Sled Dogs without taking a ride
 

I have read many posts about visiting the sled dog camps and almost everyone mentions that they have taken a ride. Is it possible to just visit with the puppies and not take the sled ride?

In Denali there is a free sled dog demonstation to veiw. Very interesting with an informative short lecture and visits to the kennels. They run the dogs for you to watch. Don't miss it if you're in the park. I think it takes place 2 or 3 x a day.

In Aspen, CO, Krabloonik allows you to visit the dogs and puppies without taking a ride; I was there in spring, when a ride wasn't really possible, anyway.
But I assume you mean in Alaska...

Nobody will make you take a ride if you don't want to. There are many mushers who put on demonstrations and let you visit with (some of) their dogs as well as drive the dog sled. The demonstration put on by the rangers is quite good - they actually use those teams during the winter in the park. Sled dogs are bred to be working dogs and are not your typical household pet by any means. You will probably want to visit the Iditarod Trail museum in Wasilla.

You can take a dog sled ride in the summer. Many use wheeled sleds for year round training.

I don't know if they do this where ever you are going, but they do in Utah.

We visited the Seavey's Iditaride near Seward and took the ride. I am sure you can probably just have a tour if you ask for that. Our daughter was 7 at the time and holding the puppies was her favorite part of the 10 days we spent in Alaska. This was in early July.

Good luck,

MY

Where are you going to be??? Denali Park has a kennel to look at. The Sled Dog Museum in Wasilla usually has some Reddington dogs there. All free looks.

We saw some puppies in Seward in one of the gift shops. Also, in Wasilla as Budget Queen suggested. When we were there puppy cuddling was being encouraged. Although they are working dogs, friends who raise Siberians believe puppy socialization is very important. When we stayed at Alaska Garden Gate B&B, Karen had two Siberian house dogs who enjoyed people. The adult dogs I've met, esp Alaskan huskies aren't very interested in people and some are shy or aloof.

Good ideas from everyone else, and, too you might consider Iditarod veteran Vern Halter's kennel, Dream a Dream Dog Farm. He gives a video presentation with show and tell about all the gear, what goes out on the Iditarod trail in terms of food drops, safety equipment, clothing, etc., then it's outside to meet the gang. His crew of 70 working sled dogs are very socialized. Part of the tour at Vern's can include a ride on a souped up golf-cart type vehicle pulled through the woods by the dogs, as well as puppy cuddling. It was one of my very favoritist things I've done in the 5 years I've lived here to go mushing with him this past winter to see what this tour of his was like (with the sled, on snow--see my blog post at http://gardengatebnb.blogspot.com/ ). He lives in Willow, and you can find him at http://www.vernhalter.com . I haven't personally met Iditarod veterand and Wasilla resident Martin Buser, but he offers a kennel tour and meet and greet with the dogs, as well. He can be found at http://www.buserdog.com