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.