Nature's Kennel Mighty Mutt Club 2011-2012 Join the Mighty Mutt Club to love up your favorite mutt this season! Mutts are being added...so don't worry if your favorite is not on here yet! We will have Ed's 2012 Iditarod team listed, along with our Mighty Mutt tour dogs. If you have a favorite puppy you wish to sponsor, let us know and we'll get him/her listed as well.
$100 Mighty Mutt Membership
With the Mighty Mutt Membership you will receive a 2012 Nature's Kennel Mighty Mutt Club T-shirt, a photo of your Mighty Mutt, an NK racing poster, a set of used booties used by your Mighty Mutt in a race, and your name or business name displayed with your Mighty Mutt on www.natureskennel.com!
$500 Iditarod Mutt Membership
The Iditarod Mutt Membership includes: all of the benefits from a Team Dog Membership plus a 2011 Iditarod poster autographed by all of the finishing Iditarod mushers, a 2012 Nature's Kennel Calendar, a 2012 Iditarod DVD, an embroidered harness that your Mighty Mutt wore in the race, an Iditarod Insider Subscription, an Iditarod patch, and an Iditarod race program!
To join the club and sponsor a Mighty Mutt, either print off theMighty Mutt Formand mail it to PO Box 5, McMillan MI 49853 or click on the Paypal "BUY NOW" button. THANK YOU!
2012 Iditarod Mutts:
Flynt Male Born: 09/17/2007 Loved by Cathy Pumford, Boyne City, MI. Siblings Flynt, Krister, Judge and Ayn are all Tasha Canine offspring. They are fabulous Iditarod dogs, fabulous dogs to run, and incredibly loving and social. Flynt finished with Ed's Iditarod team in 2010. He is as cocky as his namesake, Larry Flynt. This dog can run with the best, and he is not afraid to admit it to anyone. He has the speed for sprint racing and the endurance to run forever. His father, Maple, is one of our best dogs ever, and we think Flynt can outdo his father.
Bolt Male Born: 08/16/2009 Bolt and his sister Enzo were two of Krister's superstars in Maine last winter. Bolt finished the Can-Am Race and is one of our up and coming superstars. Bolt is one of our most photogenic dogs and always has a smile on his face.
Gallea Female Born: 03/10/2010 I was a little apprehensive to add such a young dog to Ed's Iditarod group, but Gallea is such a superstar that we predict her to make the main team this year. She is a natural leader, mother to one of our litters of pups this summer, and one of the most loving, sweet, gentle dogs on Ed's team.
Gus Male Born: 6/12/2005 Gus, short for Asparagus, is one of the late bloomers of the kennel. Until he was three years old, he was on the ‘for sale’ list. How lucky we were that no one else realized his potential! Now one of the main leaders at the kennel and a standout in the Iditarod, Gus has surprised us all with his unfailing trot, always-cheerful attitude, and gold star behavior.
Krister Male Born: 9/17/2007 Siblings Krister, Flynt, Judge and Ayn are all Tasha Canine offspring. Krister always does his job but doesn't get too over excited about anything. He eats just enough, he pulls just enough, he runs lead just enough and he smiles just enough. He finished Iditarod with Ed in 2010 and is part of Ed's core group this year. He is named after one of our kennel manager for our Sunday River tours in Maine, Krister Raasoch.
Pat Female Born: 05/05/2009 Pat is a small superstar female who keeps Ed on his toes. She LOVES to wrestle and play while in harness, so she has to be paired with a more serious, focused dog when running. That can be quite a challenge, because she's so happy go lucky that she can usually entice anyone next to her to have a good time! She has a contagious smile and was a mother to a litter of puppies this summer.
Rhu Female Born: 6/12/2005 Loved by Edie and Katie KunzeRhu, her brother Gus, and her half sister, Ayn, are Ed’s go-to leaders. During the 2009 Iditiarod, during which bitter cold and extreme weather were common, Rhu lead Ed through the toughest of trail. Around the kennel, her slight build and calm demeanor can sometimes be overlooked. Of course, once in the gangline there is no questioning whether Rhu is in the team. Her excited pterodactyl cry can be heard for miles around and is always a topic of discussion at the starting line chute.
Clark Male Born: 8/20/2003 Loved by Joel and Emily Gerweck, Koyuk, AK and Pat Brighton, Brimley, MI.Clark is one of the best sled dogs in the kennel and has been a stud for many litters. He is one of the few to have never missed a training run and he has completed every race he has entered, including multiple Iditarods. Even after running 300 miles, Clark will still look like the race just started and spring to his feet after a brief rest. Always animated and playful, Clark is a go-to leader, trying to pick up the pace and speed up the team, especially around corners when there is a chance his rider will fall off.
Scissors Male Born: 7/1/2010 Loved by Resha Sled Dog Equipment, McKean, PA Scissors and Paper have surprised us all with their running ability and work ethic. They may even have a chance to make Ed's Iditarod team this year! They are nice big boys who have really grown up this summer and are now very focused, hard working and fun dogs to run.
Enzo Female Born: 08/16/2009 Loved by Daniel Wallstrom, Kernville, CA and Dale Tupper, Ann Arbor, MI. Enzo was a superstar for Krister last year, running tours at Sunday River and as one of his best leaders in the 250 mile Can Am Crown race in Maine. She is going to be one to watch this year as well, as she is one fo the outstanding young dogs on Ed's Iditarod team. Enzo is mother to our Bread Litter, born this summer. She is named after the main character Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain, and if you haven't read the book, you must. With Tuuli and Solomon as parents, Enzo is going to be a rock star!
Chuck Male Born: 05/05/2009 Loved by Jim and Sally Sepulveda, Incline Village, NV. Another from Ed’s aunts and uncles litter, Chuck has really come around this season. As a pup, he was the least athletic of his littermates and it took him the longest to figure out the whole sledding thing. He would bounce up and down in the gangline like a bunny, looking around at all the branches and snow. That has all changed! Chuck is now a fabulous, focused sled dog and has a great chance of making the 2012 Iditarod team! Guess it takes some dogs just some extra time to grow up.
Scott Male Born: 05/05/2009 Scott is a member of the "Aunts and Uncles" litter. He's a big, hard working dog who can also be silly and entertaining. When he was a puppy, he was nicknamed "Scott the Stalker" as he loved to hunch down along the trail and stalk his littermates when they ran by. Scott finished the Can-Am with Krister last year and is on his way to superstardom with Ed's team this year.
Bradshaw Male Born: 04/09/2009 Loved by Garry and Kathy Hogan, Aliquippa, PA.Bradshaw is named after the famous quarterback Terry Bradshaw a.k.a. “Mr. Steel Arm.” With his athletic build and silvery streaked coat, perhaps we should nickname Bradshaw Mr. Steel Paw instead. Bradshaw is really playful and adores going on walks so he can run around like crazy. Hooked to the gangline, however, he works really hard and can be counted on to be no-nonsense.
2012 Mighty Mutts:
Wentel Male Born: 03/29/2010 Whentel, one of the members of our sea shells litter is incredibly calm and focused for his age. He is super loving and likes to have his giant ears scratched. He and his littermates have always been "old" for their age and their maturity is now showing in their ability to run with the big dogs.
Curry Male Born: 01/01/2002 Curry is new to the kennel but will be the old man on the race team in 2011. He was purchased mainly for breeding but it would not surprise us if he still makes the cut for racing. He has run and finished the last seven Iditarods and led Zack Steer to a 3rd place finish in the 2007 Iditarod. Curry is so good that even Lance Mackey leased him in 2007 for the All Alaska Sweepstakes.
Jester Male Born: 05/01/2004 Loved by Garry & Kathy Hogan, Aliquippa, PA and Prairie Elementary School, Adrian, MI. Unlike his name suggests, Jester doesn’t joke around but is a solid and dependable member of the team. He is a strong leader and responsive to every command. Of course, he does put on a show whenever the team isn’t moving, slamming into his harness and jumping up and down. You will most likely find him running tours with Jess, as she negotiated her return to Nature's Kennel based on having Jester on her team!
Starman Male Born: 10/5/2002 Loved by Joyce Tchozeski, Belding, MI.Nevermind that Starman is 9 years old, he acts more like a puppy than many of the puppies! Starman still rolls on the ground, hops over the dog next to him, and slams in to his harness when getting ready to run. You'd think he was getting ready to run the Iditarod every day. Many people are surprised by the fact that Big Ben and Starman are brothers, as Ben is a giant baby and Starman a giant hyper active toddler. Starman thrives on giving kisses and ignoring commands!
Luke Male Born: 9/15/2002 Loved by Heidi Harmon, Sunbury, OH Luke is, and always has been a pretty serious dog. He has been Ed's go-to Iditarod leader in the past, always leading the charge up the coast of the Bering Sea. Luke is now a full time touring dog, but he's as sweet as ever. He doesn't have much patience for the young dogs so he usually get to run next to his old, favorite buddies like Arlo and Gimli.
Oatmeal Male Loved anonymously in honor of "Sasha", an amazing, legendary husky from Duluth. Oatmeal was a dog we borrowed for tours last year from Jim Warren. Our guests and guides liked him so much, that we begged to keep him (and his sister Cheers). Oatmeal is now one of the family. He can be a little high strung in the kennel, but once running in a team he's a great dog who loves to pull.
Emma Female Born: 9/2/2010 Loved by Ellen Dhaseleer, Charlevoix, MI. Emma is one of our "Glee Club" puppies. She loves food, loves people, and just like her granda Curry, loves to dig holes! This will be her first season of tours, and she's very excited to get to winter camp so she can spend the night in someone's sleeping bag!
Nougat Male Born: 06/01/2007 Nougat is one of those never know what you are going to get dogs. He's extremely friendly with people and somewhat friendly with other dogs, he'd definately rather be a people-dog than dog-dog. He has a really cute little head tilt he does when he knows he's getting his photo taken or is going to get a delicious treat!
Coach Male Born: 11/9/2005 Coach is a very unique dog. Some might even deem him "special." His happiest times are right after a run when he gets his face scratched and free running around his house and platform, although he never strays more than 20 feet away. Coach is one of the hardest pulling dogs in the team, and his strange gait has earned it's own classification: the Coach funk. He's a steering wheel in lead and our guides love to have him on their team.
Lily Female Born: 02/01/2009 Loved by Pat Berglund, Dexter, MI.Lily moved to our kennel this summer and she is just a charmer. She's a hard working little girl and is always playful. We look forward to running her this season and know she'll love all the guests.
Big Ben Male Born: 10/5/2002 Loved by Ben Eiden, Pandora, OH. Ben is the charmer of the kennel, has run in three Iditarods and has led Ed and Tasha's UP 200 winning teams. Ben would be voted most likely to be kennel president (and would even get Tasha's vote too). Although Ben is no longer racing, he is still a top pick for tours and will always be one of our most favorite dogs.
Cowboy Male Born: 02/01/2009 Cowboy moved to Nature's Kennel this summer (with his sisters Lily and Missy and brother Jack). He's the feistiest of the group, but he's starting to settle in and figure out his place in the back. He's a beautiful dog with black and white spots and works really hard (when he's not bothering his neighbor!).
Jack Female Born: 02/01/2011 Jack and his siblings came to Nature's Kennel this summer and Jack has lived up to his full name, Happy Jack. He's much easier going than his rambunctious brother Cowboy. He always gets his job done and always has a smile on his face.
Eros Male Born: 02/14/2006 Loved By Mallory Sturmer, Duluth MN.(Note: Mallory adopted Eros in order to secure her place as first in line on Eros' waiting list for adpotion homes :) Eros has been nicknamed Eeyore as he always seems to have just enough energy to get the job done. He is one of calmest and most well behaved dogs we have ever had which must be due to the fact that his mom is Hedgie. Eros loves to run free around the yard and is a great walking buddy. He even has a waiting list of people to adopt him when he's older!
Hunger Games Litter Female Loved by Olivia Melville, Westland, MI.Thanks to Olivia who personally named The Hunger Games litter, after one of her favorite novels. This is a fiesty litter of 7, Bruny is the mother and Clark, the father. Olivia was at our kennel when the pups were born, so this is a pretty special group of dogs!
Darc Male Born: 05/05/2009 Darc is one of the most coveted dogs among our guides. He is guaranteed to be a tour favorite this year as he's lovable, calm, hard working, super friendly, and just an all-around good guy.
Crystal Female Born: 04/16/2011 Crystal is one of our Boyne Litter pups. She is running fabulous in harness and is a natural. She actually does have ears, contrary to what the photo shows!
George Male Born: 6/13/2004 George is a wonderful leader and a great tour dog. He loves being in charge of the puppy team and takes his job very seriously. He is always caught smiling for the camera and is one of our most photogenic dogs!
Harold Male Born: 04/16/2011 Loved by Mike Lundberg, Mahtomedi, MN. Harold is a member of our Boyne Higlands litter. He is super lovable and calm in harness and never causes any trouble. He's one of the bigger dogs in his litter and he loves running in the team.
Vera Female Born: 04/16/2011
Gimli Male Born: 8/20/2003 Gimli is one of our kennel favorites. He's an incredible leader who takes his job very seriously. Like his brother Clark, the faster the better, so putting Gimli in lead will ensure that you get to your destination fast! Gimli is incredibly affectionate and loves to rest his chin on your collarbone, looking you square in the eye, while you give him a rub down.
Brook Female Born: 04/11/2010 Brook is an adorable little female who is very puppy-like. She is a great sled dog and very focused, but she is often confused with the younger pups. She will curl in your arms and you'll never want her to leave!
Big Ben Male Born: 10/5/2002 Loved by Ben Eiden, Pandora, OH. Ben is the charmer of the kennel, has run in three Iditarods and has led Ed and Tasha's UP 200 winning teams. Ben would be voted most likely to be kennel president (and would even get Tasha's vote too). Although Ben is no longer racing, he is still a top pick for tours and will always be one of our most favorite dogs.
Stinky Feet Male Born: 06/28/2009 Loved by Marco Eiden, Pandora, OH. Stinky Feet always seems to be a kennel favorite, either due his unique name or unique personality. Stinky was very sick last year and overcame his illness to become a great sled dog. He always seems to run with a smile on his face and is ready to lick anyone in the face.
Bomb Male Born: 03/28/2010 Loved by Carla Thomas, Bloomington, IL. Bomb is one of our volcano puppies and they have definately taken the team by surprise this year. Bomb is a superstar yearling who is incredibly calm and loving. He is never in trouble, gets along with all his yearling pals, and is super loving. He's just too well behaved to only be two years old!
