THE KENNEL

Hoof 'N' Woof Sled Dogs started in 1996 with four Siberian Huskies, one Inuit Dog, one Alaskan Husky, and ten Scottish Highland Cattle. At that time the homestead also boasted pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, a large herd of rabbits and a huge garden. Over the years we have altered from hobby farm to a long-distance racing kennel. The cattle and rabbits took too much time in the winter, so they were sold as we began to travel and race with our dogs. After racing two years with Siberians and Inuits we decided we did not want to always be at the back of the pack. During several trips to Alaska we bought Alaskan Huskies from top Iditarod mushers.

In February 2002, the Hoof 'N' Woof dogs made their first trip to Alaska for Todd to run in the Norman Vaughn Serum Run.  Later that winter he also raced the Denali 300, placing sixth.  In 2003 we again traveled to Alaska for the winter.  This time Todd raced in the Copper Basin 300, the Knik 200, and the Iditarod.  During this trip we also made the decision to move to Alaska.  We have lived in Healy since June of 2003.  Todd ran Iditarod again in 2004.

THE MUSHERS

Todd grew up in St. Paul with a yellow lab and a love of reading, winter, camping, dog sledding, and arctic expeditions. Anne grew up in Madison, terrified of dogs, but with a love of reading, camping, canoeing, and gardening.

We met at the Itasca Biological Station in northern MN where Todd was finishing an undergraduate degree in biology and Anne was working on research for her PhD in ecology. We spent a year living in Ely, MN with an aging black lab. Kizzy did wonders to erase Anne's fear of dogs and show her the amazing drive of working dogs. We also had a brief dog sled ride on a slush covered lake in March. We then moved to Des Moines, IA for Todd to attend medical school. During that time, Anne taught biology at Dana College in Nebraska. We moved to Emerald, WI in 1996. While we were working with our first sled dogs, Todd completed his family practice residency and Anne taught at UW- Eau Claire. Todd worked at the Baldwin Area Medical Center for three years before we decided to make the move to Alaska.  We now live north of Healy, AK and just north of Denali National Park.  Todd is the Director of 1st Care, the urgent care branch of Tanana Valley Clinic in Fairbanks.  Anne is a homeschooling mom and the kennel manager.  She is currently training for Iditarod 2008.  Todd ran Iditarod in 2003 and 2004.

THE HANDLERS

In November of 1999 our first handler joined us. Rose had been to 7 sled dog races by the time she was 4 months old. Now at 8 she has the important job of helping to feed and socialize the puppies. She is starting to help harnesses and unharness the dogs. When we have puppies, she is in charge of feeding them and scooping poop in the kennel.

Grace signed on in December of 2001. At 6 she is tough and enjoys helping with puppy walks as much as her older sister.  At the age of three months she traveled to Alaska to welcome Todd home from the Serum Run and cheer him on in the Denali 300.

Both girls adore the dogs and love to help.  This fall they went with Anne on almost every training run from August into December.  They help line out the team during hook up, and help watch for problems with dogs or the trail.  Last March they ran their first race.  Rose finished 4th in the 1-dog class and ran the 2-dog class.  Grace ran in the 1-dog class.

　

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