And here is my favorite exercise... Urban Mushing, which gained some popularity a few years back as sled dog owners sought gear to take full advantage of this high-energy breed. The Husky's love of working and need for exercise are well known. But, not everyone has an Iditarod-ready sled in their garage. So, many other vehicles have proved their usefulness. Bikes (bike-joring), scooters, roller skates/blades, skis (ski-joring), and dryland carts have all been leashed to sled dogs, helping to bond pack and owner.

The Mushing Mission Sanctuary has several vehicles for various forms and levels of allowing our clients to experience the thrill of this sport. On the basic level, bike-joring with bicycles and tricycles allows for connecting with one or two dogs. A child can ride while a handler keeps a secondary safety leash to the dog and the child learns to use mushing commands. Our mushing scooters offer a more advanced solo experience, even though a small child may ride with a handler.

In the future, A training cart with a jump-seat will allow a passenger to sit in the front of the cart, learning commands with the handler in the control position. Or… the client may stand in the control position while the handler rests in the jump-seat with overriding controls like a driving instructor.

With many configuration options, we'll design exercises based on the needs and abilities of the client.