Matthew Failor

Matthew Failor is the founder of 17th-Dog kennel and a native of Mansfield, Ohio. His love for animals, sports, and the great outdoors began at a young age and helped shape his path into the wonderful world of dog mushing. As a boy, he enjoyed training the family’s pet dog Maggie to do tricks and retrieve. She became Matthew’s loyal companion, tagging along on family outings and Boy Scouting events. As a student, Matthew played basketball, baseball and soccer, and graduated from high school an Eagle Scout. In college, Matthew studied photography, but it was a summer job that ultimately lead him to his true passion and Alaska.

In 2006, Matt took a job with Gold Rush Sled dog tours in Juneau, Alaska. There he adopted his first Alaskan husky, Fionn, born the day of his arrival. Together, Matt and Fionn both learned to mush. Matt bought a scooter, and Fionn happily pulled him around. The pair traveled between Alaska and Ohio, continuing summer jobs with Gold Rush while Matthew finished college. In 2007, Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University.

He began working as a handler for four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser. With Martin’s mentorship, Matt completed his first Iditarod in 2012, and he’s competed in the race every year since. In 2013, Matt started his own kennel in Willow, Alaska. Five years later, Iditarod lead him to the love of his life, Liz.

Matthew proposed at the finish line of the Kuskokwim 300, where his team claimed a record-setting victory in 2019. The couple was married at the kennel in Willow in the summer of 2020. Together, Matt and Liz dreamed up Alaskan Husky Adventures to share their joy for dogs with the world. Throughout the year, the couple invites tourists and travelers to their home to meet the dogs, tag along on training runs, and experience the power of the human-dog bond firsthand.

Liz Failor

Liz Failor (Raines) is an Alaska-raised TV news anchor turned dog musher. She met Matthew while covering Iditarod for the local CBS affiliate in 2018. The assignment completely changed her life! She fell in love with Matthew and his 53 dogs (all of whom were in attendance for the couple’s wedding in July 2020). Soon after, she left the anchor desk to start Alaskan Husky Adventures with Matthew, and focus full-time on the dogs. She joined Iditarod’s news team in 2021, as a trail reporter for Iditarod Insider, earning an Emmy Award with the team that year!

Aside from dog sledding, Liz enjoys running the trails too! She is a multi-marathon finisher and loves to train with some of the kennel’s retired sled dogs. On any given day, you may spot Cool Cat or Shaun White running by her side in the neighborhood!

Recognition of Liz to date

2021 - Northwest Regional Emmy Award, Iditarod 49 ‘The Gold Loop Trail’ Documentary 2021 - Chugiak Dog Mushers Association 20-mile classic - 7th place 2020 - Kenai River Marathon - 4th Place (women’s division), 2nd in age division, 6th place overall 2020 - Zombie Half Marathon - 24th Place (women’s division), 4th in age division
2019 - Emmy Nominee for Morning/Daytime News 2019 - Kenai River Marathon - 11th Place (women’s division), 2nd in age division 2019 - Skinny Raven Half Marathon - 36th Place (women’s division), 9th in age division
2018 - Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Journalism
2018 - Alaska Broadcasters Association Award for Best Newscast 2018 - Zombie Half Marathon - 101st Place (women’s division), 21st in age division

Kaci Murringer

Kaci Murringer is Alaskan Husky Adventures’ lead guide. She has been training and racing sled dogs for more than twenty-five years. She participated in her first sled dog race when she was just seven years old! Originally from Marquette, Michigan, she grew up training with local mushers in the region. She and her pet dog Monty have been with 17-Dog kennel since 2018. In 2020, she completed her first Iditarod with the an Alaskan Husky Adventures yearling team!

2020 Iditarod - 33rd Place, Red Lantern Award