A day with 16 huskies - structure, exercise and lots of fur
Anja Nehrenheim
A day with 16 huskies - structure, exercise and lots of fur
Not an alarm clock, but a husky chorus at sunrise.
☕ Morning routine (with cold noses and full bowls of food)
6.30 a.m. - The inner husky clock is mercilessly reliable. While most people are still dreaming of warm beds, 16 huskies are standing on the lead, at the fence or right outside the door, barking in a friendly manner and asking: "Breakfast would be nice now."
Then off we go:
- Individualised feed rations - depending on the training plan, weather and character (keyword: the one diet candidate 👀)
- Fill up with fresh water (sometimes combined with ice picks)
- First petting sessions, where the huskies act as if they weren't the wild snow cannons yesterday
- Checking fences, huts & stakes - safety first
While Nova (the Mali dog) keeps an overview and Darwin (the cat) yawns demonstratively, the first big puppy sprint of the day begins: the free run.
🏃♀️ Morning: action, endurance & adventure
As soon as the harness rattles, the pulse and volume increase. Huskies are not quiet. They comment on everything - especially when they are allowed to go on tour:
Depending on the season:
- Trekking with guests: With a husky on a belly strap through forest & meadow - the perfect mix of fitness & happiness hormones
- Training rides with sledges or husky carts:
◦ Check team line-up
◦ Paw care before & after
◦ Off we go - with 8-10 huskies and plenty of energy on the trail
Break? Only for humans. The huskies would love to do three more laps.
Blizzard our lead dog romping around in the run
After the rain, the trail is a bit muddy and the huskies are correspondingly clean 🙂
🧹 Lunch break - so theoretically
While the dogs are resting (i.e. pretending), we humans are on the supply shift:
- Clean outlets
- Check and dry lines, harnesses & equipment
- Rinse food bowls (16 times. Daily.)
- Check for injuries or abnormalities
And maybe: a sandwich, a coffee. Or just a sip of water between two Bell concerts.
🐾 Afternoon: variety with a twist
The afternoon is all about mental utilisation and bonding:
- Small training sessions: sit, down, patience (yes, that too!)
- Walks with single dogs or in small groups
- Intelligence games, search games or lazing around together (which huskies understand as "leaning back very lightly")
And of course there are also guests who dare to walk a husky on a lead. Spoiler: The husky usually leads the guest. 😄
🌙 Evening mood - when the pack comes to rest
Towards evening, it slowly becomes quieter - at least compared to the morning orchestra:
- Once again food, water, cuddles
- Refresh dog kennels, check straw bedding
- Check fences, check lights (for the night owls among the huskies)
And then: silence. The pack snuggles up, the last light goes out and the stove crackles outside.
Kissing time from Jagger
Trekking tour in summer in Saas-Fee
🔄 Of course, not every day is the same - flexibility is a must
As structured as a day with huskies may seem - everyday life always brings surprises:
In the winter months, there are often passenger journeys in the evening, when the snow crunches and the headlamps are on.
In spring, the huskies lose so much undercoat that we could easily stuff a second pack or open a knitting factory.
When the roads are closed: Garden action instead of training tours.
And we also sometimes have a fever, a cough or just a bad day - then it's quieter, shorter or simply postponed.
This flexibility is challenging, but it also keeps us alive - and to be honest: a little chaos is good for the heart.
💬 Conclusion - A day that needs heart, legs & a smile
A day with 16 huskies is no walk in the park - it's an adventure, a full-time job and pure love with fur.
And even if my MS sometimes says: "Maybe not today." - my huskies say: "Come on, we'll do it anyway."
And at the end of the day, I know:
- I am exhausted, but happy
- My dogs are full, satisfied and tired
- And life with huskies is the most honest thing I know.
Would you like to experience this for yourself? Then come with us on a trekking tour or sleigh ride - we look forward to seeing you. 🐾
Husky stories
Existing contributions
Anja Nehrenehim
Anja is the founder of Wild Swiss Adventure and lives with 16 huskies in Eisten in Valais.
