Dog Sledding in Canada: To Do Or Not To Do? | One World Wanderer
When it comes to things to do in winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are a few activities that stand out as obvious choices: skiing and snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and of course dog sledding.
Having spent a winter season living in Canada I had tried my hands at most activities involving cold weather and being outdoors, but dog sledding was something that I was dying to try.
And what better time to do it than on my 23rd birthday?
Loving the winter vibes and Canadian wanderlust? Why not try a working holiday! If you want to read more about how to prepare or begin your working holiday dream, you can find all the information in part 1 and part 2!
First time in the snow or on a ski holiday? Read this post for all the best winter tips, tricks, and packing guides!
What is dog Sledding?
Dog sledding, or dog mushing as it’s otherwise known, is being pulled by a team of dogs across the snow and ice while standing or sitting on a sled.
There are a few places around the world you can try this, with Norway and Alaska being two of the most popular destinations, but personally I couldn’t wait to try dog sledding in Canada for my first time.
Even though I had done plenty of research, I still didn’t know quite what to expect.
Was dog sledding humane?
Truth was, I really didn’t know.
Over the years I’d heard horror stories about dog mushing, of dogs being overworked, or worse. But having owned a VERY energetic husky, I had to believe that their nature to pull and pull and pull and run for long periods at a time, was not going to harm the pups in any way.
With a lot of research, I found there were far more uplifting stories than sad ones. Countless vets and dog sledding companies swore that the huskies actually love mushing and that each pup was treated extremely well with regular veterinary check-ups, lots of rest breaks and healthy food.
And luckily, what I found, was exactly this!
My Dog Sledding Experience
My first foray into the world of dog sledding was simply remarkable.
I had booked in with Howling Dog Tours for me and a friend to share a dog sled on my birthday, and they did not disappoint!
We were picked up from our accommodation and driven to Canmore at around 12:00 pm. In the car, they ensured we were all wearing enough clothing, ran through some history about dog sledding, and collected payment.
The drive up the mountain and into the mountain range behind Canmore was honestly one of my favourites.
The scenery was unrivalled by anything I’d seen, which explains why so many famous movies have been filmed around the area. Some of my favourites include Togo, Jumanji 2, and The Revenant.
Despite the frigid temperatures, (it was not long after the temps had dropped to -40 and -50), the sun was out and the landscape looked spectacular covered in the snow beneath a pale blue sky.
As we walked our way up to the dogs, we could hear their excited howls echoing in the valley.
With so many gorgeous dogs around, we couldn’t help but run up and pat as many as possible. Their happiness was evident, and they jumped into our arms, tongues out and licking our faces.
Once we had gotten our share of puppy love, we joined our guide, David, down by the shed and he started to explain how things would work. They explained that the dogs are rotated out regularly, so the ones in the pens would either be going later with other groups or had already run that morning.
He set aside our sleds, which we would have the opportunity to both lay in and stand behind with the musher, and we were then shown how to clip the dogs onto the sleds, with one of us pulling the ropes taught, and the other holding down the sack. He then explained why the dogs must be tied up at all times (being pack animals, they would challenge each other for dominance, causing injury), and how to look after them.
We were then introduced to our beautiful pups. We had: Charger, Tequila, Tank, Lita, Whiskey, Fire, and Ryder.
Once they were all ready, it was time for us to go!
What was it actually like?
I don’t think words can really describe the feeling of dog sledding. It’s fun, exciting, beautiful, majestic, wholesome- all wrapped together to create the experience of a lifetime!
It was a surreal feeling to be gliding over the snow and ice, with just the sounds of the sled on snow and the dogs breathing in front of us. With so much open space as well we could finally start to look around.
The views were sensational, with snowy mountains rising up all around us.
Not only are you in awe of the beauty of nature, but of the dogs, too! Watching them pull us like it was the most natural thing in the world for them to do was truly astonishing.
On the flat terrain, the dogs ran at a fast pace, effortlessly dragging the sled along. We kept an eye on them to see how they were pulling, making sure they didn’t run with a limp or any obvious signs of fatigue.
It was a lot of fun twisting and turning along the trail, leaning into each turn to ensure we kept our balance, while the dogs occasionally looked back to make sure we were ok. Both of us took turns sitting down and admiring the beauty around us, as well as standing behind the sled and helping the musher control the sled.
The views kept getting more beautiful though, and despite the freezing cold weather the fresh snow was glistening in the sun with a certain vibrancy that made us forget the temperatures.
After about 40 minutes of sledding, we were taken to a nice resting spot where we would be given warm hot chocolate and biscuits.
Personally, I think it was just to give us all a chance to cuddle and play with the dogs.
Which we most certainly did.
We walked around the sleds- about 4 of them- and played with each of the dogs. Most were very loving, licking your face, hands, and enjoying the cuddle.
Some, however, did not want a bar of it. But regardless, they were all very friendly and comfortable around people.
The dogs were fed a small treat and chicken water before their harnesses were taken off and they were taken away to rest up.
Dog sledding was without a doubt one of my favourite experiences in Canada. I don’t think I stopped smiling once- both in the sled, and hours later recalling the day of adventure.
If you ever have the opportunity to dog sled in Canada, I couldn’t recommend Howling Dog Tours more. They took great care of both the dogs and us! The adventure was one I will remember forever, and I can’t thank them enough for the wonderful experience.
Although dog sledding isn’t exactly budget-friendly, it is one of those activities you simply must splurge a little on. I can assure you, it’s 100% worthwhile.
For some other incredible winter activities, check out my latest posts:
9 of the Best Winter Adventures Near Banff/Lake Louise
Top 6 must-see lakes in Canada
Your Ultimate Canadian Bucketlist
Johnston’s Canyon: Everything You Need To Know About Hiking It
*** This post is not a sponsored post. I genuinely enjoyed my experience, and as a travel blogger, wanted to share it with my audience!
Originally published at https://oneworldwanderer.net on May 18, 2020.
