Okay- your decission is your decission- To each their own..
However- let me point this out. I had always shown dogs- and Hottie wasnt supposed to be any different. I took him out of the ring at 2 because I was not sure if he got the OCD from the accident as a pup ( throwing his weight into his shoulders and elbows because of the left rear leg) or did it occur because there was a genetic weakness that allowed the condition to be worse than it might have been. Hottie is still here..
Femka- rescue, but also I had planned on obedience with her. While she can do it, its obvious she doesnt like being touched by strangers- especially men.. She is still here..
Galina- came here for training ( I think I was set up) because they had questions about her temperment as being either excessively shy, or simply was just being overly dominated by other alpha bitches at the breeder- the second turned out to be true- and she stayed here. If her temperment had not " come into her own" etc ( even got her therapy dog title a little over a month after arriving here- and shows in the ring with brass.. lol) - Still it was obvious- she would have stayed here as a spayed bitch and companion.
I understand your desire for sledding etc- but the fact is- this is not the first time I have kept dogs that did not work as originally planned. I had two shepherds fail out of police work for not holding a bite long enough. They lived out their lives with me, while I just made more room.
I understand my position was different- after all- the two shepherds were of my breeding- and the only two that failed to be " hard enough" to make it. However- Hottie, Femka, Galina are NOT OF MY breeding- purchased soley for either show, or take for obedience. Should something happen more, they would still live with me..
If you do not have room in your house for a companion inside- that is one thing- but those are my opinions. I only gave up a dog one time- and that was because the dog was a liability - and went to a home without other dogs or children. ( not of my breeding- basically all but given away.I had a 5 year old in the house.)
Yukon sounds like a lover- a softer temperment- placing is not my decission, but I just wanted to throw this out to you in more detail than what I have said previously. I wish him well, and I hope you get what you want. I guess dogs are more in my mind as companions first and foremost- and the rest is just gravy or iceing on the cake..