Enjoy an outdoor adventure with the dogs in the Yukon, Canada

Details

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  Description

  We are two adults with 45 sled dogs on 160 acres on the Yukon River, 25 km from downtown Whitehorse, Yukon.
  
  Stays of one month minimum. Must be 23 or older. One person or two traveling together is fine.
  
  The main job is cleaning the dog yard and kennel, giving the dogs food and water, hooking up teams, supervising and looking after dogs and occasionally doing other projects such as getting firewood or working on trails.
  
  You have your own log cabin with electricity and a wood stove, and your own outhouse, The cabin has a small kitchen but no running water. There is good cell phone reception everywhere on the property. There is unlimited wifi but the reception is not great at the handler cabin. There are other places where you can use it or download things.
  
  The property itself, and the surrounding area is beautiful for people who just love nature, and there is a lot to do in the area if you have a car.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Animal Care

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Learn how to look after dogs and live a Yukon cabin lifestyle. Be a part of what we do. We can lend you some outdoor gear and clothes, snow shoes, cross country skis, canoe and kayak in the summer etc. Once in a while we go to town to see a band or get together with friends for dinner and you are more than welcome to come along.
  
  You can get rides to town with us. We do not lend out our cars except in exceptional circumstances.
  
  We can talk on the phone to answer your questions and give you information on your particular interests.

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  Help

  The position involves caring for dogs. You will be running teams as well as feeding and cleaning and so on, from November through March if you are interested and able. We will try to teach you. In the summer we free run the dogs to the river.
  
  Other projects: getting firewood, shoveling snow, painting dog houses, walking dogs, maintenance of the dog kennels, working on trails etc.
  
  You are working with animals and living adjacent to wilderness. YOU MUST BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
  
  You are EYES AND EARS! You must be tuned in to the normal sounds and patterns and aware of what is going on. It is your responsibility as well as everyone else's to get up and check if something seems off. You will be taking action if something is wrong, no matter what time of the day and night it is. In all likelihood, we'll be out there first but we might need your help or you might be the first to notice. This is rare, but you are like a ranch hand - always 'on' in the case of emergency.
  
  BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. NO EARPHONES / EARBUDS. If you need to turn your ears off completely with gadgets, do not come here. Even if you are in your cabin, you still need to be able to hear what is going on. Using a computer or phone, or listening to music, or sleeping is of course fine! Just don't do it to the exclusion of all other noises by using earphones. If your ears are 'off', you will be TUNED OUT, walking right by problems, completely unaware. We have seen this over and over. This is not a good place for people who feel the need to use earbuds. Sorry for going on and on about it, but it is amazing how people blow this point off, show up here, and walk around with their ears turned off then tell US that it's, 'not a problem' that they can't hear. Arrgghh! Not up for debate.
  
  If you are frightened of the dark, of animals, of people, etc. please do not come here. It's the Yukon. There is wilderness. There are animals. You need to be aware, but those animals are not out to get you. There are very few people around and the people who are around are also not out to get you. It's dark out 20 hours a day sometimes in the winter. It is very safe here 'despite it all'. And yes, we have had people here who are afraid of all of the above and have wondered why they came here so I'm putting it on the profile.
  
  People who genuinely love dogs and who have real life work experience are great to have around.
  
  The Yukon is ridiculously beautiful and it doesn't take much to experience the magic. Last night I went for a walk with a couple dogs. It was a full moon. I saw white swans floating on the river who had just returned from down south. Ducks whistled by me in the moonlight. There was a family of beavers in the river, with the parents slapping their tails to warn the three babies that the dogs and I were 'dangerous'. I could only see the V in the water behind each one because it was dark other than the moon. The dogs and I were walking on the large shelf of white ice that glowed brightly all around us. Later, there were northern lights - phosphorescent green against an ocean blue sky. It is unreal beautiful if you have the right mind to appreciate it. Get up and get out there. It's up to you.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  The handler cabin is a 12 x 14 foot log cabin with a raised bed, desk and chair. It was made for one person but we've had couples / friends traveling together who made this cabin work for them.
  
  There is a wood stove for heat, and a stove top, microwave and air fryer for cooking, a small fridge, a freezer, and a sink. The handler cabin is off on it's own in the trees.
  
  There is electricity but no running water in the handler cabin. You have your own outhouse for a toilet. There is hot and cold running water and a big sink and a shower for the dog handler 200 feet away in the feed shed. Internet is not great at the handler cabin. It just doesn't go that far. You can load up your stuff at our place or the shop.
  
  We respect your privacy. We are fine with people who want company and are also fine with loners who enjoy their own company, maybe reading in their cabin by the wood stove.
  
  We do not lend out our vehicles (too many issues and close calls in the past - got the dents to prove it), but you can get rides to town with us if you don't have a vehicle of your own.

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  What else ...

  We would like to see people take a genuine interest in the dogs, get their work done efficiently, then make the most of their stay in terms of their own enjoyment. The trails and the frontage on the Yukon River are a plus. We have a canoe and kayak; snow shoes etc. that you can use.
  
  There is a wall tent at the waterfront and a wood burning hot tub (shut down Oct. 15, to April 15) if you want to organize a 'stay-cation' for yourself at the waterfront.
  
  There are many hikes in the area, and we have a property 150 km away in Atlin, BC, with a cabin which is off grid and beautiful to visit if you have your own vehicle. Road bicycling is popular in our area as is mountain biking. There is a lot to do in the Yukon, and there are all kinds of things going on in Whitehorse. It depends on how mobile you are, like whether you have your own vehicle, to a large extent.
  
  You should enjoy your own company and be independent. If you are super social you might get lonely. Generally it's people who like to read, explore on their own, and who have solo interests, hobbies and activities that they like who are happiest. (running, needlepoint, reading, etc.) Tree planters and experienced dog handlers have worked out particularly well. We do have dinner together sometimes but it's not a daily thing.
  
  The cabin is strictly non-smoking. If you smoke more than 4 cigarettes a day or feel the need to smoke inside, this is not the place for you. No heavy alcohol or pot consumers either. A little is fine, but regular / big time drinkers and tokers will not work out here.
  
  Fit people who love animals and who have experience working at real jobs, who take responsibility for making sure things are done, and who are extremely reliable and trustworthy are what we are looking for.
  
  If you are afraid of wildlife (bears and wolves are the most common fears), freak out about the occasional mouse in your cabin, or hate to be dirty, you are not going to be happy here. If you love animals and nature, I think you will like it here.
  
  Thank you for reading, and we look forward to hearing from you if this sounds like your kind of place!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have Starlink (unlimited and fairly fast).

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  A dog or two is okay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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