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Mari I’m 23 years old girl from Kuusamo, North-East of Finland. I’ve been involved with dogs since I was seven and we got our first hunting spitz. I’ve always wanted to have a husky of my own and dreamed about ski-joring through the snowy forests with him –after two year of begging (I was nine at the time), my parents bought me a small terrier. I had a lot of fun with her doing obedience and agility, but somewhere in my mind that same dream was still growing. When I was fifteen I decided it was time to have a bigger dog. At that time I was also very interested in search and rescue work, and was looking for a dog who would have besides good trainability, also some Northern heritage. When I found out about Lapponian Herder, I knew this was the dog I had been looking for. Viiru
(FIN CH TK2 BH Iresa Pilven Paimen) was everything I hoped for.
Always eager to learn and ready to try new things she was the perfect dog
for me. We have
A few years went by. I was very happy working with Viiru, but that very same dream about sled dogs still kept coming up. When I was nineteen, my parents gave me a sled dog ride for a birthday present – needless to say, since then nothing has been the same. I just simply loved the beauty and silence of running dogs. About four months later I had my first Siberian… Viti (Kefeus Sirion Drusnaja) is my first Siberian. She is a dog you just can’t get bored with! She might be slightly timid to strangers, but to us she is a clown, always up to something. Because for a few years she was the only sled dog I had, she has done all kinds of different activities, such as obedience, agility, tracking, backpacking and skiing. We have been competing in agility and obedience. In obedience we are now in second class (there are four altogether) and in agility we’re just beginning our career. The main thing for us is of course sledding. I’m so happy to say that finally a dream of having a team of my own doesn’t seem so distant anymore!
The pack is growing… In summer 2005 Istna (Kefeus Mistral Istna) joined us. She is the princess of the pack, living in the house and truly enjoying it too!
I spent
the winter 2005-2006 in Finland, Minnesota, USA handling for Jennifer and
Blake Freking at their Manitou Crossing Kennels. It was ve
Siren and Shiloh from Manitou Crossing Kennels joined us at the Hidden trails at the end of April 2006. I look forward to having them as my race leaders in the future. They are my first two Alaskans, and before I met them, I was very determined to have only purebreds. Somehow I just couldn't help falling in love to these two little leaders and by the end of the season 2005-2006 I couldn't imagine leaving Minnesota without them. At the end of August 2006 we finally managed to get little Akon (Jedeye Agon of Manitou) home. He flew from Manitou Crossing Kennels and proved to be, as expected, a wonderful sleddog and really talented leader. Once again, I would like to thank Jennifer and Blake for everything you've done for us :)
At the
beginning of season 2007-2008 there are altogether fourteen dogs in the
kennel including Viiru the reindeer dog. I'm hoping one m
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been
competing in agility and obedience. In agility we 
ry
awesome winter, thank you so much Jen and Blake!! During my stay I also
participated to my first sled dog race, the Beargrease 150. The experience
was unbelievable, I loved the trail and the perform of my team, they all
did just wonderful. To learn more about my trip,
ore
beautiful baby-husky to move in with us before the end of the year, and
then that's it. I feel I couldn't be happier with all these wonderful
young, talented doggies around me. They are my life and I'm dedicated on
giving them the best possible care and training as I can - only time will
tell where this team will take me!