Fairbanks, Alaska
cloudberry kennel
Building a life with sled dogs in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dog mushing, skijoring, racing, training, tours, and enjoying the mushing lifestyle.
About Us:
"us" = Abbey VandenBerg, 16 Alaskan huskies, and one malamute, (and of course all the friends who help us along the way!).
Cloudberry is a small distance sled dog mushing kennel located in the Goldstream Valley of Fairbanks, Alaska - built from the ground up with love for the dogs at the heart of everything. Almost all of the dogs at Cloudberry were born at the kennel, beginning with my first litter in 2023. My dog team is my family and my passion, and we are excited to be working toward the goal of qualifying for the Iditarod! My goal is to run a race kennel centered on respect for the dogs and love of the journey, which to me is encompassed in the races themselves as well as in the preparation and lifestyle required to get to the starting line. I believe that racing success can be the byproduct of intentional and loving care for my team. In addition to racing, we also run tours at Trailbreaker Kennel November - March, and plan to offer our own dog sled rides and mushing lessons in the near future - stay tuned!
Nori
main leader
Nori is without a doubt one of the very best dogs out there! She is my main leader, and the mother or grandmother of the entire team. An incredible sled dog, and equally incredible companion. Loving, strong, and as sweet as they come. Nori is the foundation of the entire team.
Meet the Dogs
Every dog has a unique personality – and just like working with a human team, a huge part of managing a dog team is working with many different personalities and playing each team member to their strengths.
Charmander
Charmander aka "Charmie" is one of the two largest dogs on the team, adding incredible strength and drive. Despite his size, Charmie is a total mommy's boy - very sensitive and a little awkward! He is always going to give it his all, but wants to know he's doing a good job - he has that big sensitive jock energy!
Team Dog
Zubat
Lead dog
Even as a puppy, Zubat has had a weirdly serious personality. Sometimes she seems like an old lady in a young dog's body. Seriousness aside, Zubat is a very sweet dog, protective of the ones she loves, and a good leader. She is the mom of the "Blues Babies" born 10/2025.
Dogs First - Always
Every decision begins with the well-being of the dogs. Their health, happiness, and long-term success comes before any other goal.
Philosophy of the Trail: My Core Beliefs
Everything at Cloudberry is built on a foundation of respect & love for the dogs.
Keep It Joyful
The dogs and humans are involved in this sport because we love it.
Everything about this lifestyle takes commitment and hard work, but it should ultimately remain rewarding (and fun…most of the time!) for both dogs and people.
Share the Trail
Mushing is a shared heritage. Sharing this sport is incredibly important to me, and I plan to prioritize welcoming others into this lifestyle while representing the sport with kindness and integrity.
Race Schedule
Follow along as I work toward my current goal of qualifying for the Iditarod!
December 2026
Solstice 50
Two Rivers, AK
January 2027
Copper Basin 300
March 2027
Su-Dog 300
Stay Tuned!
Interested in supporting the team this season?
Stay Tuned!
Sponsor the Race Season
A direct contribution to help with racing expenses, including entry fees, dog food, and travel costs.
Join The Team
What makes this possible are the people who believe in us! I'm just one person, and taking care of my dog team to the highest standard possible takes a lot of money (and time). Every bit of support means the world to me & the dogs, and allows me more freedom and time to share this awesome sled dog lifestyle with others.
Interested in a custom sponsorship or partnership? Let me know your idea!
Follow Our Trail!
I post regular updates about life at the kennel on my social media pages - stay connected with us!