Dog Sledding Weekend
Gee! Haw! Haw! Hike!
Dog Sledding Weekends in Ontario Resort Destinations
The great winter adventure in Ontario includes going to a dog sled race
and becoming a musher of your own team.
A number of Ontario resorts offer dog sledding packages, and there are
many races taking place throughout the winter months organized by the
Ontario Federation of Sledding Sports. Check out the dates for upcoming
races.
Below is the publishers experience at the Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled
Derby.
“As soon as we got out of the car, an air of excitement was evident
with yapping and yipping eminating from the hill above… the parking
lot for the dog sled racers and their dogs. Even as the dogs were resting,
not running, their anticipation level and pacing anxiety was building
as the race time got closer. Most were on chains attached close to their
kennels. The exception was a group of well behaved
pure bred huskies with heads sticking out of the straw laden kennels.
The most anxious were the mixed breed Alaskans, with a look that was anything
but Huskie. The Alaskans are the sprinters with a look of a smaller long
legged greyhound bred to race in cold weather at the fastest speeds possible.
When chatting with the racers, the cross breeds that are the fastest include
the genes of German Short Haired Pointers who can match stamina with speed.
There was not a lot of long hair to warm this breed. This may explain
why they run so fast…to get back to their kennel to warm up. The
hard sledders that go for distance are the Huskies, broad built with long
legs and longer hair.”
Some of the racers were there for the fun, many for the win. With the
price of prize dogs going for up to $3,000. they are serious and really
want the win and the bulk of the $15,000.in prize money at the richest
sprint race in Ontario.
Upcoming race locations include
Ottawa
Kearney
Newboro
Vernor,
Bancroft,
Kortright,
Cannington,
Dryden,
Elliot Lake,
Aspley,
Shebandowan,
Kirkland Lake
Sled Dog Race dates and exact times can be found at Ontario
Federation of Sledding Sports.
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