FYI: Please note that for us, the most important part of an adoption is finding the right dog for the right person but we very much hope that people consider first, either our oldies or those who would be put down on other farms for medical reasons. These dogs would make strong companion pets and would, I believe, have a better life if they could retire to a sofa.
All of the dogs that we consider to be suitable for adoption have spent time indoors and are either completely or nearly 100% house trained. All are open and friendly towards people, although those in the 'special needs' section need experienced owners for various reasons.
Click on the name of the dog you are interested in, to find out more detailed information about them. The dogs are listed in priority adoption order within each category.
DOGS WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LIMPING
These dogs are prone to limping. They are either retired because of it or on a very reduced running plan and they would have a far better quality of life in a house with normal levels of exercise.
Merlin II, Jani and Patapov are all pretty much retired from being sleddogs since they just can't run the mileage needed without limping. These would be good candidates for a household looking for a loving pet but not one looking for a husky to go running with.
Meggy & Mighty (both sisters who came to us as rescue dogs at c. 8 months of age) do well on a reduced running plan and therefore would probably be fine, 90% of the time, running or walking to the same level, or more, than most households with dogs. However, they are both very shy little dogs that would need special handling. For that reason, I debated as to whether to put them, rather, into the 'special needs' category. These scared little mutts were unbelievably good sleddogs in their day, whereas Patapov, for instance, was always pretty useless. There is a surprising amount of 'zest for life' behind their fearful demeanours.
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DOGS WITH OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES
These dogs would be better off in a home than in the farm for a variety of medical reasons. FYI Those with greater medical needs have been put into the 'special needs' section.
Little Nana has the heart and soul of a champion but her body reacts badly if we accidentally make her run in too hot weather (anything over -12C!). Whilst one of our favourites, we would reluctantly give her a chance at a better, more balanced life for her, should the right home arise.
Neo still loves to run despite pancreatic issues that need to be controlled through a low-fat diet, but we feel that he has given enough and would maintain his weight more easily in a home setting.
Timon nearly got an adoption opportunity last year but then, unfortunately, he developed a large swelling on his neck which needed weeks of investigation and he missed his chance. The swelling was either a form of hyperplasia or a lymphoma but it is currently not being treated (although a hypothyroid condition, which is fairly common in sleddogs, which was discovered at the same time, through blood work, is treated daily with low-cost pills).
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Oldies, in search of a soft retirement sofa.
These dogs would benefit from moving to a new home to enjoy some comfort in the last few years of their lives.
On the farm they have to watch in sadness as the younger dogs get to have fun doing runs that they can no longer join in with. For them, a warm indoor dog-bed or sofa would definitely be preferable to an outdoor kennel in -40C as their joints start to get stiff. Lots of attention, the freedom to move around a house unrestricted and access to a nice soft dog bed or sofa would be their retirement dream. Of course, all of these dogs can be outdoors in a cage during the daytime, if needs be.
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SPECIAL NEEDS: EXPERIENCED HANDLERS ONLY
These dogs have either medical or behavioural issues that would either require an experienced home, one without other dogs or one without children.
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NB: We also have a list of 'ready for adoption' dogs that will be the next to be put on the retirement list, in search of their 'forever' homes.
It is pretty easy for anyone living in Scandinavia to adopt one of our dogs and if you are looking for a certain type of dog (one that can run with you or one that is good with kids, etc), please do get in touch. We have some dogs here which we have rescued from other farms in the recession to save them from being put down, and we have other older dogs that could be retired but are just not in as much need as those shown here. Hence, do get in touch with your wish list and we will see if we have a dog that is suitable for you. We would rather that they go to the ideal home than that they stay running, here, if they are not that great as working sled dogs or if they are already on a reduced running plan from old age.
For those living overseas, it can be quite complicated, expensive and time-consuming to sort out the inoculations and paperwork needed to get the dog ready to travel. However, it is not totally impossible and, as you can ready on the lucky dogs page, we have dogs who have moved as far away as Colorado and New York as well as quite a few who have travelled to the UK or Central Europe.
Those prone to limping who would enjoy a comfy sofa more than running.
Merlin II (Sept 2008)
Merlin II has not run the past few seasons because of a chronic limp. He is not able to run the same distances as the other working dogs without hurting himself, and would be better off finding a couch to live on. Spending most of his days inside now, Merlin II is affectionate with people and always comes to you for a head rub. He is low-maintenance and is really just looking for a place and family to call home.
Ideal new home: A couch or soft dog bed with cuddly human beings and not too much activity.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: Might be nice for Merlin II to have some human or animal companion but he would be fine alone.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? As long as you go at an easy pace with him Merlin II would probably enjoy it. He is still quite strong.
Jani (Dec 2007)
Jani, like Merlin II, has not run the past few seasons because of a chronic limp. He is not able to run the same distances as the other working dogs without hurting himself, and would be better off finding a couch to live on. Spending most of his days inside now, Jani is a bit timid and slightly difficult compared to Merlin II in his behaviour. He is mostly frightened of men and new people, hence better off with women and it will take time to grow a relationship with him. For this reason it would be nicer for him to be in a quiet, peaceful environment with just a few people. He is otherwise low-maintenance and really just looking for a place and family to call home.
Ideal new home: A quiet, peaceful home with a soft couch or dog bed and one or two cuddly human being(s), without too much activity. Jani might be scared of children and other loud pets but is very sweet with puppies.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: He has spent a lot of time inside, should be fine once he is comfortable in the new environment.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Would be better not to, his limping can get pretty bad (also not a young dog). If you do go very slow and easy.
Patapov (Feb 2007)
Patapov's brother, Drizen, has found a new home so we figured it would only be fair to also offer it to Patapov (since he would make a much better companion dog than a sleigh dog). Patapov is sweet and friendly, but not great in the line, getting tired from the fast pace of the huskies after short distances.
Ideal new home: Somewhere he can get lots of cuddles and attention.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: He would be better with another dog (that he trusts) or with regular mini visits until you are sure about how house trained he really is. He might be better off living in an outdoor space at least in the beginning.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? He would love to still do this still from time to time and even though he is a big dog and therefore not so fast, he has good endurance still and he is very obedient.
Meggy & Mighty (Sept 2008)
Meggy & Mighty come from the same litter as Merlin II, but like their other siblings take some time to get accustomed to people. Merlin II is an example of what these two shy ladies could become with enough inside time and human contact. Meggy is the bolder of the two, virtually fearless when you have food in your hand. When walking into their cage with food bowls Meggy tends to jump on your back impatiently until you turn to her at which point she scoots back a bit and barks expectantly. Once comfortable with you she really enjoys back rubs, but like her sister, you need to be gentle and patient in your approach. Mighty is the smallest and shiest dog of the litter and requires a lot of time and patience. She is as loud as Meggy during feeding time but very nervous and jumpy inside a house with lots of people. With most human contact Mighty tends to go stiff and wait for it to be over. The two need a calm and very patient owner who is not expecting to see immediate results.
Ideal new home: Preferably together, so that they can gain confidence from each other (if willing to take their third sister, Minnie, that would be even better for them). Need to be in a calm, quiet environment where they can learn to be comfortable around people. Require a lot of patience and gentle handling.
How would they deal with being alone during a working day: Both Meggy and Mighty have spent time inside the house and know the rules (does not necessarily mean they will oblige). Mighty still occasionally pees inside, and both are known for swallowing booties we put on them while running. They would need to be tested at the start, both are small dogs but might swallow or chew things.
To what extent can they still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? While both are quite fast, strong little pullers please be careful regarding limping. Especially in the beginning if they are scared of you they may not make the best canicross/skijoring companions.
Those of our dogs 'medically' targeting a sofa
Nana (Oct 2010)
Nana has one of the most amazing work ethics on the farm, to a fault. She gets excited and pulls to the point where she overheats and has often collapsed while running, in addition to which she was on anti-acid tablets for most of the 2016-17 season to help her bodily functions. It does not help that with a long body and short legs Nana easily gets tangled in the line and has occasionally injured herself. She is ever so eager to please and would be happy to go to a loving home where she can get cuddles and playtime. Her excitable and clumsy movements do require some patience, but she is otherwise a well-behaved little girl.
Ideal new home: A loving family who can keep her happy and occupied since she will not be working anymore.
How would she deal with being alone during a working day: If possible Nana should not really be left alone. She often has difficulty controlling her bladder and gets diarrhea. She is not destructive but given her clumsiness she easily knocks things over with her tail or back end. It does add a certain charm to her personality though!
To what extent can she still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Nana can do these activities with considerable moderation, and in cool temperatures. She needs to be carefully watched for overheating.
Neo (Feb 2008)
Neo is a big, sweet boy who is still happy to run but has unfortunately had a few health issues. He is limited in the use of his hip joints and had a stroke in 2013, resulting in a permanently slightly tilted head (may be unfortunate, but it does make him look cute). In the winter of 2014 we noticed that Neo had developed pancreatitis, and is unable to handle fat well. Because of this he is on a special low-fat dry food and gets less meat than the others. Neo is a happy-go-lucky fellow who should find a home where he can take it easy.
Ideal new home: People who can give Neo lots of attention and still exercise him regularly.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: Neo has previously spent a lot of time inside the house and behaves well but seems to enjoy being outdoors more. He has a big, fluffy coat and gets hot easily. Neo is not really destructive but he is a very big guy, and we think he would be better suited to living outdoors. Here at Hetta he normally lives in a cage with his friend Banda.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Would probably be alright, still strong and enjoys running, just as long as you watch his hip joints and stiffness
Timon (March 2007)
Timon was very shy when we arrived at the farm, but he has a strong natural play instinct which was only just hidden under the shy demeanour he had learned to show. For instance, right from the beginning he would bark and wag his tail at you to get your attention but then when you would go over to him, he would run away and when you had finally given up on him coming to you and started to leave his circle, he would run after you and maybe even nip your bottom to say 'come back...give me another chance!'. We put him on the front row of the farm for a while and he got a lot braver after a season of being approached by clients with treats so now he is at the stage at which he will come forward to sniff even a stranger's hand (in case they have treats) and he plays comfortably and lovingly with the guides. He is a large, fluffy and gorgeous dog but even though he is definitely at the easy end of our spectrum when it comes to interaction with other dogs, he doesn't necessariy like every male dog so we would need to check how he would be in a household with other dogs.
Ideal new home: A house with calm people, so he does not get too excited.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: We believe Timon would be ok during the day, especially with a dog bed or sofa to relax on.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Timon does enjoy working and would be enthusiatic to do these sports.
OUR OLD DOGS IN SEARCH OF A RETIREMENT SOFA
Hendrix (Jan 2006)
Though one of our oldest, Hendrix is still among our strongest. In the 2016-17 season he ran day safari products with ease and had no injuries apart from mild limping. While Hendrix still has loads of energy and would need a lot of activity in his retirement home, he is getting old and deserves to be pampered by a someone who can care for his needs. He can be somewhat shy and reserved with people, but once you build a relationship with him, Hendrix is very sweet and playful. He enjoys nuzzling up to you and getting back scratches, especially in spring when molting his winter coat. He is always curious though cautious about anything unfamiliar.
Ideal new home: Optimally somewhere he can live outside most of the time. Hendrix is house-trained as well but occasionally gets restless and might become destructive if bored. Sneakily good at opening doors.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: The main concern for Hendrix at this time is his energy level - you would need to test him for the first few weeks if planning to leave him alone inside a house. He would probably be best off living in an outdoor kennel and cage or space to roam. While living on a running circle chain he was known for chewing his kennel. While he is currently living in our retired running fence with three other oldies, and is usually very outgoing, he should live with easy dogs.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Hendrix is a reliable, steady skijoring partner and would absolutely love it.
Lassi (2006)
Lassi is extremly photogenic and is popular with clients. He is shy, but will respond better to people he knows. Once you do get to know him, it is rewarding to see him trust you. Unfortunatley, Lassi tends to slow down a sleigh team, as he can be a little lazy. Lassi really likes other dogs and is extremely easy to live with. In fact, he would be better to be re-homed with another dog.
Ideal new home: Somewhere calm, he would be fine with children, as long as they knew how to treat animals with respect. And ideally, with another dog.
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: We think he would be fine alone, though maybe he might be better with another dog for company.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? He physically can do these sports, but might need persuasion.
NB: PLEASE carefully consider the risks with adopting one of these dogs. While they might prove to be much happier in a different surrounding, and have shown us their better qualities at times, they are unpredictable in different scenarios. Huskies are capable of a lot of damage.
Soda (July 2014)
Soda is not an aggressive dog but he is huge and high-energy, often frightening other dogs. Similar to asthma in humans, he was born with a respiratory problem from the larynx causing wheezing during exercising or excitement (laryngeal paralysis probable). For this reason we do not run him further than 4km distances with the other huskies. With the right handler Soda would make a lovely companion: he is overly affectionate and wants nothing more than to please you, but does not understand his own size or strength. On the lead Soda has a tendency to lunge forward and run around in wide circles, though if you can get him to walk next to you he just looks up at you and does not pull (until he forgets and lunges forward again). As long as you can get him to understand what you want he is obedient, but his attention span appears similar to someone with ADHD. As he is still growing into adultood now would be a good time to find Soda a home where he would get the attention, training, and love that he needs.
Ideal new home:With people that are able to handle such a huge, strong, and high-energy dog. Most other dogs get frightened or defensive with him, has one dog on this farm he has lived with consistently without problems (Moscow).
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: Soda is still quite young and has improved inside the house over his time here. He used to pee whenever he got too excited, now is more in control of his bladder and better house-trained but needs to be watched inside the house at the start, could easily break things. Has short fur so better inside if living in a cold environment (Eurohound heritage on father's side).
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? Difficult to do anything other than hiking because of his strength and lunging in circles, but definitely needs exercise as long as he is given breaks to monitor his breathing.
Keri (2006)
Keri's behaviour is unpredictable and has improved inconsistently during his time here. We believe that he would do great with an owner that can put the effort into their relationship, but this may require a lot of work. Keri is extremely intelligent and obedient (though grudgingly so), but behaves unpredictably in different environments. Generally he is timid with people, though he has a calculating and interested look in his eyes the whole time. If you do manage to catch him, and stroke him in a calm, confident manner he does eventually enjoy it. Often it helps if you have something to distract him as you approach him. Keri hates being surprised or touched lightly (have had to massage him for stiffness in joints), and has often nipped guides out of fear or surprise. In the line he gets overexcited and clips his teeth together while barking, often scaring the other dogs (and people). Currently living in a small running fence with an easy dog (Pegasos - could potentially also be persuaded for adoption), Keri appears happy and engaged, coming up to sniff your hand. In the right environment and with the right person we think Keri could make a lovely companion, but creating a real relationship with him requires a long time commitment.
Ideal new home: Somewhere peaceful and quiet with calm and experienced dog people, would probably be better in a home without children or other pets (unless he gets along with the other dog, in which case it might be better for him).
How would he deal with being alone during a working day: Would need to be watched closely in the beginning. Keri is old and not high-energy but still strong. He has not spent a lot of time inside the house, appeared frightened at first by all the new things but eventually settled down and came to enjoy receiving more attention.
To what extent can he still do canicross in summer / go skijoring with me in winter? He would probably be quite good, still a strong boy but is getting quite stiff which needs to be watched out for.
