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Awesome experience! Well coordinated check-in and transportation to the dog sledding site. The guides were all very knowledgeable and experienced. The dogs were smart and loved getting pet! Halfway through the sledding there is a break point for cookies and hot chocolate. Highly recommended!! Beautiful scenery and cool overall experience.
Booking a tour with Howling Dog was already a highlight of our trip to Banff and I can now say that it absolutely lived up to the hype. For many it's a bucket list item and I am here to say, it will be an experience that will certainly take care of it. My group opted for the local hotel pick-up that they offered, the driver was nice and flexible since we were running a few minutes late. We were picked up in a large passenger van, the first of a few hotel stops before arriving to the park. While we were en-route we filled out some forms and paid our fees. The driver also encouraged everyone to ask any questions we had and was great about answering the ones we did have. Once we arrived, we were all assembled we met with one of the owners/managers who gave us an introductory talk. He was a former dog sled racer and explained how most of the dogs are also former dog sled racers who are "rescued" after their racing careers are over. Looking around the parking lot of the park we saw multiple trucks that housed dogs from previous runs, it was explained that the dogs are treated very well and only go on a run once a day. While my group was ready with boots, pants, and plenty of warm clothing; the manager let everyone know they had extra gear in case somebody showed up a little under-dressed for the elements. After the introduction was finished we were split up into our individual sleds. We were a group of four so we split into two sleds. Upon meeting our guide, he introduced us to the dogs and we even got to help harness them in. All throughout we were allowed to pet and interact with the dogs, a real treat! To start off both passengers started inside the sled, with the guide mushing us off onto the trail. After we got on the trail, we stopped and one of us was allowed to help drive the sled, standing alongside the guide on back of the sled. The guide operates the hook/brake, steers, and calls out all the voice commands. The person in the back holds on, and can help push the sled uphill if he/she wants. I will note that the way the back of the sled is built, to have two people ride in the back you each stand on a "skid"- it's kind of like riding one of those electric scooters where you stand on a narrow surface. Close to the beginning of the trail the owner/manager will be on the side with a camera, ready to get an action shot of you in motion. In the introductory talk he told everyone how to pose for the best possible photo. The other person gets to enjoy the ride from the sled, there are plenty of space in the front for bags to go and blankets are provided too- it can get cold being the passenger! At the halfway point we stopped for a break. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and cookies and got to play with the dogs some more. When we were ready to resume, the driver and passenger traded places so everyone gets a chance to drive and ride. I can't begin to describe how picturesque the scenery was. We stopped at a couple points just to take photos and appreciate nature. The overall ride was really smooth, with the exception of a few downhill runs that gave us a thrill! At the end of the ride we helped reward the dogs with a treat and some chicken water. We all got a kick seeing how the dogs chowed down after a good run in the woods. Before we boarded us van back we took a look at the photos, they came out great and we decided to buy a print (which also comes with the digital file via e-mail.) Now we have a great memento of a truly unique experience.
My wife and I did the 10am run yesterday. It was my second time dog sledding but my wife's first. Their office is located inside a pet store and is easy to find with a decent amount of parking. They also offer a hotel pick-up option. After checking-in at the desk we waited a few minutes for the other patrons to arrive. Then it was in the van for a short 20 minute drive up to the dogs. They take you up Smith Dorrien Trail to the TransAlta hydro station where you cross the dam to West Side Road. This is the starting point. When you arrive, a guide gathers the group and gives you a run down of what is about to happen and gives you a once-over to make sure you have the right clothing on for the trip. They have a few extra pairs of boots, gloves, toques, etc. if you happen to forget yours. They then divide you up and send you over to your guide and sled. The gearing up process is as hands-on or off as you want. Our guide had me sit in the sled while my wife held the line out so that it would not tangle while the guide gets the dogs hooked up. You should note that from the time you arrive in the van until the time you get on the trail this is not a very quiet experience. The dogs know that when the vans arrive its time to get to work and the howling begins. With 50+ dogs begging to be put to work it gets quite loud. Once you're on the trail the dogs are quiet and the only noise is the guides giving commands to the dogs and any conversation and questions you might have with the guides. The trail itself is West Side Road which is closed in the winter to vehicles and you take it south-east following the Spray Lakes Reservoir. At the half way point you turn around on a side pathway and stop for hot chocolate and cookies, then back on the same road. There's a couple of points on the trip where they have everyone in the sled, but there is also a chance to help drive the sled if you choose. My wife did the first half and I did the second. You don't get full control of the sled, you just ride on the back balancing on one of the skis while helping to push up hills. When you get back to the trucks you get to give the dogs a treat and help the guide pass out the bowls of chicken broth for the dogs. When that's done you can head over to the tent to check out the picture they take of you when you're beginning the ride. Its $20 for the photo which comes in a cardboard frame. On the back of the frame there is email instructions so you can get a digital copy of the photo later. They take all forms of payment. They also offer cash back so if you didn't bring cash to tip your guide, you can get some then. Overall we had a great time and would do it again.
We did the "Unleash The Musher" tour with Howling Dogs this past March. This is a two hour total tour but much of that time is transport from canmore townsite up to the spray lakes and hooking up the dogs. I'm not sure how much actual dog sledding happened but it was long enough to say you've done it but maybe not long enough if you're really going to love it. When considering dog sledding and a company to mush with. Dog treatment was my priority. There has been a lot of dark reports out of the industry and I couldn't support a unethical business. Howling Dog stood up to my interrogation and questions. They were not the only company I talked to, although I can't say I found anyone that really mistreated their dogs or did things I didn't approve of. Yes, they keep them as working dogs but they seem to love their jobs and were reasonably happy dogs (the breed is a bit skittish so it can be difficult to judge meeting them). I struggled picking between the companies. It seemed the top two/three companies marketing was basically just marking against each other. Upon my comparison there wasn't a lot of difference until you're wanting to drive a sled alone. Howling Dog is not the company to go with if you want to drive a sled alone. You can drive a sled, but you'll have a driver with you. I had no real desire to be 100% responsible for a team but I did give driving a try. Although driving is fun, I'm glad I could also snuggle into the sled and just enjoy. Howling Dog's stance on self driving is a 30 minute intro is not enough training to make it safe. Another large competitor says they train their dogs so well anyone can drive them while other companies has substandard training can can't trust the public with their teams. Personally I'm not sure I like the other guys giving a team of sled dogs to random people off the street with the cash is a great idea. Safety to the customers aside, I'm concerned about dog safety. For what ever little difference that was, I choose howling dog. After the trip up the mountain from the townsite, you come across all the dogs and sleds. You're introduced to your guide and dogs. I helped by getting Porche into her harness. The dogs are very loud and excited to run and get more excited as the realize the time is near. We were the first team in our group and it seemed we ran a lot faster than the others but we had more dogs. Our driver was an Aussie and although he seemed to have studied up on the spot, he was wrong about a few things. He tried though but obviously isn't super experienced. His care and treatment of the dogs was there and ultimately that along with a good personality allowed me to over look a few gaps in his historical and cultural dog sledding knowledge. Being fairly local to Canmore, I didn't get the full impact of dog sledding in the mountains of spray lakes. I know the area well so it's not something "new" but I imagine the view to people with limited rocky mountain exposure to be breath taking. The trip takes you quite a ways up the mountain and runs you down a road for a campground in the summer. At the turn around point you stop, get out and take pictures at the lake (which is a great view). All and all it was a great little experience. I might have been up for a longer trip but I'm pretty satisfied with the 2 hour musher trip. I enjoyed thanking each dog at the end with a treat before they got their water with chicken (they need chicken floating in water so they can be tricked into drinking because they tend to dehydrate themselves if left to their own devices) The dogs sure are smart though - they flip the dishes over on purpose to get the chicken if they were determined not to drink much. I'm not sure i'm dying to repeat dog sledding but I'm very happy to say I've gone sledding and would highly recommend it for locals and tourists alike.
We had an absolute blast. Our guide Will was so accommodating. Even the drive to the dogs was great. You can see the mountains without being scared of driving up there. The dogs were amazing. We got to spend some time with the dogs outside of the sledding. You really can see their personalities and how they love what they are doing. Would definitely recommend this to everyone of all ages and size. You won't regret it. We are thinking of doing it again.
Had a great experience with the entire squad of Howling Dog tour. We booked our tour 10 days back for Jan 1st and the booking experience was seamless. After arriving at the office, we waited for 15 mins and were taken to a mountain for the dog sled. The dogs on our sled were very calm and friendly. Our Musher 'Martin' was superb. He was super friendly, knowledgeable and a great Musher. The location for the dog sled was splendid. Loved it. Overall, I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to do dog sledding. Recommend booking a few day in advance and I believe they have a 48 hour flexible cancellation policy. read more
The dog sledding tour was a must do on our winter trip to Banff. Howling dog tours had availablility and was pretty close to our airbnb in Canmore. It was a good first time experience. They took us to the location in a bus, explained about the dogs and the tour. We got to put the harness on a few of the dogs and learnt all their names. Loved interacting with all of them! The tour itself had a beautiful backdrop and it was fun standing at the back as well. We got to feed the cookies and chicken soup in the end. The overall experience was good and smooth. read more
3 years ago
Amazing experience with great guides ! So sweet and caring , the dogs are all rescues which makes the whole experience feel much better. Would highly recommend the dog sled tours. read more
Awesome experience! Well coordinated check-in and transportation to the dog sledding site. The guides were all very knowledgeable and experienced. The dogs were smart and loved getting pet! Halfway through the sledding there is a break point for cookies and hot chocolate. Highly recommended!! Beautiful scenery and cool overall experience. read more
8 years ago
Booking a tour with Howling Dog was already a highlight of our trip to Banff and I can now say that it absolutely lived up to the hype. For many it's a bucket list item and I am here to say, it will be an experience that will certainly take care of it. My group opted for the local hotel pick-up that they offered, the driver was nice and flexible since we were running a few minutes late. We were picked up in a large passenger van, the first of a few hotel stops before arriving to the park. While we were en-route we filled out some forms and paid our fees. The driver also encouraged everyone to ask any questions we had and was great about answering the ones we did have. Once we arrived, we were all assembled we met with one of the owners/managers who gave us an introductory talk. He was a former dog sled racer and explained how most of the dogs are also former dog sled racers who are "rescued" after their racing careers are over. Looking around the parking lot of the park we saw multiple trucks that housed dogs from previous runs, it was explained that the dogs are treated very well and only go on a run once a day. While my group was ready with boots, pants, and plenty of warm clothing; the manager let everyone know they had extra gear in case somebody showed up a little under-dressed for the elements. After the introduction was finished we were split up into our individual sleds. We were a group of four so we split into two sleds. Upon meeting our guide, he introduced us to the dogs and we even got to help harness them in. All throughout we were allowed to pet and interact with the dogs, a real treat! To start off both passengers started inside the sled, with the guide mushing us off onto the trail. After we got on the trail, we stopped and one of us was allowed to help drive the sled, standing alongside the guide on back of the sled. The guide operates the hook/brake, steers, and calls out all the voice commands. The person in the back holds on, and can help push the sled uphill if he/she wants. I will note that the way the back of the sled is built, to have two people ride in the back you each stand on a "skid"- it's kind of like riding one of those electric scooters where you stand on a narrow surface. Close to the beginning of the trail the owner/manager will be on the side with a camera, ready to get an action shot of you in motion. In the introductory talk he told everyone how to pose for the best possible photo. The other person gets to enjoy the ride from the sled, there are plenty of space in the front for bags to go and blankets are provided too- it can get cold being the passenger! At the halfway point we stopped for a break. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and cookies and got to play with the dogs some more. When we were ready to resume, the driver and passenger traded places so everyone gets a chance to drive and ride. I can't begin to describe how picturesque the scenery was. We stopped at a couple points just to take photos and appreciate nature. The overall ride was really smooth, with the exception of a few downhill runs that gave us a thrill! At the end of the ride we helped reward the dogs with a treat and some chicken water. We all got a kick seeing how the dogs chowed down after a good run in the woods. Before we boarded us van back we took a look at the photos, they came out great and we decided to buy a print (which also comes with the digital file via e-mail.) Now we have a great memento of a truly unique experience. read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
My wife and I did the 10am run yesterday. It was my second time dog sledding but my wife's first. Their office is located inside a pet store and is easy to find with a decent amount of parking. They also offer a hotel pick-up option. After checking-in at the desk we waited a few minutes for the other patrons to arrive. Then it was in the van for a short 20 minute drive up to the dogs. They take you up Smith Dorrien Trail to the TransAlta hydro station where you cross the dam to West Side Road. This is the starting point. When you arrive, a guide gathers the group and gives you a run down of what is about to happen and gives you a once-over to make sure you have the right clothing on for the trip. They have a few extra pairs of boots, gloves, toques, etc. if you happen to forget yours. They then divide you up and send you over to your guide and sled. The gearing up process is as hands-on or off as you want. Our guide had me sit in the sled while my wife held the line out so that it would not tangle while the guide gets the dogs hooked up. You should note that from the time you arrive in the van until the time you get on the trail this is not a very quiet experience. The dogs know that when the vans arrive its time to get to work and the howling begins. With 50+ dogs begging to be put to work it gets quite loud. Once you're on the trail the dogs are quiet and the only noise is the guides giving commands to the dogs and any conversation and questions you might have with the guides. The trail itself is West Side Road which is closed in the winter to vehicles and you take it south-east following the Spray Lakes Reservoir. At the half way point you turn around on a side pathway and stop for hot chocolate and cookies, then back on the same road. There's a couple of points on the trip where they have everyone in the sled, but there is also a chance to help drive the sled if you choose. My wife did the first half and I did the second. You don't get full control of the sled, you just ride on the back balancing on one of the skis while helping to push up hills. When you get back to the trucks you get to give the dogs a treat and help the guide pass out the bowls of chicken broth for the dogs. When that's done you can head over to the tent to check out the picture they take of you when you're beginning the ride. Its $20 for the photo which comes in a cardboard frame. On the back of the frame there is email instructions so you can get a digital copy of the photo later. They take all forms of payment. They also offer cash back so if you didn't bring cash to tip your guide, you can get some then. Overall we had a great time and would do it again. read more
We did the "Unleash The Musher" tour with Howling Dogs this past March. This is a two hour total tour but much of that time is transport from canmore townsite up to the spray lakes and hooking up the dogs. I'm not sure how much actual dog sledding happened but it was long enough to say you've done it but maybe not long enough if you're really going to love it. When considering dog sledding and a company to mush with. Dog treatment was my priority. There has been a lot of dark reports out of the industry and I couldn't support a unethical business. Howling Dog stood up to my interrogation and questions. They were not the only company I talked to, although I can't say I found anyone that really mistreated their dogs or did things I didn't approve of. Yes, they keep them as working dogs but they seem to love their jobs and were reasonably happy dogs (the breed is a bit skittish so it can be difficult to judge meeting them). I struggled picking between the companies. It seemed the top two/three companies marketing was basically just marking against each other. Upon my comparison there wasn't a lot of difference until you're wanting to drive a sled alone. Howling Dog is not the company to go with if you want to drive a sled alone. You can drive a sled, but you'll have a driver with you. I had no real desire to be 100% responsible for a team but I did give driving a try. Although driving is fun, I'm glad I could also snuggle into the sled and just enjoy. Howling Dog's stance on self driving is a 30 minute intro is not enough training to make it safe. Another large competitor says they train their dogs so well anyone can drive them while other companies has substandard training can can't trust the public with their teams. Personally I'm not sure I like the other guys giving a team of sled dogs to random people off the street with the cash is a great idea. Safety to the customers aside, I'm concerned about dog safety. For what ever little difference that was, I choose howling dog. After the trip up the mountain from the townsite, you come across all the dogs and sleds. You're introduced to your guide and dogs. I helped by getting Porche into her harness. The dogs are very loud and excited to run and get more excited as the realize the time is near. We were the first team in our group and it seemed we ran a lot faster than the others but we had more dogs. Our driver was an Aussie and although he seemed to have studied up on the spot, he was wrong about a few things. He tried though but obviously isn't super experienced. His care and treatment of the dogs was there and ultimately that along with a good personality allowed me to over look a few gaps in his historical and cultural dog sledding knowledge. Being fairly local to Canmore, I didn't get the full impact of dog sledding in the mountains of spray lakes. I know the area well so it's not something "new" but I imagine the view to people with limited rocky mountain exposure to be breath taking. The trip takes you quite a ways up the mountain and runs you down a road for a campground in the summer. At the turn around point you stop, get out and take pictures at the lake (which is a great view). All and all it was a great little experience. I might have been up for a longer trip but I'm pretty satisfied with the 2 hour musher trip. I enjoyed thanking each dog at the end with a treat before they got their water with chicken (they need chicken floating in water so they can be tricked into drinking because they tend to dehydrate themselves if left to their own devices) The dogs sure are smart though - they flip the dishes over on purpose to get the chicken if they were determined not to drink much. I'm not sure i'm dying to repeat dog sledding but I'm very happy to say I've gone sledding and would highly recommend it for locals and tourists alike. read more
7 years ago
9 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
We had an absolute blast. Our guide Will was so accommodating. Even the drive to the dogs was great. You can see the mountains without being scared of driving up there. The dogs were amazing. We got to spend some time with the dogs outside of the sledding. You really can see their personalities and how they love what they are doing. Would definitely recommend this to everyone of all ages and size. You won't regret it. We are thinking of doing it again. read more
9 years ago
This was one AMAZING experience! From booking to hotel pick up to learning about the dogs to the riding itself! The ppl are all very friendly and helpful. I was able to hook up the dogs and drive them. You have a guide to every sled and get to know the dogs and love on them. They encouraged picture taking and being as involved as you want. If you simply want to ride and enjoy they are good with that too. Half way thru you stop for hot chocolate and cookies and again can love on the dogs take a stroll out to the lake or just talk w the guides. The dogs are well cared for and love to run. When you return you get to give the dogs a treat as well as their chicken broth. One very cool thing I learned is this co takes rescues and uses them. How great is that?! I will be booking the next trip we make this way and can't say enough good things about them! read more
10 years ago
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