What’s your name and the name of your beloved husky hero?
Katie and Josh, and our husky hero, Rouger.
Where do you live?
Edmonton, AB.
When did you adopt your retired sled dog?
Early November 2022.
Describe your family, partner, kids, and other animals?
We love outdoor adventures and staying in and being cozy at home. Katie works remotely and Josh is a PhD student at the U of A. We also have a 1.5-year-old Alaskan Klee Kai named Echo, an energetic pup with lots of personality.
What motivated you to adopt a retired sled dog?
This program combined my love of huskies with a chance to provide an older dog with a forever home, so it was a win-win situation. When we moved to Edmonton and had a house (and a yard) we figured it was a good time to start looking for a second dog and shortly after I inquired about the adopting process, we brought Rouger home with us and made it official!
What do you love most about having an adoptee sled dog join your family?
Rouger balances out our family so well. Echo, our other dog, is skittish and nervous of people at first. Rouger, however, LOVES attention and when new people arrive, he gladly accepts all their affection while Echo has time to settle and then actually wants some of that attention for herself. Rouger was actually the laziest of the retired sled dogs at Snowy Owl, which means he loves to spend the day snuggled up beside us on the couch or by my feet while I work. One of the sweetest things has been the bond between Rouger and Echo, they are always snuggled up together and even prefer to share a dog bed! Having a retired sled dog join our family also means we get to brag about him daily and impress everyone by saying he was colleagues with Willem Defoe.
What 3 activities does your adoptee enjoy the most?
The three activities Rouger enjoys the most are:
- belly rubs or any form of affection
- going for walks in deep snow
- cuddling on the couch with us
What new skills did your husky hero learn since living with you?
Rouger is learning all his basic commands, such as sit, down, stay, and we are working on more. Our biggest learning curve is definitely loose leash walking, but Rouger has come a long way from when we first met him in Canmore.
Did adopting a retired sled dog meet all your expectations?
We did not have expectations for adopting a sled dog beyond hoping the dog would feel safe and loved in their new home. So yes, Rouger has met and exceeded all our expectations, showing he is very comfortable in his new home, and has become such a sweet companion to us all. We certainly expected challenges, and Rouger was easier than we anticipated. He was house trained upon arrival and is very well mannered. I think we got very lucky with our sweet, gentle boy, but Rouger’s personality is truly a testament of how well Snowy Owl takes care of their dogs, and we are honoured to have been selected to rehome one of their dogs.
Are you interested in adopting a husky hero?
Take a look at our retired dogs available for adoption.
Scroll down for more cute photos of Rouger…