Jamie's journey with dogs - Togo, Minnesota

Running three German Shepherds in sprint races back in 1968 was when the mushing bug hit Jamie. Working with dogs through all racing styles; sprint, mid-distance, long distance sled dog racing, and ISDRA gold medals weight pull dogs.

In 1984 the quest began to run the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, 14 years later 4 wins, 3 seconds, and three best cared for team awards.

Running the Iditarod has been the main focus for Jamie's kennel she has raced and finished in 89' as a rookie, trained and ran 600 miles of the Iditarod with a team of Malamutes, received the 1994 sportsmanship award, 2000 finished with all 16 dogs, and in 2006 with a happy healthy 12 dog team in under 11 days!

The knowledge doesn't stop at working with sled dogs, 23 years as a 4-H dog project volunteer leader, obedience CD, CDX, and UD titles, training hunting dogs in field trails, and now the summers consist of dog agility training and showing why not with a husky!

The most important part of training dogs to Jamie is to always have fun and keep smiling!

Jamie Nelson finishing the 2006 Iditarod.

Ann Stead - Duluth, Minnesota

Ann grew up enjoying downhill skiing so that and her love of dogs made the transition to mushing easy. Ann chose to field her team with Siberian Huskies because she also wanted to compete in Obedience and Conformation which both require a purebred dog.

1 st place Purebred team - 6 dog class - 1998 & 1999 - Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Ann started with dogs in Obedience in the early 70's and earned Companion Dog degrees on 'hard to train' breeds including Siberians and a Borzoi. Her Borzoi also competed in Open Field and Lure Coursing earning a Lure Coursing Championship.

Ann enjoys both sprint and middle distance racing. Along with husband Al, they developed Northome on Windhill Kennels which is the home of their racing Siberian Huskies.

Ann's accomplishments include several race wins in the 4 and 6 dog sprint purebred classes as well high placements in races open to all breeds including both limited sprint and middle distance events. In 2003 Ann and Al trained and Al raced a purebred Siberian Husky team in the Open North American Championships in Fairbanks, AK. This is the first time a team of all Siberian Huskies has raced that race for many years. Ann has always prided h ersel f on trying to put a well trained team on the trail whether it is for a Sunday afternoon picnic or a race.

In 1992, Ann supplied dogs and was a full time trainer for Walt Disney's production of Iron Will.

Ann was involved for many years with her local humane society fostering dogs and temperament testing dogs for placement.

Ann's current dog interests, besides sled dogs, include Agility and Herding. With very little trialing, she and Mel, her Australian Shepherd, have over 22 titles in AKC, NADAC, ASCA and USDAA. Ann also teaches Agility in Duluth. Ann is currently learning the sport of herding with her young Aussie Jae.

Ann's training philosophy can be summed up as follows: If you can't have fun, STAY HOME!

Ann & Mel competing in a NADAC trial.