dream a dream premier iditarod kennel

A great visit in 2008 and really got me hooked on the Iditarod. Have been following the great race on the net every year since visiting and have become a real Iditaholic.

Alaska is full of stunning scenery and wildlife, and even so, this was one of the best days of our tour. Vern's hour-long talk about the Iditarod was fascinating and funny, being pulled on a jeep by the dogs was thrilling, and playing with the puppies was unbelievably fun. Vern was very, very hospitable and interesting. If you are anywhere near the area, I highly recommend planning a visit here.

This was one of the top experiences of our three week trip to Alaska (my 15 year old son would say THE top experience). I really can't say enough great things. Only occasionally have I found the perfect synthesis of interesting/fun activity and superior tour operator/guide. This is one of those times. The experience had something for everyone (our party was me - an active woman in her 30's, my mother in her 70's and my 15 year old son - really pleasing all of us is quite the accomplishment itself).Several weeks before our trip, I contacted Vern through e-mail about reserving a place. It was super easy and Vern was quite friendly. The day of our visit I got lost (be aware - Google maps gave me bad directions and the wrong mileage information from Talkeetna). I called Vern to let him know we were running late - he was super nice about it and waited for us before starting.There was only one other group of four for our presentation, which made for a very nice, intimate experience. Morning snacks and coffee were provided. Vern then gave a very informative presentation about dog mushing, the Iditarod, and his own experiences. He had lots of gear for us to check out (from a real dog sled down to the boots for the dogs). The best part was Vern's enthusiasm. His love for the sport really energized what might have been a boring (especially for a 15 year old boy) talk. I'm mean he really connected with the audience - to the point where my son and I plan to follow next year's Iditarod (and we didn't even know about the race before our trip to Alaska). All this fabulous information also provided great context for the rest of our trip to Alaska.After the talk, we headed out for a ride with the dogs. Being the height of summer, we obviously didn't go in a dog sled. I had worried whether this would detract from the experience (and pondered shelling out the huge amount of money required to go on a helicopter/dogsled trip on a glacier) - boy am I glad I didn't! The ride was amazing. The hills were steep, the corners sharp - it was really an adrenaline rush. Even my mom loved it. And it was clear that this wasn't just a fake tourist experience - it really was part of training the dogs.After the ride, we went on a walk with the puppies. My son might have actually liked this even more than ride. We were able to play with the puppies as we walked in a beautiful forest. The whole experience really included quite a bit of interacting with the dogs. It was WONDERFUL.During the whole experience, we were able to ask Vern questions and I never felt hurried or like Vern was "watching the clock". I left really feeling like someone had enjoyed sharing their love of a sport and the dogs with me. If you are anywhere near Willow or are driving between Fairbanks/Denali and Anchorage - find time to stop and enjoy this experience.

We had a great visit to the kennel in June. Vern was very generous with his time, we took a great dog ride in the rain, visited the kennel and puppies. It was nice he had drinks and snacks available. Our group, ranging in age from 7 to 71 really enjoyed it. For some, it was the highlight of entire Alaskan trip.

Vern gave a presentation of the history of his kennel, his racing, and his teaching of new racers for the Iditarod. Had the thrill of riding behind 14 sled dogs on a multi-seat ATV over a rough, muddy 1 1/2 mile trail. The dogs really do love to run. Also got to play with the puppies for a short while.Vern and the rest of the staff really were very knowledgeable about the dogs and racing, and were eager to share that with the visitors.

Ever wonder what dog mushing is all about? You are in Alaska, you have to learn and experience it. Dream A Dream dog farm is a great place to spend a couple of fun-filled hours. Vern, the owner of the dog farm, is himself a past racer of the 1000-mile Iditarod. He energetic presentation on race preparation, dog training, the race and the challenges are all interesting and educational. He is a great story teller. We were all riveted. We all had a chance to play with the puppies - your kids will love this. The highlight is riding on the ATV pulled by a team of dogs on a 2-mile trail across the farm - wild ride indeed. Highly recommended.

This is well worth a visit. Vern Halter has an amazing story of his experiences with the Iditarod. His kennels and facility are so interesting. The ride with the sled dogs was amazing and best of all, everyone got to play with the puppies.

If you have the opportunity to visit, don't pass it up! We visited Vern and the Dream a Dream Kennel as part of a land tour by Alaskan Tour Guides and to be quite honest, none of us were that thrilled about going - until we got there. Vern is an amazing veteran of the sport and has such a passion for dogs, mushing and training that you can't help but get sucked in. His description of the preparations by the musher and the team is really amazing and he has such tremendous respect for the women of the sport, including his wife, that you can’t help but really like this guy. The kennels were spotless and the dogs were extremely well cared for and each one was like a child, full back story, breeding, racing history, etc. We were able to visit with the dogs and a newer litter of puppies. We then hitched up the dogs and took the ATV for a ride – really wild! We’re all hooked on the sport now and have even sponsored one of Vern’s trainees who plan to race again next year. One of our most enjoyable adventures in Alaska!

Vern's passion for the sport is so contagious. Everyone really had fun. We look forward to cheering for Cindy in March!

Highly recommended! Any time you're in the Anchorage area, a visit to Dream A Dream Iditarod Kennel is a must. Vern Halter has been a top finisher in countless Iditarods and Yukon Quests and now runs a first-class operation of supporting/supplying logistics to other racers and educating tourists like us. He starts with a short intro movie and then follows with an in-depth presentation of the background to the races and the logistics needed to compete in the races (food, equipment, course layout, etc.) -- basically everything you would ever need to know. He patiently goes through each item of equipment which he has on hand in his shop. We then went out to the yard and took 8 new puppies for a nice walk through the forest to help acclimate them to humans. He then hooked up 14 huskies to his off-road vehicle and had them pull us on a great training ride down roads and trails. Afterwards, he took us on a quick tour of his log cabin house.What made this adventure special was listening to a highly-experienced and knowledgeable pro and seeing how he interacted with his dogs. It's rare these days to see someone who is one of the best and who truly loves what he does.

Dream a Dream kennel is operated by an Iditarod musher that has won both the Iditarod and the Yukon quest sled dog race. The owner Vern provides a very comprehensive and indepth history of the Iditarod and what it takes to run dogs. He presents a cute movie and then he goes on and shows all the gear and required equipment that mushers take on the trail. Then the fun begins as you walk out into the dog yard. the excitement amd barking of all 80+ dogs is a sight to see. Then you get on sled and feel the raw power of the huskies. If you are visiting Alaska in the winter, you must do this!!!!! and Dream a Dream is the place to do it. Vern and his staff are very friendly and so are his dogs. This place is great for people of all ages,

Our visit was included in our itinerary with Alaskan Tour Guides and well worth it. The personal touch of Vern Halter's narrative made both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest sled dog races come alive...nothing like speaking from personal experience! Getting to see the dogs in training up close and personal along with the ride through the nearby forest made this a very memorable stop on our tour. I think this would be especially enjoyable for families with young children too. Well done, Vern, and thank you!Gary W - Chicago

Vern Halter gives an amazing history of running the Iditarod and Quest and then takes his guests on a ride behind a team of wonderful huskies. A sure fire fun day and an experience you won't forget!

We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Vern - great stories, terrific insight into the Iditarod, and a wonderful ride behind a team of 14 sled dogs! Not to mention playing with the puppies on the puppy walk. Well worth the stop!

Spent a wonderful day learning all about raising sled dogs, training them, the Iditarod, and most anything about sled dogs; also got to play with the puppies. He has a fun way of teaching about a sport that he loves.Tour included a delicious lunch and a dog sled ride. Having run the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, Vern had some very funny tales to tell. Would do it again.