There are few things that tug on my heartstrings quite like dogs do. So when my daughters and I had the opportunity to try dogsledding in Mont Tremblant we jumped at the chance.
Dogsledding is as old as Canada and it’s origins can be traced back to our northern Aboriginal people. When fur traders and explorers arrived on the scene they found dogsledding a most efficient way to get around town. The rest as they say is history; dogsledding is as Canadian as maple syrup, back bacon and poutine.
I will admit that I had my reservations about dogsledding. My dog, a Golden Doodle, is nothing short of a princess. She has full access to beds and couches, and I’m quite sure if you asked her to “work” for a living, she’d faint with disbelief. The Husky, as I’ve since learned, does not want any of your lazing about. These dogs want to pull, they long to run, and asking them to sit still is nothing short of cruelty.
When we arrived at Expedition Wolf, we were greeted by the owners and our guides. We were given a quick briefing inside their building, and then we walked across the street to meet our dog team.
The staff and owners at Expedition Wolf are excellent. They are absolutely devoted to the over 200 dogs they keep on premises and it shows. They know every single dog by name, and introduce guests to their dogsled team one by one. After a brief introduction, guests lead their dogs to their sled to be hitched up. Guides then show guests how to drive their sled so that the dogs don’t get hurt.
Typically, one person will drive the sled and one person can travel in luxury wrapped up in blankets. Guess which position I opted for?
In total, we spent about an hour traveling with our dog team through a breathtaking Quebec forest, with a nice break for hot chocolate and cookies. Expedition Wolf is roughly a 35 minute drive from the Mont Tremblant Village; guests can drive themselves or take advantage of the transportation provided when booking through the Tremblant Activity Centre.
Upon return to the kennel, guests help unhitch the dogs and return them to their kennel. If you’re lucky enough, you may even be there when there are puppies! PUPPIES!
As tempting as it was to tuck one (ok, the whole litter) in our coats, I gained a new appreciation and respect for the Husky and Malamute breeds from our time at Expedition Wolf. As lovely and sweet as these dogs are, they need super active families and wide open spaces to play. If you can not offer that, then this is not the breed for you. We had the pleasure of meeting Skyla, a rescue who was given to Expedition Wolf after her owners realized that they couldn’t keep up with her energetic personality. As you can see below, she seems to have found her happy place at Expedition Wolf.
Dogsledding in Mont Tremblant is the perfect family activity when visiting. There are four experiences to choose from and this excursion can only be booked during the winter months. Be sure to dress warm and have hand and foot warmers, as well as face masks with you.
You can see more of our dogsledding trip through the woods on the video below.
Life in Pleasantville was invited to experience dogsledding at Expedition Wolf through the Tremblant Activity Centre. All opinions expressed are mine.
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