photo by Kendell Kerr

What do the dogs eat?
The dogs eat plenty, and in the middle of a busy season they need approximately 5000 calories a day to fuel their burners. This comes in the form of ground chicken, beef and pork fat (because it is high in Vitamin C which sled dogs require) salmon, egg and high-powered kibble. While the breakdown of an average pet quality kibble might contain 26% protein and 18% fat, the Kingmik dogs gobble up a kibble specifically designed for working sled dogs. This high-powered kibble contains 43% protein and 32% fat. Instead of one enormous meal, we meter their goodies out over the course of the day. At the end of your run you will be able to watch their “crocodile imitation’ – as they snap up their frozen goodie as it is tossed to them. All in all, each dog eats about two pounds of food a day. However, just like people they all have different metabolisms, which we have to monitor carefully. We call Jyske the little butterball turkey because she gains weight just by looking at food, and while we stuff Jaws with as much as he will eat, he still remains a gangly boy. In general, the dogs maintain a sleek and lean physique, as they are athletes, and to carry extra unneeded weight would be injurious to their joints.

What do the dogs do in the summertime?
The Kingmik dogs retire to their summer home from mid-April to the end of November. This is a 25 acre piece of property in central BC, at 4000 feet, surrounded by Crown land and loaded with trails and lakes to romp and swim in. If you were to camp at Ware Lake, it would not be unusual to see ten dogs streak past, dashing in and out of the water, with Andrea running along behind. We stay fit too, chasing the poochies around all summer! The retirees have the run of the property, snoozing under bushes, “helping” us in the garden, chasing moles and often occupying the couches inside at night.

Once we start to see morning frosts, in late August, we start dry land training. This is a time to condition the dogs, train the pups, train leaders, and pick the dogs that will make the race team. By the time the snow flies and we can switch to the silent joy of the sled, the dogs will have about 300 miles under their harnesses.

What makes a lead dog?
Lead dogs are born, not made. A lead dog could be compared to a CEO of a company. They love their job, take it very seriously and can handle a great deal of responsibility. A lead dog must be particularly tuned into the musher in order to take commands. It can be a somewhat stressful situation having eight or ten screaming athletes at your heels, and so the lead dog must be confident of his or her abilities up there. We see lead dog-potential pups at a very young age. At the same time, we never discount the “sleeper” dog, who may be a late bloomer and decides at age three or even five years that he or she wants to take the helm. Contrary to popular belief, the lead dog is not always the alpha dog in the kennel.

Kingmik FAQ

How old are the dogs when they start working?
Pup pens are situated in the kennel where they can watch the adult dogs go to work. Thus they have been observing harness work from the time they opened their eyes. We start them at about six months old; they are just about jumping out of their skin with excitement at finally being “grown up.” Their first run is very short and very slow. They are paired up with calm and patient veterans who will tolerate their puppy antics and provide a solid role model. The first goal of these first season runs is to lay a solid foundation of fun for the pups, with no negative experiences in harness. It is their pre-school year. Because they are bred to pull and run, they usually perform like champs. By their second season we are asking a little more of them, and by their third season in harness most of them are taking their job more seriously. There are always exceptions to this rule though. Trouble is six years old and he’s the guy who never outgrew the class clown role. He is very handsome, and somewhere along the road he decided that he could get by on his good looks alone.

 
Maisy - 10 years and barking to go
photo by Peter Acker

White Dog - 14 years young

Kooshie still swimming at 12 years.

How old are they when they retire?
Every dog is an individual. The dogs love their jobs and want to continue to work because it is important to them. As long as they are still barking to go, and are not too stiff, we like to include them. They may only do one half hour tour a week, but it fosters that pride that is so important to a working dog. Helen, our kennel matriarch, will be twelve years old this February 2006 and while she is presently napping on the couch in August, we expect she will come out once a week to show the young guns that she still has the stuff. Conversely, Katie, who came to us as a rescue husky, decided that she no longer wanted to run in harness when she was about seven years old; we found a retirement home for her – on the beach, in California.

What are the little dog booties for?
We put booties on dogs for a variety of reasons. Mainly it is for cracked and abraded feet, or snow bailing up between their toes, but rarely for the cold. Dogs shed excess body heat through their mouth and feet. This is why they pant when it gets warm. The feet are another conduit for cooling down, and this is why sled dogs rarely get cold feet. As long as they are moving and creating mechanical heat through their activity, their feet are cozy and warm. Again, all the dogs are individuals and we are attuned to who is more likely to need boots under different conditions.