Life with Forty Dogs

March 27, 2017
When he’s not writing for the Alaska Dispatch News, Robertia can often be found with and his wife, Cole, and their mushing dogs, training for or participating in Alaska’s many competitions, which often cover hundreds of miles in temperatures below -40°F. Here, he shares his experience in integrating, training, and living with so many high-energy canines in this delightful ode to mushing and all it entails. Alongside profiles of his dogs (such as Tatika, a German shepherd who once ate an entire Thanksgiving turkey), Robertia recounts tales of rescuing horse carcasses for feed, getting lost in subzero temperatures in the Alaska wilderness, and encountering less-than-reputable breeders and mushers. Tales of nursing sick or injured rescues back to health, integrating them into the pack, and enduring the emotionally painful death of one of his dogs are sure to resonate with dog-lovers, as is Robertia’s wry, occasionally caustic wit. This is more than just another valentine to canines: it’s an insightful and occasionally heartrending account of life with a team of working dogs. It’s sure to resonate with Alaskans as well as those in the lower 48. B&w photos.