About Me

About Alison

I moved to Tacoma eight years ago from Minnesota to attend the University of Puget Sound. Much like the Pacific Northwest, Minnesota called me to be outside. I grew up exploring the outdoors. Every summer I spent many days canoeing in Northern Minnesota and Canada, every winter I cross-country skied daily. During the school year I exercised my brain studying Chemistry, and returned to Minnesota during the summers to guide weeklong canoe trips for high school students. After graduating, (yes, I do have a Chemistry degree!) I guided sea-kayaking trips in British Columbia and worked for a non-profit. I spent last winter caring for 100 huskies and guiding sled-dog tours at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, OR. Currently, I am putting my Chemistry degree to use by walking dogs and pursuing a Masters in Counseling Psychology.

Things I love: people, dogs, fitness, wellness, health, learning, experiencing, naps, playing, and being outside.

About Spike

I'm Spike, Alison's sidekick. I was born in Bend, Oregon in 2000. I've spent most of my life playing hard in the winter (dogsledding) and relaxing in the summer (napping). I am quite the wheel dog if I do say so myself. One of my favorite parts of being a sled dog, besides all the oogling tourists and caretakers, was riding up to Mt. Bachelor with my head sticking out of my door--no matter the weather.

I always alerted the rest of the dogs as soon as I could see the summit, "We're here, we're here, we're here!" By the end of my career I knew exactly where to start barking, even if the snow was too thick to see. Alison took me on lots of trips last year on the mountain, and then took me back to Tacoma to live with her. Since coming to Tacoma in April I've adjusted quite nicely to delicious food, two dog beds, fun roommates, and plenty of playmates. I still harness up to go for walks and runs and like to pull Alison around, but I also do plenty of relaxing, eating, and sleeping!