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Nature's Kennel Nature's Kennel-Sled Dog Adventures and Iditarod Racing Team-McMillan, Michigan. For more information, visit www.natureskennel.com
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12/11/2024

Fern asked me want we talk about when I’m riding with the guides on the four wheeler when running dogs. I told her we talk about all kinds of things and the other day Lydia taught me about how dogs drink water. Did you know a dog’s tongue makes a little backwards scoop to grab water?! I took a video of Watcha drinking and it’s true! Here’s a link for more information: https://youtu.be/Vv73ywyrFlI?si=mqQN9ygdzV-T40IM

11/11/2024

Here’s a look “behind the scenes” as we prepare for the winter season. We are often asked by our tour guests how we train the dogs without snow. We use an ATV/four-wheeler and fourteen dogs pull it in 3rd or 4th gear. We use the atv instead of a cart or “sled on wheels” because we need something with good brakes and it needs provide some resistance for pulling. Since we are always training new staff, we have two people ride the atv as it takes a while to learn the new trails and for safety at road crossings. Here is Sterling’s team with Harley and Stripe in lead. You’ll also see Bug (a bright white dog in the back) as she smiles at me as she goes by.

This time of year is always the “season of firsts” as new staff learn to drive dogs for the first time and we get to try...
08/11/2024

This time of year is always the “season of firsts” as new staff learn to drive dogs for the first time and we get to try out lots of new lead dogs! Everyday is full of new experiences!

Throwback Thursday…Nate aged 5 months on his first “dog sled” with Sophie   Miller and her puppy at our So Mush Fun gath...
07/11/2024

Throwback Thursday…Nate aged 5 months on his first “dog sled” with Sophie Miller and her puppy at our So Mush Fun gathering with mushing friends and family.

Everyone needs more smiles, sunrises  and puppies in their Facebook feeds today.
06/11/2024

Everyone needs more smiles, sunrises and puppies in their Facebook feeds today.

It’s spay and neuter day round two! Quarter, Dime and Jensen are ready for surgery with the junior surgery veterinary st...
05/11/2024

It’s spay and neuter day round two! Quarter, Dime and Jensen are ready for surgery with the junior surgery veterinary students at MSU today. Dooley, Cheese, Stokes and Killy are also along for the fun!

When the oldest dog in the kennel can’t get into a dog house and doesn’t want to live indoors, you build walk-in stall! ...
03/11/2024

When the oldest dog in the kennel can’t get into a dog house and doesn’t want to live indoors, you build walk-in stall! Hick (age 14) loves his fully accessible insulated dog barn.

NK dogs at the movies 😂😂
02/11/2024

NK dogs at the movies 😂😂

Happy Halloween from Nature’s Kennel! Olaf submitted his best dressed dog costume in a Buffalo Bills cape, Siri is perpl...
31/10/2024

Happy Halloween from Nature’s Kennel! Olaf submitted his best dressed dog costume in a Buffalo Bills cape, Siri is perplexed by the witches in his backyard and Sterling won the NK pumpkin carving contest!

Part of the weekly dog care routine our staff does with the dogs is teeth cleaning. Baboon is being a great model for El...
26/10/2024

Part of the weekly dog care routine our staff does with the dogs is teeth cleaning. Baboon is being a great model for Elizabeth to show Lydia and Sydni how to scrape tarter off teeth. In addition to cleaning teeth, the girls trim nails, check the dog’s weight, clean their ears and make sure their beds have lots of cozy straw.

BJ got to ride shotgun home from our annual visit to the veterinary college at Michigan State University. We’ve had a re...
24/10/2024

BJ got to ride shotgun home from our annual visit to the veterinary college at Michigan State University. We’ve had a relationship with the vet school for over ten years and thanks to their work we keep our pet population under control. I woke him up to see the rainbow on the way home that looked like it was ending at the kennel. I’m not sure he appreciated it as much as I did!

Elizabeth wanted to make some additional x-large trail signs to warn snowmobiles of sled dog traffic. If we have good sn...
23/10/2024

Elizabeth wanted to make some additional x-large trail signs to warn snowmobiles of sled dog traffic. If we have good snow this winter, we are expecting the snowmobile traffic to be pretty heavy. The majority of our trails are on state land and while we can’t prohibit snowmobiles from being on the trails, we can highly encourage them to ride elsewhere. I suggested making ones like “ Free Beer ➡️” but hopefully these will do!

Over the past two and a half days, our staff (and a few community members) earned their CPR and Wilderness and Remote Fi...
20/10/2024

Over the past two and a half days, our staff (and a few community members) earned their CPR and Wilderness and Remote First Aid certifications. While we hope we never have to use these skills, it was great to not only get medical training but also to gain the confidence to provide care and assist in emergency situations. Nancy and Ian of What’s Next Adventures and the American Red Cross were incredible instructors and focused a lot on cold climate and situations and evacuation procedures directly related to our location and environment. The funding for the class was provided through a grant from the Small Business Support Hubs/Headwaters North.

Our winter photography workshop is one of our most popular winter adventures. The trip is all inclusive and includes pho...
14/10/2024

Our winter photography workshop is one of our most popular winter adventures. The trip is all inclusive and includes photography instruction from Shawn Malone of Lake Superior Photo, dog sledding, hiking to ice formations, and lodging and dining at Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn. Trip dates are February 23-27 and space is limited. More information is at https://www.natureskennel.com/winter-photography-tour, call or text Tasha at (906) 748-0513 or email [email protected] for questions or registration.

I’m off to Rudyard to cheer for Nate and Fern at a cross county invitational this morning while Elizabeth, Millie and St...
12/10/2024

I’m off to Rudyard to cheer for Nate and Fern at a cross county invitational this morning while Elizabeth, Millie and Sterling get to run with the four legged crazies! Here’s Spin and Dundee, if they were human XC runners they’d be amazing as they never stop spinning.

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Our Story

Nature's Kennel-Sled Dog Adventures and Racing Team is owned by Ed and Tasha Stielstra. We have owned sled dogs for more than twenty years and love sharing this magical sport with others. We offer adventure tours for guests of any age and ability. We also own a competitive racing team, primarily run by Iditarod and Yukon Quest finisher Laura Neese. We are located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, near McMillan, Michigan. For more information, visit www.natureskennel.com