He was called the Poopie Dog, Fluffy Butt, Kenai Dog, Kenai Boy, the Little Boy, the Baby Boy, the Little One, Pea-Brain, Pancake, Little Man, Young Man, Sausage, Twinkletoes, Sunny Jim, Smiley Joe, Bubba, Crazy Legs, Frosty Nose, Bubble Butt, Little Piglet, Tail Wagger and Boyo.  

Each name was appropriate under different circumstances, Kenai lived up to each and every one of them.

 Some of Kenai's more memorable traits were:

• Bobbing his head & hooking his front leg in sheer excitement.
• Circling his front leg when we ran.
• Sniffing & burying his head in the snow - especially in footprints.
• Looking behind to check you're following when he trotted off.
• The gentle warm wet nose & warm breath on your arm when he came to wake you up.
• Squeaking when you were on the computer.
• Trying to fit into places for which he was clearly too big.

He never barked, except once, unless provoked (our founders father taught him how to bark for treats).  The other times, and it was rare, he would let out a low grumble that always sounded like it was the beginning of a howl which he never finished.

The one memorable time Kenai barked he had been outside in Alaska on the deck.  He ran inside, ran up the stairs, ran across the living room making a low huffing noise and ran to the back door where he let out a low "rrrruuuufff".  This was highly unusual so his parents (our company's founders) quickly got up and opened the back door.  Kenai trotted out and to the side of the upper deck and let out another low "rrrruuuufff".  His parents followed him to the side of the deck to see that Kenai was barking at a rather large black bear.  Considering Kenai's indifference to moose, deer and horses it was interesting to see his keen interest in bears.  

Kenai was never aggressive towards any people or animals.  He wasn't a licker.  He wasn't a biter.  He was a sniffer, but a very gentle sniffer.  He would sniff each item as the grocery bags were unloaded.  He would sniff each flower his grandma planted in the spring.  He would get close enough to smell your hands, but wouldn't touch.  Some of the animals Kenai tried to smell included:  big dogs, little dogs, fish, toads, snakes, rabbits, mice and squirrels.  He would sniff their heads and at times try and sniff their backsides.  It can be pretty embarrassing to see a 110lb husky bend down and try to sniff the backside of a toad.

While Kenai was always willing to go out for an adventure, there is no doubt that he appreciated being comfortable.  For one trip his dad (our company's founder) took him on a 12 mile hike during the winter to a cabin in the middle of Alaska. Kenai was twelve years old, but traveling slowly he made it to the cabin without a problem.  When it came time to leave a couple of days later his dad woke up extra early so Kenai had plenty of time to hike out at a comfortable pace.  It was very cold outside, but Kenai and his dad left the cabin while it was still dark and started towards the car.  The first two miles or so were up a very steep mountain side and Kenai's dad was carrying a heavy backpack with all of their gear.  At the top of the hill his dad turned around to make sure Kenai was ok.  Kenai was nowhere to be found.  His dad searched everywhere, hiking back down the mountain then back up it, but couldn't find him.  A bit alarmed, His dad dropped all his gear and started back down the mountain looking for paw prints believing Kenai wouldn't wander too far from the trail.  He made it all the way back to the cabin without finding Kenai.  Deciding to get some help from a few of his friends still sleeping in the cabin, his dad went up to open the cabin door.  Inside the cabin, curled up in a ball right next to the wood burning stove, he could see Kenai sleeping.  According to his dad's friends, they heard Kenai squeaking outside the door so they let him in and then they all curled up for more sleep.  No one thought to wonder where his dad was.

The stories and memories of Kenai are many.  Whether it is watching him sniff flowers on the side of a trail, how his tongue turned purple while hiking at 14,000 feet in Colorado or how he sat on the balcony in England watching the people and boats float along the river.  He made such a strong impression with those who met him, and they all have a favorite memory to share about Kenai.