Deer Creek Sleddogs
Raising a Sleddog

I think our most favorite thing about this sport is puppies. Their birth, love, and trust are absolute miracles. Because we invest a considerable amount of time and money into a litter of pups, it is important to raise them right. We feel there is a direct correlation between how they are raised and what kind of sleddog they turn into. The key here is what is meant by "raise them right" This page provides pointers in what we think grows a great sleddog.


Good care starts with day 1. We handle the pups every single day. We are especially fortunate that our kids are still young enough, that socialization is never an issue.

Within the first 3 days of birth the pups have dew claws removed. This is not only for appearance purposes, but a practical purpose. Dew claws can become large and dangly as the pups mature. These claws can get snagged and rip. They also get in the way when a dog may need to be bootied (however seppalas rarely have to be bootied).


As the pups grow we follow typical shot and worming programs to ensure they have a good nutritional start in life. It is important to mention that the puppies and their mother are kept safe from all other dogs in the kennel. Caution is taken in making the whelping area secure & safe so the mother feels comfortable and puppies are safe even in the case of an accidental escape. It is impossible to foresee 100% of accidents, but it is possible to significantly mitigate the chance of losing a puppy or litter for that matter.


In the next phase of raising a great sleddog, we try to get the mind set focused on running early in life. There is a time when the pups first begin to walk that they are very excited to explore and stay together. At first, a brisk walk keep the pups at a fast pace and barely able to keep up. Soon, they are out running us, but still too young or afraid to follow a 4-wheeler. This when our faithful border collie and her ball seem to do the trick to keep the pups moving and happy to do it. We can also use her to help teach them it is ok to follow the 4-wheeler

Although this is only a small synopsis of how we raise our puppies, it is one of our major focuses and probably where a signficant amount of time, money, and thought are spent. There is a certain uncertainity that goes into raising your own sleddog compared the certainity of simply buying a proven dog off someone else's team. There is also a great deal of pleasure in seeing a great sleddog raised yourself from birth.
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