Meet my 4 footed family

I`ve been sharing my life with sleddogs for almost 5 decades. Yes, I climb mountains, kayak rivers & oceans, ski and generally love adventuring in the great outdoors. But, my constant, real & enduring passion, is dogs, especially sleddogs. My current canine family numbers 45, each one unique, irreplacable, supremely special and above all, my best friends !

Check out the little movie on “the white kayak” page of this site for a little intro to me and my dogs.

I started a long time ago, with a handfull of siberian huskies, eventually blending them with alaskan huskies, which i have now. I also have a couple of GSD`s, two belgian malinois, all part of “the pack”. We spent many years living in Alaska before moving to our current home in swedish lapland.

For me, “mushing” is not a “sport”, its a lifestyle, a lifestyle that offers a unique opportunity to share life and adventures with another species. I cannot think of any other thing that comes close to this !

A sleddog kennel is a 24/7 lifelong commitment and there are no shortcuts, at least if one is to do this in an ethical manner that places dogs above all else. I`m blessed with a partner who is also as dedicated to the dogs as I am, and who also happens to be an ace veterinarian specializing in sleddogs & sporting dogs, how cool is that ! I also have a great team of wonderful annual helpers that love & know every dog like their own, tghese folk help with the feeding. cleaning, training of our extended canine family.

Over the decades, I raced sleddogs in Alaska, Colorado, Montana & Canada, sprint racing and also “distance” races. The picture here is me sleeping on the straw with the dogs during a Yukon Quest 300 race in Alaska. Some of my best mushing memories are when I lived in the remote Brooks Range of Alaska from where I travelled several thousand miles on various expeditions, one trip around 2200 miles around the entire North of Alaska with 12 dogs, another similar distance across the North to Nunavut in Canada. Racing is fun but nothing beats a long camping trip with your best friends !

Here`s another short video of us being “unleashed” in Lapland !
https://andsons.co.uk/blogs/news/unleashing-the-wild-swedens-modern-day-pioneer-dave-king

As I edit this site in late 2022, dog mushing is in an era of much public criticism. Sadly, much of this critical heat is justified, created by self titled “mushers” who have exploited sleddogs to further egos or make money. We`ve seen horrible situations in commercial kennels offering tourist “rides” on both continents where many dogs endure frightfull living conditions and mundane quality of life. In racing, the “sport” has become dominated by egoistic people who run dogs for all the wrong reasons and for whom speed is the dominant factor in what they do with dogs. Despite having spent many years racing myself, even working for one major 1000 mile event in Alaska in the past, I have now arrived at a place where I no longer can support most of these events nor the commercial activities so many engage in. Dogs deserve better than many of them are given the opportunities to enjoy

I am known to be outspoken in the interest of dog welfare and ethics, outspoken to the point of outright hostility from many of my peers, but that just furthers my sentiment ! I do my very best to ensure my dogs enjoy a fruitfull and stimulating life, from the days they are young go getters to the days they become old and frail and retire to the sofas.

My kennel is neither a “race” kennel or a commercial enterprise. The dogs are here because I and those around me value them all as individiual animals that contribute an incalculable value to our own quality of life. The fact that we also get to explore the frozen wild places with them on some epic adventures, is every bit as valuable as jossling for sleeping space with them ! They live as a pack, no chains, no restraint and all as a group in harmony, when we walk we, do it free. Nothing quite like mushing to a ski line in the mountains, then climbing it to drop, with a whole pack of canines hot on ones heels !

I run mostly training courses in Winter, teaching others mountain skills, avalanche safety, Winter camping and Arctic survival, this all based on a lifetime of mountain guiding and Arctic travel. I do not offer dog driving in any of this, but I do love to show off my dogs, how they are trained and how fun it is to do..well just about everything with them !

Thanks for visiting this page, hope you have enjoyed some of the images of my wonderful canine family !
Dave King