Our polardogs

Polardogs still have a lot in common with ther far ancestor: the arctic wolf. They not only look like and howl like wolves, they also have a strong developed pack- and huntinginstinct. These attributes make polardogs born for their task: pulling sleds over long distances. For hundreds of years the Inuits in the Northpoolregions used these dogs for this purpose.

At Karulas Wolftrail we live together with over 25 polardogs. We work and breed with different breeds for which we select the strongest and most healthy animals.

The training

We train with the dogs from september, when daytemperature drops below plus 10 degrees. The area around Karulas Wolftrail offers endless possibilities for tours varying from several kilometers up to hundreds. Pups are harnessed in the team for the first time when they are 8 months old, for a short tour of 1.5 km. Only when they are adults, around the age of 18 months, sleddogs can start the serious work.
In the fall we start training the adult dogs for 5 km and built up from there in a couple of months time to 50 km. At the end of the winter dayly distances can increase up to 100 km. As long as there is no snow we train with a quad of small car. Teams vary from 4 to 14 dogs. Each dog can pull up to 100 kg. During distances over 20 km each dog pulls about 30 kg.

Food

As much as possible we feed our dogs fresh meat, including fish, chicken, pork, cow tripe, liver and eggs. The need these highquality proteins to perform and recover from their work. During the winterexpeditionbivouacs and once or twice a week during the whole year they also get dryfood (www.brasa.ee).

The dogmeadow

Every dog has its own place where he stays during feedingtime and trainings. The rest of the time they live loos together in different meadows, so that they can interact in a natural and spontanious way and determine the ranking within the groups. When we compose the teams we take into acount their relationships, so that we obtain the most harmonious cooperation.