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Bucket List Idea: Try Dog Sledding


There’s something about experiencing the Winter Wonderland from the perspective of a dog sled that snowmobiling or a ski tour simply cannot match.

Maybe it is the slower pace that gives plenty of time to take in all the impressions or maybe it is the combination of sled dogs panting plus the rhythmic beat of their large paws, a sound that is suddenly magnified against a backdrop of pure silence.

Dog sledding allows you to get back to the basics, our roots in non-motorized transportation. Exploring nature from the back of a dog team is something hard to top. Every run with a team of dogs is an adventure.

Sadly, many ( uninformed ) people believe that dog sledding is animal abuse, that it's cruel and it exploits the poor animals.


Granted, some mushers/commercial operators do inflict abuse upon their animals and this needs to end. Unfortunately the majority of mushers who treat their dogs well are not mentioned in the news because it is not sensational enough. Most mushers have a very tight relationship with their dogs and consider them family.

Saying that cruel to make a dog pull people for our pleasure is like saying it is cruel to make a horse carry a person. These dogs are work dogs, meaning they need to have a job to do or they can become restless and self-destructive. They actually like their job unlike many humans.

The key is that these dogs are bred and born to run. Hunting dogs will always try to hunt, herding dogs will always try to herd, and pulling dogs will always try to run and pull.

The first snow of the winter will always cause the dogs to go crazy, excited at the prospect of running. Most huskies can't run loose because they'll just take off until they can't run anymore (and usually forget where they are by the time they're done).


These dogs need to run long distances, which is why huskies have a reputation for running away from home. Most home owners think that a 20 minute walk twice a day is sufficient exercise. Sled dogs need several hours of exercise every day. They are pack animals and need the company of other dogs.

People have used dogs to pull sleds for centuries. Once it was a primary form of transportation in many parts of the world, and there are still places where dog sledding is the only way to travel. From this tradition came sled dog racing. Today it is a worldwide sport for both professional competition and family recreation.

Dog sled tours are a great way to explore the Great Outdoors. Many tourists that visit cold weather areas like Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia prefer to see the sights using a dog sled rather than other more advanced methods of transportation because there is just something delightfully simplistic and old fashioned about bouncing across a landscape on a sled that is being pulled by a team of dogs. Dog sled tours allow people to feel like they are viewing nature in its purest form, and for many that’s what visiting the northern wilderness is all about.

Anyone who has done it will tell you - it's all about the dogs. One of the favorite parts for just about everyone is interacting with the dogs. 

Check out a short video below that reflects the beauty and excitement of dog sledding :



Want to cross this adventure off  YOUR Bucket List ?

Check out "Dog Sledding In Whistler, B.C" video !!


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