Each year when I ask Kristy about her dog team, she always raves that they're one of her best teams ever! Part of that likely stems from the fact that she almost always has returning dogs from prior years, working over time to polish their skills, grow their experience, and increase the incredible bond she has with each and every one.
In 2023, Kristy has six dogs that were also on her team last year. They range in age from just over 2 years to 7 years old, with an average age of about 4 years. There are 11 boys and 3 girls, and a whopping 12 dogs have run the Iditarod trail before and return as veterans, while only 2 are rookies seeing the trail for the first time. 8 are Seeing Double dogs while 6 are on loan from fellow mushers. Incredibly enough, the average weight of the dogs on her team is the same as Anna's at 63 pounds, with Cassie as one of the smallest at 55 pounds and Wilbur a powerhouse topping out just shy of 80 pounds. There are lots of siblings on her team and definitely 14 adorable faces!
Andy: This 2 year old boy is on loan from Issac Redington and even though he's a rookie in the full Iditarod, he did see part of the trail during Issac's rookie of the year run in the 2023 Junior Iditarod. Wilbur is his dad, and he's clearly following in the family paw prints thriving as a team dog and also working on his lead dog skills. He has a little kink in his tail from a slight mishap at birth, but that doesn't slow him down in the least. The fact that he shares the same name as Kristy's husband is also a fun coincidence.
Bogus: This 7 year old dog is a very familiar face, having run with Kristy in several past Iditarods, including last year. He loves to run in the team or wheel positions, but has absolutely no bid for the lead dog role. His brother Bulleit is also on Kristy's team.
Cassie: This sweet little girl is 3 years old and on loan from Travis Beals. She's seen the Iditarod once before and will run with Kristy this year in either team or lead positions. She is the smallest dog on Kristy's team by way of size, but she's very big on enthusiasm and work ethic.
Papa Doc: Also known as PD, Papa Doc is on loan from musher Lev Shvarts. He is 2, going on 3, years old and has seen the Iditarod trail once before. He runs in a team dog position, just like his brother Portau Prince.
Tesla: This 2 year old girl is a Seeing Double dog making her first appearance in the Iditarod. She will run in a team position but is showing a lot of promise as a future go-to leader.
Wilbur: This big strong boy is also on loan from Issac Redington and helped lead the way for Issac in the Junior Iditarod. He is a "super veteran" according to Kristy, bringing tons of experience on the Iditarod trail. He will run in team dog or lead positions, often in lead with his son Andy.
Rampage: This 5 year old boy is a Seeing Double dog and part of the Trouble litter, running on Kristy's team with litter mates Havoc, Ruckus, and Mayhem (not to forget Chaos on Anna's team). Contrary to their litter's theme in name, Rampage isn't troublesome at all - in fact, he's one of Kristy's go-to lead dogs and has been on her team several times before.
Havoc: Sharing many of the same traits as his brother Rampage, Havoc is also a 5 year old Seeing Double dog and member of the Trouble litter. But he's far from wreaking havoc... in fact, he's one of Kristy's main "bread and butter" leaders, someone she turns to and trusts in the trickiest of situations out on the trail. He has also been on her team several times before.
Joker: This 5 year old boy is a Seeing Double dog more recently acquired, but he has been on the Iditarod trail before with his prior owner and fellow musher. He runs in team and wheel positions and is very eye-catching with his one blue and one brown eye.
Ruckus: Another member of the Trouble litter, Ruckus is also 5 and also an Iditarod veteran. He runs almost exclusively in a team dog role and is very focused on his job and helping move the team down the trail.
Bulleit: This 5 year old guy is part of the Seeing Double B-Squad litter and joins brother Bogus out on the trail this year as an Iditarod veteran. He's a great team dog but will also step up into a swing dog position and really does a great job powering teams up mountains and around corners as they make their way down the trail.
Mayhem: Putting up with so many brothers in Seeing Double's Trouble litter may have given this girl an edge, as she is Kristy's other go-to "bread and butter" leader out on the trail. She's 5 years old and has helped Kristy make it to Nome in the past. She's a gorgeous dog with a unique coat that sometimes seems black but can reflect a reddish gold sheen under certain light.
2Chains: This 6 year old boy is on loan from Ray Redington and has run the Iditarod trail before. He has beautiful markings and a very distinct voice, so with ears alone you'll always know when he's around.
Portau Prince: Also known as Prince or Princeton, this 2 going on 3 year old boy is on loan from Lev Shvarts. His brother Papa Doc is also on Kristy's team, and he has been on the Iditarod trail before. He also has beautiful markings and a face mask similar to PD's.
In 2023, Kristy has six dogs that were also on her team last year. They range in age from just over 2 years to 7 years old, with an average age of about 4 years. There are 11 boys and 3 girls, and a whopping 12 dogs have run the Iditarod trail before and return as veterans, while only 2 are rookies seeing the trail for the first time. 8 are Seeing Double dogs while 6 are on loan from fellow mushers. Incredibly enough, the average weight of the dogs on her team is the same as Anna's at 63 pounds, with Cassie as one of the smallest at 55 pounds and Wilbur a powerhouse topping out just shy of 80 pounds. There are lots of siblings on her team and definitely 14 adorable faces!
Andy: This 2 year old boy is on loan from Issac Redington and even though he's a rookie in the full Iditarod, he did see part of the trail during Issac's rookie of the year run in the 2023 Junior Iditarod. Wilbur is his dad, and he's clearly following in the family paw prints thriving as a team dog and also working on his lead dog skills. He has a little kink in his tail from a slight mishap at birth, but that doesn't slow him down in the least. The fact that he shares the same name as Kristy's husband is also a fun coincidence.
Bogus: This 7 year old dog is a very familiar face, having run with Kristy in several past Iditarods, including last year. He loves to run in the team or wheel positions, but has absolutely no bid for the lead dog role. His brother Bulleit is also on Kristy's team.
Cassie: This sweet little girl is 3 years old and on loan from Travis Beals. She's seen the Iditarod once before and will run with Kristy this year in either team or lead positions. She is the smallest dog on Kristy's team by way of size, but she's very big on enthusiasm and work ethic.
Papa Doc: Also known as PD, Papa Doc is on loan from musher Lev Shvarts. He is 2, going on 3, years old and has seen the Iditarod trail once before. He runs in a team dog position, just like his brother Portau Prince.
Tesla: This 2 year old girl is a Seeing Double dog making her first appearance in the Iditarod. She will run in a team position but is showing a lot of promise as a future go-to leader.
Wilbur: This big strong boy is also on loan from Issac Redington and helped lead the way for Issac in the Junior Iditarod. He is a "super veteran" according to Kristy, bringing tons of experience on the Iditarod trail. He will run in team dog or lead positions, often in lead with his son Andy.
Rampage: This 5 year old boy is a Seeing Double dog and part of the Trouble litter, running on Kristy's team with litter mates Havoc, Ruckus, and Mayhem (not to forget Chaos on Anna's team). Contrary to their litter's theme in name, Rampage isn't troublesome at all - in fact, he's one of Kristy's go-to lead dogs and has been on her team several times before.
Havoc: Sharing many of the same traits as his brother Rampage, Havoc is also a 5 year old Seeing Double dog and member of the Trouble litter. But he's far from wreaking havoc... in fact, he's one of Kristy's main "bread and butter" leaders, someone she turns to and trusts in the trickiest of situations out on the trail. He has also been on her team several times before.
Joker: This 5 year old boy is a Seeing Double dog more recently acquired, but he has been on the Iditarod trail before with his prior owner and fellow musher. He runs in team and wheel positions and is very eye-catching with his one blue and one brown eye.
Ruckus: Another member of the Trouble litter, Ruckus is also 5 and also an Iditarod veteran. He runs almost exclusively in a team dog role and is very focused on his job and helping move the team down the trail.
Bulleit: This 5 year old guy is part of the Seeing Double B-Squad litter and joins brother Bogus out on the trail this year as an Iditarod veteran. He's a great team dog but will also step up into a swing dog position and really does a great job powering teams up mountains and around corners as they make their way down the trail.
Mayhem: Putting up with so many brothers in Seeing Double's Trouble litter may have given this girl an edge, as she is Kristy's other go-to "bread and butter" leader out on the trail. She's 5 years old and has helped Kristy make it to Nome in the past. She's a gorgeous dog with a unique coat that sometimes seems black but can reflect a reddish gold sheen under certain light.
2Chains: This 6 year old boy is on loan from Ray Redington and has run the Iditarod trail before. He has beautiful markings and a very distinct voice, so with ears alone you'll always know when he's around.
Portau Prince: Also known as Prince or Princeton, this 2 going on 3 year old boy is on loan from Lev Shvarts. His brother Papa Doc is also on Kristy's team, and he has been on the Iditarod trail before. He also has beautiful markings and a face mask similar to PD's.