A friendly, understanding story of a puppy, Skookum, who loved to pull a sled, but who grew so big, he didn't fit his house, his harness, and had to be deprived of his work because he was too big for the team. Until, of course, the fine solution that he could be a one-dog team for the boy who watched him grow. This is Alaskan life and ways, and, although the vocabulary is unusual, there is plenty of repetition so that young self-readers wont have much trouble.