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Musher: Jodi Bailey of Chatanika
Position: Leader

“She is a 9-year-old female who I am incredibly emotionally attached to. Last year as a rookie I attempted both Iditarod and Yukon Quest. Lobben was leader all the way. Lobben was my go-to girl. She finished in lead of all those races... We’ve been through quite a lot together....But I like to joke, Lobben is 100 percent awesome leader, 200 percent liability. Somewhere along the line someone sat her down and schooled her up on Descartes and the French philosopher’s theory of free will. So periodically for no apparent reason other than to prove to me that she has an independent streak and is a thinker, she’ll do something crazy. You’ll call for the gee and she’ll look right at you and go the other direction."

Postscript: Bailey decided to not include Lobben in this year's Iditarod team because of a sore shoulder. This was to have been the 9-year-old's last Iditarod.

More "Meet the Sled Dogs" here.