Mastering Training and Breeding Methods on His Own, He Finally Made Dog Sledding His Livelihood

Although Mr. Takita had experience with dog sledding, this was his first time offering tours. How did he go about preparing?

"At the time, I was gathering information on social media about powerful people who were clearing the Alaskan wilderness to build kennels. Seeing their pioneering spirit filled me with a 'I can do this' attitude. That was about 15 years ago, so I was still young back then (laughs)."

Mr. Takita handles everything himself, from creating the environment to training and caring for the dogs. He went to observe dog sled races held in various parts of Hokkaido, met with experts, and learned training methods from them to put into practice. He also made steady efforts by gathering information from North America, the home of dog sledding, via social media and the internet, and by importing and translating reference books, acquiring his knowledge almost entirely on his own.

In 2012, he officially opened 'Mushing Works.' At the time, he was still working another job and only offered tours on weekends, but in 2014, he began running the dog sledding tours full-time. The season opens around mid-December, depending on snowfall, and can be enjoyed until around March 20th (the vernal equinox).

Many of his customers are international visitors, and Mr. Takita serves them with skillful English. A feature of Mushing Works is that the customers get to steer the dog sleds themselves. Of course, Mr. Takita is there to help anyone who feels anxious, but since there's a thorough lecture at the beginning, there's no need to be overly scared. The course is 12 km long. You'll run for a full hour, with a break in between.

"Our dogs are based on the northern breed, the Husky. Purebred northern breeds have fluffy coats and are resistant to the cold, but even in Hokkaido, it's rare for temperatures to stay at minus 20 degrees for days on end, so this environment is a bit warm for them. That's why we have Alaskan Huskies, a mix of various breeds, pull the sleds. We started with seven dogs, and now we have 40."

The Alaskan Husky is a crossbreed of fast-running dogs like the English Pointer, Greyhound, and German Shepherd Dog. Most of the dogs at Mushing Works were bred by Mr. Takita himself. Due to the inherent nature of their breeds, the dogs are lively and always eager to run.

"The dogs aren't being forced to run; they run because they want to. Dog sledding is a pastime that satisfies both their desires and our hearts. At first, quite a few people have a sympathetic image, feeling sorry for the dogs. But after seeing the dogs' immense excitement before the start and how joyfully they run, many of them change their minds by the end. When they tell me, 'This is the best activity where both dogs and people can be happy,' it makes me feel that what I'm doing is worthwhile."

Hoping to Create Summer Activities to Enjoy with the Dogs

As it's such an extraordinary event, some people occasionally use it as a venue for a surprise.

"A few years ago, a female same-sex couple from Singapore visited on a day with a blizzard-like, intensely strong wind. During a break, my staff and I quickly stepped away, and one of them proposed. After the engagement ring was happily accepted, we said 'Congratulations!' and presented a large bouquet of flowers we had hidden in the snowmobile's seat, but the blizzard blew away more than half of the flowers (laughs). That's one memory."

There were also parents who secretly booked a tour for their child who had dreamed of dog sledding after seeing it in a Disney movie. The image of the child, brought here without knowing, breaking down in tears of joy when told, "Okay, it's time for dog sledding!" is still burned into his memory. "It's a true honor that people choose Mushing Works for such occasions," Mr. Takita said with a gentle smile.

In recent years, due to the effects of global warming, the situation has become less favorable for dog sledding, with snow falling later and melting earlier. While feeling that things aren't the same as they used to be, he works hard every day to ensure both dogs and people can experience a moment of happiness, by checking the weather forecast many times a day and taking care of the dogs' health.

Capturing the customers' dog sledding moments on camera is also part of the job

"Dog sledding is a winter-only activity, so I'm hoping to provide a place where people can play with the dogs outside of winter as well," says Mr. Takita. One thing he started a few years ago is bikejoring. It's an activity where sled dogs pull a mountain bike on snow-free off-road trails, and it's apparently a popular dog sport in Europe.

Mr. Takita's challenge continues, driven by his wish for "both dogs and people to have a fun time." The 2023 dog sledding tours start on December 22nd. Bookings are already filling up, but this is a rare chance to play and run with dogs in a snowfield, so be sure to experience it.

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