34 Dogs, 4 People and 2 Locations
Running in the Yanert Valley
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The Salty Dog Kennel is home to thirty-four Alaskan huskies, who live in the company of Mark and Debbie Moderow and their two children, Andy and Hannah. For sixteen years the family has worked closely with their canine companions, racing and exploring Alaska by dog team.
Mark and Debbie never dreamt of raising their kids in the company of sled dogs, but it all began in 1990 when a 7 year-old Iditarod veteran named Salt trotted into their living room. Salt was a gift from a good friend, who wanted his dog to have an active and privileged retirement. Salt's chocolate brown eyes stole the young family's heart, and his insistence on adventure took the Moderows down trails they never saw coming. Salt's impact on the family made the 'mushing lifetstyle' seem both natural and inevitable. As the kids grew older, the escapades got longer. Needless to say, the kennel grew.
In 2006, the Salty Dog operation is located at the Moderow home in Anchorage, and at their training facility in Denali Park. Kennel activities define every day of the year. The summer months are highlighted by hikes with the dogs, and on cooler summer days the dogs train in harness in front of a 4 wheeler ATV. In the fall and winter they travel on sleds over a variety of terrain, from the high country in Denali to the urban mushing trails in Chugiak. Annually the team sees 2,000 miles in training alone. Races add adventures into spectacular country, and the challenges of these events has come to represent the highlight of each winter for this family and their dogs.
Sydney and Reno on a summer hike
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Half of the Salty Dog team has been bred and raised in the kennel. The Moderows are currently working with twelve dogs under the age of two, and one more litter is on the way. Every day the pups are presented with something new at the Salty Dog Kennel. They, along with the adult dogs, are trained in an atmosphere of positive reinforcement. The Moderows assume that the more experiences and fun they have with their pups, the happier they will be.
The Salty Dog Kennel works intimately with veterinarian friends whose knowledge of the sport has helped the kennel immensely. Under their guidance, acupuncture, homeopathic remedies and massage are regularly used to keep the kennel's athletes feeling and performing at their best. Several team members have benefited greatly from mid-season chiropractic adjustments. Nutrition is considered critical to the dogs' health, and the Moderows review scientific research frequently, in order to make certain they are feeding the best possible diet.
Fall training
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At the founding of the kennel Andy and Hannah were entering elementary school, and by June 2006 both will have graduated from Cornell University. The Salty Dog Kennel has been the backdrop of the family's life for all the years in between. They have been honored to learn the ways of the trail from their canine friends. From the starting line of the one-dog class to Iditarod's burled arch in Nome, there have been challenges, growth and joy. All the Moderows, canine and human, can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
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© 2006, The Salty Dog Kennel, All Rights Reserved
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