Original subtitles

The story begins out on a country ranch where a special dog named Tikani lives.

Tikani is a Chinook, a sled dog, whose name in Inuit means

warm winter winds. The Chinook is one of the rarest breeds

of dog in the world.

With little public awareness of the breed, they're a hidden

secret. And each year only about 100 Chinook puppies are

born.

And these are four of them.

Three girls and one boy, born just seven days ago.

This is Kaya. As a black and tan Chinook, she's even more

special. Usually this breed has a tawny coat. Her brother

and the only boy is Nanook.

Back in the early 1900s, Chinooks were bred by polar

explorers to be super sled dogs. Along with other pedigrees,

breeders intermixed the husky, known for its speed, with

the strong and resilient Mastiff, to achieve the present-day

Chinook.

She might be built for hardy work, but right now Tikani has

a gentler task, looking after her pups. But keeping four

squirmy pups in one place isn't always easy.

Black pup Kaya doesn't need mom's help. She's the tough pioneer.

At seven days old, she can't exactly walk, but that

won't stop her. She gets as far as she can with a wiggle.

Only boy Nanook is looking for a break from his noisy sisters.

So he goes exploring, too, and stakes his claim

to a solo spot where girls aren't invited.

Not far away lives another new mom, Labradoodle Madison,

who just gave birth to this pup. And this pup. And six more.

Mom Madison's got her work cut out.

As the name suggests, Labradoodles are a cross between a

Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. With the good

-tempered nature of the Labrador and the low shedding

appeal of the Poodle, Labradoodles are quickly gaining in

popularity.

The two breeds bring together an interesting history.

Labradors were bred by fishermen in Newfoundland, Canada

in the 1700s. The dogs were strong swimmers and used by the

fishermen to help pull in their nets. The Poodle was also

bred to be a water retriever. Their haircut isn't just for

show. It's to keep them streamlined yet warm in the water.

With help from both sides of the family tree, it's no

surprise that the Labradoodle is a super swimmer.

But these days, Madison isn't getting much

pool time. She's stuck inside on mommy duty.

Mom's cream coat and dad's chocolate coloring have produced

a varied bunch. Four chocolate pups, two black, and two

cream.

Rocky is the biggest of the family, and Stanley the

smallest. Newborn pups must feed 12 times a day to keep

their growth on track.

Biggest pup, Rocky, has no problem with this. He takes care

of number one, and that means all the dinner he can get. But

little Stanley is missing his meal. Seems he'd rather cuddle with mom than eat.

To grow up big and strong, Stanley needs to sleep less and eat more.

Mom Madison wakes her littlest guy up and tries to help him

get back in the game. When your brother's twice your size,

you better get it before it's all gone.

Out in a cozy house in the woods, eight is also the magic

number for this litter of long and low dachshund puppies.

The average dachshund litter is four pups. So for mom Tina,

just keeping track of this double batch is a full-time job.

They might all look alike, but mom knows who's who. These

pups are nicknamed hot dogs for good reason. At 10 inches,

they're twice the length of most puppies their age.

That length comes in handy for hunting in burrows.

Dachshund means badger dog in German, and they were bred in

medieval times to chase those critters out of their holes.

Mom Tina's long body also serves as a spacious dining table.

While some diners get in line for their meal, others find

more novel ways to dine.

This is Rollo, and rolling is what he does.

Maybe he inherited his stunt skills from mom.

She might not look it, but Tina's an athlete. She's a wiener

racer. Yes, a wiener racer. And a champion to boot. Wiener

racing is a popular sport for dachshund fans,

where dogs compete in a hot dog bun fun run.

Peppy little Rollo could be a future wiener race pro.

But not if his brother has anything to do with it.

This is Pickle, and whatever Rollo does, Pickle wants to do better.

Guess it's never too early for a dose of brotherly competition.

Coming up, the Chunuk pups dive right in, and

budding athlete Rollo starts his training.

Over at the country ranch, the four rare Chunuk puppies are

now three weeks old, and weighing in at around three pounds

each.

To become strong sled dogs, these pups should be putting

on a pound and a half each week. That's a lot of growing.

So today they're getting a high-protein puppy supplement,

goat's milk, which is easier to digest than cow's milk. It

helps the pups to be weaned off Mom Tikani's

milk, and gets them used to feeding from a bowl.

Black pup Kaya charges right in, leading her noisy sisters to the prize.

And she's not too concerned about table manners. Kaya makes

this meal look good enough to share, but Nanook is missing

the treat.

He's got his own quieter plans for the afternoon, biting an itch,

which he can't quite find.

Over at the cozy house in the woods, all is

quiet for the docks and pups afternoon siesta.

At three weeks old, their eyes have now opened.

But sometimes it's hard to keep them open.

One pup, however, is wide awake and ready for some action.

No more rolling for Rolo. He's learning to make

the best possible use of his signature stubby legs.

And when this athlete's in training, no hurdle is too daunting.

Now that Brother Pickle is awake, he's ready to join the training session.

But as a budding athlete, Pickle's not bringing his A-game.

Out in the backyard, Mom Tina is getting her workout

too. Champions can't let their fitness slide.

But after that many buns in the oven, this bun doesn't fit

so well. Maybe she'll be in the bleachers at the race this

year. For now, she'll focus on a new ambition, to be a champion mom.

Back at the Labradoodle Manor, the pups are now three weeks

old, and Mom Madison is taking them outside for the very

first time, for some alfresco dining.

Rough-and-tumble Rocky demands a VIP seat up top.

And he's not shy about cutting in line,

while little Stanley is just hungry for Mom's

attention.

Lunch is over, and Madison's ready for action.

After three weeks stuck inside, she's eager to return to

her favorite hobbies, touching her favorite pink ball, and

taking a dip in the family pool.

And it's never too soon to share hobbies with your kids.

Littlest Labradoodle Stanley sees the ball, all right.

He's just not sure what to do with it. It seems these pups

will have to be Mom's playmates another day. Coming up, the

Dachshund pups are on the move, and the

Labradoodles attempt their first doggy paddle.

At the Dachshund house, the pups are now five weeks old.

Their coordination has improved by leaps and bounds.

Rollo the athlete may be low to the ground, but

he's high in energy. This pup's always in training.

Rival Pickle likes to take his brother on. And he's not afraid of playing dirty.

Soon they take their training session outside,

swapping indoor track for cross-country field.

For these low riders, grass can seem more like a forest than a field.

But Rollo shows all the makings of a long-distance runner,

leaving rival Pickle in his dust. As a

cooldown, Rollo practices his signature stunt.

13 inches long and an inch off the ground, this hot dog was born to roll.

While the pups are training at home, Mom Tina's off to the

wiener race she won last year. This time she's a spectator.

As a blue-ribbon holder, Tina is quite the local celebrity.

And hobnobbing with her race pals is a nice break from minding the kids.

Even if she can't compete, she can still cheer on her friends.

Back home after a day at the races, Tina has a treat for her

puppies. They're not ready yet to be racers like her, but at

least they can get a glimpse of the gear.

It seems Pickle is partial to mustard on his hot dog.

Over at the Chinooks ranch, the pups are now five weeks

old and ready to take their first trip out to the yard.

As sled dogs, Chinooks work on snowy alpine slopes. So Kaya

and her sisters waste no time climbing this mini mountain,

and they make a big deal of announcing their conquest.

Nanook retreats to a quiet valley, away from the rowdy sisterhood,

until Mom Tikani gives her only son a pep talk.

So Nanook proves to his sisters, if they can scale a peak, then so can he.

Over at the Labradoodle house, it's a big day for the eight

pups. At five weeks old, these water retrievers are ready to

get their paws wet.

Rocky, the biggest pup, is a natural.

And the other pups show off their aquatic DNA.

The littlest pup, Stanley, is the last to take a dip.

Maybe he's missing the swimming gene.

But it turns out he's got some pep in his paddle,

which he proudly shows off to beefy brother Rocky. But when

it's time to get out, little Stanley is at a disadvantage,

and big old Rocky's only out for himself.

Luckily, there's a helping hand,

and little Stanley gets a well-learned cuddle after a very adventurous day.

Coming up, Pickle fights through a wardrobe mishap.

At the Chinook's Country Ranch, the pups are

now seven weeks old and growing in independence.

Naturally, Kaya the Brave leads the way, while her rowdy

sisters follow. And only boy Nanook is a few stumbles

behind. As sled dogs, Chinooks have to learn to work as a

pack. Puppies, like children, learn as they play. While bold

Kaya and her sisters prove themselves boisterous team players,

Nanook is quietly doing his own thing.

But sister Kaya doesn't let him stray for long,

and Nanook joins his sisters in their sled dog team.

Out of snow season, Chinooks love to stay in shape, even without a sled.

And today, Mom Takani and the puppy's aunt Suka

are giving Brave Kaya her first driving lesson.

This is a sport called bike-jarring, derived from the

Norwegian word for driving. It's one of many canine-pulling

sports, including dog-driven skis, scooters and carts.

Student driver Kaya takes in all the techniques.

Next time, it'll be her turn at the end of the reins. But

for now, this sleepy explorer is happy for the sled to be a

bed.

Over at the Dachshund house, the pups are now

seven weeks old and ready to take on the world.

Dachshunds are known for being small dogs with a big dog

state of mind. True to his breed, Rolo is biting off more

than he can chew.

Size doesn't matter when your attitude stands tall.

But when Rolo's got something, of course rival Pickle wants it too.

This time, Pickle snatches the prize.

Wiener racer Mom and her sporting stripes brings a distraction from the squabble.

Before these mini-racers hit the track, they need to try out the mini-equipment.

Natural athlete Rolo suits up first in his snack-sized bun

and shows promising form.

Rival Pickle can't hide his jealousy and takes it out on Rolo's new uniform.

But once it's Pickle's turn to get suited up,

he finds out that the track suit can fight back.

Guess every naughty pup gets his just desserts.

Back at the Labradoodle house, the pups are now seven weeks

old and ready for a graduation. From the puppy pool to the

big dog pool. It's pool party time.

Friends, family, and neighbors have all been invited.

And the party guests dive right into the fun.

Guest of honor is Spry Grandma Amber, a Labrador Retriever.

She might be 70 dog years old, but this senior is not ready to retire just yet.

While Rocky hogs the VIP lounger, littlest Labradoodle

Stanley has got cold paws about the size of that big pool.

But a special party outfit makes things easier.

And Stanley proves you can be safe and stylish at the pool.

Coming up, the sled dogs try to pull their first

sled. And the Labradoodles meet a dazzling stranger.

Today at the Chinook Ranch, the pups have a special visitor.

This is their dad Tom. He lives across the country, so

they're meeting him for the first time.

Nanook can't hide his excitement.

At last, there's another guy around to even out the numbers.

Dad's here for a reason. Today is a rite of passage for the Chinook pups.

At nine weeks, these sled dogs are ready to pull their

first sled. Well, they've got to start somewhere.

Fearless Kaya is naturally the first up.

Getting pups used to the feel of a harness is a big part of training a sled dog.

Kaya's running mate is her only brother, Nanook, who usually likes traveling solo.

Today, this mismatched brother and sister must try to work as a team.

Kaya and Nanook get their assignment. Deliver lunch.

But it seems the pups can't agree on the best delivery route.

Which is bad news for mom and dad's meal.

But after a few tries, the siblings finally pull together as a pack.

And deliver their first meal.

Whatever's left of it. And these working pups have also earned lunch for themselves.

Not far away, the eight Labradoodle pups are also enjoying the sunny day.

One of the most prized features of the Labradoodle is their soft, fleecy coat.

Part of what makes their fur so special is that it's not

actually fur at all. It's hair, which means they're perfect

pets for people with allergies.

Because they shed very little to keep their

coat from matting, they need regular grooming.

And at nine weeks old, the Labradoodle pups are indulging

the poodle in them with their first trip to the doggy day

spa.

Biggest pup Rocky stages an anti-spa protest.

But his tough-guy attitude is soon dampened.

While little Stanley is the perfect styling model.

Making stylish mom Madison proud.

When it comes to hairstyling, Rocky makes his

message clear. Don't mess with this doodle's do.

And he doesn't see the need for a pedicure either. But then

Pammy the salon poodle brings a welcome distraction. Now

that's something new. Pink dogs aren't exactly a dime a

dozen. Pammy's raised the bar for looking slick at the

salon. Lucky the two brothers are looking sharp themselves.

Back at the Dachshund house, the pups are

now nine weeks old and more active than ever.

Which means it's time for their biggest test yet. Their first race.

At the starting gate, Rolo sticks to ketchup red and rivaled

Pickle to mustard yellow. But before the race has even

started, Pickle is up to his old tricks. But

mom Tina won't stand for foul play on her watch.

And they're off.

Rolo and Pickle are neck and neck. It's a close

call between them as they approach the finish line.

Guess no one told these athletes you need to cross the finish line.

Coming up, little Stanley makes a new friend.

And the wiener pups have something to celebrate.

Over at the Labradoodle house, there's excitement in the air.

The pups are 11 weeks old and today they're meeting their new families.

Biggest pup Rocky shows his new family his ruffian streak.

As well as his softer side.

And littlest Labradoodle Stanley also gets a boy of his

own to give him all the love and protection he needs.

Only 10 weeks ago, Madison's litter of eight puppies were helpless newborns.

From the beginning, biggest pup Rocky threw his weight around.

Little Stanley wasn't born with the same

bravado, but he showed some pluck along the way.

The next chapter of Rocky's story is just beginning.

And before Stanley goes to his forever home, he shows off

his swimming skills to his new family. Mom Madison couldn't

be more proud. Oh my gosh, look at this.

No looking back for the littlest Labradoodle. The best adventures lie ahead.

Over at the Chinook Ranch, at 11 weeks old, the

sled pups now rule their backyard territory.

Only boy Nanook is no longer out in the cold.

And pack leader Kaia is starting to wonder what lies beyond

the boundaries of her backyard. She'll find out soon enough.

Today the pups will go to their new homes.

It's been a long road for the Chinook pups. From the start,

brave Kaia showed her sled dog spirit with bold fledgling

steps.

Solo boy Nanook started life looking for some peace and

quiet. But along the way, he teamed up with his boisterous

sisters and learned to pull his weight.

Mom Tikani has raised pups to be proud of.

Nanook won't be the only boy in his new pack.

And Kaia's new family comes with two young explorers

who will join her in all her adventures to come.

At the Dachshund house, the pups have more friends than they ever dreamed possible.

It's a big day, because at ten weeks old, these many

wieners are ready to move on to their new homes.

This is a family of racing fans, and they want the puppy

they choose to like racing too. And the pups are happy to

give it one more go before hitting the road. Natural athlete

Rolo and his scrappy rival Pickle have had a few weeks of

practice and are now expert racers. Ready, set, go!

There's not much between them until firm favorite Rolo

breaks ahead and goes for gold. Then bites the dust, letting

underdog Pickle win. But Pickle's learned some sportsmanship

and the brothers cross the finish line united, much to mom

Tina's pride.

In the ten weeks since their humble beginnings, Tina's pups

have come a long way. From the start, Rolo and Pickle went

head to head. And they had their differences along the way.

But now, Rolo and Pickle get to come together and share a victory.

Future racers or not, both brothers have won over their playmates.