Whistler Sled Dog Company Charms The Whole Family

When the guests arrive to the base camp, they are greeted by the friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Andrew, whose personality matched the Alaskan Huskies enthusiasm, begins by greeting the guests. He describes the whole concept of dog sledding, tells about the traits of Alaskan Huskies and then introduces you to your guides. He asks who would like to drive their own team, and then teaches those people how to ride and control the sled and the dogs.The common consensus of most guests is that they expect to see teams of the typical Siberian Huskies, and are surprised to see a variety of dogs waiting to pull the sled.  The Alaskan Husky is a sled dog with a breeding combination of Siberian Husky and Gundogs, which creates a faster dog with a lighter coat than their Siberian cousin, allowing them to be more comfortable in our milder climate. Ultimately, the Alaskan Husky is more of a type of dog than a specific breed.The Whistler Sled Dog Company's base operation is located along the Soo River, which snakes along the floor of the Soo Valley. A little known fact about the Soo River is that it is named after a nudist hippie camp that squatted at an old lumber camp/ghost town. They were famous for having a 1970's group nude photo. Many of the inhabitants still reside in Whistler.View the list »
Never been dog sleddding? No problem, you can still mush your own dog sled team. Even a three year old can do it.

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Finding winter activities to enjoy with your family, especially a young family, can be tricky. Have you considered dog sledding?

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Enjoy the remote winter outback, trails banked by metres of snow, trees covered with pristine powder, it’s like a Christmas card winter scene. Dog sledding is a magical experience, creating memories for your children to draw from for the rest of their lives. Whistler Sled Dog Company exposes families to the beauty of winter landscapes, the love of dogs and the thrill of driving their own dog sled team.
 
Whistler Sled Dog Company is a non-profit organization that gives the public a taste of a rarely used transportation mode. This company prides itself on having their dogs work to support other dogs. Using only Alaskan Huskies, a dog that is bred to work hard, have a lighter coat and are extremely affectionate with people and other dogs, the guests are encouraged to get to know their team with petting, verbal acknowledgements and harnessing the dogs to the sled. Our dog team greeted us, including my toddlers, with gentle affection and were ecstatic in anticipation of getting out on the trail. After participating in a demonstration and practise led by qualified guides, the guests are encouraged to drive their own sled. You have the option of driving a sled by yourself, with a guide, or just relax as a passenger in the sled, enjoying the stunning scenery.

4205 Village Square, Whistler, British Columbia V0N 0A0, Canada
50.1150703 ; -122.9564514

Be sure to dress warmly when dog sledding. Bring your toques, gloves, boots, jacket and snow pants. If you still get cold, just bundle yourself up in the warm protective blankets they provide in the sled.
 
The Whistler Sled Dog Company offers their sled dog tour in the stunning Soo Valley. There is plenty of time before the trek for personal photo opportunities. The Whistler Sled Dog Company will also take professional photos of you and your group before and during the sled dog excursion. The track follows the winding Soo River, edging the base of the steep valley cliffs. After the 10 km journey you are treated to hot chocolate and cookies by a warm wood burning stove.
 
To access the tours you can call or email for a reservation. Their Whistler Village location is at the Whistler Square across from the Whistler Convention Centre. From there they shuttle you to their base camp. Per tripadvisor.ca, the Whistler Sled Dog Company ranks 4th of 35 things to do in Whistler, so don’t miss out. Booking a tour with the Whistler Dog Sled Company will create unforgettable memories for you and your family.

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  • The Whistler Sled Dog Company's base operation is located along the Soo River, which snakes along the floor of the Soo Valley. A little known fact about the Soo River is that it is named after a nudist hippie camp that squatted at an old lumber camp/ghost town. They were famous for having a 1970's group nude photo. Many of the inhabitants still reside in Whistler.
  • The common consensus of most guests is that they expect to see teams of the typical Siberian Huskies, and are surprised to see a variety of dogs waiting to pull the sled.  The Alaskan Husky is a sled dog with a breeding combination of Siberian Husky and Gundogs, which creates a faster dog with a lighter coat than their Siberian cousin, allowing them to be more comfortable in our milder climate. Ultimately, the Alaskan Husky is more of a type of dog than a specific breed.
  • When the guests arrive to the base camp, they are greeted by the friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Andrew, whose personality matched the Alaskan Huskies enthusiasm, begins by greeting the guests. He describes the whole concept of dog sledding, tells about the traits of Alaskan Huskies and then introduces you to your guides. He asks who would like to drive their own team, and then teaches those people how to ride and control the sled and the dogs.
  • Along with being bred for their speed, and desire to work, the Alaskan Husky was also bred to be “cuddlers,” being able to cuddle up to other dogs, keeping warm when facing cold temperatures. Their cuddling affection also applies to adults and children. Children fall instantly in love with their sled dog team, finding one special dog that they "need" to take home. But think twice about that, even though the retired dogs are up for adoption they wouldn’t suit a condo in Vancouver. Alaskan Huskies need room to run, can be fixated on food and are excellent diggers and chewers.
  • The guides encourage their guests to participate in all aspects of dog sledding. You must first get to know your team by name, then take each dog from the line, harness them and finally attach them to the sled.
  • With the help of the guide, even a 3 year old can drive a sled.  The basics in driving a sled is to stand on the rails, step on the mat located between the rails to slow down and jam on a hook like dragging break to come to a full stop. It’s important to secure an “anchor” when stopping because the dogs will run away with the sled.
  • A view from the sled. Snuggling in the blankets with your significant other while the stunning winter scenery passes by is something all couples should try.
  • After a day of work, the Alaskan Huskies are eager to nestle in their kennels with another dog to snuggle. It's at this point in the tour, guests give a final scratch to their favourite team member and head inside for some hot chocolate.
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, Vancouver Family Entertainment Examiner

Sarah Bonar juggles two jobs. She is a mother of two young children and an elementary school teacher. She has lived in Vancouver for over 15 years and knows the city well. However, since having children she has been on a quest to find child friendly activities throughout the lower mainland that...

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