Anna is always very proud of, and excited by, her Iditarod dog team, and this year is no exception. Much of that excitement is a carryover from last year, as over half of her team (or eight dogs) are all quite familiar with the Iditarod trail having been on her 2022 team. Of the six dogs that didn't run to Nome with her last year, four of those have seen the Iditarod trail before with other mushers. That brings a ton of experience to the dog power in front of her sled!
Looking more closely at her team statistics... 10 dogs are male, 4 are female. 10 are Iditarod veterans and 4 are making their rookie run, although every single dog has hundreds - if not upwards of a couple thousand - miles under their paws from both training runs and mid-distance races this season. Her 14-dog team consists of 8 Seeing Double dogs and 6 that are on loan from fellow mushers. A couple of the youngest rookies are just over 2 years old while her most mature veterans are 8 or 9 years old, giving her team an average age of about 4.5 years. They vary in size with the smallest two coming in around 50 pounds while the largest are just over 70 pounds, giving the dogs on her team an average weight of 63 pounds. As you'll see in their pictures, their colors, markings, and overall appearance varies quite a bit. But they have several crucial things in common... a dual layer coat to keep them warm, large hearty paws, good appetites, they passed their veterinary checks with flying colors, and they each have an indisputable desire to pull and run with his or her pack down the trail.
With that, let's meet the individual dogs!
Yondu: A 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog that ran on Anna's team last year. He is part of the Guardians of the Galaxy litter and his brother Drax is also on the team. He is one of Anna's "bread and butter" leaders, meaning we will frequently see him leading the way down the trail.
Zwicklebeir: A 4 year old male and Seeing Double dog making his rookie run on the Iditarod trail. He is part of the Oktoberfest litter born to the kennel in late 2018 and is named after a type of beer - thanks to a suggestion from this Mad Blogger! He is a large, strong, playful guy that runs in wheel (the first position in front of the sled) and has a beautiful facial mask fur pattern.
Chaos: A 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog that also ran on Anna's team in 2022. He is part of the Trouble litter, and four of his siblings are running with Kristy this year. He is far more reliable than his name might suggest, happily running anywhere on the team, including lead.
Drax: Just like his brother, Yondu, Drax is a 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog back on Anna's team again this year. Anna considers Drax her other "bread and butter" leader, making him a go-to for leading the team in the most challenging situations.
Fog: This lovely lady is just over 2 years old and making her rookie run to Nome. She is a Seeing Double dog acquired from another musher and now a welcome part of the SD family. She brings a lot of energy to the squad and will put that to work in any position on the line - except lead. She leaves that job to the older and more experienced dogs for now.
Forrest: This handsome fellow is now 8 years old and has run the Iditarod trail with Anna several times. He is a Seeing Double dog who brings his large size and strength to the team dog position (in front of wheel but behind swing and lead). Forrest definitely loves to run, run, run!
Diego: This 5 year old Seeing Double dog is back for his third Iditarod with Anna. He runs happily in most positions, including a lead dog role when needed, which is a skill he has polished more since his earlier years. He has a great appetite, as long as he likes what is on offer. Oddly enough, that doesn't include salmon, so Anna has to keep him and his preferences in mind when sending out the team's dog food.
Hannah: This little lady is on loan to Anna from fellow musher Travis Beals, and as a 2 year old she's making her rookie run to Nome. She's a little quiet, bordering on shy, except when it comes to embracing her role in a team dog position. She is very sweet once she gets to know you a bit, and gives the sweetest little kisses.
Randy: This big boy is 4 going on 5 years old, and he is making his 3rd appearance on Anna's Iditarod team. He is another Seeing Double dog and applies his size and strength in a team dog position. He is sweet, playful, and with those adorable eyebrows has such a fun expression on his face. He can be a handful to walk from the dog truck to his position on the gangline, but that's only because he is so stoked to go for a run!
Kevin: Home Alone fans will inevitably shriek and yell, "Where's Kevin?!" You'll find him in either a team dog position on Anna's team and sometimes in lead. He's a 5 year old on loan from Ray Redington and is an Iditarod veteran, having run with Anna last year. You don't have to worry about him sneaking off to New York, though, as he is very happy doing his job on the gangline. Joining him this year is his younger sister Margot.
Margot: Kevin's little sister Margot is making her rookie run to Nome as a 2 year old and is also on loan from Ray Redington. She is one of the smaller dogs on the team but bursting with sweetness. She runs in a team dog role but is also working on her lead dog skills. Go, Margot, Go!
Susie: This Iditarod veteran is 8 or 9 years old and on loan from fellow musher Nick Petit. She brings plenty of experience to the squad, applying her skills in a team dog or lead dog position. She's a very talkative dog, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't trying to sing Credence Clearwater Revival's song Susie Q... "I like the way you walk, I like the way you talk, Suzie Q..."!! Well, Miss Susie, I love you too!
Rocky: This Iditarod veteran is on loan from Ray Redington and you'll usually find him running in team or occasionally in lead. He's a good boy and loves his job, but Anna needs to keep an eye on him... if he were in your class at school, he's the one that would end up in detention! When he gets excited and left to his own devices, mischief comes out - like when he chewed through his neck line at the Ceremonial Start.
Astro: This 4 year old boy is back on Anna's team again this year, on loan from Nic Petit. Anna was thrilled to be able to borrow him again, as he is a solid and hard working addition to the dogs running in the team position.
Looking more closely at her team statistics... 10 dogs are male, 4 are female. 10 are Iditarod veterans and 4 are making their rookie run, although every single dog has hundreds - if not upwards of a couple thousand - miles under their paws from both training runs and mid-distance races this season. Her 14-dog team consists of 8 Seeing Double dogs and 6 that are on loan from fellow mushers. A couple of the youngest rookies are just over 2 years old while her most mature veterans are 8 or 9 years old, giving her team an average age of about 4.5 years. They vary in size with the smallest two coming in around 50 pounds while the largest are just over 70 pounds, giving the dogs on her team an average weight of 63 pounds. As you'll see in their pictures, their colors, markings, and overall appearance varies quite a bit. But they have several crucial things in common... a dual layer coat to keep them warm, large hearty paws, good appetites, they passed their veterinary checks with flying colors, and they each have an indisputable desire to pull and run with his or her pack down the trail.
With that, let's meet the individual dogs!
Yondu: A 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog that ran on Anna's team last year. He is part of the Guardians of the Galaxy litter and his brother Drax is also on the team. He is one of Anna's "bread and butter" leaders, meaning we will frequently see him leading the way down the trail.
Zwicklebeir: A 4 year old male and Seeing Double dog making his rookie run on the Iditarod trail. He is part of the Oktoberfest litter born to the kennel in late 2018 and is named after a type of beer - thanks to a suggestion from this Mad Blogger! He is a large, strong, playful guy that runs in wheel (the first position in front of the sled) and has a beautiful facial mask fur pattern.
Chaos: A 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog that also ran on Anna's team in 2022. He is part of the Trouble litter, and four of his siblings are running with Kristy this year. He is far more reliable than his name might suggest, happily running anywhere on the team, including lead.
Drax: Just like his brother, Yondu, Drax is a 5 year old male and Seeing Double dog back on Anna's team again this year. Anna considers Drax her other "bread and butter" leader, making him a go-to for leading the team in the most challenging situations.
Fog: This lovely lady is just over 2 years old and making her rookie run to Nome. She is a Seeing Double dog acquired from another musher and now a welcome part of the SD family. She brings a lot of energy to the squad and will put that to work in any position on the line - except lead. She leaves that job to the older and more experienced dogs for now.
Forrest: This handsome fellow is now 8 years old and has run the Iditarod trail with Anna several times. He is a Seeing Double dog who brings his large size and strength to the team dog position (in front of wheel but behind swing and lead). Forrest definitely loves to run, run, run!
Diego: This 5 year old Seeing Double dog is back for his third Iditarod with Anna. He runs happily in most positions, including a lead dog role when needed, which is a skill he has polished more since his earlier years. He has a great appetite, as long as he likes what is on offer. Oddly enough, that doesn't include salmon, so Anna has to keep him and his preferences in mind when sending out the team's dog food.
Hannah: This little lady is on loan to Anna from fellow musher Travis Beals, and as a 2 year old she's making her rookie run to Nome. She's a little quiet, bordering on shy, except when it comes to embracing her role in a team dog position. She is very sweet once she gets to know you a bit, and gives the sweetest little kisses.
Randy: This big boy is 4 going on 5 years old, and he is making his 3rd appearance on Anna's Iditarod team. He is another Seeing Double dog and applies his size and strength in a team dog position. He is sweet, playful, and with those adorable eyebrows has such a fun expression on his face. He can be a handful to walk from the dog truck to his position on the gangline, but that's only because he is so stoked to go for a run!
Kevin: Home Alone fans will inevitably shriek and yell, "Where's Kevin?!" You'll find him in either a team dog position on Anna's team and sometimes in lead. He's a 5 year old on loan from Ray Redington and is an Iditarod veteran, having run with Anna last year. You don't have to worry about him sneaking off to New York, though, as he is very happy doing his job on the gangline. Joining him this year is his younger sister Margot.
Margot: Kevin's little sister Margot is making her rookie run to Nome as a 2 year old and is also on loan from Ray Redington. She is one of the smaller dogs on the team but bursting with sweetness. She runs in a team dog role but is also working on her lead dog skills. Go, Margot, Go!
Susie: This Iditarod veteran is 8 or 9 years old and on loan from fellow musher Nick Petit. She brings plenty of experience to the squad, applying her skills in a team dog or lead dog position. She's a very talkative dog, and I can't help but wonder if she isn't trying to sing Credence Clearwater Revival's song Susie Q... "I like the way you walk, I like the way you talk, Suzie Q..."!! Well, Miss Susie, I love you too!
Rocky: This Iditarod veteran is on loan from Ray Redington and you'll usually find him running in team or occasionally in lead. He's a good boy and loves his job, but Anna needs to keep an eye on him... if he were in your class at school, he's the one that would end up in detention! When he gets excited and left to his own devices, mischief comes out - like when he chewed through his neck line at the Ceremonial Start.
Astro: This 4 year old boy is back on Anna's team again this year, on loan from Nic Petit. Anna was thrilled to be able to borrow him again, as he is a solid and hard working addition to the dogs running in the team position.
