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About Us
My name is Natalie McIllree and for as long as I can remember I have been an animal lover. Our family have always owned and loved dogs and I was brought up with Papillions. I guess this passion is what lead me into my career of choice which is of a qualified Veterinary Nurse.
When I finished school in 1994, I left home and moved to Perth and within two months of doing so I found a breeder of Siberian Huskies, Kimoberg Siberians and she had a litter on the ground. I have always had a fascination with wolves and for me, a Siberian was the closest thing I could get to a real wolf! The pups were eight weeks old when I met them and they jumped all over me except one....a little red boy who was off exploring on his own....I took him home and named him Makita.
At the time I knew nothing about Siberian Huskies and my god did he put me through the wringer! Makita would jump ten foot fences, take off for hours, cost me a fortune in fines and I spent hours and hours in tears over him but he taught me all about Siberians and was my soul mate until the very end.
Within a few months of Makita entering my life, I met Kristen Morton of Natomah Sled Dog Kennels. Kris had four Siberians at the time and after our chance meeting we formed an instant, lifelong friendship. I decided to travel over east where I was introduced to the REAL sled dog world of Australia and became a member of the Canberra Sled Dog Club where I caught the bug for racing. That bug soon became a passion!
After a couple of years doing the circuit and competing in the 1 dog class with Makita, I returned home to Western Australia where Kristen and I set up our own small group of WA mushers and instigated competitive racing in the state.
In 2000 and 2002 my second and third Siberians came from Nola Randell of Arcticmoon Kennels in Victoria. This was my introduction to "racing line" Siberians and they were worlds apart from Makita!! In 2004 I met and was inspired by Michael and Liz Herbst and their dogs of Arcticstarr Kennels and I purchased my first female from them, Tanayia. Later that year I introduced Molinka and Teela of Arcticmoon to my own kennel, TseekaSpirit Sled Dog Kennel.
In 2006 I had my very first litter (AI) of which I kept a bitch, Shayla. Inka went to Ruskii Kennels in NSW and Jonty to Idigadog Kennels also in NSW.
In 2007 TseekaSpirit and Idigadog kennels had a second litter between Teela and Cooper. They produced three beautiful monsters, Sully, Ollie and Oscar, all of whom went to live at the Idigadog Woofera Detention Centre! You will have to see Andrew & Lisa's sign at their gate to know what I mean!!
In 2008 I purchased another little bitch, Shavara, from Arcticstarr and at the end of the year I had my third litter out of Tanayia and Jonty. They had six puppies, two of which have stayed with me, Spyder and Stinga. Drifter and Roary went to Idigadog and Stig and Indy became Kiwis at Howling Heights Siberians in Dunedin New Zealand. My first exports. So exciting and terrifying at the same time!
Since 2000 I have travelled interstate from Western Australia almost every year to compete nationally on the sled dog circuit. Most years I find myself with friends driving over 10000kms to compete at the Altitude 5000 snow race and the Canberra Classic. Many a year I have also flown in to Melbourne with my dogs to compete in Victoria at the Undera Sled Dog Dash.
I am currently the President and foundation member of a small sled dog club within WA called the Running West Sled Dog Club.
My dogs are my hobby, my passion and pretty much my life. I have met a lot of wonderful people within the Australian sled dog world, some of whom I have made wonderful friendships with and I thank all of them for getting me where I am today!
Regards, Nat x
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