The Sled Dogs
Meet the Remarkable Canine Athletes Who’ll Capture Your Heart
Our Pack of Friendly Sled Dogs is made up of Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, and Eurohounds.
While some of our Dogs come to us as rescues and second-chance dogs, many of them have a Family line that can be traced back up to 8 Generations started by my Father’s Dog Sled Team! This line of Dog’s has been with my Family for 38 years!
Our Dogs are our Family too! We don’t re-home our dogs simply because they no longer run. We continue to provide a happy and enriching environment that meets their diverse needs as they age.
Our Dogs love meeting People! They are well socialized and very friendly, so be prepared for jumping and kisses, they’ll be excited to meet you!
Our Kennel is also a Haven for a number of Sled Dogs that have come to us from “less than desirable” circumstances. Their Backgrounds have instilled some fear of Humans in them and we work to overcome that while they slowly settle into a new life here. Their Kennel is a respite for them from the sudden movements, loud noises, strange smells, and presence of strangers. It is a slow, but rewarding process to watch these dogs come out of their shells and learn to trust and love people again. These members of our Pack still love to run and live with their furry companions, but prefer to do so away from the General Public, working one on one with those of our Staff and Family that they have bonded with.
Our Story
The story of Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience began with a nineteen-year-old boy, a team of dogs he couldn’t imagine leaving behind, and a promise that would shape everything that followed. It didn’t begin with a business plan, it began with a promise…
Dog sledding was never just a hobby for Alex, it was the way he grew up. From the time he was three years old, his Family spent their days training, caring for, and adventuring with their family kennel of thirty sled dogs. The dogs were teammates, family members, and the center of their lives.
After decades dedicated to the sport, Alex’s father Paul reached a crossroads familiar to many lifelong mushers. Caring for a sled dog kennel is more than a hobby, it is a way of life that requires endless hours, dedication, sacrifice, and significant financial commitment. After years of pouring his heart into the dogs and the sport, the financial realities of maintaining a kennel became increasingly challenging, and Paul was faced with the difficult decision of stepping away from dog sledding.
But for Alex, those dogs represented a lifetime of memories. They were the faces waiting for him in the kennel each day, the teammates who carried him through childhood adventures, and the reason he fell in love with dog sledding in the first place. They were Family.
So at just nineteen years old, Alex chose to continue the journey. He dedicated himself to keeping the dogs together, preserving his family’s legacy, and building a future for the team he loved. That decision became the foundation for something much bigger- The Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience was born.
Today, the kennel spans nine generations of carefully raised sled dogs, carrying forward the same bloodlines that helped build Alex’s childhood team. Over the years, the Therriault kennel has also opened its doors to rescues and second-chance dogs in need of a new beginning. What started as a promise to keep one team together has grown into a lifelong commitment to every dog who comes through our gates. From young athletes to retired seniors, every dog has a purpose, a family, and a forever home here with us.
The Therriault Family
Paul Therriault instilled a love of Dogs and Dog Sledding in his sons Alex and Brandon from the very beginning! He started the Family Kennel in 1987 with only a six Dog team and the kennel has grown every year since!
Ask any of the Therriault Family and they’ll retrace their Family dog’s lineage back eight Generations to the cornerstone Dogs that started it all- Cinder and Buffy!
Alex began dog sled racing (starting with just one dog) at only 3 years old! His Father Paul raced professionally before Alex was born, and passed the Family kennel onto Alex when he turned 18. Alex and his family have maintained their kennel of Sled Dogs since 1987 and started sharing their passion through tours with the public in 2013.
Alex holds a Silver Medal from the International Sled Dog Racing Association, Gold in the Maine State Championships and placed 4th in the World Championships in Laconia in 2011! He recently placed 2nd at the Can-Am Crown International Dog Sled Races in 2022 and 3rd in 2023!
Paul is an accomplished musher with 37 years of experience on a sled! He is the owner of Arctic Star Sled Works. When he’s not on a sled he can be found in his workshop building or repairing traditionally made wooden dog sleds.
Alex’s brother Brandon is our Lead Guide and Kennel Manager here at the Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience. He too is a life long Dog Sledder and now a Father of two young boys he is instilling the Family passion in!
Alex and his Family are looking forward to sharing with you the excitement and love both they and their dogs have for sledding!