The Broadlands property that is home to Timberline Racing Siberian Huskies Kennel and Tours has an 800m track for exercising the dogs. Photo / Catherine Fry
The Broadlands property that is home to Timberline Racing Siberian Huskies Kennel and Tours has an 800m track for exercising the dogs. Photo / Catherine Fry
In 1995, Siberian husky breeders Taniya and Steve Coxhead did the one thing they now advise other people not to do: buy a puppy.
It was an Alaskan Malamute, a breed Taniya had always admired.
“We fell for the cute, cuddly little puppy with the impressive kennel name ofSeawolf Kazmaier Tuffenuff, but he was called Kaz,” she said.
“While snow isn’t a necessity, huskies just love the cold.”
Taniya’s father, Gary, hand-crafted a wooden sled for the couple’s Timberline pack to race on snow.
Breeding their own huskies
Pack members howling with excitement before they are exercised. Photo / Catherine Fry
Over several years, the Coxheads bought 10 pups from the now-retired Ray and Dianne Holliday’s Cheechako Kennels.
These huskies were from two breeding lines: Northome Kennels from Duluth, Minnesota, and Alaskan Kennels, Anadyr Siberians.
Cheechako Arky’s Topaz, or Timber as he was known, was a “great all-round dog”.
“In 2010, we looked at business options near the Snow Farm but decided that the snow season wasn’t long enough and we needed a more sustainable business model that would work year-round.
“[From there] Timberline Racing Siberian Huskies Kennel and Tours was born.”
As the Coxheads were coming to Taupō from Tauranga around 20 times a year, they decided the Central Plateau was the place for their new business to be based and found their current Broadlands property in 2016.
It’s near the Kaingaroa Forest where they can dryland train their dogs.
Taniya and Steve Coxhead. Photo / Catherine Fry
Steve was a builder and Taniya is a data administrator.
They wanted their tour business to show visitors what the dogs can do and educate them about the breed’s needs and traits.
“We bought a 10-acre bare block and I built all the kennels and runs, the shed, our house and outbuildings,” Steve said.
They built an 800m fully fenced track enabling the huskies to be exercised daily.
On cold days, they can run further, but on hot days, huskies can overheat easily.
“They get very excited when they realise they’re getting a run,” Steve said.
“They howl in true husky style until we set off.
“I run them in front of my quadbike and while it looks like they are pulling me, I’m actually letting them run at their speed and I keep up with them.”
Using frozen semen from Timber and AI, the Coxheads bred five puppies with River over two litters in 2019/20 and another litter of six from a natural mating with Shawnee and Tor in 2022.
