Temperatures are slowly coming down though not as chilly as we are used to for this time of the year. However, soon enough, we'll have some consistent training runs under our paws and we'll be able to settle into a schedule.  Truck is almost complete, gear is clean and ready... we just need a few more bits and pieces and we'll be all set!  Sofiel will be running in harness, can't wait to see how she works out though I have a suspicion that she is going to be a wonderful addition to our teams.

Cookqiz All Muscled Up!

Just weeks after giving birth to the Heffalumps, Cookqiz looks incredible. She bounced back so quickly, her weight is awesome and she has muscled up nicely in preparation for running this season.  I think the addition of our 2 acre play area has really helped condition dogs pre-training in harness.

Richard Takes Off For Alaska!

A WOW experience for Richard as he escorted Jinty, now called Little Lidia or most recently 'Liddy Bug' to her new
family in Fairbanks.  Nita and Josh were superb hosts and we are so thankful to have them as good friends and for the experience they gave Richard.  Richard being Richard, he stained the exterior of their log cabin for them as a thank-you! It took him a while to come back down to earth, here in New Hampshire.  After experiencing big mountains, wide open spaces, daylight till dawn, running dogs at midnight and the general feeling of community, sharing and warm hospitality, well... he's slowly settling back into his life here.  Liddy Bug has a family of wonderful furry companions including her adopted sisters, the 'Bugs' and as soon as the babies that Nita has are old enough to play... the 'Sugar Babies'.  What a life she will have doing tours and running the trails of Alaska.

Richard arrives in Denali park for a 2 day camping experience

Majestic Denali

View Across to Denali

Friends Across Country

Kindred spirits.  Coming together through our love for our dogs and these special old lines.  So heart warming to know that two of our pups have gone to two great homes.  Our dear friend Linda in Minnesota who is so connected with Zola. That was so meant to be and now, Little Lidia has gone to Alaska to live with Nita and Josh and by the photos we've just received, she is in HEAVEN!  So grateful to both of you for loving our little ones and for the friendship.

It's that time of year when we start going through our sledding gear and seeing what needs replacing and what can be repaired.  The dogz have been watching us, they know.... despite the hot, humid temperatures, their natural internal mushing clock tells them we are just a few short weeks away from training and we simply cannot wait! We have a few Valley Snow Dogz functions and events to attend to over the next few months so they will start getting used to traveling once again, in their freshly painted truck boxes.  Besides our sled dog tours and recreation, we hope that winter is kind to us and allows us to train for some races this year.  We've lots of young dogz in harness this season, it's going to be so awesome to work with them and watch them grow.

Zola ... la la!

A vibrant and colorful pup

Big personality and a big girl!

Zola was called Phoebe but is re-named and now Zola and as of yesterday, July 18th, Zola now lives with our good friend Linda Newman from Points Unknown in Minnesota.

Zola is a great representative of Linda's Zulu line and as such, she was the perfect match for Linda's kennel. She is a spectacular puppy!

The Very Beautiful, White Feather

With deep meaning behind her name, she also represents my friendship with Linda Newman, without her, we wouldn't have any Hedlunds in our Kennel today.

Everything about White Feather is rather large and rather gorgeous. A very precious soul, deeply focussed and wonderfully snuggly

Jinty aka Litte Lidia

A fire cracker from the start, first to do anything!

Jinty is going to our good friend Nita in Alaska.

One day as I wrote to Nita and sent her a written description of Jinty,

she wrote back and said the description of Jinty reminded her of me

and so, she said she wanted to name Jinty 'Lidia'

Little Lidia is going to love her Alaska Life.

My Big Beautiful Boy, Dougie

Love LOVE love ! ..... Dougie

Everything about him is big

big feet, big body, big coat, big head

big ears, big personality... big heart

He feels like all my malamutes all rolled into one

Now, Dougie isn't a Malamute but he has that big dog spirit