Mush
Dogs' eye-view of the Wapusk Park region trails. “I’m The Big Dog,” announced the professional dog sledder Dave Daley after mounting the steps onto our little bus. I couldn’t hear the quip one of us tourists offered up but, deadly serious, the musher responded with “No. I’M The Big Dog.” His defiance was as intimidating and glorious as a warrior’s feather headdress. Co-owner of Wapusk Adventures kennel, The Big Dog’s attitude coloured his stories (e.g. about the heated log cabin kybo built by interns) and his instructions about our sledding excursion. As our group listened in the large shed with the wood stove, he pointed out his son. I asked if he was Little Dog. The Big Dog said, “Oh, careful. My son doesn’t like that.” So I ask, “O.k. is he Sun Dog?” The sun in the sky is often bracketed by sun dogs in Manitoba’s crisp weather. But son-dog didn’t hear that and came out out of the office saying, “Who called me Little Dog? Don’t l...