Meet The Dogs

In addition to running tours, the dogs of Black Spruce Dog Sledding compete in the annual 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Join our team by sponsoring one of these professional canine athletes!

The Main Racing Dogs

The best and brightest adults at Black Spruce. All hopefuls to make our 2023 racing teams!

Sponsor a Main Race Dog [Each dog can have up to 3 sponsors]

happy sled dogs — Forty is a seven year old, five time Iditarod finisher, who never seems to tire. A 55 pound muscle machine who leads when he feels like it, and only eer slows down to mark his territory. Forty is the father to our "Musicians" litter. Sponsored by The Karstensen Family of IN; and by Chyrisse & Tim of ND. Forty can have one more sponsor!

happy sled dogs — Knox is one of our most experienced racing dogs, with four Iditarod starts and two finishes. He is an important leader, and has trained up many of our young leaders. Everything about Knox is 100% -- his drive, his energy, his size and his love. A truly excellent dog who makes a huge impact in our team. Sponsored by The Bailey Family of MA and Anka R of GA. Knox can have one more sponsor!

happy sled dogs — Jack is everyone's BFF. At his house, he is always on the move - playing with his neighbors, or keeping alert for wildlife in the forest. In the team, Jack is focused, dependable, honest, and much more mellow. Sponsored by Doug & Arlene of WA; and by Jenny and Chuck of GA. Jack can have one more sponsor!

a dog that is standing in the snow — Lilah is a large female, with a big appetite to match. Throw in a pretty trot with good feet, and we're going places... Sponsored by YY & Kline of MA. Lilah can have two more sponsors!

Whoop-Whoop! These Main Race Dogs are fully sponsored!

happy sled dogs — Frito ran his first Iditarod as a Yearling in 2018. Since then has been in several more. Frito is a dog we can always count on. He pulls when it's time to pull, and rests when it's time to rest. Oh yeah, and he leads, too! Sponsored exclusively by Andy & Kai of Palmer, AK.

happy sled dogs — Anderson is both a Yukon Quest AND Iditarod finisher! In the yard, Andy's favorite things are eating, sleeping, and playing with toys. But when it's time to hook up and run, he makes his excitement known by doing a full-on, four-footed lunge off the ground to bop us nose-to-nose! Ouch!! Andy is exclusively sponsored by Jane and Stephanie of Pittsburgh, CA

happy sled dogs — Braavos is arguably our very best, and most valuable dog. He has finished five Iditarods in five years, and is just seven years old. Big accomplishments for a pretty little dude... Braavos weighs in at barely 50 pounds! He maintains his alpha male status in the kennel by bossing everyone with his bark, and aggressing any dogs who get in his way. No wonder Braavos is usually in lead by himself at the finish line. Braavos is the father of "The Rivers" and "The Literates." Exclusively sponsored by the Berges and the Manjarrezes of Rolla, MO

a dog that is standing in the snow — Qarth. An MVP leader who dominates on a tough trail. The more adverse and slow the conditions are, the harder he drives. Qarth is a three-time Iditarod finisher, and Jeff's favorite. (Ssshhh! Don't tell the others!) Sponsored exclusively by The Linn's of Lancaster, CA

happy sled dogs — Moose is another kennel Top Dog, with great leadership abilities and many Iditarod finishes. Attitude, appetite, gait, endurance, charisma: This dog has it all. Moose is the father of the "Norwegians." Sponsored by Melissa M of WA; Jenny & Chuck of GA; and by The Karstensen Family of IN.

happy sled dogs — Lynx is one of our top Iditarod performers, with three finishes under her belt at just five years old. She is a dependable, easy going girl with a great coat, fabulous appetite, and the ability to get along with everyone. Mother of "The Antiques." Sponsored by Caralyn S. of NJ; Mike and Debbie K of WI; and Jenn K of IN.

happy sled dogs — Marten is among the very best leaders in our kennel. His stand-out leadership performances include single-leading as a yearling off-trail in the Arctic, and leading for several hundred miles in his rookie Iditarod. Marten is the father to our "Characters." Sponsored by the Woodwell Family of PA; by Del and Lily of Guam; and by Anka R of GA.

happy sled dogs — Owl was a big surprise for us! Small and very fine- boned, we weren't sure this girl would be much of a contributing team member. But she's a super hard worker, and her attitude is always on point. Owl is a pure pleasure to have in the team. Exclusively sponsored by Marilyn C of Roswell, NM

happy sled dogs — Chippewa is "the next big thing," following in the footsteps of his Uncle Qarth and Dad Braavos. Chippewa's big accomplishments for 2022 included finishing his first Iditarod, and single leading off trail on our annual spring Arctic trip. Sponsored exclusively by Julie F of Rice Lake, WI

happy sled dogs — Yentna is one of our top females at just 3 years old. She finished her first Iditarod in 2022, leading through one of the most challenging windstorms the race has ever seen. Yentna has strong opinions about most everything, but is usually a hard and energetic worker, despite her small stature. Sponsored by Kim & Jen of AK, Elyssa J of MO, and Anka R of GA.

happy sled dogs — Kobuk is a long-legged sweetheart, and a serious member of our race team. Kobuk finished the 2022 Iditarod at just under 3 years old, and did it with the grace and ease of a dog much older. Next year's vision for Kobuk: Leading in races! Sponsored exclusively by Jess SG of Farmington, MN

happy sled dogs — The Wolf is another young, but super solid member of our race team. Although he did not finish Iditarod 2022, he was an incredibly focused and diligent worker right up to the moment he was sent home. He has successfully finished every other race he has been in. Sponsored exclusively by Rich and Julie of Redwood City, CA

happy sled dogs — Arthur is a young dog who is already an important member of our race team. He finished is first Iditarod in 2022, and will no doubt have plenty more in his future. He is a hard worker, and a beautiful trotter who always does what is asked of him. Sponsored by Helene & Ed of MT; Christina M of TX.; and Zoe & Lena of IL.

happy sled dogs — Robin was slower to mature than his "Character" brothers, but now at 3 years old is a solid member of the race team. He's got a beautiful trot, a good appetite, and a happy-go-lucky attitude that can't be beat. Robin easily finished the 2022 Iditarod. Sponsored exclusively by Kai and Andy of Palmer, AK

happy sled dogs — Oyvind is a steady team member, and probably the kennel's loudest "cheer leader." When we make impromptu stops on the trail to check booties or take a photo, Oyvind will immediately start barking and "harness-banging," making it almost impossible to stay stopped. We hate these poor manners during training, but this "go-get-'em" attitude is a joy to have on a long race. Sponsored exclusively by The Linn's of CA.

a dog sitting in the snow — Bjorn is one of our best young dogs. He is three years old, and the only one among his "Norwegian" siblings to finish their first Iditarod in 2022. Bjorn is an excellent team member and moonlights as a leader when he feels like it. Sponsored by Manuel S. of CA; Del & Lily of Guam; and Beverly G of NC.

happy sled dogs — Hvitserk LOVES life, and everything about being a sled dog. A member of our "Norwegians" litter, this guy is a great blend of both parents, Moose and Fierce. He has his Dad's love of food and people, and his Mom's love of running, and more running. Like his brother Bjorn, Hvitserk is a steady team member who occasionally moonlights as a leader. Sponsored by Dave and Kristi M. of WA; by Anka R of GA; and by Manuel S of CA.

happy sled dogs — Tolvi (aka Toll House; aka House Mouse) is a member of the "Norwegians" litter. She's a natural-born leader who has a blast running at the front of the team, like her parents Fierce and Moose. The last thing to develop was Tolvi's adult appetite, but she's made huge strides there in recent years, and we're expecting the 23-24 season to be her best yet! Sponsored by Laurel J. of the UK; by Melissa M of WA; and by Joe & Karen of GA.

a dog that is standing in the snow — Marley is an uber-confident, adventurous, good-eating, solo-flier. He finished his first Iditarod in 2022 as a Yearling, and he no doubt has plenty more coming up in his future. Sponsored by The Albertson Family of OR; the Dumais-Kutchins of AK; and by the Lambert Cousins of PA.

a dog sitting in the snow — Natalie is another small female, and she's got big shoes to fill. Her Mom Spears, and Dad Forty are multi-time Iditarod finishers. In 2022 her brothers Dylan and Marley also finished their first Iditarods at under 2 years old. Natalie has been slower to mature than her brothers, but that's common for female Alaskan Huskies. In the 22-23 season we are expecting big things from this tough girl - including burning up the trail in lead! Natalie is Exclusively Sponsored by Joe L of AK.

a dog looking at the camera — Dylan will turn 2 years old in the summer of 2022 and already has one Iditarod finish to his name. We could not be more excited or proud of this solid, happy, intelligent, up-and-coming leader! Sponsored by The Karstensen Family of IN, A Working-Dog-Loving-Family in OH, and Linda B of MS.

a dog sitting in the snow — Legend is a big boy, wise and capable beyond his years. We're expecting major things from this guy. Sponsored exclusively by John and Claudia B. of Rolla, MO.

a dog sitting in the snow — Prophet is a real macho man: Crazy about the girls and showing off in front of the boys. Now at over two years old we're looking for more power and less posture... We know it's in there!! Sponsored by Leslie T.S. of TX; Jessica B. of BC, Canada; and by Lu & Steve of TN.

a close up of a dog — Johnny is the best and brightest of his two year old class. Son of Chippewa, grandson of Braavos; Johnny will surely add his name to the list of important race leaders in our kennel. Johnny is sponsored by Doug & Arlene of WA; Anka R of GA; and by Lu & Steve of TN.

a dog standing in the snow — Skip is about as happy as they come... We're looking for Skip to turn that enthusiasm into focus and power this year. Sponsored by Ellen & Alfred of NJ, AV & DL of AK, and Kaitlin B of OR.

a dog sitting in the snow — Ester "Bunny" is small and mighty! Look for this little rocket up in lead with her brother Johnny or twin sister Maxine. Exclusively sponsored by Gretchen D. of Fairbanks, AK.

a dog that is standing in the snow — Maxine, AKA "Max Cat," is another small-but-mighty female! She's a hard driving, eager worker, and we're so excited to see how far she'll go! Exclusively sponsored by Theresa and Gary of CA.

The Yearling Squad

Yearlings are between one and two years old. Their responsibilities are touring and mastering the basic skills to become great racing dogs in the future!

Sponsor a Yearling [Each dog can have up to 3 sponsors]

a dog that is standing in the snow — Einstein is a giant among his siblings, with a big ol' personality to match. We're hoping Einstein has got all of the brains to go with his brains. If he does: Look out! Einstein is sponsored by The Linn's of CA and Peter S of the UK. Einstein can have one more sponsor!

a dog that is standing in the snow — Salvador is a wild man. But despite his high levels of energy, he's always also totally tuned into the kennel dynamic. During free time, Sal's favorite activity is run around among the other dogs still at their houses, making friends and causing chaos. Salvador is sponsored by John and Claudia of MO, and by Dave & Gina of IA. Salvador can have one more sponsor!

clara yearling — Clara is a sweet girl, built like a brick house. She's also fearless and endlessly optimistic. She's always making friends and trying new things. Clara is sponsored by Christina of TX and Jack of AK. Clara can have one more sponsor!

a dog standing on a dry grass field — Stannis is another new addition to our kennel, also from Brent Sass. One look at this boy and we were in love. It's also very cool that Stannis is first cousins with our "Roarin 20's" pups - their moms are sisters. Stannis is looking for three sponsors or one exclusive sponsor!

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Whoop-Whoop! These Yearlings are fully sponsored!

a dog that is standing in the snow — Capone has always been his own dog. With uniquely identifiable markings in puppyhood, you can now tell Capone by his insane appetite (always trying to eat straight out of the ladle) and his automatic mistrust of anything not food-related. We're going to have our hands full with this one! Capone is exclusively sponsored by Kurt of FL.

a dog that is standing in the snow — Coco is about as sweet as they come. But despite her adorable face and perfect demeanor, she's a little on the small side with a tiny appetite to match. That can still change, right? Coco is sponsored by Pringles' Grammy in CA; Deb in AK and Melissa in WA.

gatsby yearling — Gatsby the Goofball! That's his name. (Just look at those ears...) This boy is big and wild, and rarely sits still to receive any sort of instruction. We're looking forward to seeing if we can turn this puppy into powerhouse. Gatsby is sponsored by The Totten Family of KY; Charlie and Nora of SC; and by Jules of FL.

a dog that is standing in the snow — Louis appears to be the serious gem among his clownish brothers. Always up for a challenge, with no fear or self-doubt. This guy always wants to be first in whatever we do. Louis is going places. Louis is sponsored by Joe and Betsy of VA; The Lead Dogs of GA; and Max of AK.

The Puppies

Sponsor a Puppy now, and renew each year to watch them grow into a mature Iditarod racer!

Puppies born June 19, 2023. Portraits coming soon…

Sponsor a Puppy

The “Extras”

Every kennel has ’em! These dogs no longer race, and some of them may be eligible for adoption. Find out more here >>>

happy sled dogs — Mereen is a two-time Iditarod finisher, and sister to our best dogs, Qarth and Braavos. These days Mereen is enjoying an early retirement as a tour-only dog, as she no longer has the ambition or attention for long distances. Since she's a bit of a sassy-pants, Mereen is looking for a new forever home where she can be the only dog. Check out our adoption page for more info!

a dog that is standing in the snow — Fierce, aka "Alien," is about as quirky as they come. She's got a short coat, and a wiry thin frame, which makes her stand out from the rest of our stockier, denser-coated crew. But Fierce is a brilliant front-end dog who never tires. These days she's retired from racing, but she LOVES running tours.

happy sled dogs — Phloem joined our kennel as an adult, after our friend Dave Dalton retired from mushing. She spends most of the fall/winter season training with our race teams, but doesn't have quite what it takes to actually race. Happily, Phloem is also perfectly content coming inside and sleeping at her dog house. Her only gripe is having to interact with strangers - she's a pretty shy gal! Phloem is sponsored by Melissa M. of University Place, WA.

Koyuk — Koyuk. At birth, this girl was the dictionary definition of a "runt." She refused to eat and had a hard time regulating her body temperature. We brought her indoors for bottle feeding and she slept at night in our bed. Koyuk is now a happy, healthy adult, but she's also pretty sure she's a human. Koyuk is sponsored by ML Petti of Fairbanks, AK

Rave — Rave. Sometimes you get a puppy who just doesn't want to be a sled dog! And that's OK. Now Rave is our resident barking - er, we mean - parking attendant and cuddle buddy. Rave is sponsored by ML Petti of Fairbanks, AK

black spruce dog sledding

(907) 371-3647 blacksprucedogsledding@gmail.com 3850 Errol Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99709

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