How Northern Whites Came to be...
When Jim Lanier first started raising huskies and driving dog sleds, he named his kennel, "Happy Husky Home." A happy home for huskies of all shapes, sizes and color variations is was too until 1996.
Fifteen years ago Lanier bred one of his best female's, an all white dog, to one of a fellow musher, Bob Bundzen's, best males, also all white. Now remember back to high school biology? Two non-color genes mated will produce all non-color genes, or all white dogs as well. That mating produces a litter of 11 all white pups. From that point on, Lanier was fascinated and hooked on the idea of fielding an all white team to run races. This became his signature, or theme, amongst the many other mushers.
For the near term, Lanier went around to other winning mushers, including, King, Buser, Jonrowe, Swenson, Butcher and Cotter to buy white dogs, or a breeding with a quality all white. Now with this theme, Lanier and fellow training partner and musher, Norman Vaughn discussed having a name the kennel contest.
At a New Year's Eve party with friends, held at the Trapper Creek cabin that Vaughn and Lanier ran training runs from, they announced this contest. Turns out though, that Lanier ended up coming up with the winning name on his own. That night the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, were out in all their glory. The fitting name for a kennel producing all white pups came to him while watching the sky and ringing in a new year. Thus, Northern Whites Kennel came to be....