Dogsledding in the Pontiac region of the Outaouais: Go to the dogs!

3K

“My mother had sled dogs, so I get my passion for them and sledding from her,” said Denis Rozon, owner-operator and chief guide at Timberland Tours Dog Sled Adventures in Bristol, Quebec.

“We lived in Maniwaki; we are native and had sled dogs for as long as I can remember. As well, 50 or 60 years ago, there were big dog races in Maniwaki. They’re gone now, but really, this is what captured my interest when I was a boy. It was exciting, you know?”

I’m sure we can all imagine how thrilling dogsledding was for the young Rozon, who had his first team at age six. At Timberland, it is easy to capture an authentic sense of our Canadian past, as Rozon has kept this Northern Peoples’ tradition alive and thriving.

He has maintained and deepened his passion for racing sled dogs, having dedicated his life to breeding them and promoting the sport internationally. Not only does Timberland host an international dryland dog race in the last week of October, but in January, it also hosts snow dogsled racing. Visitors can take sledding tours there in both summer and winter.

Elsewhere in the Pontiac, Caroline Desrosiers and her husband Sylvain Drapeau share Rozon’s love of sled dogs and also run a dogsledding outfitter. Their Escapade Eskimo company offers dog-sled tours near the village of Otter Lake. Intriguingly, they raise different breeds of dogs than Rozon does.

Let’s take a look at these Pontiac-based operators.

Meet Eurodogs at Timberland Tours Dog Sled Adventures in Bristol

After many years of work, which included time in the Canadian Armed Forces, Rozon decided to turn his love of sled racing and dogs into his full-time business. In 2008, he opened Timberland Tours Dog Sled Adventures, roughly an hour’s drive west of Ottawa-Gatineau.

Arriving at Timberland, I was immediately greeted with a cacophony of howls, yips and barks, plus the comical sight of more than 40 doggies leaping about beside their individual kennels. Most begged for my attention, so of course I headed over, dispensing pats and hugs to as many as I could.

With a cheerful shout of hello, Rozon strode to my side, introducing me to first this dog, then that one. Immediately, I could tell these weren’t the usual Siberian Husky sled dogs; in fact, I thought they resembled short-haired Greyhounds and Pointers.

I asked Rozon, “What breed are these?”

“We call them Eurodogs,” he explained. “You’re right: they are 75% German Pointers, 20% Alaskan Huskies and 5% Greyhounds. They’re specially bred for racing, and the new generation of younger racers call them ‘harness dogs,’ not ‘sled dogs.’ I’ve been racing for more than 45 years and I can tell you, I just love this breed. They’re fast and all heart!”

Note to self: bred to run. Will I be able to control the sled? I mused.

For sure. Rozon has bred many of his Eurodogs himself, here at Timberland. He emphasized that they love to run on the safe, broad, groomed trails they know very well.

“Of course, before anyone heads out, our guides give people training. We put two people on each sled: one stands at the back as musher, the other is on the sled. Half-way through the trail, we switch roles, so everybody gets a chance at mushing.”

Said Rozon, “The dogs race on a 30-foot-wide track, which is clear and very, very safe—and fast. But no one needs to be nervous! We’ve had a 90-year-old out here enjoying the sledding, as well as lots of families with kids. It’s fun for the entire family, for sure. I’ve been racing dogs for 45 years and I never, ever tire of introducing people to my dogs and the sport. It’s a wonderful tradition to continue, right here in the Pontiac.”

And it’s jolly good fun, too.

Come on out and experience a fabulous time. And don’t forget to get about the Bristol Dryland World Cup Dog Race (last weekend in October) and the Pontiac International Sled Dog and Skijoring Race in January.

Timberland Tours Dog Sled Adventures, 36, chemin Ragged Chute, Bristol, Quebec

Cuddle Siberian Husky puppies at Escapade Eskimo in Otter Lake

Caroline Desrosiers and her husband Sylvain Drapeau operate Escapade Eskimo on their 1,200-acre, forested, hilly property in Otter Lake, approximately 1.5 hours by car from Parliament Hill. They love dogs and, like Rozon, they breed dogs and offer dog-sledding experiences. However, there are significant differences between Timberland and Escapade Eskimo, which means both outfitters are well worth visiting.

Let’s first consider the dogs. At Escapade Eskimo, they are purebred Siberian Huskies, not Rozon’s sleek, short-haired Eurodogs. So these animals look like what we fully expect sled dogs to look like: fuzzy, pointed-muzzled dogs resembling wolves.

Drapeau told me he got his passion for dogs and sledding from his uncle, François Bruneau, who has been in the business since 1985. Desrosiers and Drapeau opened their business in 2004 and now have 46 huskies. (Cuteness alert: Ask if there are puppies to see—or perhaps, if you’re lucky, to cuddle. Kids will desperately want to take at least one home.)

When my husband Eric and I arrived at Escapade Eskimo, Drapeau took us out to his truck, where the dogs were already waiting in their trailer-kennel. Off we drove to the snowy trailhead. There, we helped remove the sleds from the truck and straightened the traces to which the dogs would be attached.

Then it was time to help take the dogs out of their kennel and hook their body harness onto the traces. Well! That proved downright hilarious. It was far easier said than done, because the dogs were so, so eager to run.

I found myself almost unable to cope, simply because I was laughing so much. The dog I was “leading” to the traces (um, who was leading who?) was jumping about on his hind legs, he was so excited to be working.

However, I didn’t have the proper technique. Drapeau quickly came over and explained how to better hold the harness, just behind the dog’s head and at a certain level.

Aha! Now my dog could walk on his hind legs (well, frankly, he still hopped a bit) to the harness, where I was able to attach him.

I became relatively efficient as we three worked, harnessing them all. After a short explanation of how to mush, off we went, dashing through the snow-draped, tree-lined trails. So pretty. So fast. So fun.

These trails have hills, so we got quite the workout. Plus, we had to stay engaged and aware: The sled swung from side to side, so we needed to balance it by moving our weight in the opposite direction.

At Escapade Eskimo, guests can choose trips ranging from two-hour sessions to two-day expeditions. The two-day trip involves staying overnight at the couple’s very comfortable lodge, where you can also try ice fishing. In addition, snowshoeing and snow sliding are available.

Make no mistake: This is active, real Canadian, outdoorsy fun. Just go for it!

Escapade Eskimo, 1378, route 301, Otter Lake, Quebec

If you go

Looking for more information on the Pontiac region? See Pontiac Tourism and Outaouais Tourism.

Katharine Fletcher is a freelance writer, visual artist and author of historical guides such as Historical Walks: The Gatineau Park Story. 

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and beyond? Subscribe to the free, weekly Ottawa Road Trips e-newsletter!