Kashwitna Kennel

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08/31/2026

We have four yearlings mixed in with our adults this season. On most days we have two teams running, and it just happened that we had all the rookies in one team yesterday. They have learned to settle into a nice trot, and you can hardly even pick them out anymore.

It’s exciting to think about the future ahead for these young dogs and the rest of the team. There’s a lot to look forward to!

08/22/2026

Making goals 💪
Checking boxes ✅
Let’s see where this season takes us!

08/04/2026

It’s August, which means fall is just around the corner. Today brought cool temperatures and a steady drizzle— the perfect conditions for the first real training run of the season. The dogs are eager and ready for whatever lies ahead, and the mushers are just as excited to hit the trails. Here’s to all the adventures, hard work, and miles we'll share together. Let the season begin!

The off-season doesn't mean we're sitting still around the kennel!We've started on phase one of our new pen project. Rig...
07/25/2026

The off-season doesn't mean we're sitting still around the kennel!

We've started on phase one of our new pen project. Right now, we have three pens that can either be used separately or opened up into one larger space, giving us plenty of flexibility. Later we will add a large run that will cover the rest of the open area. We're really excited to create a space where the dogs can stretch their legs, play, and enjoy some extra time together.

Tomorrow we will start in on a storage area project. There's always another project waiting around the kennel—but seeing it all come together makes the work worth it!

The trails have finally dried out enough to run, but now we're waiting for the weather to cool back down before taking a...
06/07/2026

The trails have finally dried out enough to run, but now we're waiting for the weather to cool back down before taking any teams out. Serious training is still a few months away, but we always enjoy getting the dogs out whenever conditions cooperate.

In the meantime, there's been no shortage of projects around the yard. The dogs are all blowing coat, which means plenty of baths, brushing, and fur flying everywhere.

This weekend, Matrax joined us for a kayak outing and Kash participated in a puppy class. Even when we're not logging miles on the trail, it's rewarding to get the dogs out and experience new things with them. Every adventure is a chance to build confidence, learn something new, and strengthen the bond we share.

05/04/2026

With the trails still a bit muddy, we’ve been getting the dogs out for one-on-one time on the bike path. Even Matrax, currently the youngest in the kennel, has been putting in the miles. But don’t let his gentlemanly demeanor fool you… Matrax has plenty to say when he sees the big dogs hooking up without him! He can’t wait to join the pack on training runs later this season.

This past weekend we wrapped up our race season with something a little different — the Easter Fun Run. It’s not your ty...
04/07/2026

This past weekend we wrapped up our race season with something a little different — the Easter Fun Run. It’s not your typical sled dog race; it’s a two team relay with a points system that factors into overall finish time. We entered to have some fun and to give the young dogs some exposure.

It was their first ride in the dog truck, their first time on the stake‑out cable, and their first chance to take in all the sights, sounds, and excitement of a race environment. The older three pups (Kash, Chena, and Iceman) raced, while Matrax — just five months old — came along purely to soak it all in.

Emily ran the first leg of the relay with three adults and one puppy, and Josh ran the second with two adults and two puppies. We are so proud of how the pups did! They handled the noise, the energy, and the new experiences with confidence and curiosity, and they absolutely thrived. And to top it all off… we brought home 4th place!

As the snow starts to melt, we’re already looking ahead. The future is bright here at Kashwitna Kennel, and we can’t wait to see what next race season brings.

04/01/2026

Spring is starting to take hold… which means the days are getting longer and warmer! We’ve been running small teams to try out different dogs in lead, and today it was our 8.5‑month‑old pups’ turn! They absolutely crushed it. The season may be winding down, but watching these young dogs shine has us fired up for what next year will bring.

We had a fabulous weekend helping out at the Jr. Iditarod!Though the kennel didn’t have any dogs running this year, the ...
03/04/2026

We had a fabulous weekend helping out at the Jr. Iditarod!

Though the kennel didn’t have any dogs running this year, the mushers were hard at work behind the scenes to help everything run smoothly. Emily has served on the Board of Directors for many years after racing herself in 2010 and 2011. Josh has been volunteering since 2022 at the checkpoint and also sews the sled bag for the champion sled which is built by Sled Dog Systems.

Race weekend finds us stationed at the halfway point at Yentna Station Roadhouse — Emily as Race Judge and Josh as Checkpoint Assistant. In this photo, you can see the teams parked in the tree maze at the checkpoint. Shout out to Whitney McLaren Photography for the awesome drone shot!

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Willow, AK
99688

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