Sled Dogs Run in the Winter and Summer Too

A few months ago, when the sun was still shining and there was no snow on the ground, I saw a strange sight near the Traverse City District library. I saw a group of Siberian Huskies pulling a man on a cart. I recently found out that the man's name is Mike King and his dogs pull him around all year long in what some might call "Urban Mushing."

Always a dog person, King grew up with a Shephard mix and also a Cocker mix. His wife was a dog person too. She had a Yorkie when they met and had a Great Dane and a Husky before that. Their children have cats and gerbils and even visiting ferrets.

King got his first Husky about ten years ago. It was a rescue dog named Natasha. He got the idea to use his dogs to pull people while working at a ski resort. If he had a student waiting for their parents to pick them up, he would hook up his Husky, Natasha, to a plastic sled and pull the kids around until someone came to get them. Then King would hook up the dog, snap into his skis and she would pull him over to the restaurant.

His five light red Siberian Huskies, similar to the color of his first Husky, Natasha, are named Timber (6), Danni (5), Ginger (4), Tess (3) and Tasha (5 months). In the summer, they spend most mornings exercising and training with King around Traverse City while he rides on a four-wheeled coaster modified for dog lines. They usually follow a human on a bike so that the dogs keep in better alignment as they pass others on the trail. They also love to take a dip in the water and love to kayak as well.

In the winter, King rides a regular sled on the snow. This year, he is working with Shanty Creek Resorts, giving dog sled rides. The sled rides are on the Schuss golf course at Shanty Creek Resorts. They are by appointment only and you can call Janet Jennings at 800-678-4111 extension 7860.