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This is a work in progress, drawn in part from the BC legislation and Code of Best Practice, in part from the minimum standard recommendations of Mush with Pride, and in part from knowledge of the industry and its needs in Scandinavia. It is suggested that Finland puts in place a two-tiered system of assessment for safeguarding sleddogs: 1) a set of clearly defined minimum care standards which are enforceable by law, and 2) a voluntary code of best practices which farms can be assessed against at the same time as the annual inspection.
- Proposed two-tier system: enforceable minimum standards + voluntary best-practice code
- Public transparency modelled on Finland's restaurant 'oivahymy' smiley rating system
- Tethers must be at least 1.83m long with a 360-degree swivel; no choke collars
- Dog under 1 year should not live permanently on a chain
- Body condition monitored on the Nestle scale; vet sought if below 3 or 7+
- Cage sizes set by dog weight in Finland (e.g. 8m2 for one 20kg dog)
A transparent 'smiley face' rating system
An audit has most impact if owners must make the findings public, so we suggest presenting them on the food industry's 'oivahymy' (smiley) model. Restaurants in Finland are now required to show how well they meet minimum food-hygiene standards in a way consumers can read at a glance - the wider the smile, the better.
Since at least 50% of consumers choosing between sleddog farms do so from abroad, this information would need to be displayed at the farm entrance, in a key public area on the farm, and on the farms' websites and social media. Over time, the highest-standard farms would display charts for both minimum legal requirements and best-practice guidelines, giving concerned consumers a tool to compare farms without falling prey to 'animal-welfare-washing'.
Living conditions: containment areas
Operators must ensure that each containment area (a sled dog's cage, or the area within which a tethered dog may roam) includes a dog house; meets minimum space requirements allowing each dog to move freely and to urinate and defecate away from eating and sleeping areas; is cleaned of faecal matter at least once each day; is maintained in a sanitary condition; and has good drainage using gravel, wood or wood shavings.
In Finland the size of the pens is based on the weight of the dog. Essentially: an 8m2 cage can hold 1 x 20kg dog or 2 pups under 10kg each; a 9.3-10m2 cage can hold 2 small males or 2 average females; a 13m2 cage can hold 2 large males or 3 average females; and a 15m2 cage can hold 3 large males or 4 small males / average females.
Tether and dog house requirements
Tethers must be safe, of a size and weight that will not cause discomfort, at least 1.83m long, and have at least one swivel that can turn 360 degrees at the collar end. Choke collars must not be used as part of a tethering method, and a dog under 1 year of age should not be allowed to live permanently on a chain.
Dog houses must provide an enclosed area large enough to permit dogs to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably, and be constructed and maintained to provide shelter from rain, wind, snow, sun and protection from excessive heat and cold. Open teepee-shaped kennels are for summer use only, unless their entrances are designed to prevent snow entry.
Health, welfare and exercise
Operators must feed each sled dog at least once every 24 hours a balanced diet meeting its caloric and nutritional requirements, with access to clean, palatable drinking water. Each dog must be socialised throughout its life through direct contact with humans and other animals, to maximise its chances of being successfully rehomed.
Sweden already requires that each dog be released from its containment area - at minimum into an exercise yard - at least once every 24 hours, with specified exceptions (illness, late pregnancy, very young pups, extreme weather, recent racing exertion, or veterinary direction). Body condition must be monitored regularly against the Nestle scale, with veterinary assistance sought if it falls below 3 or reaches 7 or more.
