Cape Dorset (Oct 30/06) - Take a boat ride in Cape Dorset, and you will be treated to a look at sled dogs on vacation.

Every summer, the Alariaq family put their dogs on a small island to give them some freedom, and to learn who is the leader of the pack.

"As soon as the ice is gone, we put them out there, around mid-July. We bring them back in late September or early October," said Kristiina Alariaq.

Her family has been raising purebred huskies in Cape Dorset since the early 1980s. After a brief stop in the mid-'90s, they have purebred huskies again.

Dogs on the island are fed once a week - country food when it is available, and dried dog food when it isn't. A dog will eat whatever it can, and these dogs are no exception.

"I've seen dogs catch ravens out of the air. They've been eating shrimp, their first dump (feces) when they come back to town is always orange from the shrimp," said Alariaq.

On a deserted island, the dogs can sort out their hierarchy.

"Our lead dogs are selected out on the island. Once we went out to feed them (and) the older dogs had put one dog on a rock that was separated from the island at high tide. I guess they knew he would challenge the leader," said Alariaq.

The older dogs' instincts were right. The same isolated dog they eventually became the leader of their new team.

When dogs aren't eating, they do have other favourite activities, some of which are a distress of the Alariaqs.

"It was hard to get a purebred strain going, because of the loose dogs in the community. That has been our main challenge, but now more dogs in the community look like our dogs now. We have a dog cage that we keep the females in when they are in heat," explained Alariaq.

These purebred huskies are perfect for pulling a dog team, but are a hassle to walk on a leash.

"You don't walk these dogs, they'll pull your arm off. Once they learn how to pull a sled, that is all they want to do," she said.

She offers tours and trips out of Cape Dorset, and taking the dogs on the land is a family activity. Her kids help with weekly trips, breaking the 10-dog team into two small five-dog teams. When all 10 dogs are together, a stronger hand is needed.

"My husband (Timmun) takes them out when it is a full team," said Alariaq.

"He can use that whip, and it really is an art form. His father did this, it is a very important part of the tradition."