What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 8:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 8:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 8:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 8:30pm Friday 8:30am - 8:30pm Saturday 8:30am - 8:30pm Sunday 8:30am - 8:30pm

Trail Breaker Kennel

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Fairbanks, AK
Trail Breaker Kennel

Trail Breaker Kennel was founded in 1976 by the late Susan Butcher, a four-time Iditarod champion, a
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Trail Breaker Kennel was founded by four-time Iditarod champion, the late Susan Butcher, and her husband and Yukon Quest champion, David Monson. For over 20 years, the kennel has opened its doors to visitors in Fairbanks, Alaska. Today, David, his daughters, and their dedicated staff work to provide visitors with a glimpse into the lives of these amazing sled dogs and their musher companions.

08/31/2024

Looking for something to do this long weekend?
We have just the events for you!

How about joining us for one of our last few Beer & Puppies on Saturday 8/31 at 5:30-7pm, Sunday 9/1 at 5:30-7pm and Monday 12-1:30pm?! Reserve your spot via trailbreakerkennel.com

08/30/2024

This Labor Day, join us for our final public event of the summer season - Puppy Cuddles and Cocoa (alcoholic beverages also available, for those how have their eyes set on our regular event “Beer & Puppies”)!
Monday 9/2 at 12-1:30pm. Reservations required, reserve your spot at trailbreakerkennel.com

08/22/2024

The Pride and Prejudice puppies are growing quickly! Here’s handsome Mr. Collins out for a walk.

08/16/2024

Havak coming at you to wish you a Happy Friday!

PS. If you happen to be in Fairbanks today - join us for a local beverage and puppy snuggles during our Beer and Puppies!

08/15/2024

Say hi to handsome Mr. Darcy!

08/14/2024

Lady enjoying a romp with her pups on a beautiful afternoon.

08/14/2024

Big boys Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins.

Psst, Collins is looking for a dog sponsor! Check link in our bio for more info!

08/13/2024

Our kennel manager (and race musher) Elena recently spent some time with puppies Fitz, Bennet, Lizzy and Kitty at our homestead in Eureka, AK.
They all enjoyed relaxing at the homestead, as well as hikes and blueberry picking in the company of retirees Squid and Shenzi (picture # 2).
These excursions are a great way for our young team members to learn about traveling, exploring new spaces and building confidence on top of (of course) getting showered with attention and positive reinforcement by our human team members!

08/12/2024

We absolutely adore our dogs! Sometimes the right thing to do though, is to let a retired dog find their perfect forever home with a couch to call their own.. In those cases we make an effort to find the perfect home for the dog where they can live the rest of their days out in the company of great people.
Good boy Virgo was recently adopted by a lovely local couple here in Fairbanks, and we just got this great, heartwarming update from them:

“Virgo has completely changed our lives for the better! He has brought his adopted brother out of his shell, makes us laugh with his goofy antics and personality.
Virgo enjoys going on walks, swimming, digging holes, cuddling with his brother and discovering socks that have been forgotten in the couch. He has quite the singing voice, and will sing songs about how many minutes are left until dinner time.
We can always count on Virgo to put a smile on our face!” - Kalen, Matt and Magma

08/02/2024

Vorpal enjoying a walk and some bonding time with Keira.

08/01/2024

Puppy walks bring smiles to our faces!

07/31/2024

Meet Mofarah! This handsome guy is an important part of our race team - as hardworking as they come, and a cheerleader known to continuously boost the team’s energy! Mofarah may be turning 8 in just a couple weeks, but he’s not showing any signs of slowing down..
As we’re preparing for the coming race season, we are looking for dog sponsors for this strong male! More info on our website!

07/27/2024

Kitty is coming in hot to wish you all a very happy weekend!

07/27/2024

We are so lucky to have so many great guests visiting here at Trail Breaker Kennel throughout the summer!
Some of our guests are returners, and on top of that some of them are supporting our dogs by becoming dog sponsors.
Pictured are Sharon and Kurt Adams who have visited us multiple times in both winter and summer and they’ve been sponsoring Havak (photo # 2) for years now. This summer when they returned to the kennel, they fell in love with young Lydia (photo # 1) and decided to sponsor her, as well as Ace!

If you’re curious about becoming a dog sponsor, head over to our website and learn more about our dogs and how to sponsor your own TBK dog!

https://shop.trailbreakerkennel.com/sponsor-a-sled-dog

07/19/2024

Can you believe that just one year ago Dollie and Ace were just puppies?!
Now they are confident yearlings taking their first strides leading the team for dog mushing demonstrations for the Riverboat Discovery (see Dollie in lead in photo # 3-4)! We can’t wait to see what these dogs will do this winter!
Big heartfelt thanks to the Petty family in North Pole, AK and the Adams family in The Villages, FL for being amazing support systems for these little rockstars! We are delighted to have dog sponsors return to the kennel year after year!

📸: 1-2 Quiltwood Branding

07/16/2024

🐾 Meet Virgo and Scorpio, Trail Breaker Kennel’s most eligible and adoptable bachelors! 🐾

These lovable Alaskan huskies are ready to transition to their retirement home, but they’re not done pulling in harness just yet. If you're looking to adopt starter sled dogs, this dynamic duo might be the perfect fit for you! Virgo and Scorpio excel in skijoring and bike-joring, making them ideal for anyone interested in dog sports. They are both gee/haw trained leaders and run well together.

As dogs mature, they may slow down and transition away from running in the main race team. However, skijoring and bikejoring allow them to set their own pace, which is a great way to exercise with your Alaskan Husky.

Virgo and Scorpio are eagerly awaiting the right home this Fall. 🍂

Visit our website to learn more about these amazing dogs or send us a message to inquire about adopting a retired Alaskan husky!

07/15/2024

Nothing like a shed full of kibbles! We’re so happy to be stocked up on Inukshuk for our canine athletes.

07/14/2024

Jackhammer and Ansel ready to GO!

07/13/2024

Ace - such a great young man! This 1 year old is turning into a great sled dog and a lovely companion to us here at TBK. He also charms our visitors with his beautiful markings and never ending want for attention (and pets)!

https://buff.ly/3W1Vd35

07/12/2024

We have lovely Maiden and her four puppies here from ! These four puppies are growing steadily and it’s such a treat to be able to host them this summer! Names are Vorpal, Duchess, Hatter, and Cheshire - can anyone guess the theme for the names?!

07/11/2024

Rain or shine - it’s ALWAYS a good day for a run with the dogs!

07/09/2024

Lady’s puppies now have names! They are named after characters in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice - Lydia, Lizzy, Kitty, Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins, and Col. Fitzwilliam.

07/08/2024

It may be July and summer currently, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t thinking (and daydreaming) of winter..
Speaking of winter; We are so excited to share the news that Keira Irish will be running Jr. Iditarod with TBK dogs again this coming winter! We love having Keira be part of the crew here at Trail Breaker Kennel, and we know she’ll train and race our dogs with excellent care and focus. Join us in cheering Keira on as she focuses on her goals for the 24/25 race season!

06/27/2024

Good morning from Lady’s cute puppy (currently in the midst of some good stretching)!

06/25/2024

If you’ve visited us this summer you very likely met these puppies from musher Curtis Erhart that we’ve hosted. We’ve shared so many great moments with this litter of 9 and they’ve provided LOTS of smiles for our guests here at Trail Breaker Kennel. Today mom Sequin and her puppies are heading home to their kennel.. Please join us in wishing them all the best in their future adventures - Happy Trails!

06/24/2024

National Bring Your Dog To Work Day was this past Friday, and our guide Katrina had her 5 dogs (3 of them are Trail Breaker Kennel born and raised dogs - Nora, Jones and Charles) at work.
Bowie pictured here is a great mentor for our young puppies!

06/22/2024

The Sequin puppies who have been with us for the start of this season are going on 8 weeks old and they are so much fun!
They are rapidly expanding their territories during their walks. Meanwhile Shenzi is living her best retiree dog life and being an incredible mentor in showing the puppies around and teaching them all about the sled dog life and the joys of summer (like swimming in the lake)!

06/21/2024

Lady’s puppies are now almost 4 weeks old. They are growing FAST, and starting to really get around and enjoy exploring their surroundings.

06/20/2024

Happy Solstice!
If you’re looking for something fun to do this coming weekend, come join us for Beer & Puppies!

Next available dates are Sunday 6/23 and Monday 6/25 - reserve your spot through our website trailbreakerkennel.com or give us a call at 907-347-7274. We hope to see you soon!

06/18/2024

One of the puppies keeping a close eye on auntie Shenzi as she’s enjoying a dip in the lake - a great example of how our young dogs start learning from the adults at a young age 😍

Address

5880 Airport Industrial Road
Fairbanks, AK
99709

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Saturday	8:30am - 8:30pm
Sunday	8:30am - 8:30pm

Telephone

+19073477274

Website

http://trailbreakerkennel.com/

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Videos

Scorpio (right) and Virgo (left) bikejoring in Denali in 2023! These beautiful boys are up for adoption!

Malcolm, Phelps, Slim, Dollie, Tuna, Jibe and Old Steese ready for the Riverboat Discovery.

Dog sled ride bookings are open for the holidays! Are you planning a visit Fairbanks in November? Our books are now open starting November 15th for 2-mile dog sled rides, we will even be open Thursday, November 23! Check out our availibliies and book your adventure online today! https://trailbreakerkennel.com/winter-tours/30-minute-dog-sled-ride/

Looking for a low maintenance hiking and cuddle buddies? Meet Bonnie and Cassidy, two of the sweetest 9-year old (spayed female) Alaskan Huskies. These two are game for anything. They are always delighted to head out on a long walk, lead a small team on on a training run or cuddle up next to their humans on the couch. Bonnie and Cassidy are up for adoption to the right family this Fall. Trail Breaker Kennel is diligent about finding the right retirement homes for our dogs in their golden years. Message us directly via social media or our website "contact us" page if you would like to learn more about adopting one of these amazing retired sled dogs.

This lovable 4-dog team is ready for their forever home! Meet Bonnie (F), Cassidy (F), Geronimo (M) and Billie (F)! These littermates turned 9 years old this spring and have been running together for years. We would love to see these go to a retirement homes with one of their siblings to run and play with as well as cuddle with on the couch. These guys have a number of pulling years ahead of them as part of a small recreational or family kennel. As they are older and more gentle with confident lead dog energy they would make a great team for a child or someone just learning how to mush! Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about this beloved 4-dog team. Trail Breaker Kennel is diligent about finding the right retirement homes for our dogs in their golden years. Message us directly via social media or our website "contact us" page if you would like to learn more about adopting a retired sled dog. Enjoy this video of the team out for a run this past winter! Bonnie and Cassidy in lead, Geronimo and Billie in wheel. Learn more about them online at https://trailbreakerkennel.com/adopt/

Our summer season is up and running and we are so happy to have our friends at Riverboat Discovery back on a daily basis.

These happy dogs and their musher Abby Klager, good friend of Trail Breaker Kennel, are excited to be heading to the start line of the Yukon Quest Alaska 80mi race on Saturday. Keep an eye out for more updates from the race!

The last few weeks we’ve had part of the crew in Eureka, working on the homestead and training dogs.. Great times, as always! There was even enough snow to get the sleds out!

POV of the team on a summer training demonstration! Our summer handler Rachel, did an amazing job today on her first time driving the team around the lake for the #riverboatdiscovery. We will miss you around the kennel in a couple weeks. #universityofalaskasoutheast is getting an amazing student!

We are so lucky being able to take dogs out on evening adventures like this straight out of our backyard! Here’s good boys Jibe and Rochambo enjoying some river time.

We love having our guests help train our dogs! Here’s a group from Rein Teen Tours - the official page cheering our youngest puppies on as they take on new-to-them obstacles.

Behind the scenes of TBK!

After a good night sleep and a good meal, the TBK team is headed back to Fairbanks! Kiana and team finished strong with 6 dogs at about 7:30 last night, looking like they were ready for another 300 miles! While the weather was pretty mild throughout the race, the trail conditions proved to be hard and fast, which was a big change of pace for our team. These 6 dogs rose to the challenge and we couldn’t be prouder of their performance. Kiana finished with Trout and Wookie in lead, followed by Bolt, Phelps, Jibe, and Ansel, all happy and tails wagging at the finish. We are so proud of this team and all they have accomplished this year and are looking forward to a couple more months of fun runs and a whole lot of adventures with these guys! Thank you all for the love and support sent our way!!

Team TBK left the Willow Community Center at 10:02am this morning wearing bib #4. Kiana and the dogs were in high spirits during the frenzied “double start”. Slim and Felix are leading this morning and are looking forward to their 70 mile run to Susitna Landing Checkpoint where they will rest this evening. Kiana’s parents Jon and Tanya were visibly proud of their musher daughter while the Butcher-Monson sister teared up in the sidelines;) You can follow along with Kiana’s progress today by watching the Willow 300 spot tracker map: https://trackleaders.com/willow22f.php

Nothing but good times at TBK! Happy dogs, happy mushers, and one gorgeous day!!

Tune Supply at Trail Breaker Kennel

Trail Breaker Dogs Having Fun in the Chena River

A minute of our daily preshow playtime. Safe to say this is one of both TBK's K9's and human's favorite times of the day!

Wait for it....

This sassy puppy wishes you a happy Memorial Day weekend!

Shortcuts

Welcome to Trail Breaker Kennel

Family owned and operated since 1976, Trail Breaker Kennel is one of the longest operating kennels in Alaska. The kennel was founded in Eureka, Alaska by the late Susan Butcher, a four-time Iditarod champion, and David Monson, her husband, and Yukon Quest champion. Built on a reputation of exemplary dog care and hard work, Trail Breaker Kennel became the premier racing kennel in the world. In 1990, Susan and David purchased property in Fairbanks, Alaska, and established Trail Breaker Kennel on the banks of the Chena River.

Today, David, his two daughters, and dedicated staff members provide visitors from around the world a look at the lives of mushers and Alaskan huskies in Interior Alaska. For over 20 years, Trail Breaker Kennel has been a favorite stop on the Riverboat Discovery tour. Kennel tours, dog sled rides, and other custom tours are offered seasonally. We hope to see you on your adventure in the Last Frontier!

A Message from Trail Breaker Kennel on COVID-19

The health and safety of our staff, huskies, visitors, and community have always been our top priority. Due to COVID-19, we are implementing new policies to ensure the safety of our guests and staff at the kennel. We will continue to monitor the situation and make any necessary changes to follow all Alaska state and federal mandates.

Due to Governor Dunleavy’s recent 30-day COVID-19 disaster declaration, we plan to open for winter tours starting December 16, 2020. Book your Dog Sled Ride online today! If you are part of a larger group, please call us at (907) 347-7274 with your requested tour date and number of guests in your party, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Our summer 2021 calendar is open for bookings! Visit Trail Breaker Kennel on your nest Alaskan summer vacation by booking your spot on a Summer Kennel Tour. When the time is right for you, we can’t wait to welcome you to Alaska!

Happy, and most importantly, healthy trails from the crew at Trail Breaker Kennel.

Winter Tours (December 16, 2020 - March 31, 2020)

Join the team at historic Trail Breaker Kennel for an unforgettable winter tour during your next Alaskan Vacation! Experience the thrill of mushing on an Alaskan Dog Sled Ride or craft your own experience on a Custom Alaskan Winter Tour. Learn why there’s no better way to experience the Last Frontier than on dog sled at Trail Breaker Kennel! Book your Dog Sled Ride today!

Granite

Read the story of how Susan and her lead dog Granite persevered through challenges to become the championship team they are known for today. Written by David and Susan, Granite tells the empowering story of a little puppy who nobody believed in. Through Susan’s faith in Granite, and hard work by both, Granite eventually became one of the greatest lead dogs in history.

Purchase your own copy of Granite that has been personally signed and dedicated by author David Monson, here.

Shop the Trail Breaker Trading Post

Explore our selection of Trail Breaker Kennel apparel, Alaskan made gifts, and much more at the Trail Breaker Trading Post!

Summer Kennel Tour (May - September)

Learn what it’s like to run a kennel on a walking tour of one of the longest operating kennels in Alaska. Join one of our experienced mushers as they show you around the kennel, introduce you to our amazing canine athletes and teach you how we prepare for the 1,000-mile Iditarod and Yukon Quest races. Reserve your spot on our Summer Kennel Tour for 2021 today!

For more information on this tour, click here.

Riverboat Discovery Tour (May - September)

Take a trip on the Riverboat Discovery to Trail Breaker Kennel. View a dog mushing demonstration from the banks of the Chena River and learn what it takes to run a championship kennel. When at the Chena Indian Village, meet the dogs and mushers of Trail Breaker Kennel up close. For tickets and more information visit riverboatdiscovery.com.

Learn What People Are Saying About Trail Breaker Kennel

We work hard to give all of our visitors a once in a lifetime experience, whether it’s a thrilling dog sled ride or an informational kennel tour. But, don’t just take our word for it. Learn what people are saying about their visit to Trail Breaker Kennel on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews.