How to Start a Dog Sledding Business

Part 1 - How to start a Dog Sledding business - Background

Dog sledding is a historic sport that captivates the imaginations of many, and it’s no longer limited to harsh winter environments. Dog sledding businesses let people experience this sport first-hand by offering dog sled rides and tours.

Dog sled businesses aren’t limited to cold places like Nome, Alaska (where the Iditarod ends). Innovative products and business owners are bringing these businesses to warmer climates and metropolitan areas, in addition to cold remote regions.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Dog Sledding business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a dog sledding business?

The largest startup expense of a dog sledding business is acquiring dogs. A business can start out with a small team of dogs, but it will need at least a few.

To find dogs, business owners should talk with mushers and contact rescue groups. Retired racing dogs are usually well-trained but not free. Rescue dogs are a low-cost option but may come with behavioral issues. When purchasing dogs, Mushing recommends that business owners ask why the dogs are being sold and request a full refund if the dog doesn’t bond with the existing team well. When getting rescues, business owners, should be prepared to find the dogs different homes if they aren’t suitable for dog sledding.

In addition to dogs, business owners also need:

• sleds (and carts)

• gang lines, necklines and harnesses

• booties and thermal gear

• shelters and pens

Wikihow recommends having at least 1,000 square feet of pens for a team of ten dogs. Each dog would also need their own shelter. Of course, business owners also need land for these facilities.

What are the ongoing expenses for a dog sledding business?

The ongoing expenses for a dog sledding business are substantial. They include the cost of:

• providing dogs with veterinary care

• purchasing food for dogs

• repairing and replacing equipment

• maintaining facilities

Additionally, new dogs must be acquired as older dogs are retired from sledding altogether.

Who is the target market?

The target market for a dog sledding business tends to be vacationers. People on vacation have discretionary income to spend, are willing to spend it and are looking for activities to do.

Within vacationers, dog sledding businesses tend to attract active individuals who love the outdoors, winter and dogs.

How does a dog sledding business make money?

A dog sledding business primarily makes money by offering tours via dog sled. In warm weather, tours may be given on a cart rather than a sled. Offering cart tours helps extend what would otherwise be a seasonal business into a year-round one.

Some businesses also offer tours of their kennels, but many are willing to share their dogs with interested parties for free. Even those that do charge for kennel visits normally only charge adults a nominal fee and let kids in for free. This isn’t a major source of revenue.

How much can you charge customers?

Dog sled businesses charge several hundred dollars for a tour. Peace Pups Dogsledding charges $300 per person for one-hour tours and $550 for longer lessons. Kennel visits are just $20 for adults and free for children.

How much profit can a dog sledding business make?

A dog sled business can bring in a sizable revenue, but much of this isn’t profit. A business that had two people tour five days a week might bring in $3,000 weekly That has to cover all of the above ongoing expenses, though, and most businesses aren’t fully booked during the warmer seasons even if they have carts. Thus, the winter earnings must cover all year-round expenses.

How can you make your business more profitable?

There are three main ways that a dog sledding business can increase revenue and profits. In addition to standard tours, businesses may give longer tours. Multi-day tours that involve camping can attract dedicated mushers who are traveling, and one-day tours that go to a destination (e.g. a restaurant) can attract couples on dates. Many businesses also get into breeding dogs, although some business owners have ethical concerns about this.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a dog sledding business?

A day at a dog sledding business is full of activity. Business owners:

• feed and clean up after dogs

• play with and exercise dogs

• train dogs and introduce new dogs

• maintain and repair gear and facilities

Several times a week, business owners will take their team out for a run. Each run may be with or without customers.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful dog sledding business?

In order to run a dog sledding business, business owners must know how to mush, which takes time to learn. Business owners who aren’t familiar with dog sledding should:

• take at least one mushing class

• connect with dog sledding clubs and organizations

• find a dog sledding mentor

• read books on mushing

Dog sledding businesses like Noble Paws offer basic mushing classes. Some good books include Dog Driver, Culture Clash and The Speed Mushing Manual.

What is the growth potential for a dog sledding business?

Running a dog sled business is time-intensive, and dog teams develop special bonds with their owner. For this reason, dog sled businesses usually have a single location. Business owners can’t work with teams in different locations.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a dog sledding business?

When selecting dogs, business owners should consider Alaskan and Siberian huskies. Alaskans are popular among racers, but their racing advantages aren’t important for dog sledding businesses.

Hounds, which some mushers use, should be avoided. They require insulated houses and additional thermal gear in cold temperatures, which increases facility and equipment costs. They also aren’t the classic sled dog that customers expect to see.

How and when to build a team

Dog sledding businesses may be one-person operations, or they might have small teams of employees. When hired, employees may help care for dogs, maintain facilities and gear, and handle customer inquiries. Employees don’t usually take the place of dog team’s leader, though.

Part 2 - Is a Dog Sledding business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Dog Sledding business in 90 days