Working dogs do gain satisfaction from the approbation of those who work with them. Dog body language is easy to read for those who spend time around them. Those who operate sustainable and ethical
operations can see that dogs love to run. When well cared for, the dogs enjoy the dog sledding as much as we do.
Do Dogs Enjoy Pulling Sleds? Working dogs do enjoy having people appreciate them when they do their jobs. For people who spend time with dogs, reading their body language is simple. Dogs love to run, as those who run ethical and sustainable dog sled operations can attest.
Is Dog Sledding Cruel? Our Personal Experience
We traveled to the Yukon in Canada’s far north and reserved a spot on Sky High Wilderness Ranch’s 4-day dog sledding tour. We were eager to see why these guys were regarded as some of the best dog sledding operators in the nation.
Due to the fact that we arrived in Whitehorse the evening before the Yukon Quest began, our trip to Canada couldn’t have been timed any better for this research.
Although the Yukon Quest is one of the toughest dog sledding competitions in the world, there aren’t as many horror stories about it as its notorious Alaskan counterpart, the Iditarod.
We went to the Yukon Quest starting line in the morning to observe the atmosphere and, most importantly, to see how the dogs were doing.
Numerous trucks and sleds were in the yards, and countless gorgeous dogs were training for the upcoming race.
When we were strolling around at the start of the Yukon Quest, we spoke with a lot of vets and racers, and they all reassured us that the dogs genuinely enjoyed racing and were never pushed past their limits.
We also got the impression from watching the lead mushers play with their dogs that they truly cared about them and weren’t just using them as tools for their job.
The dogs’ smiles were undeniably genuine as we observed one man spend nearly 5 minutes lovingly petting and massaging each of his dogs.
Our opinions of dog sledding were beginning to change for the better, and they continued to do so once we embarked on our own adventure.
When we first arrived at Sky High Wilderness Ranch, it was clear that the owners and staff treated the dogs as if they were family.
People were playing with dogs, feeding them treats, cuddling them, and otherwise interacting with them everywhere we turned. The dogs came first here; it wasn’t a performance for the tourists.
We were initially shocked to see that the sled dogs were all chained to their pens, which were made of a timber box with hay inside for insulation.
However, as we learned more about sled dogs, we realized that it was essential. Since dogs are pack animals, allowing huskies to roam free in such a high-energy environment would inevitably result in challenges between them, resulting in fights and injuries.
In the event of truly bad weather, their simple pens would provide plenty of warmth and protection from the elements.
One of our initial worries was that the dogs were left outside when it was -40 degrees. But since huskies have such a thick coat of fur, we never saw them shiver or seek shelter even when it was that cold. Instead, they were found having a blast rolling around in the snow and ice.
The retired older sled dogs roamed around freely, enjoying their golden years in peace and having the freedom to go wherever they pleased, whenever they pleased.
As the dogs at Sky High Wilderness Ranch had grown up on the property and only known a life of sledding, we inquired as to whether they had ever been given up for adoption.
They were far too spirited for someone from the city to keep as typical pets. They spent the remainder of their lives in the environment they were familiar with.
The mushing itself was where we could really see how much the dogs enjoyed the sport.
The dogs would excitedly jump up and down and pull on their chains towards us as we approached their pens while holding a lead in our hands. The happiness in their faces was irrefutable.
They essentially dragged us toward the sled-loading area after we picked them up and removed the chain from their pen. They had a plan and were motivated to carry it out.
Once we began preparing them for the day, it was the same. As we put on their harnesses, they would instantly calm down, allowing us to lift their legs through the loops (or even lifting them already to assist us).
We would tie them to the sled as we were getting ready to leave at the last step. The dogs at this point transformed into machines for dragging the sled forward, leaping into the air and giving it their all. They would leave before we could load ourselves on, so we had to have the anchor set firmly.
The dogs kept a steady pace once we were on the trails, moving forward constantly and looking back to make sure we were okay.
When we encountered an uphill section, our guides were very strict with us, telling us to get off the sleds and push them to help the dogs.
Likewise, if we were traveling downhill, we had to constantly be leaning on the brakes to prevent losing control and hitting the dogs’ backs by accident.
We were told to keep an eye on the sled dogs at all times, watch that the ropes didn’t tangle, and alert the guides right away if we saw one dog leaping or slowing down.
Dog sledding was enjoyable, no doubt, but it should not come at the expense of the dogs’ wellbeing.
When the days were over, we would return the dogs to the yard, feed them, give them massages, and check to see that they were securely tucked away in their pens.
We had extensive conversations about the idea that dog sledding was cruel with the guides and Jocelyn LeBlanc, the proprietor of Sky High Wilderness Ranch.
Although there have been some tragic instances in the past, they all agreed that these were actually quite unusual. They relied on the dogs for their livelihood, and they couldn’t maintain a business without them.
Customers weren’t foolish either. Once they entered the property or took a quick glance at the dogs, they could immediately tell if something didn’t feel right.
The fact that these people genuinely loved their dogs was also evident. They were constantly playing with them, calling them all by name, and showing them love.
We had an excellent personal experience at Sky High Wilderness Ranch, which fully convinced us that this was a perfectly responsible activity.
We spent the following few weeks traveling across Canada, visiting Quebec and Banff, two locations known for their dog sledding excursions.
Although we didn’t embark on any new tours during this trip, we did stop by a dog sledding operation in Quebec and spoke with the owner and staff there for a while.
The situation was exactly the same as when we were in Yukon. These people put their dogs on a pedestal. Even though they couldn’t be used for work, the owner adopted dogs that the RSPCA planned to put down in order to provide them with a wonderful life on her property.
We decided against going sledding there because of how much snow fell the previous night. She proudly declared, “It would be better to give the dogs a rest day and give the customers their money back because it would be too much work for the dogs to pull through this much snow.”
We joined a group for a day of ice climbing while researching the top things to do in Banff, and we inquired about the possibility of dog sledding with the guide before joining the group.
He admitted, “I’ve never done it myself, but I have a few friends who work at dog sledding outfits, and the dogs just adore it. They have an excellent life, and they were born to do it!
Outside of the two cases we had already seen, during our questioning we never came across another instance of sled dog animal cruelty. In the end we made up our mind. Is dog sledding cruel? Not in the slightest.
Can the Dogs Handle Pulling Sleds?
People frequently ask this query when debating whether dog sledding is inhumane. Here’s what we found out.
The dogs that are used for sledding are mostly huskies, or very similar breeds to huskies, and these dogs are well and truly born to mush. It’s in their blood.
They are powerful working animals and, given the chance, will run nonstop for days. They crave exercise because they have so much energy to expend.
Given the extra weight of the sleds, dogs are always grouped into teams of four, five, six, or even more, depending on the number of riders.
Once the sled begins to move as well, momentum is everything. Instead of pulling a stationary object, it is simpler to maintain motion once something is already moving.
Because of this, whenever the sled with the dogs starts moving, the driver jumps off and pushes as well to help the dogs. The same is done when going uphill; the human pushes to prevent the dogs from having to do the entire job.
These sled dogs have extremely thick fur that is designed for survival in extremely cold climates. These dogs hardly feel the cold at -20 degrees, whereas we might need a lot of layers.
However, when it’s extremely chilly (like -40 degrees), the guides will frequently dress them in small jumpers and occasionally booties to keep their feet warm. Although not required, these do give the dogs a little bit of additional comfort.
Former Dog-Sled Insiders Reveal Extreme Cruelty in ‘Dogs in Distress’
The director of the ground-breaking documentary Sled Dogs, Fern Levitt, describes the horror of discovering a homemade gas chamber allegedly used to kill dogs along with a freezer full of dead puppies that were so small and still that they appeared to be sleeping. Gas-based “euthanasia” techniques are common and legal in many places.
FAQ
Do sled dogs like what they do?
Fortunately, we kept reading and discovered something much more uplifting. Numerous veterinarians and dog sledding businesses swore that huskies actually enjoy mushing and that each puppy was given excellent care, including regular veterinary checkups, plenty of rest breaks, and nutritious food.
Why do sled dogs pull sleds?
Huskies need a job and enough activity to be happy because they are working dogs. This is why huskies are gentle because they enjoy mushing and pulling sleds. Husky owners must think outside the box and provide alternatives if one is unable to exercise in front of the sled.
What kind of dog is best for pulling a sled?
Among the sled-dog breeds, the Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Chinook are some of the most well-known, and for good reason. Between 35,000 and 30,000 years ago, in Mongolia, sled dogs most likely first appeared.
Is the Iditarod cruel to dogs?
The Iditarod is, by design, exhausting and dangerous for the dogs forced to participate, even though the rules stipulate that the dogs must undergo veterinary examinations and that mushers may be disqualified for animal abuse.