Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel

My husband and I went on the two hour tour yesterday with Brianna. We had the absolute best time. I was overwhelmed with happiness meeting all of the dogs and then getting to help harness the pups to our sled. Brianna’s knowledge and customer service were really impressive and we were relaxed and comfortable the entire time. This was the best Christmas gift my husband ever gave me!

What a really great experience! My family of five truly enjoyed every aspect of our time with Muddy Paws… well, maybe not stepping in poop but otherwise it was everything it said it would be and more and yes, it’s named Muddy Paws for a reason! Upon arrival we were greeted by a very friendly young lady who had us fill out the necessary paperwork and then asked us if we had any questions, needed the restroom (aka Porta Potty) or warmer jackets, blankets etc. We were then able to hang out with the 130+ dogs until the crew was ready. Some are rescue dogs, some are huskies, some are not but they are all working dog breeds that have high energy and a desire to pull so don’t be fooled if they don’t look like they should be there. I will admit it looks a little rough the way they handle the dogs when taking them from their decks to the truck but its not inhumane by any means. These dogs are strong and totally amped up. The crew HAS to grab their harness at the shoulder blades to get the dog on their two back feet and as our guide Jonathan said, «Its like taking them out of four wheel drive and putting them in two wheel drive!» If they didn’t these dogs would take them down before the mushing even started! Jonathan was awesome. He was so good to our three kids (8, 12, 13 yrs) asking and answering questions, letting them take turns at the back of the sled with him, encouraging them to shout out the commands, stopping so that we could take pictures. He was so knowledgable not only about mushing but about all the wildlife around us. He stopped and pointed out a few beaver damns and lodges and explained to us how they work and what the beavers do in the winter, the different reasons hunters prize their fur… all kinds of info. He gave us a little history of the Iditarod and told some stories of crazy things that have happened during it, told us the story of Balto and the health scare for the children of Gnome, Alaska. As it turns out, our lead musher, Frost, is a direct descendant of Balto. Something Jonathan was very proud of as it seems the breeders must be a little strict about with who and how they breed that lineage. We learned about some of the ways to train these kinds of dogs, how they get their place in the lineup and how the lead dogs get the glory while the last dogs have to pull the hardest since they are closest to the sled! And as one other reviewer pointed out, they can poop while running and two of ours did! When our ride was over, we got to praise and treat the dogs while the crew unhitched them. It was truly an amazing experience and I’m so glad my children got to see and experience this first hand. Thank you Muddy Paws!

This gem of a place is a 1 hour drive from North Conway and well worth every minute! We booked a 2 hour excursion with our kids (5 and 7 year olds). We had an absolute blast! Our guide Elliot greeted us at our car and waited patiently while we put on our snow gear. We then had time to explore the layout and meet the dogs. My husband helped Elliot harness the 12 dogs into their line up while the kids and I helped keep the leader dogs stay taut and straight. We loved being able to help.
We weren’t able to use a sled since there wasn’t enough snow but took our ride on a 4 seated buggy with supplied blankets to keep us cozy. The ride was peaceful and calm. We set our sights on beautifully uninterrupted snow (being that it was the first trip of the day).
Both my husband and I got involved when we had to turn all 12 dogs around to head back since they missed the command to take the turn around (or just didn’t want to lug us all up the necessary hill.
Our musher, Elliot, was friendly and answered all our questions about the dogs behavior and dog sledding in general. At the end, we were able to give all our sled dogs some doggie treats and were encouraged by Elliot to show the dogs some much deserved love. You didn’t have to tell us twice! Thank you Elliot and Neil for an experience to remember!

Considering the elegance of the Mount Washington Resort, a friend and I went in expecting «a powerful team of Alaskan Husky sled dogs,» and to be «introduced to all aspects of modern dog sledding by experienced mushers,» as listed on the Bretton Woods website’s description. We were expecting to be led through the mountain and resort and take in beautiful scenery (based on the photos posted on the website). For $ 230, I feel that these are reasonable expectations.
The experience we actually DID wind up having was less than satisfactory. Though very cute, the dogs certainly were not «Alaskan Husky sled dogs,» rather just a group of rescue mutts that smelled and appeared as though the shelter does not regularly groom or take care of them (and were attached to CHAINS on the ground).
The website for the Muddy Paw Dog Sled Kennel states that we have the option to «help harness and hitch their team and even help drive the sled.» However the dogs were already harnessed to the «sleigh» that was on wheels.
Our «meet and greet» session consisted of our musher pointing to the dogs and telling us their names. Some of the unwell-​trained dogs growled at each other, others jumped on us. We also were informed just before our ride that the dog «Skidder,» (one of the two harnessed CLOSEST to the sled), obtained the nickname because he is notorious for defecating during the ride.
A piece of dog poop flung up onto my friend during the ride.
Our «scenic» ride was through a small wooded trail. We could not see the mountain or resort from the trail.
I noted blood on the ground from the dog’s paws as we returned.
As we were preparing to leave, one of the mushers began aggressively removing the dogs from the sleigh and reattaching them the ground chains, causing some to Unilocal and cry.
When we returned to the resort and looked at the time, my friend and I realized that our entire $ 230.00 experience lasted all of thirty minutes including parking and our 5 minute drive back to the resort. It was all-​around a disappointing, one-​time-​only experience.
With that being said «on paper» the experience is what is stated on the website. A 10 – 15 minute meet and greet and a 15 minute ride (the ride was approx 10 min). Oh I did also get to command the dogs to «go» one of the times we stopped and shout «hike hike!» I gave 3 stars because after a four day battle, we got a full-​refund. I will not, however, be returning for Muddy Paw dog sleigh ride in the future. This is LARGELY due to the price. Had I known what I was getting myself into, I never would have paid that much money.

Wes and AJ were great tour guides on our white water rafting trip about a year ago for a bachelor party. The water was quite low but they kept things fun and interesting and provided a nice lunch at the end. Great for a family outing or an adventure with friends.

I cannot say enough good things about Neil and his Muddy Paws:). The tour was educational and we loved interacting with the dogs. The dedication of the team to give such care to the animals is admirable. I highly recommend!

As dog-​lovers with nearly enough rescue pups at home to make a team of our own, my husband and I went to the White Mountains in January 2015 to try dog sledding for the first time. This place was chosen because it’s a rescue – the dogs are taken from defunct racing operations or have been retired from the sport.
The staff seem to really care about the well-​being of the animals. We met every single dog – more than 100 – each with their own personality and story. I would have been content to just amble around, playing with the dogs all day, but of course, we had to get down to the sledding.
When we brought out the reins, nearly every dog chorused out their loudest, «Pick me! Pick me!» Our musher Brianna selected the nine dogs that would be hauling us around that morning, then we hooked them up with little trouble and settled into the sled like oversized luggage. I felt a little useless riding around like that all morning, but it kept us warm and gave us the opportunity to enjoy the vistas and freshly fallen snow along the old rail bed on which we rode.
Halfway through the ride, we helped turn the sled around, which went well considering it was us against nine enthusiastic and antsy pups. It’s hard to say who enjoyed the day more, us or the dogs. They happily trotted along, never going too fast to tire, taking frequent breaks to roll around in and munch on the snow. Our 18-​year-​old musher cheerfully chatted with us the whole trip, telling stories, talking about the kennel and all of her adventures in learning to drive sled dogs. My husband and I felt relaxed and rewarded as we returned to the kennel.
I would recommend this trip to dog lovers, snow lovers and adventure lovers who want to support what seems like, for all appearances, a solid animal rescue operation.

Fantastic people and great dogs.
The staff were incredibly considerate and friendly to make sure we were going to have a good time. We booked the 3 hour experience and it flew by. You can really see how much everyone cares about the animals and enjoys their work there.

I recently booked a 3 hour adventure and it was great. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect and the route more scenic (you ride on snowmobile trails — which for those of you who don’t know, are groomed semi-​regularly). Definitely a great time and would highly recommend. The staff was also very responsive prior to the trip to ensure everything ran smoothly, and the staff on site was very attentive as well. I would highly recommend bringing some dog treats (which they also recommend) so you can hand them out to the 100+ dogs they have there.

We went white water rafting with the muddy paw outfit this past weekend for a friends bachelor party and it was a great time. Being September it wasn’t very warm but they had wet suits to keep everyone comfortable. Wes and AJ were both great and the river was tons of fun. Lunch afterwards was also great. The rapids were not «extreme» but certainly fun for the day. Great for kids or anyone else.

I had no idea how much FUN dog sledding could be. Yes, the ride is a bit pricey, but it’s 100% worth every single penny and more as getting to bond with the furry inhabitants of the kennel first and take part in building your «fleet» before the ride truly makes you appreciate the work the dogs put in and the level of their training.
Everything about this experience is just perfect. From the pristine countryside of New Hampshire, the truly wonderful animals at Muddy Paw to the really inspiring and hard working mushers, it’s just such a once-​in-​a-​lifetime experience that if you have any reason to visit this area, please do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a ride.
The only caveat is that it’ll be really hard to not want to steal a few furry friends home with you.

I knew this was going to be fun, but I didn’t have a clue as to just how incredible it would be. We took a 2 – 3 hour tour this morning, we had Karen as our musher and she was fantastic. Walking into the kennel area was such a thrill. Karen led us through the kennel to meet and greet each dog, answering my 2000 questions and telling us the story behind each dog. Some were rescued, some had previously run the Iditarod, and there was even a whole area of puppies! The dogs were so friendly and loving and I think we pet every single pup in there! Then we got to harness up our team of 8, which was so much fun. The dogs were so happy once you got that harness on them, you just knew this was what they were meant to do.
So we got them all hooked up and we loaded into the sled. The team was jumping and howling with excitement and off we went! What an exciting ride. We loved watching the dogs run and get into their strides. Watching them interact and listen to Karen was so awesome. I completely fell in love with all of them.
When we arrived back at the kennel we got to praise our team for a job well done. Then we grabbed the treats we brought and gave them out to our dogs, then to all the rest of the dogs because, those faces, how could you not! I definitely recommend bringing a box of treats because this was so much fun and definitely a highlight. This marked the end of our tour and it wasn’t easy to leave! We were so excited from our experience we couldn’t stop talking about it the entire ride home.
If you are a dog lover, this is something you MUST DO! The simple fact that these dogs are rescued and, when THEY are ready, adopted out is reason enough to support this kennel, but the experience will really amaze you. So go spend your day with these dogs and their awesome mushers. It was worth every penny and then some.

What a wonderful experience we had! My wife and I did the 2 – 3 hours ride with Matt, one of their musher. He was really great at sharing his passion. It was amazing to see the excitement building up between the dogs in the kernel as we were assembling the team. I used to be a bit scared about dogs but I wanted to hug all of them :-) Too bad there are «only» 5 stars on Unilocal to reflect how awesome our adventure was.

Very good experience! This was fun and definitely different. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable! They shared a lot of information with us about the dogs, their history, and what they may be doing in the future. We were the only ones on the tour, so the guide extended the tour a little bit and showed us around some different trails. My only comment is that it wasn’t overly «business professional», which may bother some people. It was more of a rustic, laid-​back, relaxed atmosphere, which was nice. Be prepared for mud and dog poop smells, which you have to expect with the territory :-)

I cannot begin to express how joyful this experience was! Sean and Larry ADORE these dogs and it shows. My husband and I took the last tour of the day and were rewarded with having the dogs and the guides all to ourselves. Wow. The highlight of our trip, without a doubt. They introduced countless of amazing pups to us and shared their stories. The dogs did exactly what we’d hoped they’d do… jump and love and shower us with the kind of exuberant affection only a dog can give. When it came time to choose our team for the rolling dog sled ride, these dogs were jumping out of their skin to be chosen. I never realized what an art it is to put a team together — you absolutely must know each personality and skill set. One sweet girl was so excited to get chosen that she puked, haha! When it came time to run, Run they did. It was pure joy to watch them and a thrill for us. I was impressed with the awareness the guides showed in responding to the dog’s needs. Since the weather was still a bit warm, we stopped a few times and even had Larry meet us halfway with buckets of water for each dog. We wanted to take every one of them home with us, including Sean and Larry, haha! Already on our list is a return trip during wintertime to do the longer sled tour in the snow. As many of these dogs are from rescues, its good to know our money is going to a good cause. Definitely not to be missed.

We went on a 1&½ hr. ride last weekend and had a great time. As snow fell my wife and I rode in the sled while our guide, Scott, did the mushing. On the way back Beth and I each got to the drive the sled for a brief time. Beginning with my initial contact with Karen, who did the booking, to Scott and the team of Alaskan Huskies everything came together in a professional and well coordinated manner to help us city folk realize our Jack London inspired yearnings.