FAQs

What kind of dogs do you have?

We work with Alaskan Huskies, which are a mixed type developed specifically for pulling and endurance. Some may look a little bit like the classic fluffy Siberian Husky, but most are leaner or have pointer or hound influence. What they all share is a love of running, great feet, and coats built for cold weather. They might not all look like the sled dogs in the movies, but once they’re in harness, their job is crystal clear.

Do the dogs run year-round? What do they do in the off-season?

Our dogs are active year-round, but their workload changes with the seasons. In winter, they’re doing most of their miles pulling sleds and running tours or racing. In the warmer months, many of our dogs go to "Summer Camp" in Juneau to give shorter tours on carts. The ones who stay home get early morning walks and hikes, socialization, and confidence-building activities. There’s also plenty of free time to play, relax, and just be dogs.

How do you decide which dog goes in which position?

Each position has its own “job description,” and we place dogs where their personality and strengths fit best. Confident, quick-thinking dogs who respond well to voice commands often become leaders, while powerful, steady dogs may run in team or wheel. Swing dogs help with corners, and many dogs move around over time as they learn. They get to try different positions during training and ultimately, they tell us where they want to be.

When do sled dogs retire? And what happens when they do?

Retirement depends on the individual dog, not an exact age, but many slow down somewhere around their senior years. We gradually move older dogs to lighter work and shorter runs, then fully retire them when they’re no longer excited to be in harness. Some retirees stay with us as beloved house or yard dogs, and others go to carefully chosen pet homes. Our priority is making sure every retired dog has a comfortable, happy life after their working career. If you are interested in adopting a retired sled dog, please take a look at our dogs available for adoption at the bottom of our "team" page, and send us a message!

Will my weight / our group’s weight be okay for the dogs to pull?

Yes—within our guidelines, your weight will be okay for the dogs. Sled dogs are bred and conditioned to pull loads over snow, and we match the size of the team, the route, and the pace to the people they’re carrying. We look at total sled weight (people + gear), not just individual sizes. We have a weight limit of 450lbs for the guests in each sled.

How do you decide when conditions are too warm or too icy to run?

We constantly monitor temperature, trail conditions, sun, wind, and humidity to decide if it’s safe to run. Warm weather can cause sled dogs to overheat quickly, or for trail conditions to change quickly. Very icy trails increase the risk of slips and injuries for both dogs and humans. If we decide conditions aren’t safe, we’ll contact you as soon as possible to reschedule or cancel— safety always comes first.

Can we bring our own dog to the tour?

No, we don’t allow guests to bring their own dogs to the tour or the staging area. Introducing an outside dog into a working kennel can create stress, disrupt the team’s social balance, and increase health risks. The environment can also be overwhelming for many pet dogs. It’s much safer and calmer for everyone if you come solo and enjoy time with our experienced canine crew.

Can kids interact with the dogs? Is it safe for children?

Yes, our dogs are very well socialized and love kids! Our guides will show children how to approach and pet the dogs appropriately. We supervise all interactions and adjust based on each child’s comfort level. If your child is nervous or very young, we can take things slowly and keep some distance at first.

Can you accommodate people with limited mobility or special needs?

In most cases, yes—one of the things we love most about this work is sharing our passion with others with varying physical or mental abilities. Depending on your needs, we may be able to help with sled transfers, minimize walking, or focus on meet-and-greet time with the dogs instead of a full tour. Some medical or mobility situations may limit what we can safely offer on uneven winter terrain. The best approach is to contact us before booking so we can talk through options together to make the tour as enjoyable as possible.