Behind the Scenes

Luna

There's more to a husky kennel than just sledding. Of course, every day we feed the dogs, ensure they have enough water, care for any injuries, and clean up after them. But there are also weekly, monthly, and annual duties that keep the kennel running smoothly.

Weekly, we check the kennels. In summer, the dogs love to dig holes in the wood-chips, which can expose the wire below and potentially cause injuries. They might even dig under the fence, or chew on the supporting poles - rare, but enough to risk bringing down part of the kennel walls. To prevent this, we rake and level the wood-chips, add more if needed, and sometimes place planks along the bottom or top of the kennels to keep the dogs safely contained.

In fall and spring, we also spend a lot of time brushing the dogs to help their coats shed. Not all Alaskan huskies shed the same amount, so the frequency and effort really depends on each dog.

The vein (or 'quick') in a dog's claw. Picture from Petbarn.

Monthly, we clip their claws and top up the straw in their beds. Dogs’ nails can be transparent or black. With transparent nails, you can see the vein (called the 'quick') and should avoid clipping it. With black nails, you clip cautiously to avoid hurting the dog. Most dogs don’t mind, though occasionally we use a muzzle, and the younger ones get a treat afterwards to create a positive association.

Topping up the straw is a bit tedious. We check inside each dog house and remove any damp straw, throwing it onto the “poo pile,” then fetch fresh straw and spread it evenly. If the straw is dry, we simply top it up. In winter, we aim for 20–30 cm of straw per dog house. On these days, I always take an antihistamine in the morning, or hayfever hits hard.

Annually, the dogs get vaccinated. This year, all 86 dogs received shots against rabies, DHPPi, and kennel cough. The vet comes to the kennel, so we help by updating passports, mixing vaccines, and running the dogs out on demand. Many dogs, familiar with the vet from previous years, hide in their houses, requiring some coaxing and gentle restraint for a brief moment while the needle goes in.

Prior to the sledding season starting, we also have to give the sleds some love. This can involve: sanding back and recoating the guest sleds in paint, performing any sled maintenance (tweaking brake pads, repairing guide sled baskets, adding new safety lines), or acquiring new equipment for the season.