During my summer on the Herbert Glacier I met two very special dogs. Perhaps it was my roommate (their musher) constantly talking them up that got me, but I could never take my eyes off of these boys. Pre and Swift came with the rest of the Cotter dogs. Cotter dogs are notorious on the glacier for their bad tempers and joy of fighting, but these two boys were different. Both Pre and Swift were gentle boys, sure they would stand up for themselves but rarely were they the instigators. Both had beautiful conformation, stunning eyes, smooth gates, and they were big. My pack had always been made up of smaller dogs, it had never really occurred to me that sled dogs could get so big, but it was the power that came with that size that truly stole my heart.
By the end of the summer I was certain, I wanted these boys, I wanted to have them as my foundation stock. Logistics were going to be an issue, there are a lot of miles between Juneau and Wisconsin... Fortunately I met an amazing musher while I was on the glacier, Josi. Josi agreed to transport the boys back to her kennel (Montana) and keep them there until I was able to make a trip out west and collect them. The end of September I was finally able to make that trip, and was an adventure it was. Four full days of driving to look and three different job offers. I will save which job I chose for another post, for now I am just pleased to have Pre and Swift home. I've been spending so much time with youngsters recently I forgot what experienced sled dogs were like.
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AuthorA young women attempting to navigate the world. She is guided by her love and passion for dogs. Archives
April 2020
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