The Cairngorm Sleddog Centre Guidlines

The following are basic guidelines that we at the CSC, the UKs only daily working sled- dog centre, work to, along with some of my personal thoughts which I believe truly need to be addressed if the sport in the UK has any chance of going forward ...as to date children in countries all over the world are running more mileage with their sled- dogs than UK clubs organize events for their members. The sport here in the UK has not gone forward in the past 10 years. We at the CSC are not members of any UK club ...the clubs seem unable to offer us anything for our dogs ...running the same 4 mile trails for the past 15 yrs in many cases with non experienced committee members. Unfortunately it's still just one step up from the show ring. It's now so bad sadly it's the norm to cancel many events ...would you believe often due to snow.

With 20 years of training and racing experience and making the CSC a commercial success in the last ten years, we have been helped by other sled- dog centres in the USA and very experienced mushers input from Europe to Alaska. We are also members of PRIDE where a lot of our guidelines are set.

We at the CSC recognize the sport is evolving every year here in the UK, practiced by people with different lifestyles; there are many ways to take good care of your dogs. Our guidelines are offered as a sharing of information, based on our experience over many years, plus a guide into those who want to start a commercial centre & those who look at commercial centres... setting a standard.

Sadly here in the UK there is not one club or federation capable enough to offer such a guideline. The sport's been in the UK for many years. Linked with "the kennel club" and involved with showing "sled- dogs"�the guidelines that follow will be very alien to those who are part of this practice.

May all your sled- dogs be healthy and happy and enjoy the wonderful world of sled- dogs and if you truly want to run your dogs on real snow bound trails this winter ...sign up for "The Challenge Event" ...this is your chance to experience a real & demanding event.

Alan Stewart
Co-owner of The CSC.