About Me:

From the time I was little I wanted to own a Siberian Husky. My mother raised toy and non sporting breeds so I grew up with Miniature Poodles, Toy Poodles and Shih Tzu's. I started to show when I was about 9 years old. The Toy dogs are great but the grooming part is the pits. The constant grooming until the last minute before you show was not for me!

I told my mom that one-day if I ever get a dog of my own I would get a Siberian Husky. Mom didn't like that because she is a breeder of toy dogs. I stopped showing dogs when I started high school.

After my professional education I purchased my first Siberian from Maureen Gunderson of Fraka Siberian Huskies. I always wanted a dog descended from Kaila kennels especially one down from Ch Kaila's Tom E. Wolfe and Maureen had just such a dog. Maureen brought me back into dog shows. At first I only wanted a Siberian as a pet to love but I guess Siberians are very addicting - you can't have just one!

Cow Palace 2003 ~ l-r Claudia, Sybelle, Me, Sky & on the floor Marius

I named my first Siberian Nanook which means 'North', according to the language of one of the native tribes in Alaska. No, I didn't get the name from the beanie baby; I came up with the name way back. But thanks to the beanie baby craze everybody knows my kennel name! Not to get confused with the Canadian Nanook kennel, I started using Nanook Siberians of California as my kennel name.

For the last few years I have been volunteering with the Iditarod Trail Sled Race committee. It has been a fantastic experience that thoroughly showcases just what the Siberian Husky can do. I have spent quality time talking with Karen Ramstead of North Wapiti Siberian Husky Kennels and Wayne Curtis of Team Stormwatch Siberian Huskies and learned a great deal from them.