Dakota's Den

2009-01-02T20:48:00.000-09:00

2009-01-02T20:38:00.001-09:00

Is there anything more comfy than a sleeping dog??

2009-01-02T20:35:00.001-09:00

2009-01-02T20:24:00.002-09:00

One of the chairs we had got real old and so, we took the seat part off and made a dog bed out of it. Dakota made sure that he claimed this before the other dogs did!!

2009-01-01T20:03:00.001-09:00

Sleepin on the floor all together...

2008-06-02T22:17:00.002-08:00

Out in the front yard, Dakota would often stay for quite some time - just watching.

Dakota & Yukon, when they weren't playing, were often quite close by to one another.

2008-05-29T22:36:00.001-08:00

I am SO NOT in the mood for these childish games...

Until NOW!

Ok, playtime done, sleepytime now!

2008-05-28T22:04:00.001-08:00

Sleepover!

Anytime is a good time to play!

Lokie thought Dakota made a good pillow.

2008-05-26T19:24:00.001-08:00

January of 2006 was the end of football season again.

Both Dakota and Buck wore Denver Bronco jerseys during this time!

2008-05-26T19:15:00.001-08:00

2008-05-26T19:08:00.002-08:00

Lokie was two years old in 2004,

Dakota was three.

They both enjoyed sleeping on the old mattress that we designated the "Dog Bed"

2008-05-26T19:04:00.002-08:00

From the Loft in the cabin.

Originally the sleeping area was in the loft but it ended up being too hot so it was moved down.

2008-04-27T17:12:00.002-08:00

Yup, I'm wearing a hat. Dad's hat. Whatcha gotta say about it?

Exploring around the cabin...

2008-04-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

January 2004
Lokie & Dakota in the loft of the cabin.

2008-04-27T17:01:00.004-08:00

Nothing like a good lickin....!!!

2008-04-04T11:32:00.003-08:00

Spoiled? Who? Me?

2008-04-04T08:12:00.004-08:00

Raspberry??

Dakota enjoyed the benches on the deck especially when the sun was shining. He'd bask in the sun for hours if allowed.

2008-03-24T17:25:00.006-08:00

Chompin on a bone at the cabin. May of 2003 was when Dakota's birthday was. He was 2 years old this month.

2008-03-22T10:17:00.004-08:00

On the bed, as always!

Dakota had a blast with this plastic Easter Egg in April of 2003.

Sleepin away after a hard day at the cabin!

Lokie, one of Dakota's pups peekin under the door to see what everyone is doing.

2008-03-20T17:52:00.005-08:00

Comfy at the Cabin.

Dakota's Eyes.

Relaxing and enjoying life.

2008-03-20T12:11:00.004-08:00

What pup doesn't like a big ole bone?

Dinner was shared!

Outside at the cabin on the run line for some exercise!

2008-03-20T10:23:00.004-08:00

Yes, Dakota thought he should be the one to drive, and we often explained to him that he couldn't drive and hang his head out the window at the same time.

This was when we were in the process of building a loft in the cabin, once we got the floor down we popped Dakota up there and he'd hang out for hours.

Ladie, our purebred Yellow Lab, who had Dakota's first litter of puppies.

2008-03-18T17:24:00.002-08:00

2008-02-20T15:11:00.005-09:00

Dakota on the deck of the cabin. It was a favorite place of his during both summer and winter months. In the summer there was a cool breeze and in the winter it was a place to watch the chickadees flit and feed on the food we placed out for them.

2008-02-20T14:58:00.004-09:00

Ladie

Dakota sleepin on the bed...as always.

Ladie, Lokie & Buck under a makeshift workbench, they liked being under things or in small holes. I believe they felt 'safe' that way...or maybe it was just to keep out from underfoot!

Lokie trying to get over the gate that kept her out of the carpeted area of the house before she was completely potty trained.

2008-02-11T19:29:00.000-09:00

This was our attempt to get Ladie (on the right) to have her puppies in a plastic pool so that the mess would be contained, as would the puppies. Well once we had comfy old pillows and a blanket in there, Buck decided that he liked it too. It did eventually work out!

Dakota patiently awaiting the new arrivals. He wasn't quite so patient afterwards.

2008-02-05T21:02:00.000-09:00

Such a handsome young pup!

Dakota loved this bear, he had it for MANY years until Ladie got hold of it....

Ladie & Dakota, both knew how and when to beg, it was tough to say NO to either of them when it came to treats!

2008-02-04T19:03:00.001-09:00

Nap Time!!
Yup, this is OUR bed... or so we thought!

2008-01-27T17:05:00.001-09:00

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!

2008-01-25T16:12:00.001-09:00

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!

2008-01-23T17:42:00.001-09:00

Christmas 2001

2008-01-21T14:10:00.000-09:00

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.

2008-01-20T16:52:00.000-09:00

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

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

2008-01-20T13:43:00.001-09:00

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!

2008-01-19T17:48:00.001-09:00

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.

2008-01-19T17:20:00.002-09:00

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.

2008-01-19T16:15:00.001-09:00

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.

2008-01-19T15:54:00.001-09:00

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.

2008-01-18T22:14:00.001-09:00

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.

2008-01-18T22:08:00.001-09:00

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

2008-01-18T21:58:00.001-09:00

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.