A Day in the Life of a Sled Dog at Nordlipolar

What does a normal day look like for a sled dog?

People often ask us what our huskies do when they are not out running in the mountains. The answer is: quite a lot. And just like us, they have busy days, lazy days, favourite routines and very individual personalities.

So, let's take you through a typical winter day at Nordlipolar – from breakfast to bedtime.

🌅 Morning: Meat Soup, Breakfast and a Health Check

Every winter morning starts with warm meat soup.

The temperature can drop well below freezing during the night, which means that drinking water can freeze. A warm bowl of soup is therefore a great way to make sure the dogs start the day well hydrated. The meat also gives them extra fat, energy and nutrition before a day of work.

And believe us – they know exactly what is happening.

The moment we start rattling around in the feed room, the kennel comes alive. Tails start wagging, dogs start jumping, and some of them make it very clear that breakfast should have been served five minutes ago.

While feeding, we also check every single dog. We know our dogs well, and small changes in behaviour, appetite or energy levels can tell us a lot about how they are feeling.

🐕 Who Gets to Work – and Who Gets a Day Off?

We rotate the dogs to make sure they get the right balance of activity and rest.

Huskies are athletes. They are built to run, and they need – and can handle – considerably more activity than many people might think.

At Nordlipolar, we still plan what we call rest days.

A rest day does not necessarily mean lying completely still all day. It might be a relaxed ski trip, a shorter or easier sled ride, or simply some time running loose and playing together in the dog yard.

The important thing is to vary the intensity and give each dog enough time to recover.

🛷 Getting Ready for a Sledding Trip

When you arrive at Nordlipolar, you will probably be greeted by a chorus of howls and a lot of very excited, jumping huskies.

They know what is about to happen.

And they cannot wait to go.

We prepare the harnesses, ganglines and sleds, while the dogs watch us closely. When it is time to get ready, most of them happily jump straight into their harnesses – although some are certainly more eager than others.

There is something very special about watching a team of dogs get ready for a run. The excitement builds, and you can almost feel that they know exactly what the day has in store.

🐺 The Highlight: Running the Sled

This is the highlight of the day – for us and for the dogs.

Once the snow anchor holding the team back is released, the dogs surge forward with enormous enthusiasm and energy.

In those first moments, the guide has an important job: brake!

We don't want the dogs to use all their energy in the first few minutes. They settle into a steady rhythm that they can maintain for a long time.

Sledding is a team effort. Every dog has a role, and the dogs have to work together. At the same time, they have to work together with the guide. Communication, rhythm and trust are all part of the job.

After a while, we usually stop for a photo break. But to be honest, the photo stop is mostly for our guests. The dogs could keep running.

On training trips without passengers, the sled is lighter and we usually make fewer stops. A fit sled dog can run many kilometres at a time.

And here is something many people don't know: sled dogs can actually recover while they are running.

When they slow their pace slightly, their heart rate can drop enough for them to recover while still moving forward. For an endurance athlete, this is pretty amazing.

🥣 After Work: Food, Water and Recovery

Once the run is finished, the dogs get a chance to cool down and settle.

We are careful about giving them a large meal immediately after hard exercise, as we want to minimise the risk of gastric torsion. They may get some water, a small snack or a little soup, but we usually wait with their main meal.

And when the guests have left, dinner is served.

Fresh meat is the highlight of the evening, and after a good meal, most of the dogs are more than ready for some serious relaxation.

😴 Rest Is Part of Training

Huskies need a lot of activity – but they also need a lot of rest.

They sleep through the night and are very fond of an afternoon nap.

Elite athletes are famous for taking recovery seriously, and sled dogs are no different. A good athlete doesn't train hard every minute of the day. The body needs time to recover, rebuild and prepare for the next challenge.

For our dogs, resting is part of the job.

🌲 Days Off: Running, Playing and Exploring

As mentioned, our dogs also appreciate their quieter days.

Depending on the individual dog and the season, a rest day can include gentle exercise, playing together, running loose in the dog yard, going for a walk or simply exploring their surroundings.

During summer, it is often too warm for sled dogs to run in a team. Instead, every dog has an individual plan for exercise, play and socialisation.

Because not every dog is the same.

Some want to run. Some want to play. Some want to explore. And some are perfectly happy doing absolutely nothing for a while.

❤️ Family Time with Martine and Henrik

Our dogs are our everything.

For us, there isn't really a clear line between work and free time. The dogs are part of our everyday lives, wherever we are.

They have joined us on holidays and weekend trips around Northern Norway. They know where the sofa is. They know where the fridge is.

And every single one of them is a full member of our family.

You will rarely see us without a dog – or ten.

🌙 Goodnight at the Kennel

After dinner, the kennel gradually becomes quiet.

The dogs settle down, and we make our final rounds before wishing them goodnight.

Some curl up inside their little houses. Others prefer to stretch out on top of the dog houses, even when the temperature drops to -20°C.

And some of them snore.

Loudly.

By this point, the excitement of the day is gone, the kennel is peaceful, and the dogs are ready for a long night's sleep.

Tomorrow, we do it all over again.

🏡 What Happens When a Sled Dog Retires?

Our retired dogs stay with us.

After a long life in front of the sled, they become pets and family dogs. They have their own routines and their own individual needs, and they remain an important part of our family for the rest of their lives.

But retirement deserves a story of its own.

So that is what we will write about next time.

Thank you for reading, and see you again soon!

– Martine & Henrik