Blair Braverman is undergoing a daunting task. She's training a pack of 20 dogs for the Iditarod, a dog-sled race across treacherous Alaskan terrain that spans nearly 1,000 miles. She has until March to get 14 of the dogs ready for the race.
Blair fell in love with dog-sled racing during a study-abroad year in Norway. A Northern California native, Blair became fascinated with all that nature could offer those willing to explore it. These days, Blair and her husband own their own team of dogs. They moved to a cabin in the small town of Cantwell, Alaska, to train for the grueling race. It's easily one of the most physically demanding and dangerous physical challenges out there.
And Blair can't just worry about herself. Her whole pack is relying on her and vice versa. The amount of training and time together makes for a special bond between Blair and her dogs. She decided to introduce the team and teach everyone more about them in a fascinating, adorable Twitter thread.
Blair owns 29 dogs. Of the 29, 20 are training for the race, but only 14 will make the cut. She decided to introduce all of her hard-working pups to the world.
First, Blair introduces us to Pepé, the leader of the pack. This good girl has racing in her blood. Blair explains that Pepé's mom was also a racing dog who retired last year. She'll be waiting for Pepé at the finish line in Nome.
Next up is Flame. She may not be the mom in the pack, but she definitely has the maternal instincts. She's known to enjoy time with baby animals, but doesn't feel the same way about baby humans.
Then there's Jenga, who Blair mentions in her book, Welcome to the Godd**n Ice Cube. Jenga enjoys resting her head on everyone and everything.
Next up is Grinch. This sweet boy has special stretches to get his mishmash of bones all straightened out.
We've also got the enthusiastic Colbert. For all his strengths, he does have a weakness: Colbert is afraid of heights!
The sixth dog of the group is Kenai. Despite a difficult puppyhood, she enjoys exploring with the pack.
Boudica is the kisser of the group — she loves sneaking in some sweet face licks anytime she can. She's also the softest dog on the team.
At just 3 years old, Helli's a very athletic pup. She loves her family but is very suspicious of men.
Ebony is a pace-setter. She loves hanging out with other dogs, but has trouble getting along with her sister, Lucy.
Lucy loves snoot kisses. She also loves eating seconds at dinnertime (don't worry, Lucy, we get it). Lucy has a doggy-admirer — her running mate, Boo.
Wickson is the baby of the team at just 1 year old. He's learning to adjust to his own strength and energy, but he sometimes has trouble staying focused on the task at hand (like any toddler).
Spike is one of Pepé's sons. He's a big boy, but sensitive to minor discomforts like having his face cleaned.
Clem is another of Pepé's sons. He often leads the pack alongside her. Clem loves his family, especially his sister, Anya.
Anya is a somewhat nervous dog, and can be kind of particular. In her spare time, Anya likes killing snakes.
Xander likes running in the middle of the pack, but can get tired out. During one race, he got so tired that Blair let him ride on her lap for the rest of the race.
Blair thinks Willow is a pack-leader-in-training. She shows great leadership abilities and can run up to 17 mph.
Sometimes pal of Wickson, Jeff Sharlet is a "big-headed boy" who likes being the center of attention. He's recovering from missing last winter's training, due to tick paralysis.
Talese is 2 years old. He's known for his chill, laid-back personality, and he loves getting attention.
Hunter is Jenga's only daughter. She's small and agile, but still knows she's the boss of the boys.
Last is Boo, known for his big ears and being the smallest of the dogs. His name used to be Hunter. Hunter and Boo switched names when they were 4 months old to better reflect their personalities.
We can't wait to see which of these sweet pups mush their way through the Iditarod. We're rooting for all these good boys and girls to do their very best. They're in good hands with Blair, without a doubt!
