Iditarod rookie Gerhardt Thiart started calling his leader “Queen Viva” after she helped guide his team out of a difficult situation during an Iditarod qualifier last year. (Photo credit Gerhard Thiart) - Anchorage, Alaska 
Viva the sled dog queen
Rookie Gerhardt Thiart has a very specific story for choosing Viva for his Iditarod team.
Last year, he was running an Iditarod qualifier when he got lost on a lake. There were snowmachine tracks headed in every direction, confusing the dogs and Thiart himself.
He yelled at the dogs to try to line them back up with the reflectors, but the ice covering the lake made it challenging to make any corrections. He called out again in frustration. Viva turned around and looked him straight in his eyes.
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