David Tomeo's dogs aren't so much people people as they are dog people.

They enjoy the hundreds of human visitors at the 100-year-old Denali National Park Sled Dog Kennels, who arrive every year. But truth be told, they'd rather hang around and play with other canines.

"They do a lot of greeting visitors," he said. "But dogs, especially Alaskan Huskies, are mostly social with each other. They're very pack-oriented, and they love to play with each other in the yard. The dogs get sad when they are taken out of the pack. 

"But when you put them in harness, they get so excited. They're so happy. They love running hard and pulling. It's in their genetics. It's all fresh and exciting; they love being out there. Anyone who has seen them hooked up in harness can see they're really happy." 

Sure, dogs are great for petting and snuggling with humans. They like that just fine.

But the dogs at Denali Kennels are working dogs, and after the petting and playing, they begin toiling in often remote areas of Denali, patrolling the park, or helping National Forest Service staff with various repair and building projects.  

This is a special year for the kennels as the centennial is underway. The kennels are the only sled dog kennels in Denali, and it is one of the oldest kennels in America. According to the Park Service, the role of the Kennels has evolved. Over time, human and canine rangers have worked together since 1922 to uphold the tradition of preserving the park's vast wilderness by dog team. 

Denali's dogs are authentic working dogs; they continue to haul materials in Denali's two million acres of a federally designated wilderness area. In fact, the Park Service says, one observing Denali's human and canine rangers out on patrol might think little time has passed since the days when Harry Karstens patrolled the park by dog team.

The name Harry Karstens is legendary in Denali. Karstens, leader of many expeditions in the area, was the kennels' founder and the climbing leader of a dog sled team that was the first to climb what was then Mt. McKinley (now Mt. Denali). The 20,310 feet ascent and his reputation for hard work in a hard country made him the first Mt. McKinley National Park superintendent.

Tomeo is aware that he is carrying on the tradition of Karstens and his dogs. During the winter, he and his pack of Alaska Huskies patrol the rugged terrain with every bit of the diligence of Karstens and his dogs.

By the way, Alaskan Huskies themselves are not directly descended from canus lupus, the wolf, contrary to popular belief. The Alaskan Husky, or canus lupus familiaris, a more general term for domesticated pooches, has many origins. They're a mix of Siberian Huskie, German Shepherd, and Border Collie, among other genetic predecessors.

In addition, Huskies are different from Malamutes in that the Malamutes, which can weigh up to 100 lbs., are larger and can pull heavier loads. The Malamute is one of the oldest dog breeds. But Tomeo prefers Alaskan Huskies.

"Malamutes weren't the best dogs for our needs," he said.

But both breeds love to run, and Tomeo said the dogs seem to look forward to the fall when training for his Huskies begins in preparation for the rugged winter ahead.

"Fall tapers off pretty quickly. Then we prepare for the winter patrol season. We have three-mile runs. Then eight miles. We'll work out so that we can do 20 miles with ease. Then in November and December, we start our patrols," Tomeo said. 

"As soon as the snow comes, we prepare them for the snowy conditions. Our major patrols in the winter are focused on how we can help the Park Service with projects."

Those projects include working on trails, hauling materials for cabin maintenance, roof repair, insulation, and other duties as assigned. They also help scientists with fieldwork.

But the dogs must be in good shape to carry out those duties. So, the dogs eat like kings to keep them fit and ready for a blustery winter.

"For dogs to live in a northern climate, they need extra calories to stay healthy, and they can work, so they have to have a very good diet," Tomeo said. "We feed them kibble that you won't find in the supermarket. We add fish and protein. Chicken fat to keep them warm and a balance of all the vitamins and minerals they need. We even add powdered bee pollen and glucosamine for their joints."

The dogs love to play. They love to run. They love to pull. And they're well-fed and cared for. 

It's a dog's life after all.

But it's also a representation of Alaskan heritage.

"We're preserving history," Tomeo said. "Dog sledding may not be known in the rest of the world, but sled dogs have been part of our landscape for thousands of years. We're helping to preserve that culture."

To learn more about David Tomeo’s dogs, click here to read part one of this series.