As you walk toward your team of huskies, you will hear enthusiastic barking, “pick me, pick me!” It is like a dance party about to happen as the dogs dance around you. You’ll notice how they settle down as your guide helps you harness and build your team.
Dogs, like one of our lovable great lead dogs –Potate, will lean into you so that you can run your hands through his deep, warm fur. He’ll nuzzle his head under your arm and actually smile, pulling his lips back to reveal a big, wide, toothy grin.
You will smile back without you realizing it.
We often hear, “We didn’t expect the dogs to be so lovable!” One of our young guests from The Outdoor Boys Channel, after finishing our overnight adventure exclaimed, “Potate loves me!” There is an undeniable closeness between a musher and his/her team, and you leading them will bring you closer together. It’s a connection built on trust, and you can feel it.
Interaction with dogs has been proven to raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are the chemical building blocks of positive feelings. It is hard to worry and easy to feel joy after a run with our sled dogs.
So while you may have started your adventure looking for a thrill, you could walk away feeling a sense of well-being and accomplishment.
Rodney Dangerfield summed it up best, “My wife kisses the dog on the lips, yet she won’t drink from my glass.” Such is life at Wayfinder Kennel!
Happy Trails,
Linwood