... They'll be so jealous!
Talk to you soon!
Love, Happy
I am happy to share this picture with you because it shows Bridgett hugging me at the finish line here in Nome. Bridgett is soooooo nice to all the dogs and she has always been nice to me, but now she is really nice to me. What a difference there is in my life now that I'm an Iditarod dog!
Do you think this picture makes my nose look weird? It's true I have kind of a hound dog nose, but does it really look like that? And what's up with that big bulge on the top of my head? It must be something wrong with the picture, because I do not have a bulging head. Do I? Wow, looking at yourself can really make you crazy.
I think maybe looking at yourself should not be on the "Happy Do List." This picture doesn't make me very happy after all. Do my cheeks look fat? Oh, stop the madness!
Anyway, if you look at the picture really carefully, you can see two special things: One is the piece of reflective tape that Allen put on my collar ring so that drunk snow machine drivers would see me at night and not hit me. Was that nice of him, or what? The other is my very first piece of jewelry! That's right, the little red tag you see on my collar ring is my Iditarod identification tag. It has my team number on it and also a letter for my place on the team. All the dogs got them, but this is my first so it is really special. I've never dreamed I would ever have jewelry. Can you believe it? Me, a poor village dog with jewelry!
Everything is happening so fast that I'm a little topsy-turvy! I'll be flying out tomorrow and won't get back to the Kennel until late on Wednesday, so it will probably be later in the week when I write to you again. I can't wait to get back and see all my other Kennel mates. A lot of them don't have any jewelry... They'll be so jealous!
Talk to you soon!
Love, Happy
Remarkable Recovery -- Ready To Happy Dance!
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
It seemed to me that after running more than a thousand miles over the course of 11 or 12 days, the dogs would take a few days of "down time" to recover their energy. So, when I went over to visit them this morning I was very quiet about peeking around Bridgett's house to see how they were resting. To my utter amazement, all of the dogs were not only up on their feet but pulling at their chains to go running again!
Sled dogs have a truly remarkable recovery rate, and it really give credence to what Dr. Mike Davis says about them having a fatigue resistant physiology. Seriously, all of the dogs look fantastic, and some of them look even better than they did at the Kennel before the Iditarod!
One dog in particular is as full of energy as ever, and the second she saw me she started going nuts. So, both as evidence of the dogs' remarkable recovery rate and because she just cracks me up, I offer you this little video of Happy making it very clear she is ready to do the Happy Dance!
It seemed to me that after running more than a thousand miles over the course of 11 or 12 days, the dogs would take a few days of "down time" to recover their energy. So, when I went over to visit them this morning I was very quiet about peeking around Bridgett's house to see how they were resting. To my utter amazement, all of the dogs were not only up on their feet but pulling at their chains to go running again!
Sled dogs have a truly remarkable recovery rate, and it really give credence to what Dr. Mike Davis says about them having a fatigue resistant physiology. Seriously, all of the dogs look fantastic, and some of them look even better than they did at the Kennel before the Iditarod!
One dog in particular is as full of energy as ever, and the second she saw me she started going nuts. So, both as evidence of the dogs' remarkable recovery rate and because she just cracks me up, I offer you this little video of Happy making it very clear she is ready to do the Happy Dance!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sleeping With The Big Dogs!
Hi, I'm Happy! I'm always Happy... That's why they call me Happy!
This is so cool I just had to share it with you right away! It makes me very happy!
You may have read on the SP Kennel Dog Log that all of us Iditarod finishers -- don't you just love the way that sounds! -- are chilling out in Bridgett's back yard. Well, that's only part of the story... Check out this picture:
That's Teddy on the right... She's an Iditarod legend, finishing with Aliy more times than I can count (which is more than one paw's worth of toes). On the left is Venus, a really, really strong dog -- sort of a bossy pants if you ask me -- who has also finished the Iditarod many times. In the back is Tatfish, a big, strong boy (who I kind of like, but don't tell him).
And who is that right in the middle of them? That's right, it's me... Happy! There I am, sleeping with the big dogs! This is great!
Somebody who has already signed up on my email list has asked if I am going to the ANWR with Aliy, Allen and a bunch of the dogs next week. Well, I can't say for sure yet, but if my current status is any indication I think it just might be possible! If I do, I will be sure to take lots of pictures and videos and all that stuff!
Meanwhile, is this cool or what! I'm sleeping with the big dogs who hardly ever even noticed me before!
This is so cool I just had to share it with you right away! It makes me very happy!
You may have read on the SP Kennel Dog Log that all of us Iditarod finishers -- don't you just love the way that sounds! -- are chilling out in Bridgett's back yard. Well, that's only part of the story... Check out this picture:
That's Teddy on the right... She's an Iditarod legend, finishing with Aliy more times than I can count (which is more than one paw's worth of toes). On the left is Venus, a really, really strong dog -- sort of a bossy pants if you ask me -- who has also finished the Iditarod many times. In the back is Tatfish, a big, strong boy (who I kind of like, but don't tell him).
And who is that right in the middle of them? That's right, it's me... Happy! There I am, sleeping with the big dogs! This is great!
Somebody who has already signed up on my email list has asked if I am going to the ANWR with Aliy, Allen and a bunch of the dogs next week. Well, I can't say for sure yet, but if my current status is any indication I think it just might be possible! If I do, I will be sure to take lots of pictures and videos and all that stuff!
Meanwhile, is this cool or what! I'm sleeping with the big dogs who hardly ever even noticed me before!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Iditarod 2009: Happy At The Finish!
Note: This is an excerpt from my contributions to the SP Kennel Dog Log
Here she is! Happy crossing the finish line in Nome and getting some very special attention!
I regret to report that I do not yet have any video of the actual smooch! While I was busy smooching Happy's bottom, Aliy was using my camera to catch the still shots. If anybody has video of the moment, please let me know in the comments and we'll figure out a way to post it!
Meanwhile, here's what I've got to offer you now:
Many thanks to all of you who have been so enthusiastic, supportive and creative about "The Happy Story!" I've tried to keep up with the chat rooms and I am truly touched and inspired by all of your comments and suggestions. Just two of my favorites so far:
1) Thanks to "peanut" for the idea of a children's story that could begin: "Once upon a time, in a land far way, lived a Happy little girl made famous by a kiss." -- Fabulous!
2) Thanks to "mitten" for this t-shirt slogan: "I'm Happy, so kiss my butt!" -- Perfect!
How about this one that just occurred to me: "There's a little bit of Happy in all of us!"
Please leave your ideas in the comments, and I promise that as soon as the snow settles I will pursue your suggestions for Happy stuff -- patches, t-shirts, hats, mugs, whatever. And if anybody can get Happy booked on Ellen... I love that idea!
Meanwhile, Happy will be resting in Nome for a couple of days then flying to Anchorage for the drive back to SP Kennel in Two Rivers. Just two days later, she will be traveling with Aliy, Allen and 30+ other dogs to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the remote North Slope of Alaska for a few weeks of Natural Extremes mushing adventures. These fantastic trips take people into the heart of the north Alaskan interior where motorized vehicles are prohibited. Everyone drives their own dog sled team and camps out in what may be the most pristine wilderness left on earth. Trips are full for this year, so you'll have to book early for next year! Go to Natural Extremes for more information.
Despite having just run 1,000+ miles from Anchorage to Nome on the Iditarod, I can assure you that Happy will be very happy running in the ANWR. With no pressures of racing or the paparazzi, she and all the dogs enjoy doing what they love most: Running, running, running in the great outdoor wilderness. And that's another part of "The Happy Story!"
Here she is! Happy crossing the finish line in Nome and getting some very special attention!
I regret to report that I do not yet have any video of the actual smooch! While I was busy smooching Happy's bottom, Aliy was using my camera to catch the still shots. If anybody has video of the moment, please let me know in the comments and we'll figure out a way to post it!
Meanwhile, here's what I've got to offer you now:
Many thanks to all of you who have been so enthusiastic, supportive and creative about "The Happy Story!" I've tried to keep up with the chat rooms and I am truly touched and inspired by all of your comments and suggestions. Just two of my favorites so far:
1) Thanks to "peanut" for the idea of a children's story that could begin: "Once upon a time, in a land far way, lived a Happy little girl made famous by a kiss." -- Fabulous!
2) Thanks to "mitten" for this t-shirt slogan: "I'm Happy, so kiss my butt!" -- Perfect!
How about this one that just occurred to me: "There's a little bit of Happy in all of us!"
Please leave your ideas in the comments, and I promise that as soon as the snow settles I will pursue your suggestions for Happy stuff -- patches, t-shirts, hats, mugs, whatever. And if anybody can get Happy booked on Ellen... I love that idea!
Meanwhile, Happy will be resting in Nome for a couple of days then flying to Anchorage for the drive back to SP Kennel in Two Rivers. Just two days later, she will be traveling with Aliy, Allen and 30+ other dogs to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the remote North Slope of Alaska for a few weeks of Natural Extremes mushing adventures. These fantastic trips take people into the heart of the north Alaskan interior where motorized vehicles are prohibited. Everyone drives their own dog sled team and camps out in what may be the most pristine wilderness left on earth. Trips are full for this year, so you'll have to book early for next year! Go to Natural Extremes for more information.Despite having just run 1,000+ miles from Anchorage to Nome on the Iditarod, I can assure you that Happy will be very happy running in the ANWR. With no pressures of racing or the paparazzi, she and all the dogs enjoy doing what they love most: Running, running, running in the great outdoor wilderness. And that's another part of "The Happy Story!"
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