Since 1997, we have been retiring our older sled dogs to the homes of Uncommon Journeys alumni who have come on dog sledding vacations with us. Because our sled dogs are so friendly and so socialized, it is no surprise that our guests have been falling in love with our dogs since our very first guest stood on the runners.
Our sled dog puppies are born in the bathroom of the main cabin. Here they spend their first four weeks in a six-foot square whelping box. Both Martha and Rod spend time sleeping with the puppies and the mother in the box, handling the puppies as they open their eyes. This ensures that the puppies imprint on us, and creates the foundation of trust and love that is so important at this early stage of their lives. Later on they are moved to the puppy pen in the main dog yard. Over the next three months they play with the children of several families residing in Whitehorse, becoming all the more socialized with every visit. By the time they are a year old they have been exposed to the many Holland America guests who arrive each summer day for our dog sledding demonstration. These guests walk into the dog yard and pet all of our dogs for 20-30 minutes at a time.
We receive letters and emails every week from these guests who are so impressed with the behaviour of our dogs. The final socialization occurs during our “dog of the day program”. Most days in the fall and winter we let one or two dogs out of the dog yard to run free around the Homestead, joining us for dinner in the main cabin followed by videos later up in the guest loft. The dogs become so house broken that some of our guests have had one of the dogs from their dogteam join them overnight in their cabin or yurt!
At the end of each week, inevitably one or two guests will inquire if they may be placed on a waiting list to adopt one of the dogs they fell in love with on their team. The arrangement we make is that there is no cost for the dog, however the guest must pay for the dog’s flight and the cost of either sending our dog kennel back to us or the cost of a new kennel should they wish to have their own. If for any reason the guest were to decide that they did not want to keep the dog they may send the dog back to us at any time. From time to time, folks who are not alumnae of one of our summer or winter tours, wish to adopt one of our dogs. In this instance we require either a written reference from one of our past guests or a local vet who knows the prospective adoptive person or family. We have adopted sleddogs sleeping on couches all over North America! (Unfortunately due to quarantine regulations we are unable to adopt dogs to the homes of our Australian guests). Some folks have adopted two dogs with another family member adopting another dog of their own!
Keep reading to meet the dogs that are currently ready to be adopted as well as stories about some of those that are currently living out their golden years with their adoptive families. These sled dogs are our family and their happiness is of paramount importance to us. If you would be interested in getting to know more about our adoption program or are interested in a specific dog, please contact us at 1-867-668-2255 or info@uncommonyukon.com. Your life will never be the same once your heart has been touched by one of our magnificent sleddogs!
These two boys were neighbours in our yard and now live the high life in Edmonton. Duffy (and Connell who appears in the next picture) live with one of our former guides and his wife and Ree lives with his sister-in-law!
Woody was adopted by Martha’s mother three years ago. He has his own bedroom, a beautiful view of Lake Huron and all the cookies and treats he can eat!
Annie moved to Ontario in January 2005 to live with long time Uncommon guests. She has settled in well and is now good friends with her new canine buddy Chance.
