Our kennel has been independently rated as: 'Certification-Plus' according to the standards outlined within MUSH with P.R.I.D.E. - the only organisation offering an internationally recognised industry standard in the sleddog world. In other words, our standards exceed those which are currently accepted as 'Good' within the Sleddog Industry and 'certification plus' is effectively the only available symbol of excellence.
In the last few years we have been looking at the subject of responsible sleddog care in some detail and we have a whole section of our website which looks in more detail at sleddog ethics including more about P.R.I.D.E. as an organisation.
Our work to this end resulted in us being awarded a GOLD award in the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards in the 'Best Animal Welfare Initiave' category.
Mush With Pride was established in 1991 as an organization of mushers who were concerned about the care and treatment of sled dogs in their traditional and modern uses and public perceptions of mushing. P.R.I.D.E. stands for 'Providing Responsible Information on a Dog’s Environment' and it supports the responsible care and humane treatment of all dogs.
Sled dog care and equipment guidelines developed through P.R.I.D.E. and assessed through voluntary kennel inspections, were the first of their kind. Kennels that exceed the recommended standards are awarded 'certification plus'.
This certificate therefore shows that our kennel is clean and in good condition; that the dogs appear both healthy and happy; that the dog houses and living systems (cages and chains) are in good repair and appropriate to the type of dogs we have and the weather conditions encountered here; that the dogs have sufficient access to water; that the storage and preparation of the dog food is in a clean and appropriate place and that the food itself is of good quality; that the pack has good social behaviour both within it and towards humans - a reflection of the good life standards they enjoy; that both pups and veterans are cared for equally and that breeding is deliberate and restricted.
Our written dog files which include everything to do with the dogs from their behaviour to their vaccination and medical treatment records, running distances and basic obedience abilities are pretty much unsurpassed and a source of real pride.
So too is the fact that our kennel is one of the very few in Scandinavia with a 'no-kill' policy for the retirees and non-running dogs. Hence, all dogs here have the chance to live out their days enjoying a hard-earned rest.