This week on the trail I had to test two “new” lead dogs for real. My main leaders (Nissa, Laban) went home because they were too skinny, Gandalf was out with a hurt nail, and Mike had a dislocated toe—so suddenly Layla and Aya had to take the main responsibility. They’ve worked in front before, but not like this. We head out from Saltoluokta, climb that uphill I’ve done so many times (and I’m still amazed I reach the top alive), and then continue through changing weather—low clouds, sunlight breaking through, and that special Lapland palette of blue, yellow, and white. The big lesson in this video is what I actually want in a lead dog. It’s not just speed and excitement—it's focus, decision-making, confidence, and communication. In sticky, warm snow the sled doesn’t glide, and when snowmobiles have been off the trail in whiteout, the leaders must choose the hard, correct line instead of blindly following the newest track into soft snow. I talk about why “too eager” leaders can be a problem (they don’t stop and think), and how Layla and Aya improved day by day, listening to commands and starting to read the trail. But I’m also honest: so far it’s still our backyard. The next level is taking them somewhere they’ve never been—then you really see what kind of leader dog you have.