Dakota, Ladie & Buck all waiting for dinner to be fed to them. They, of course, ate with us and all sat and took turns. Somehow we didn't teach them this, they just knew!

Dakota had two very dear friends, Buck (left) and Ladie, both purebred Yellow Labs with very different personalities. Buck was stoic, steadfast and easygoing, never getting flustered over anything. Ladie we bought as an eight week old pup and Buck took her under his wing. Ladie was more excitable and hyper and always had to know what was going on. They never had pups, even tho that was the plan!

Dakota always showed respect to Buck (Buck was 14 then). Ladie was a different story, he tormented and teased her every chance he got and he didn't care that she was older, bigger and stronger. He was just a pup and faster!

Christmas 2001

Usually a favorite time for most dogs, Dakota was a somewhat picky eater and never wolfed his food down. He chewed everything that was given to him and when he was full would leave his food dish alone, even if there was some left. He was never aggressive with his food and we could take bones away without even a growl.

He always shared our meals with us, whether we wanted him to or not! But all the pups always ate dinner with us and eventually Dakota also learned to sit in front of us with the other dogs and wait his turn as they did. As he got older, he would teach his pups to do the same.

Relaxing.... isn't that what dogs do best?

In the most interesting poses?In the most interesting places?

Always ready to go... in or out... Dakota was always waiting for something to happen when he was a youngun, but he was ever patient and would often lay in the same spot for hours until something peaked his attention and then off he'd go!

Luckily Dakota didn't require much bathing (he hated it!), his breed -MacKenzie River Husky- for some strange reason shed dirt and dust and smells. Dakota never smelled like a dog, just fresh. Thankfully this was one of the qualities passed onto his pups.

Still in the first year of his life, Dakota learned everything quickly. He loved outings, no matter where, woods or water or snow. Life was good for the white pup and we let him enjoy as much as he could.

What fun! A ride in a car and the nap on the way home. Dakota loved the car or truck and was often not happy with us when we left him at home on days too hot, however any ride was a welcome ride, no matter how short or long.

Large pups require large bones! Often we would make a trip to get all the pups a large meat bone for a treat. Dakota would always hold his prize in two paws, straight up, so he could get the most leverage out of it. This is a practice he continued for many years and taught to his son Yukon. They were also taught they could not chew bones on the bed or in certain rooms. Once learned they would trot straight-away to where they could chew in comfort.

His constant Purebred Yellow Lab companions, Buck (bottom) and Ladie (top) and they never argued over who got what bone at any time. They'd often share a bone and swap bones too.

Can you imagine a pup that came potty trained? Dakota was about eight weeks old when he arrived at our home and he already knew that the potty was most certainly NOT in the house!! Young as he was, he would hold until we were able to sneak him out the door when no one was looking. You see, we were in an apartment and were only allowed two dogs! It only had to last TWO more months and we'd be moving away from the city of Anchorage and into a more 'dog friendly' place.

He was quite the fuzzy handful when he first 'found' us many years ago. He arrived in the parking lot wearing a collar that was too tight, and a bounce and a smile that said "Take me home!" As I ushered him into the apartment where our two yellow labs, Buck & Ladie were wagging happily, we knew he was ours and that he had been all along.

Dakota 2000-2007

Dakota's Den

A small fuzzy pup came to us in August of 2001, the year after we moved back to Alaska, after 18 years of waiting and hoping.

This is Dakota's story.