Sled dogs get ready to pull
While some are dreading the cold, snowy
months ahead, at least one local family is beaming with excitement
for winter’s arrival.
Mark and Sam Schurke have added eight
dogs to the crew at Base Camp Bigfork, their Ferndale dog sledding
business. Those additions double the size of the number of pulling
dogs owned by the Schurkes, though three of those additions are
puppies who won’t be pulling customers this year.
While balancing the challenges that
come with introducing the new dogs to those that have been around
awhile, Mark is also gearing up for winter. This process includes
everything from pulling out the sleds and checking that they are
set up correctly, to letting the dogs run through their extensive
backyard. The dogs are usually kept in large pens measuring about
50-feet by 50-feet. When winter rolls around, and their natural
pulling ability is in need, their strength needs to be on par as
well, which means some conditioning to get them in “sled
shape.”
“When you get that change of
temperature the dogs sense that winter is coming and they go from
being pretty calm, to having just a lot more energy,” Mark said.
“They know something is about to happen. You can feel the energy
when you go outside in the yard.”
To help get the dogs ready, Mark has
them practice pulling a cart on wheels, and also sometimes does
leash training and bike training with them. During those sessions
he also works on the dogs’ understanding and response to commands
that they will need to know when pulling sleds.
During years where the snow falls early
Mark skips the land training and takes them right to the snow. Both
land and snow training help the dogs prepare during the preseason,
and just like any team it is also when they get used to working
together.
“With the dogs it’s just about getting
the other dogs acquainted with the new dogs and seeing who works
well together and who will be good to pair together,” Schurkes
said.
Now that the Schurkes have had their
business in the Bigfork area for a couple of years Mark said it is
easier for them to share what they do with others.
“At first I’d get kind of this look
from people when I’d stop by and tell them what I do and drop off
flyers, but now people say they’ve heard of me and know what I do,”
he said.
That familiarity is coming in handy as
the crew at Base Camp Bigfork grows. The Schurkes acquired three
more dogs in June and two more in October from a man in the
Northwest Territories that was no longer able to take care of them.
The new additions come with interesting names, which isn’t a shock
to those that have been out with Base Camp Bigfork before and have
had the experience of calling out to the Schurkes’ other dogs as
they pull. The newcomers names are Cowboy, Somer, Qimmy, Ellesmere
and Thor.
Those new additions also ended up
creating some new additions of their own when the Schurkes were out
of town in June. Cowboy and Somer became parents this fall to seven
puppies, three of which the Schurkes kept.
“I wanted to eventually have puppies,
but not at this time,” Schurke said. “I wasn’t planning to have
puppies yet, but I’m happy about it.”
The three little dogs are yet to be
named as the Schurkes are waiting to come up with just the right
ones. They often go with themes for groups of dogs, but they just
haven’t figured out which one to go with yet and they are welcoming
any suggestions from the community. With or without names, the
puppies and some of the older crew are scheduled to take a stroll
down Electric Avenue during Bigfork’s Annual Magical Holiday Parade
at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3.
Although Schurke is passionate about
dog sledding, he has even more interest in the dogs themselves.
He’s quick to remind people that they are “more than snowmobiles
with fur.”
His love for the dogs makes him find
this time of year enjoyable even though sledding season hasn’t
officially started.
“It’s fun having them around this time
of year because you really get to see their personalities,” Schurke
said. “When you have a place with as many dogs as this it’s like
living on a soap opera. You have drama all the time. There’s dogs
falling in love, dogs fighting, days with happy endings and days
where we have to take a dog to the vet because they aren’t doing so
well.”
Through Base Camp Bigfork Mark offers
dog sledding excursions in and around the Ferndale area. He and Sam
also have a rental cabin on the property for those visiting from
out of town.
Additionally they are working on adding
other types of outdoor adventure activities to Base Camp Bigfork’s
offerings.
Those interested in learning more about
Base Camp Bigfork can call 871-9733 or email
info@basecampbigfork.com.