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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 31m

Loaf re-meeting her puppies last week! She could not be more thrilled

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Peanut butter continues to be the GOAT for giving vaccines

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

8 week puppy stacks!!! I do stacks mostly for fun, I pick keepers based on temperament rather than what I see in these photos. But i love seeing how nicely they are developing. Funny to see the hound vs husky influence and how varied the puppies can be.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The Loaflings returned earlier this week!! I don't know how I am going to pick my keepers. They still have a month of growing to do before I do, thankfully. They've all done a great job settling in, and huge thanks to MIDOG and Laura as always for giving them such a wonderful start on life.

A black puppy with floppy brown latte ears lays down and chews a stick

6 puppies lay in a pile together, snoozing. The puppy in the bottom right is looking at the camera

6 puppies lay in a pile together, snoozing.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Who is going to zoom across the yard, inviting the other dogs to chase? Who is going to play for hours with his best friend Lanayru? Who is going to be my cheerleader, snapping his jaws in excitement at the start of every run? My sweet, snotty, naughty Watty.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I took a minute long video and sent it to them, not realizing it would be the last time I would take a video or photo of him healthy.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last year, after almost a year of testing, we finally confirmed the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia diagnosis on Watkins. The Canine Genetics Lab at the University of Minnesota picked up the research. (Video is his one brain cell working hard in the waiting room at U of M)

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The one time I put Watkins in lead, at first I thought he got it immediately. He pulled and charged forward with all his usual joy. When we got to a T junction and had to turn left or right, Watkins said - What do you mean? I go straight! And tried to take us straight ahead into the woods.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

He picked up checkpoint racing faster than anyone else on my young, rookie team, and was always first to bed down and curl up into a warm donut in the straw. I remember he even did this after Copperdog this past year, no straw needed - he knew what to do, even if it wasn't a checkpoint race!

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

He journeyed with me across trails in Minnesota, the UP, and most importantly at home in Wisconsin, where we shared thousands of miles together in his 3 short years.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Watkins loved running as much as any sleddog. He loved the pure joy of moving his body, and being active helped his PCD mucus clear and made him feel all the better. He was a serious sleddog and was a top pick for races, snotty nose and all.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Watkins had a penchant for digging craters, not just holes. In his tether spot, you would find a depression 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep. He loved to sleep in his hole. It has been filled in twice, and he left me with one to fill in a final time.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

His favorite thing was to run at me from across the dog yard, and then do a flying leap body slam into me out of pure joy.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

As he grew, so did his personality. He liked to snap his jaws together and clack his teeth when he was especially excited. Watkins lived to play - he loved to be the chasee in the games of zoomies, and he would always be the one who would get the other dogs riled up during daily playtime in summers.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Watkins was actually too much energy for me, and I tried to find him a home at first - though, as it became clear his snottiness was persistent, I decided to keep him to figure out what it was. He wormed his way into my heart and found his permanent home with me.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Despite this, nothing stopped his energy. He was first to bust out of the whelping box, and I remember every time after that, whenever I went into the whelping room after being away for at least an hour, Watkins would be back out of the whelping box, sound asleep next to the dog bed across the room.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Watkins June 19, 2023 - September 27, 2026 Watkins was always defiantly full of life. As a baby puppy neonate, he showed his first signs of snottiness at merely 2 weeks old, though at the time I didn't know what it was.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Update: its really bad. Hoping he makes it through the night and if he does, he would need to be transferred to internal Medicine at University of Minnesota and it would be a 5 figure situation. Not sure what im gonna do. Pic saying goodnight, and possibly goodbye, in the O2 chamber. Im in pieces

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Watkins is amazing. Despite the PCD he makes my race team time and time again. He is a checkpoint pro and is the first to lay down and tuck into a donut once we stop. I can't imagine not having his bright cheery self in my life.

Watkins sticking his tongue out at the camera during checkpoint training

My race team at northern pines 2025 - watkins is the black dog on viewer's right

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The estimate for him is $3189 on the low end, to $4531 on the high end. I have $1200 right now but need an additional $3.5k-ish to make sure he will be covered. Anything additional, and the reimbursement from insurance, is going to go in a savings account for Watkins in case he gets sick again.

Screenshot of price estimate for Watkins' hospital stay

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Hey friends! I'm in the unfortunate position being at the e-vet with Watkins. He has pneumonia & needs hospital stay. GFM will be too slow so if you would like to help: -Call BluePearl and ask to donate to Watkins' bill (218)302-8000 -Donate directly PayPal: zulayawolf@yahoo.com Venmo: @zulayawolf

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I actually did make an alaskan husky that is similar in color, 7 years ago now (wtf)

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The day after I dropped them off, Loaf said Laura was STRANGER DANGER so I went and picked her up a couple days later 🤣 Laura was able to wean the pups no problem. All is right in Loaf's world again. She is making a strong case for permanent house dog 🤭

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Last week the chicken nuggets went to summer camp at MI DOG!!! They've been getting lots of cuddles, exploring, and becoming more confident by the day. (PS - if you visit Newberry MI, you can cuddle them yourself!)

A bunch of puppies walking around a pen. They are running towards the camera

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The puppies moved outside for real on Wednesday. They've been doing great!!!! They have so much more room to roam around and practice walking. I've especially been enjoying watching them learn how to climb over logs and maneuver the puppy ramp.

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

First outing!!! Puppies say outside is scary

8 puppies back inside in the clean whelping box

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Loaf's puppies had their first taste of food not from the milk bar today!! Very proud of them all, they all got in on it - starting them on the weaning process is the most nerve wracking part and they did great! Sound on for 8 tiny puppy tongues

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Melissa Mendelson @flightriskmushing.bsky.social · 19/08/2026