The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance competition held in early March within the Alaska state. Mushers and a team of dogs are challenged to the limit for almost 1000 miles across the wilderness.
Blair Braverman and her 20 dogs have been training hard for this year’s highly competitive race. She knows very well their strengths and weaknesses and she will choose fourteen pups to enter the Iditarod. Each dog has a unique character and Braverman introduced them in a very heartwarming way. After sharing the dog stories online, thousands have reacted and liked her posts. Scroll down to see below.
1. Pepé
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
We have many dogs who can lead the team, but our true Lead Dog — the pup who makes each run happen, who gets us through every storm — is Pepe. Pepe is smarter than all of us. She will run forever and keep running. She is basically everyone’s mother. pic.twitter.com/K6ckFTvv6l
2. Flame (age 5)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Flame is my souldog. She is desperately codependent and we are both happiest when we are in physical contact at all times. She is also, to my occasional surprise, a fantastic sled dog. She finished every one of my qualifiers with me and never seems to tire. pic.twitter.com/JpWVcWxb94
3. Jenga (age 8)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Flame’s half-sister Jenga is a Boss Bitch and she doesn’t suffer fools. She was my first leader and is the only dog mentioned in Ice Cube by name. I feel that Jenga and I understand each other, because we are both fearful creatures prone to fearless decisions. pic.twitter.com/l84GElL51N
4. Grinch (age 6?)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Grinch has a heart of gold and a brain like a box of rocks. He is extremely strong, maybe our strongest dog, but is easily confused. He loves attention. He loves giving hugs. He has a significant overbite and his limbs are fitted together like off-brand LEGOs. pic.twitter.com/jrmob29ynt
5. Colbert (age 5)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Colbert is a big hunk of burning enthusiasm. At checkpoints, when it’s time to start running again, he’s always the first dog on his feet and he barks and jumps until the other dogs stand up. He usually runs in wheel, the position right in front of the sled. pic.twitter.com/sRXJ8y788C
6. Kenai (age 4)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Kenai came to us from a good mushing friend because her pace is well-suited to long distances; she doesn’t like to run fast, but she likes to run forever. She had a difficult puppyhood and has trouble trusting people, but she loves exploring with other dogs. pic.twitter.com/kewujFgzhI
7. Boudica (age 4)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Boudica is a lead dog with an obsession with gentle kisses. It’s very hard to be around her sometimes without having your face absolutely covered in sneaky licks. She is half-sister to Pepe and has extremely soft fur. pic.twitter.com/RQkXaKzkg2
8. Helli (age almost 3)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Helli, previously nicknamed Hellbitch, is our latest addition to the team. She is skinny and suspicious and apparently hates men but seems to be getting along very nicely with us and the dogs. She’s also one of the most incredible athletes I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/PSyIT95iQS
9. Ebony (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Ebony is a small and muscular pace-setting leader who loves every other dog except for her sister Lucy. She enjoys food, running really fast, and giving the other dogs haircuts by gnawing gently on their neck hairs. pic.twitter.com/iJa4Z1WghO
10. Lucy (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Lucy is a delicate thoughtful creature who looks awkward in pretty much every photo. She has short fur, so she stays warm by eating lots of seconds at dinner. She gets along with everyone except her sister Ebony and really likes it when you kiss her snoot. pic.twitter.com/ulZjRvLadf
11. Wickson (age 1)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Wickson is the youngest dog on the Varsity Team. This is his first winter of training and he’s doing fantastic—as long as you rub his belly while you put on his harness and booties. He doesn’t know how to handle his own energy yet, but he’s learning fast. pic.twitter.com/YUxRWUKbJ9
12. Spike (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Spike, son of Pepe, is the largest pup from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer litter. He was born with a head that was twice as large as his siblings’ heads and he’s just about grown into it. pic.twitter.com/GC4u0j2IQt
13. Clem (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Clem is a dashingly handsome late bloomer. He was sort of potato-like as a puppy and has grown into one of the chillest, strongest, friendliest and bravest sled dogs I’ve ever met. He‘s BFFs with his sister Anya, and often leads the team with his mom, Pepe. pic.twitter.com/eIFLHMoMaC
14. Anya (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Anya is best friends with her brother Clem. She’s quite petite and is a picky eater. Anya can lead, but she’s a delicate flower and can get nervous about weird surroundings, so she often runs in swing, the position behind the leaders. She likes to kill snakes. pic.twitter.com/l9knprtEWs
15. Xander (age 2)
— Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) January 2, 2019
Xander is very social–his specialty is giving The Paw when he's very happy, which is often–but he can be timid around new people. He prefers to run in the middle of the team, and he gets along with everyone else, boys and girls alike. pic.twitter.com/oDTQazTOYB
