July was hot and miserable.  Not a lot to share news wise for the kennel.  We’ve just all been trying our best to beat the heat and dreaming about fall temps and running dogs.
There’s still a lot that has to get done around the property before the weather changes.  

We have a new International Champion in the kennel!  Kona joined us at the IABCA show at the beginning of August.  He received a lot of really wonderful feedback from the judges, even being completely naked!  It was wonderful experience for the boy and it was good to get back out to any show!  It’s been far too long again- many more plans upcoming for the next year!  Trying not to completely shift to running dogs quite yet!

The most exciting news comes from the Junior’s ring-  Our oldest  (my bonus kiddo) went into the ring for the first time with a dog he’d only worked with briefly and walked out with a 1st place in his class!  He showed with confidence and professionalism.  We could not be more proud of how he handled himself and presented the dog!  Future dog fancier in the making!

It’s hard not to get demoralized at times when it comes to being in dogs at any capacity.  This year has been especially trying to say the least and it’s only half over…Unfortunately this blog shares the theme of the year so far.  We say goodbye to yet another of our seniors.

Galena Creek’s Born Of Fire At Keahi *Kenna* left us in the afternoon June 5th.  She was claimed by cancer, much like her sister Enya a couple years earlier it came suddenly and took her quickly.

Kenna was added to our kennel with hopes that she would be the next generation of show dogs and future hopeful breeding prospect.  Unfortunately her size and structure disqualified her from both of those hopes.  But she was a lovely companion and was able to run recreationally in harness, helping us start down the trail to running our dogs more competitively. 

We knew we were on borrowed time with her after her sister’s sudden passing.  The vets had suspected cancer to be a likely culprit and we always knew it was possible we could lose Kenna the same way.  We were blessed with a few more years until the mass made itself known.  

Kenna was ever the clown.  I miss her happy dance she did every night from one end of her kennel run to the other at dinner time.  To say she’s missed is not enough.  It’s been hard closing this early chapter in our existence.  The last of our first show prospects have passed, and while they may not have met the ‘mark’ and many told us to just throw them away….each brought their own set of special memories and lessons with them.  We mourn the loss, but find peace in her passing.

Denali didn’t come from the most prestigious breeder.  He didn’t have the flashiest pedigree.  He accumulated more than his fair share of controversy along the way.  Denali didn’t know any of this.  What Denali did know was he was loved, he got to travel and do fun things that many dogs don’t get to experience in their lifetimes, and he accomplished quite a bit in his life.  Beyond any of this he was my companion, a cherished pet, and avid athlete.  He accompanied me on many hikes, trails, errands, and pretty much anything else.  He was fantastic gentile friend for our toddler and we had hoped that he would be our oldest’ s introduction to the show ring this fall.  Time had other plans for us.

Denali was our first show dog and ultimately became the first AKC Champion in our kennel.  For his critics it wasn't enough.  I had members of the parent club telling me to neuter him, re-home him, get rid of him since you don’t fill your kennel with garbage….based solely on who his breeder was.  I was told that he would never be a quality dog and to give up on him…it was difficult for me being new to the show world to understand why people took such a dislike to my dog and why they felt it was justifiable to be so cruel about it.  

While people were focusing on who he came from and how unassuming his pedigree appeared Denali excelled in a variety of harness sports.  Originally running on the team as one of my first lead dogs- eventually he would find his home in wheel as it was pretty undeniable he was a powerhouse worker.  Having found he also performed well in weight pull it was obvious where he belonged on the team.

While receiving this dog as a gift from someone who ultimately took a chance on a novice Siberian owner and refusing to throw him away when told to may have cost me a great deal in reputation….Ultimately I wouldn’t trade the experience of having him for the world.  From the show ring, to weight pull, dryland and dog sledding, pack hikes, and multiple trips around the country….Denali may not have been everyone’s cup of tea but he was one heck of a first show dog, companion and best friend. 

You left us too soon my dear friend…you are missed so very much.  Your boy still asks where his DD is, and that my friend is a mark of the goodest boy if there ever was.  Rest easy and were your Silver Harness with pride.  You have earned it.

AKC CH Kaniska’s Ashen Hotshot Denali
11/25/2010 - 03/13/2023

While we knew this day was coming its never one you can really prepare for.  The day we have to say goodbye to our loved members of the family.  Tikaani left us sometime in the night on February 26th peacefully in his house with his family near by.  Age had finally caught up with the last of our wolf dogs and took him quickly.  Our boys are finally together north of the rainbow bridge.

Tikaani came to us in early 2009, just months after we had been a part of a large scale rescue effort of a wolf dog breeding program that had lost their owner.  Tikaani was found wandering in the same area and shared many features of the dogs from the rescue - figuring he was from the same kennel we took him in.  He was reserved but good natured.  He bloomed into a gentile loving companion.  He welcomed all of our young additions to the kennel with tail wags and playful antics.  Its hard to imagine not having Tikaani to welcome our future kennel additions….without a doubt this boy has left a large hole in our hearts.  We are happy he was able to go in peace at home with his family that loved him.

The following night we were blessed with one of the best displays of the Northern Lights we have ever seen this far south.  We take solace knowing that he has found his way home and is dancing with the rest of his ancestors North of the Rainbow Bridge.  

The last time we ran a dog team at Priest Lake was in 2016.  The year before life came crashing down around me and life itself became incredibly uncertain.  This year it was with great pride we took to the trail with our dogs for the 6 dog sprint.  While we weren’t out there to break any land speed records we were there having a great time running our team and enjoying the company of some fantastic mushers we are so privileged to share the trails with.

Like so many others its been a challenging year keeping dogs on the trails for us.  With the inconsistent weather, heavy snows ruined by heavy rains and quickly disappearing trails…I had worried that we may not have had the training to run even the 6 dog 6 mile race.  Thankfully it appeared the dogs had the training and the incentive to run a consistent pair of days!  Our times were among some of our better times this season showing great improvement over the early fall runs of last year.  There were some down right beautiful moments on the trail, and I couldn’t help but to just be proud of us getting back on the trail despite some of the bumps in the path we’ve had to overcome.  While the team looks a lot different than the last time I ran, Keegan being the only dog on our team with any sled racing experience, it was nice to see the dogs that have been so much of my heart over the years doing something they were bred to do and doing it well.

The race also provided another proud moment for us as breeders.  Our first Bred-By puppy Phoenix put on her harness and ran in her first race behind her parents Keegan and Maddie.  She shows a lot of great potential and had some wonderful opportunities to get some much needed positive socialization amongst other dogs and people.  Overall I was very happy to see her blooming and growing in confidence with each day and each passing mile on the trail.  She maintained a good attitude and tight tug line the entire time, there were even a couple of moments where she looked like she was going to out run my main leaders - maybe she’ll be the next generation on the front of the team, she certainly has the genetic aptitude for the role!

Not to be outdone, I want to take a moment to highlight another special member of the main team this year.  Sakari is our only rescue dog to run on our main team.  Over the summer last year Sakari and a companion (who was sadly never recovered) were posted as a pair of local troublemakers in our area.  They were harassing local livestock and killing wild turkeys.  Their days were numbered as a number of our neighbors were calling for the pair to be shot.  A local contacted me alerting me to having contained the white female but not having seen her companion since earlier that morning.  I felt that we needed to help this troubled girl before she met the likely same fate as her friend.  While we searched for her owner, no one ever came forward to claim her.  She was shy, not well socialized, and lacked a lot of manners, and she was incredibly thin.  After vetting and some weight management and conditioning we decided to see if she could be rehabilitated through harness work.   Seeing the complete transformation in this girl in just a few short months has been such a wonderful source of pride.  From shying away from contact to jumping into my arms and enthusiastically into harness to run with the team….just pure joy.

On the second day just a few yards down the runway I could see Gypsy’s gait was indicating she was not feeling well.  She had dropped back a couple of times the day before but always threw herself back into her harness.  This time there was something different.  I slowed the team and got them onto the main trail and past where the other 6 dog teams would be coming back onto the main trail to stop and put her in the bag for the rest of the trip.  She was not happy about having to ride in the bag at first but eventually did settle.  We did crash once when she shifted her weight in the bag as we hit a hard corner on the back loop- thankfully it was a soft landing and we were able to recover quickly.  Our times were relatively unchanged so that was positive.  We had the race vet check her out once we got back.  She got prescribed rest and relaxation for most likely a strain in her rear.  She should have a full and speedy recovery- another positive bit of news.

Overall I don’t know if we could have had a better weekend with our dogs.  They came in each day with tight lines and big smiles.  This race was exactly what we needed to see this is where we are supposed to be- We are already making plans for future training, racing, and what comes next for us in dogs.  Stay tuned!  We’re excited to share our upcoming adventures 

Oh there are so many GOOD things to start 2023!  Its hard to choose where to begin- so I think I’ll start with the biggest accomplishment so far.  After 7 LONG years I stepped onto the runners of my sled and hit the trails with 6 of the most amazing dogs I have the pleasure to share life with.  It has been such a joy to be back on the winter trails!  This is largely possible through the love, support, and encouragement of my husband Zach.  Without him I’d be lost.  While we have a lot to improve upon to get back to the performance we had experienced at the end of our running oh too many years ago, its still a cause for many smiles-

We also welcome our oldest Kyler onto the trails!  Kyler comes from my husband’s prior marriage and is turning 10 this year.  Kyler has been doing a lot with the dogs and wanting to learn more- he was able to run in his first race last fall on the scooter but the sled has brought some additional learning opportunities.  So far he is showing great potential as a budding mini-musher.  His confidence is growing leaps and bounds with each outing!

Additionally I have to share that my husband has also taken to wanting to learn how to run dogs.  On one of our last outings he has taken the smaller team out to share our trail adventures.  While the little team isn’t quite able to keep up with us yet, I’m sure in time he’ll be passing us with ease.  It has been beyond fantastic to have someone who shares my passions and wants to participate in the world that I love so much and had feared I had lost.  Seeing my family grow in the sport brings me great joy and I see many memories being made together!

The biggest news is probably the addition of our newest member of the team.  Welcome Stryker!  Stryker comes to us from Highlander Siberians and is poised to be the next generation of show and sled adventures.  Stryker is a fantastic blend of conformation and working lines. He is already showing what a smart boy he is and is fast to pick up on our expectations.  While he has a ways to go before he can step into a harness this is exciting to see!  He also has a lovely temperament, we can see his sweet and gentile as he plays with 

As we wind down 2022 we want to take a look back over the happenings of the year.  Its been a positively productive year over all!  

Starting in May our first Bred By took her first steps into the show ring.  While there’s room to improve it was a good experience for all. She was a little shy and the weather didn’t help her first outing.  We look forward to next season and perhaps a little more maturity to help.

In August we welcomed not one but 3 foster dogs.  Starting with Maya (formally Daisy).  She was an owner surrender from a former co-worker of mine.  Starting out life on a farm she proved to be an escape artist that ended up with her living on a chain.  She could still pick off the chickens and occasional rabbit. It wore on her welcome and eventually wound up with her looking for a new situation.  

She went to another mutual friend of ours who adored her, but didn’t feel it was fair to her cats who now had to worry about this newcomer.   We offered to evaluate her and see if there was anything we could help with.  Overall she was a sweet girl, she was horribly obese, and didn’t have a lot when it came to other dog social skills.

Maya has been working in harness with our scooter team and has lost a good majority of the unnecessary weight. She has been an absolute doll.

Sakari and Goose soon followed.  Sakari was found via social media as a loose trouble maker harassing local wildlife and livestock.  Knowing that typically ends in disaster.  We were able to catch her and property contain her.  She was not well socialized but was very gentile natured.  It took her a minute to warm to everyone and get the expectations but once we started working together in harness she made leaps and bounds.

Goose followed shortly after Sakari.  He was originally a foster dog with a local rescue but after being found wandering loose on the road by a passer by it was discovered his foster home was not adequately prepared to care for him so the Good Samaritan who found him took him home.  He was cared for and safe and by all accounts a lovely boy.  Until he discovered the chicken coop.  After a chicken massacre his welcome was no more.  We decided to foster him as well.

With the additional fosters we had to do some upgrades to the kennel yard.  We added a walkway in front of the kennels and added 3 smaller module kennels to accommodate the growth of the kennel.  To say we are pleased with how it turned out would be an understatement.

The biggest accomplishment this year was getting a team back on the competitive trail.  Team Keahi participated in the Dirt Rondy with not one but THREE teams!  We ran the 6-dog sprint, 2-dog scooter, and our oldest ran his first run in the Junior Class.

In a recent post on Facebook from I Love Responsible Dog Breeders I found it really hit home....then it hit me that this is a deeper issue than a personal vendetta.  This is a problem in the dog world.  The issue?  The Blacklist.  

The Blacklist was intended to keep dogs out of hands of people who would legitimately harm them.  Its also (and I feel more frequently used) to 'settle' disagreements between breeders/fanciers.  

I have been Blacklisted. I have been written off by many. Am I a bad dog owner? No, I don't believe I am. I don't feel like my dogs hate or fear me. Quite the opposite in fact.

​Have I made mistakes? Have I fallen flat on my face? Yes, yes I have. I have also picked myself up, made changes in my life (big changes) and have dusted myself off vowing to never let the situation that I had lived through (survived more like it) EVER happen again. I will not let that situation define me as an owner, breeder, fancier of my breed.

Originally though, I earned my place on the Blacklist for receiving a puppy from a breeder with a checkered past. Yes, you read that correctly; received a puppy, I did not purchase this puppy. He was a gift. I gift I broke down in tears over as I couldn't seem to find the right secret code to break into the coveted well bred dog community. Here was someone with the most beautiful puppy I had ever seen and someone who was willing to take a chance on the ignorant pet owner who innocently purchased a puppy mill Siberian and who didn't know how to contact reputable breeders. For shame.  Ultimately that breeder burned me just as I was warned she would eventually.  I learned my lesson, I don't fault the dog for his breeder being a bad human.  It wasn't his fault.

Over the years I also developed "extremist" views of wanting to maintain a functional representation of our breed that still maintained the appearance of a Siberian. As such I started looking for other mentors, even being outside of the area, to help me navigate how to get there. This was also used as a massive red flag to bar me from the community.

Because of these atrocities, some breeders in the community took it upon themselves to fabricate reasons to Blacklist me. Reasons that were so laughable it was hard to imaging them sticking. I had members of the parent club testifying as being my neighbor to how my dogs were housed. However this member had never been to my house and lived 11mi away and over a mountain pass. Yet these lies prevailed.

A few years ago I earned a spot on the list.  I was in a domestic violence relationship, one that was physically, emotionally, and financially abusive.  I was kicked out of my home, my dogs were used to threaten my compliance or watch them be killed.  I watched helplessly as my dogs suffered, unable to gain any sort of control back over my finances, nor my mental health.  My capacity was diminished to that of pure survival- there was room for nothing more.  I tried to get help for my dogs, particularly the senior dogs and hard keepers, and was told no now wasn't a good time by those who should have stepped up for their charges without question.  I was offered a less than helpful bit of advice in that we "all get sad sometimes" as a justification their cold and callousness.  A select few of my friends helped buy a bag of dog food here and there.  It wasn't enough but it was all I could do at the time.  When that was found out I was threatened again with bodily harm for the embarrassment that caused my other half.   

I'm not the only one who has ever ended up in a bad situation.  But when I needed help, when my dogs and I needed our breed community, we were ignored.  I feel maliciously- to watch me fail - to give them more cause to say 'see we told you so'.  To justify their actions and accusations they had originally laid against me.  Now, I do not entirely fault these people.  After all, you cannot understand nor truly have compassion for a situation that is so far outside of anything that can be grasped for you.  So for that I'm grateful that these people have had lives that have afforded them the luxury of not having to survive situations that were dangerous and unhealthy for all involved.

So I ask, in a thought that will probably ruffle more than a few feathers....Even if the act of blacklisting IS appropriate and animals ARE in fact being harmed or in danger - what good does it do to cast these people away than help them get proper care and dare offer a bit of compassion?  Is ignoring the calls for help justified in order to take a more self-righteous road of rumor mill justice?  Hurting more people to make ourselves feel better about our situation?  Lets break that cycle of hurt people creating more hurt people for a change.  I know this may enrage more than a few people who read this post.  To them- shame on you.  Shame on you for thinking it better to play these hateful shadow games over actually doing anything or even talking to the parties involved.  Do better.

 So while I may not have an answer either, it is a topic I have grown quite passionate about.  I I am fine being where I am.  I know I will most likely never get off the Blacklist, and that's OK.  I'm OK not fitting in a rigid mold anyway.  What I am not OK with is standing by silently watching others be drug through the mud and being so rigid as to not see when second chances and a bit of compassion could be the best thing we can do for one another.

To the breeders, friends, and fellow fanciers who did not discard me like trash when I needed you the most- thank you.  To the women who let me cry, vent, and fought for me to not give up - thank you.

I also want to thank the original poster from I Love Responsible Dog Breeders for being brave enough to share their story and for igniting a growing ember  that I had within me.

With much excitement Team Keahi was back on the trails before the snow fell in 2021!  Its been a long few years away from what we have truly loved and it felt amazing to have dogs back in harness sharing the trails with some of the most amazing beings we could hope for!  While there is a lot we have to work on to get back to where we were, 2022 looks very promising!

Our team looks quite different from the last time we ran.  And while there's some sadness in that there's also the excitement of rebuilding.  We have shuffled some dogs around and have discovered 2 blooming lead dogs in the making!  We are very much looking forward to more time on the trails.

Kona has taken his first runs on the team, and much like his sister, he is proving to be quite the natural in harness!  He is fitting in with everyone and is settling down into his new home well.  We are so happy to have this gregarious young male and his goofy antics. 

We are hopeful for some more exciting things for this guy's future!  Stay tuned!

We are so pleased to announce the arrival of our first in home breeding between BISS GCH Silver Falls Summer Lookout At Keahi *Keegan* and INT CH Zuska's Footprints In The Black At Keahi *Madison*. Both parents are exemplary representatives of the breed and have been exactly what we have been waiting for as the foundation of our future. Both have been performing exceedingly well in harness, even after our 4 year break in working dogs, and continue to present well in the show ring.

Phoenix will continue the dreams as we Rise From The Ashes and rebuild our goals.  We look forward to her stepping into the show ring with us next spring and seeing if she can capture the magic that we see in her already.

Welcome to the family Phoenix - Keahi's Rising From The Ashes

 Not to go unmentioned we also welcome Kona - Zuska's X-treme Adventure to the team!  Konda comes from Susan Parraga of Zuska Siberians.  He will be trying his paw at being a working sled dog and who knows what the future may bring for him here at Keahi Siberians!  Thank you Susan for entrusting us with this lovely boy!  We cannot wait to see how he fits in with the rest of the team!