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Sled dog handler and guide in Loon Lake, Sk, Canada

Canada
Last activity : 18 Dec 2024

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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
30 Nov 2024
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6
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Host offers payment

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2025

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Description
Fall/Winter 2024/25 Sled Dog Handler/Guide Loon Lake, Sk, Canada
****Winter Positions Available ******

Winter Guide(s) needed - paid position - seeking a dedicated individual to live and work with us training and touring with our dogs. Most of our business is done with schools in Sk, Ab, and Mb. DRIVERS LICENSE, PHYSICAL FITNESS, and a COMMITMENT to finish the season are a must.

Our racing & tour business is a multi-generational sled dog kennel located in Northern Saskatchewan. Dogsledding is the traditional form of travel for the Woodland Cree. We are very dedicated to preserving the 'sled dog" as a family legacy and cultural tradition. We have a large kennel of dogs that are bred specifically for racing. These dogs are fast and they love to run. We need help training and caring for these dogs.

This job is physical and requires stamina, commitment, and a dedication to our dogs -looking for someone dependable that can thrive on the outdoors, dogs, and people!

In need of someone that is practical, able to work hard, and thrive in challenging and cold situations. Experience with dogs and winter environments will be given preference. Most of our work is with schools so you need to be able to work with people!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Teaching
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Fall/Winter Help -help train sled dogs for the upcoming racing and tour season and stay for our busy winter season.

You will get the opportunity to be immersed in sled dog culture! Our family loves the outdoors! We relish the opportunity to race our dogs against other teams. A unique opportunity for the right person...this is a true northern experience. Dog racing's historical roots come from when trappers came off the land and got together; they had a lot of pride in their dog teams and abilities: so of course they raced to see who was the best.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
Dog Care - feeding, watering, training, scooping poop, general care and attention of racing dog team.
Puppy Care - playing, walking, etc...
October/November to March/April - kennel help and tour guide
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Cabin with wood heat, propane stove, power, outhouse (separate shower/bathroom in main house for you).
What else ...
Makwa Lake Provincial Park and Meadow Lake Provincial Park are close by and offer some great hiking/ cross country ski trails, boating, canoeing, and fishing.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two

Host ref number: 914769398752

Feedback (3)

3 Jun 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Mali)

Mali is a GREAT worker with a lot of energy.

Mali worked and lived with us from November 2023 to April 2024. Mali learned how to train and drive sled dogs in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. She picked up the skills needed quickly and was a great asset to our kennel of 65 sled dogs. A sled dog kennel is a lot of work and requires daily monotonous… read more

(Excellent )

13 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Mali) for host

I worked for the family from December 2023 to April and all i can think to say initially is woah…what an experience!
Firstly i want to thank Charlie and the family for the experiences and memories made. You guys will never know how much you helped me on a mental level, i was in a rut when i came to you, and i feel like i’m leaving with a new found… read more respect and love for life…and dogs of course!
Bless you guys.
I want this review to be as honest as possible because thats one of the best descriptions i can give of Charlie, an honest and hardworking guy (with a good sense of humour!)
The winter season i spent with them was one with very minimal snow so we were training dogs using trucks and ATVs up until mid January, this was highly unusual as i was told. Once we got a decent amount of snow however, we were immediately on sleds and skidoos which was fun to learn how to use. You will gain so many skills working here, i thought i knew a thing or two about dogs but Charlies lifelong partnership with them has given me much more knowledge and respect for mans best friend and the role they played in the Cree’s history especially. The family introduced me to a lot of their friends and other family members who were all so amazing to meet, everyone was so friendly and kind to me, i felt right at home.
Don’t apply for this job if you get grossed out over raw meat (you’ll be working with it daily when it comes to feeding) and don’t apply if you’re looking for an easy ride, this work is not for the faint hearted. You’ll get tired, you will get things wrong sometimes, but Charlie will make sure to tell you and at the end of the day its something to laugh (and learn) about. This is ALL about the experience and knowledge you’ll gain so if you’re looking to work with dogs in this aspect and throw yourself into it 100%, this is the place for you.
There is NEVER a dull moment! And you wont feel bored either, daily chores include watering/feeding/poop scooping the dogs, then i’d straw the dog houses when needed and a lot of time spent with the pups training them as well as the yearlings.
In the run up to Charlies races we’d train the racing dogs once every 2 days starting at about 20 miles a day and working up to about 33 at the longest runs. It was really amazing to watch these incredible working dogs do what they love.
A lot of the time i spent was doing tours at various schools and communities, we did quite a bit of travelling to Alberta for tours and further up north in Saskatchewan too, it was a brilliant experience getting to know the kids and seeing their faces light up on the sled, the teachers too! It warmed my heart on the coldest of days. I also got the opportunity to do a couple races in northern Saskatchewan which was insanely cool. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet other dog mushers and handlers.
I could go on and on about this place and its people, so if there’s something specific you want to know feel free to contact me!

(Excellent )

3 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Anaïs) for host

I spent the winter season 2022-2023 with Charlie and his family. It was the most amazing experience I've ever had !

Tanya, Charlie and their three boys are really a beautiful family. They welcomed me as a real member of the family since the beginning. We spent time all together, they introduced me to their friends and family. I really… read more

(Excellent )

29 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Anaïs)

Anais worked, lived, and travelled with us from December to March 2022/23. We operate a sled dog racing and touring kennel in northern Saskatchewan. Our family owes a very successful season to Anais’ hardworking attitude.
Anais is very dependable and independent!!! Anais enjoys working and likes to keep busy. She fulfills her duties and asks… read more

(Excellent )

4 Apr 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Helena)

Helena was a phenomenal worker and we were so happy to join have her join our family for winter 2022! Helena enjoys working with animals and puts their needs above her own. Once, she joined our team she immediately understood this was a "lifestyle" not just a job. The dogs are very important to our family and sometimes our schedule can get very… read more

(Excellent )

4 Apr 2022

Left by Workawayer (Helena) for host

I stayed with the family from January to April 2022 and I don't even know where to start my feedback.
First of all Charlie and Tanya are very generous and welcoming people that will make you feel at home right away. There both easy going and will introduce you to a lot of friends and family. For me it was easy to work with Charlie and even though… read more sometimes things went wrong we always had something to laugh about afterwards. Oh and than there are their three boys that will make sure you stay entertained and don't get to confident about your cooking skills - haha.

As the profile already says if you love dogs, the outdoors and winter that's the right place for you. You get to experience everything that Canadian winter has to offer: snowy and cold weather, ski-dooing and of course dog sledding. Be it training dogs, doing fun races with friends, traveling to schools to give tours or helping Charlie at races - I spent a lot of time with the dogs and on the sled. And even though it took a while for me to get confident about it I loved every second! The dogs are amazing athletes and very social as well. So be ready for a lot of dog cuddles!
The winter work mainly consisted of giving tours at schools. So the school either came to Charlie's place or we would travel to the schools. So I got to see a lot of different places in Saskatchewan and met a lot of different people. It didn't take me long to get the routine but it definitely took me longer to learn the +-50 dog names haha. Charlie teaches the kids about the dogs and mushing history, they get to harness the dogs and than go for a sled ride. So a lot of kids of all ages will be included in your work and you'll get a lot of happy giggles while you take them on a ride.
Other everyday work included watering and feeding the dogs, scooping poop and every once in a while strawing the dog houses. If there was a race on the weekend I would most likely join Charlie to help him or sometimes stay at home to take care of the remaining dogs. Going to races and meet the other dog mushers was really fun and unique and I even got to race a couple of times as well which was an unforgettable experience. The craziness of the dogs when you hook them up to the sled just before the race and the immediate silence as soon as the race starts got me chills every time.

So I recommend this place 100%! But be aware it's not a Disney movie it is physically demanding work, you'll get dirty, you have to be okay with raw meat and it can be cold and exhausting. But even though I was exhausted sometimes I would definitely do it again.
Missing the dogs already! Oh and of course the family ;-) Thank you again for the most special winter I've ever had and I'll never forget!!

(Excellent )

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3 Jun 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Mali)

(Excellent)

13 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Mali) for host

(Excellent)

3 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer (Anaïs) for host

(Excellent)

29 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Anaïs)

(Excellent)

4 Apr 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Helena)

(Excellent)

4 Apr 2022

Left by Workawayer (Helena) for host

(Excellent)

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Sled dog handler and guide in Loon Lake, Sk, Canada

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Email verified

Host offers payment

Badges (2)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Projects involving children

Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (3)

Photos

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