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
Blair Braverman is the musher who cleaned up after a storm with her puppies a few months ago. Now she is training for the Iditarod, and introduces us to her chosen team. The leader is Pepe, of which Braverman says,
Pepe came to us from our good friends at @OtterRunKennel. Immediately after leading (and placing 5th) in the 440-mile Kobuk race last spring, she refused a ride back to our host family’s house and insisted on running the whole way.
Fun fact: If Pepe leads us the 1000 miles to Nome, her own mother (a legendary leader who retired to be a pet last year) will be waiting for her at the finish line.
Also meet Flame, Colbert, Clem, Boo, Helli (previously nicknamed Hellbitch), Grinch, and the others. Every puppy selected has his/her own talents to add to the team.
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.
Read about each dog at Thread Reader. The original thread, where Braverman answers questions, is here. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will take place in early March. -via Metafilter