Doing it all for the dogs
Enodah Kennel owner discusses
animal welfare and mushing
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
On a crisp Sunday morning last month, about 17 kilometres down Highway 3 on the Enodah Kennel property, Coady Lee lets his 30 sled dogs off their tether.
Dog musher Coady Lee is surrounded by his sled dogs in their enclosure. Daily, the mushers at Enodah Kennel untether the dogs so they can run around free together. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo |
Once loose, the dogs dash happily around the enclosure, bark, leap and run up to Lee, who owns the kennel, for some love. At times, he has more than seven dogs crowding him, trying to lick his face - they even let him hold them like babies.
"With dog mushing, it's always about knowing your dogs, and the better you know your dogs, the better they are going to work for you," he said.
Lee said he entered the dogsledding world six years ago and hasn't looked back. He and Lecours - also a longtime musher - opened the kennel two years ago with business partner and tourism entrepreneur Ragnar Wesstrom.
The pair said they want their guests to bond with their sled dogs, learn their names and frolick with them. The two longtime dog mushers say developing this relationship is what makes dogsledding such a unique experience.
"With us, it's not just about having dogs as a tool to pull a sled to entertain people," Lee said. "We enjoy dog mushing, and we enjoy our dogs. We want people to see that they aren't just random animals pulling the sled."
Their breeds consist of long-distance racing Alaskan huskies and other mixed breeds prized in the sport.
Lee and Lecours said the company prides itself on dog welfare. Their dogs are all let off their tether every day and come to and from the gangline of the sled on their own with no leash. They said the dogs love pulling the sled more than running around free.
"People are always surprised that the dogs all have names and that we can remember all of them," Lee said.
On top of their names, Lee and Lecours know each dog's age, how long they've had them, their parents, breed and which ones can best lead a team.
Enodah Kennel offers 45-minute trips along diverse trails which run through woods, across muskegs, and along two lakes. Instead of just riding along, guests have the option to learn to drive the sled - although never alone as the mushers are always on the trail with them.
Guests can finish off the tour and warm up with a hot beverage in the rustic Aurora station on the property.
"The big thing is, when guests show up, we're not going to say, 'OK sign a waiver, get out on the sled, out on the trail and go home,'" Lee said.
"We really encourage people to interact with the dogs because it's better for our dogs if people interact with them. We don't care if people take an hour after the tour to hang out with the dogs - that's what we want them to do."
