FAQs

What do the dogs eat?
The dogs eat plenty, and in the middle of a busy season they need approximately 5000-7000 calories a day to fuel their burners. This comes in the form of ground chicken, beef and pork fat (because it is high in Vitamin C which sled dogs require) salmon, egg and high-powered dog food. We feed Inukshuk Professional Dog Food 32/32 and supplement with these various meat and fat products to produce a balanced diet fit for our hard working huskies. While the breakdown of an average pet quality kibble might contain 18% protein and 12% fat, our dogs gobble up their kibble which contains 32% protein and 32% fat. Instead of one enormous meal, we meter their goodies out over the course of the day. At the end of your run you will be able to watch their “crocodile imitation’ – as they snap up their frozen goodie as it is tossed to them. All in all, each dog eats about two pounds of food a day. However, just like people they all have different metabolisms, which we have to monitor carefully. We call Jyske the little butterball turkey because she gains weight just by looking at food, and while we stuff Jaws with as much as he will eat, he still remains a gangly boy. In general, the dogs maintain a sleek and lean physique, as they are athletes, and to carry extra unneeded weight would be injurious to their joints.

How old are the dogs when they start working?
Pup pens are situated in the kennel where they can watch the adult dogs go to work. Thus they have been observing harness work from the time they opened their eyes. We start them at about six months old; they are just about jumping out of their skin with excitement at finally being “grown up.” Their first run is very short and very slow. They are paired up with calm and patient veterans who will tolerate their puppy antics and provide a solid role model. The first goal of these first season runs is to lay a solid foundation of fun for the pups, with no negative experiences in harness. It is their pre-school year. Because they are bred to pull and run, they usually perform like champs. By their second season we are asking a little more of them, and by their third season in harness most of them are taking their job more seriously. There are always exceptions to this rule though. Trouble is six years old and he’s the guy who never outgrew the class clown role. He is very handsome, and somewhere along the road he decided that he could get by on his good looks alone.

What makes a lead dog?
Lead dogs are born, not made. A lead dog could be compared to a CEO of a company. They love their job, take it very seriously and can handle a great deal of responsibility. A lead dog must be particularly tuned into the musher in order to take commands. It can be a somewhat stressful situation having eight or ten screaming athletes at your heels, and so the lead dog must be confident of his or her abilities up there. We see lead dog-potential pups at a very young age. At the same time, we never discount the “sleeper” dog, who may be a late bloomer and decides at age three or even five years that he or she wants to take the helm. Contrary to popular belief, the lead dog is not always the alpha dog in the kennel.

What are the little dog booties for?
We put booties on dogs for a variety of reasons. Mainly it is for cracked and abraded feet, or snow bailing up between their toes, but rarely for the cold. Dogs shed excess body heat through their mouth and feet. This is why they pant when it gets warm. The feet are another conduit for cooling down, and this is why sled dogs rarely get cold feet. As long as they are moving and creating mechanical heat through their activity, their feet are cozy and warm. Again, all the dogs are individuals and we are attuned to who is more likely to need boots under different conditions.