Protecting the integrity of sled dog tours in Lapland A visit to Lapland is rarely complete without the thrill of a husky ride. For over 40 years, sled dogs have been part of the tourism landscape here. Even though they are not native to Finland, they became part of our story after the war and…
Body Condition Score: What it is and why it matters Today, we want to talk about body condition score, what it is, and why it is such an important tool in our daily kennel management at Bearhill. At Bearhill, we regularly keep track of both body weight and body condition score for all our dogs.…
Summer feeding at Bearhill In winter, feeding sled dogs is a big job. When the dogs are working hard, burning energy in cold temperatures, and living outside in an Arctic climate, their bodies need a lot of fuel. During the busy season, our dogs consume calorie-dense meals rich in fat and protein. They may get…
Teeth and their care – Bearhill’s approach In recent years, the condition of sled dogs’ teeth has become a point of interest for veterinary authorities — and with good reason. Sled dogs live a life primarily outdoors, eat varied diets, and work hard. While their feeding routines have improved greatly over the years, dental issues…
Why we are a kennel, not a farm At Bearhill, we often get asked why we insist on calling ourselves a kennel rather than a farm. The difference might sound small, but to us it is important. It reflects who we are, what we do, and how we respect our dogs. Where “Husky Farm” comes…
Who’s the Boss? The Alpha Theory Myth! One question we get asked a lot at the kennel is, “Who’s the alpha?” People are often convinced that in every dog group, there has to be a boss dog, a dominant male and female calling the shots, keeping everyone in line. But the truth is: there is…
Why sled dogs wear booties (and why mushers go through thousands every year) Today we want to talk a little about booties – those small pieces of fabric that sled dogs often wear on their feet. They might look simple, but for a musher, they’re an essential tool to keep dogs running healthy, strong, and…
Why Sled Dogs Wear Jackets If you visit our kennel, or watch sled dog racing, you’ll notice many dogs wearing jackets. Your first reaction might be: “But they’re huskies – why on earth would they need jackets?” It’s a fair question. Huskies are built for cold climates, but the truth is a little more complicated.…
Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t: The Catch-22 of Improving Dog Care In Lapland today, and increasingly across Finland, there’s a growing trend in the public discourse to question and critique the tourism industry. Some of that criticism is valid, even necessary. But when it comes to sled dog tourism, we’re seeing a…
Staying Connected: Why Sled Dog Symposiums Matter to Bearhill Husky At Bearhill Husky, we believe that staying up to date with the latest trends and developments in the sled dog world is essential. While dogs have been pulling sleds for over 10,000 years, and the fundamentals remain much the same, the ways people approach this…
Why We’re a No-Kill Kennel: Bearhill’s Approach to Euthanasia and End-of-Life Care At Bearhill, we have built our kennel around one foundational belief: the dogs who work with us deserve the same respect at the end of their lives as they do during their careers. This includes thoughtful and compassionate end-of-life care. It also includes…
Why the Dog Walker is One of the Best Tools in Our Kennel It may not be the first guess that comes to mind, but one of the most valuable and underrated tools in our kennel is the dog walker. We’ve had ours for a number of years now, and we can confidently say it’s…