Susan Conant's Holly Winter! I own them all. Hilarious books! I love the first one where she get's Rowdy- murder weapon was a leash. Or the one with the A frame?...I still get a good giggle out of those.

I also read Sue Henry- her books are dog sled race themed. Similiar. Not quite as good but very close.

Heyoka sounds a bit like Wahoo- no work ethic, all sense of humor. Don'tcha love the goofballs? Are Goldie and Kayleigh "ladies"? (Dignified and regal?)

Wahoo was 160lbs on the vets scale. A "bit" oversize.