At Abitibi Sled Dogs we prioritize dog care and wellness as a primary pillar of our touring business. We have a small kennel of Alaskan Huskies, these dogs are born to run, so much so that we must stop them from over-exerting themselves. We understand that each dog is as individual as you and I, we get to know each dog as an individual and build a training program/enrichment program specific to their motivations and temperament.
Each dog that is either adopted or bred at our kennel receives a full end-of-life retirement plan with annual veterinary checks and immunizations, a dietary plan, and a social/physical and mental wellness plan. We personally do as much dog care as we can such as cutting their nails, brushing their coats, and spending time with each dog on manners and pets/attention. We are grateful for our wonderful veterinary clinic and its staff for the care and attention they offer our dogs in addition to our daily roles/responsibilities to manage their health, safety, and wellness.
Our team of dogs are housed in large pens which can support 2 adult dogs with access to insulated shelters, bedding, and sensory enrichment that is safe for dogs. The base of the pen is primarily sand to offer padding/cushion for their joints, minimize deleterious material with organisms that may cause harm as well as offer a bit of digging enjoyment. Having more than one dog per pen area ensures they are socializing with one another and do not focus all their energy on their neighbours. We have an area designated for Free Run time, where the dogs can interact and play in larger groups while supervised and run/play.
At Abitibi Sled Dogs, we prioritize a high standard of dog care and wellness by ensuring that each dog in our kennel is managed with these 4 core principles in mind:
Each of these aspects has been fully considered in the design of our kennel space and we are always seeking to learn from the dogs to find new ways we can improve on these aspects for their well-being and enjoyment.
We ensure that our kennel meets the Mush with P.R.I.D.E Sled Dog Care Guidelines and their Kennel Inspection Program. learn more
It is no surprise that Sled dogs require a ton of physical exercise, they are literally born to run. Just like a human training for a Marathon race, the dogs require conditioning in their training and preparation for the Winter. We call this our “Fall Training Program”. And this is accomplished by limiting the team’s ability to run at their full speed and training them to run with some slight resistance and progressively working on increasing their running distance, speed, reaffirming directional commands and so much more. The importance of conditioning the dogs cannot be overstated.
This training is completed prior to running any sled dog tours in the Winter months. This ensures that the dogs are fully prepared to pull sleds with guests for short and long distances. This is what the dogs love to do, their excitement for running with their teammates and pulling a sled is clear.
Check out our YouTube channel @abitibisleddogs to see for yourself.
Alaskan Huskies are double coated, adapted/bred to handle the harshest Winters and temperatures. At Abitibi Sled Dogs kennel we ensure that the dogs are expending the least amount of energy to remain warm by feeding them a special diet of Meat and high-quality Kibble, offering heated water, ensuring their shelters are appropriately sized for the dog with ample amounts of straw for bedding and added insulation. For running/training we also use coats and booties for colder days and always ensure this equipment is with us if conditions change rapidly.
In the Summer months, just like with school children, the dogs have time to rest and play. We ensure they are learning new skills and focus a lot on dog interactions, play, and obedience training. The dogs enjoy laying in the shade to keep cool with the breeze from the lake. The dogs can experience full sunlight (Ultraviolet Light) as this is one of the best natural means of prevention against organisms, diseases, etc. The dogs enjoy using the free run area as well as the sounds and smells of nature around them.
Our retired sled dogs can relax and enjoy their years with their teammates more. This isn’t always easy for them to understand, despite being unable to fully participate in the sled dog exercise program, they want to run and are just as excited as the team is when they are preparing for take off. They find their pace as they transition into a rhythm of slow/steady walks and sometimes hikes, a new diet, and more one on one time with their favorite humans. At Abitibi Sled Dogs, our dogs typically retired around the age of 11-12, this can depend vastly on the dog. We have been fortunate to spend so much time with our dogs and offer them the best lifestyle possible, but nothing can last forever, and we make sure they receive the best end-of-life care possible.
Thank you again to our wonderful veterinarian team and their compassionate approach to our dogs at each stage of life, especially end-of-life care.
We are always seeking ways to learn, grow and evolve our dog care practices for the better and welcome feedback and questions from all walks of life. We hope you will join us and meet the dogs for yourself by visiting our kennel.
Happy Trails,
Abitibi Sled Dogs