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ataokennel.bsky.social
ATAO Kennel
@ataokennel.bsky.social
920 followers 620 following 570 posts
A bunch of dogs and two silly humans strive to thrive
Will: he/him
Shawn: they/them
Dogs: wow/wow
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ataokennel.bsky.social
We have a bit to pay on the work we did (for the two girls and for Freddy's wrists) and then we're hoping to do a visit for each of the girls per month. It's about $2.5k total which covers what we did, and visits through March.

Thank you so so much for whatever you might be able to share. Onward!
A white sled dog smiles up at the camera as she has her spinal cord examined by a vet
November 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
If you caught up with our latest Patreon post (it's free / public on Patreon at ATAO Kennel!), you probably saw we've had a slew of vet visits, especially for some back issues for both Annie and Furiosa. Both have some spine and joint issues (from playing / running & colliding at high speeds 🤦‍♂️ )
Annie the sled dog lays on a cot-style dog bed and looks up at the camera Furiosa the sled dog snoozes on a cozy blanket on a human bed
November 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Thanks for some hilarious shots of the dogs from @persistencemushing.bsky.social on their last run!

@goggdog42.bsky.social posted a few of potato the menace too...!
A black sled dog in harness is covered with white frost as she waits to run again. She looks at the camera with comically frost-highlighted eyes, and sticks her tongue out the tiniest bit A tall black sled dog waits in harness to continue running. Her eyebrows and whiskers are white with frost. Behind her, another sled dog pulls against the harness, trying to go, and a four wheeler sits in the back A gray and white sled dog in harness during a mushing break looks comical with her frost-lined mouth open, her eyes wide, and her tail wagging A blurry photo of two black sled dogs in harness during a break at the head of a team of dogs. Their fur is white with frost
November 12, 2025 at 12:41 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Sometimes we do the less extreme version of dog walks @goggdog42.bsky.social
A red sled dog walks on a leash ahead of Shawn the human on a snowy day
November 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
That feeling when it's time to give up for the day @goggdog42.bsky.social
Shawn the human lays on the floor with a despairing look on their face while potato the sled dog lays on her back with her head on their stomach looking at the camera with no dignity
November 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Retirement 😴
A red and white sled dog sleeps comfortably on a couch with her nose between her front legs
November 9, 2025 at 4:16 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Home
A log cabin glows with yellow exterior lights and a small row of colorful Holiday lights on a wintery Alaskan night
November 8, 2025 at 11:52 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
@persistencemushing.bsky.social and I still not sure if dogs are excited
A team of sled dogs in harness in front of a four wheeler bark, howl, and jump to go on a snowy day as Sarah the human stands at the front of the line looking at the team and wearing heavy winter gear A team of sled dogs in harness in front of a four wheeler bark, howl, and jump to go on a snowy day as Sarah the human, standing next to the leaders in heavy winter gear, faces the camera and makes an exaggerated shrug
November 8, 2025 at 2:57 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Twas frosty out!
A cattle dog mix with ice and snow around his ears and face except around his eyes sits politely inside waiting for a treat
November 8, 2025 at 2:51 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
How it's going:
Annie the white sled dog lounges comfortably on her side on a cot style dog bed
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
The picture is blurry but I feel like the emotions are there
#nightrun #leaders
A blurry photo of a sled dog team barking excitedly in harness as they stand in front of a four wheeler with its lights on during a wintery dusk. A hand holds the line of the leaders, who are both wearing green light up collars and who are both barking to go
November 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Can't tell if they're excited to go 🤔

Pre-run with @persistencemushing.bsky.social
A team of sled dogs barks and howls excitedly as they stand in harness in front of a four wheeler on a snowy day before departing on a mush
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Moonlit night with one million projects
A yurt surrounded by spruce trees and half-finished building projects and materials is lit butter yellow by twinkle lights around the front door, while the snow on the ground and trees is silver and white in the moonlight. The night sky looks almost day-light blue, but stars peak through drifting clouds
November 4, 2025 at 9:14 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Furiosa and Freddy are among the many convalescing teammates at ATAO. They are the proud, the lucky, the coneheads, so they get to room together.
A black sled dog and a black and yellow sled dog are snuggled into a large open dog house filled with straw inside of a covered pen. Both sled dogs wear cones A black sled dog wearing a cone stands on top of a large open dog house filled with straw. Inside of the dog house, a black and yellow sled dog with vet wrap around her wrist and a cone on stands looking confused. The house is inside of a covered pen near a house.
November 4, 2025 at 12:24 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Do what I say, not what I do

Hashtag is this safety?

Hashtag if it works it works

Hashtag I'm too offline to know which actual hashtags will be about something horrible
The cluttered small front poor of a yurt is surrounded by the detritus of projects on a snowy day. A twelve foot a frame ladder stands to the right, and in the center of the picture, an adjustable-height a frame ladder is perched precariously on a pallet, one step of the porch, and a chopped piece of firewood with a small scrap of lumber on top
November 4, 2025 at 12:21 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Folks... we have touchdown!!! The bed has been accepted, repeat, the bed has been accepted!!! 😭 🥰 🥹
A white sled dog lays on a blue cot style dog bed with a blanket on it, looking up at the camera A white sled dog lays curled up on a blue cot style dog bed with a blanket on it
November 3, 2025 at 12:19 AM
ataokennel.bsky.social
Omg great news, updates are pouring in fast
screenshot of a text exchange with "Shawn" that says: Will: Was Annie on the dog cot when you went by? Shawn: Yeah at 10:29
November 2, 2025 at 7:32 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
It took a while for Annie to trust the original cover of the cot bed, so I'll report back with progress if/when it occurs!

The end (FOR NOW)
A white sled dog is laying uncomfortably on a cot-style dog bed
November 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
We did make it to standing on the bed! But so far this is the most progress. She elected to sleep last night on the safer blankie on the ground. That's okay Annie, you pick what you want!
A white sled dog stands on a cot-style dog bed
November 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
I almost caught her getting onto the cot-bed, but my eagerness to capture the moment + the difference in material sound = COULD BE A COUCH RUN AWAY
At the end of narrow room with dog booties, tools, and other mushing gear, a tail and hind end of a white sled dog is seen clearly partway climbing onto a low dog bed of some kind
November 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
We have made small steps of progress (literally!)
A white sled dog tentatively steps onto a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it, while sniffing A white sled dog stands with two feet on a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it, looking dubious
November 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
The blanket helped, but Annie is pretty smart.

"Could still be a couch under here"
A white sled dog sniffs a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it A white sled dog sniffs another side of a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it A white sled dog looks dubiously at a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it A white sled dog seems unimpressed with a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it
November 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
"IS THIS A COUCH. YOU HAVE TO TELL ME IF THIS IS A COUCH."
A white sled dog with big eyes and tilted ears looks closely at the camera while standing next to a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it
November 2, 2025 at 7:17 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
"I am concerned"
A white sled dog looks at the camera while standing next to a blue covered cot-style dog bed with a blanket on it
November 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
ataokennel.bsky.social
HOWEVER

Annie is now suspicious of the new cover
A white sled dog looks at a blue-covered cot-style dog bed with curious but suspicious perked ears A white sled dog looks at a blue-covered cot-style dog bed with curious but suspicious perked ears and a tilted head
November 2, 2025 at 7:15 PM