Every dog is special, and memorable, and amazing in his or her own right. But the dogs chosen for an Iditarod team are that and so much more. Attitude, stamina, leadership and athleticism define them. Some might have you believe this sport or this event is purely for the humans, but it's not. It all comes down to the dogs, and this race wouldn't happen without them.
It can be tough to have one kennel and two mushers. Both humans know every single dog intimately, have worked with them in one way or another. Kennel care is shared. It may help that in this case the humans in question are identical twins, which may well make it easier for the dogs to roll with either of their humans whenever and wherever But when it comes to forming Iditarod racing teams, how the various dogs work together, the positions that need to be filled on the dog team, and the goals of the mushers and kennel need to find the right balancing act.
This year, Kristy and Anna changed things up a bit. While they're both running very well trained, capable dog teams, if you had to point to a varsity squad - Kristy's would be it. In most of their previous appearances, the twins' dog teams were very closely balanced. This year, Anna and Kristy made the decision to focus a bit more experience and speed in front of Kristy's sled.
Let's meet Kristy's dog team!
Kristy will be leaving Deshka Landing with 12 males and 2 females. Which isn't to say boy dogs are better than girl dogs in the Iditarod by any means! It's just how it worked out. 9 of the dogs on the team belong to Seeing Double, with a group of 5 and another of 4 being litter mates! Their average age is 3.85 years, and 12 of the 14 dogs are Iditarod veterans.
Amp: 5 year old male on loan from Travis Beals. He runs best in the back half of the team and needs to hang out with the ladies or neutered males. He has race experience and is ready to hit the trail.
Barge: 3 year old male on loan from Travis Beals. He is a rookie this year and will be running in swing or near the back of the team.
Crocket: 3 year old male on loan from Nic Petit. He's an Iditarod veteran and will run anywhere but is working on his lead dog skills. He's one of the biggest dogs on the team, weighing in around 75 pounds!
Rampage: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's the first of five siblings in the Trouble Litter on Kristy's team this year. He's an Iditarod veteran and will run in any position, but excels in lead with Rebel.
Berzerker: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's part of the B-Squad litter and usually runs in swing or near the back of the team.
Ruckus: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's an Iditarod vet and the 2nd sibling from the Trouble Litter. He's spent a little time in lead and can run anywhere on the team.
Bogus: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's an Iditarod vet and part of the B-Squad litter. Returning fans undoubtedly recognize his name. He's a champ and will run anywhere... but lead. No lead, no thanks.
Havoc: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. Number 3 from the Trouble Litter on the team, he's one of Kristy's main leaders and is often running the line with Crocket.
Bootleg: 5 year old female and Seeing Double Dog. This lady knows her business as an Iditarod veteran and part of the B-Squad litter. Much like brother Bogus, she's solid anywhere on the team... but lead!
Chaos: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. As his name suggests, he's the 4th member of the Trouble Litter. He's an Iditarod vet that whill run anywhere on the team.
Bulliet: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's the 4th member of the B-Squad litter and another Iditarod veteran. He'll run anywhere on the team, including lead, albeit grudgingly.
Mayhem: 3 year old female and Seeing Double Dog. The fifth member of the Trouble Litter, she's an Iditarod veteran and is one of Kristy's main leaders down the trail, often running with Polar.
Rebel: 6 year old male on loan from Dean Osmar. An Iditarod vet, he often runs in lead with Rampage. He is always near the front of the team.
Polar: 2 year old male on loan from Jesse Holmes. It's his rookie Iditarod, although he shows a lot of potential as a lead dog for one so young. Having Mayhem as a mentor is paying off!
Click on the photo gallery to see each dog's name, below.
It can be tough to have one kennel and two mushers. Both humans know every single dog intimately, have worked with them in one way or another. Kennel care is shared. It may help that in this case the humans in question are identical twins, which may well make it easier for the dogs to roll with either of their humans whenever and wherever But when it comes to forming Iditarod racing teams, how the various dogs work together, the positions that need to be filled on the dog team, and the goals of the mushers and kennel need to find the right balancing act.
This year, Kristy and Anna changed things up a bit. While they're both running very well trained, capable dog teams, if you had to point to a varsity squad - Kristy's would be it. In most of their previous appearances, the twins' dog teams were very closely balanced. This year, Anna and Kristy made the decision to focus a bit more experience and speed in front of Kristy's sled.
Let's meet Kristy's dog team!
Kristy will be leaving Deshka Landing with 12 males and 2 females. Which isn't to say boy dogs are better than girl dogs in the Iditarod by any means! It's just how it worked out. 9 of the dogs on the team belong to Seeing Double, with a group of 5 and another of 4 being litter mates! Their average age is 3.85 years, and 12 of the 14 dogs are Iditarod veterans.
Amp: 5 year old male on loan from Travis Beals. He runs best in the back half of the team and needs to hang out with the ladies or neutered males. He has race experience and is ready to hit the trail.
Barge: 3 year old male on loan from Travis Beals. He is a rookie this year and will be running in swing or near the back of the team.
Crocket: 3 year old male on loan from Nic Petit. He's an Iditarod veteran and will run anywhere but is working on his lead dog skills. He's one of the biggest dogs on the team, weighing in around 75 pounds!
Rampage: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's the first of five siblings in the Trouble Litter on Kristy's team this year. He's an Iditarod veteran and will run in any position, but excels in lead with Rebel.
Berzerker: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's part of the B-Squad litter and usually runs in swing or near the back of the team.
Ruckus: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's an Iditarod vet and the 2nd sibling from the Trouble Litter. He's spent a little time in lead and can run anywhere on the team.
Bogus: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's an Iditarod vet and part of the B-Squad litter. Returning fans undoubtedly recognize his name. He's a champ and will run anywhere... but lead. No lead, no thanks.
Havoc: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. Number 3 from the Trouble Litter on the team, he's one of Kristy's main leaders and is often running the line with Crocket.
Bootleg: 5 year old female and Seeing Double Dog. This lady knows her business as an Iditarod veteran and part of the B-Squad litter. Much like brother Bogus, she's solid anywhere on the team... but lead!
Chaos: 3 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. As his name suggests, he's the 4th member of the Trouble Litter. He's an Iditarod vet that whill run anywhere on the team.
Bulliet: 5 year old male and Seeing Double Dog. He's the 4th member of the B-Squad litter and another Iditarod veteran. He'll run anywhere on the team, including lead, albeit grudgingly.
Mayhem: 3 year old female and Seeing Double Dog. The fifth member of the Trouble Litter, she's an Iditarod veteran and is one of Kristy's main leaders down the trail, often running with Polar.
Rebel: 6 year old male on loan from Dean Osmar. An Iditarod vet, he often runs in lead with Rampage. He is always near the front of the team.
Polar: 2 year old male on loan from Jesse Holmes. It's his rookie Iditarod, although he shows a lot of potential as a lead dog for one so young. Having Mayhem as a mentor is paying off!
Click on the photo gallery to see each dog's name, below.
Here's a short video of Kristy's entire team on the line! Be sure to turn up your volume so you can hear Kristy introduce them. Note, on this day she was running a 16-dog team, so at the very end you'll also meet Duramax and Dolphin.
* Mayhem & Polar * Berzerker & Bulliet * Rampage & Rebel * Havoc & Ruckus * Crocket & Bogus *
* Bootleg & Amp * Barge & Chaos * Duramax & Dolphin *