Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures - Racing

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Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Nature's Kennel

PO Box 5
McMillan, MI 49853
Tel: 1-906-748-0513
Email: info@natureskennel.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted
Summer Caretaker for Sled Dogs/Puppies
Summer Duties Include:
Feeding/watering 100 sled dogs morning and evening
Scooping/cleaning up after 100 sled dogs in the morning and evening
Walking litters of puppies
Entertaining/talking to occasional tour guests
Socializing puppies
Doing weekly dog checks/exams
Dog grooming, teeth cleaning, nail clipping
Light kennel maintenance
Household chores

Work is approximately 6 hours/day, 6 days/week.
Position open immediately and continues through August/September. End date is flexible.

Applicants MUST possess good social skills, work independently, be reliable and responsible, be able to follow directions, be capable of lifting 50 lbs., and be comfortable living in a remote area. There is internet and cell phone access but it is not accessible on a daily basis. This is NOT a job for you if you need to have constant contact via internet/phone. We live in a remote area of upper Michigan, there are NOT a lot of things to do (besides hanging out with sled dogs) as the closest town is 12 miles away and is very small. There are great fishing, hiking, and biking areas out our back door. You will want your own car for days off.

Room, board, and a small monthly stipend are provided. Housing is in a shared cabin with running water/off-grid electricity. It is a shared space and you MUST KEEP IT CLEAN.

There may be an opportunity to make additional money helping with summer kennel tours. This would be based upon your social skills with people, the desire to entertain guests and answer questions, and your work ethic.

This is a great job IF you want to spend the summer with some awesome sled dogs, you want to spend a lot of time hiking through the woods with puppies, and you like to work independently. No experience is necessary. Please email a resume and three references to info@natureskennel.com

2011-2012 Winter Sled Dog Guides
We are looking for hard working, motivated dog people to assist in training sled dogs, guiding dog sledding tours, entertaining guests on overnight adventures and giving dog sled rides at a prestigious ski resort. Our kennel is very remote, located eight miles from a paved road, fifteen miles from “town”, and five miles from the power grid and phone line. This is certainly a place to get away from it all. If you feel the need to be constantly “connected” via cell phone and computer, this is not the place for you. However, if you are a can-do person, who loves the outdoors, working with dogs, taking on new challenges, and meeting new people, this is a great adventure for you.
Here’s some of what you can expect as a guide:
• Feeding, watering and “scooping” (yes, that means cleaning up dog poop) for the 16-24 dogs you are responsible for in the mornings and evenings.
• Running dogs with the four-wheeler (in the fall) or the sled (in winter). Depending on the time of the season, this could be a short 3 mile run in September to a longer 30-40 mile run in January or February.
• In the fall, since it can be somewhat warm for running dogs in the afternoons, we work on projects around the property which can include things from repairing equipment, light construction projects, camp preparation for tours, etc.
• You will also be expected to chip in with the chores in shared spaces and camp such as doing dishes, chopping/hauling firewood, and cleaning.
• You will need to help with snow removal and trail grooming. We get nearly 300 inches of snow, so you will be come very proficient with our snowmobile and our tractor with the snowblower!
• Once winter tours begin, you will be host, tour guide and trail guide for winter tour guests. Check out our winter adventures page for more details on the tours you will be guiding. This is the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of the position!
• You can expect change…no two days are the same, and plans can change quickly. Tour guests, the weather, and dogs, are all factors that may effect even the best laid plans. You will need to be flexible!
• Guides are expected to help with puppy training and socialization.
• You can also expect to fall in love with many of the dogs on your team, change the lives of guests on your tours, and to have a new appreciation of winter.
Guide positions run from September 1st through May 1st. Wages, tips, and room and board are provided. Our guide housing is warm and rustic and is a shared living space with both males and females. There will be the possibility of living without running water. You will receive scheduled days off. However, you will be expected to work all winter holidays. You may receive Christmas Day off, but do not expect to be able to leave for an extended time over the holidays as it is our busiest time of the season. There is not access to cell phone and internet service. Our lives, especially in the winter months, revolve around the dogs. Just about everything we do in the winter is about dogs, for dogs, or related to dogs. Sled dogs or something relating to sled dogs will be the topic of most conversations. We have very high standards of dog care and expect the same from our guides. Much of our time in the fall includes training, of both humans and dogs, our expectations and training methods. We set very high expectations for ourselves, our dogs, and our staff. This will most likely be the hardest, yet most rewarding, adventure you will embark upon.
If you are still interested in this amazing winter adventure, give us a call at 906-748-0513 with any questions. Otherwise, e-mail your resume with three references to info@natureskennel.com.

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