Must work hard & love dogs. On-site housing, wages, professional environment-no drinking/no smoking

Seeking Dog Sledding Adventure Guide for Sled Dog Tours in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. 
We are looking to fill one guiding position at the Midwest's premier dog sledding kennel. Each winter we employ several female staff to work with our kennel of 90 sled dogs. We have many returning staff and this year we have the opportunity to add one additional person to our crew.  No dog sledding experience is necessary.  Each guide is assigned a team of 24 sled dogs which they learn to train, care for and use for leading guests on guided day trips.  We expect professionalism in all that we do and hold our staff and our dog care to the highest of standards. We are dry camp-absolutely no drinking, drugs, smoking or vaping.  If you are looking for a clean-living environment, we encourage you to apply. Please do not apply for a position with our company if you don’t want to work at a dry camp.  

We have been in business for over twenty years and receive many repeat guests and have many returning staff.  Be honest with yourself that you can thrive in a winter environment, are capable of working outside in all weather conditions, and can live and work in a communal situation. This is far more than a job; hours can be long, winter can be intense, but the experience is amazing.  You will work harder than you expected but learn more than you can imagine.  This can be a mentally taxing job—be prepared to live and work with coworkers, entertain tour guests, and work outside. We want people who are running toward adventures, not away from personal problems. 

Start date is October 5, 2026.  End date is May 1st, 2027.  Our staff arrives in early October so we have adequate time for training.  You will need to bond with each individual dog on your team, learn the trails, and prepare for tours.  Generally, tour/sledding season begins in early/mid December so you need to be trained to run tours by that time. 

Duties include such things as:

• Leading half-day dog sledding adventure tours with 1-4 guests.

• Planning and preparation for dog sledding tours.

• Completing tour trip reports.

• Cleanup and repair of equipment

• Providing guests with orientation/instruction sled driving and safety.

• Maintaining the safety of all clients and dogs on tours.

• Completing maintenance and repair of gear, kennel, buildings, etc. as needed throughout the fall, winter and spring.

• Completing daily care, cleanup, and monitoring of dogs to Nature’s Kennel highest standards.

• Participating in pre-season setup and post-season cleanup.

• Committing to knowing the dogs before tour season-being comfortable and having a strong bond with your team makes working with them easier throughout the season and is expected before guiding tours.

• Creating a fun experience for guests.

• Training/running dogs with a four-wheeler (fall/spring) and sleds (winter).

• Working outdoors in the rain, snow, and sunshine.

You'll be living and working with a staff of two seasonal guides, a year around kennel manager (Elizabeth) and owner (Tasha). 

Housing: Nature’s Kennel is located off-grid. Housing clean, warm, comfortable and bunk style with 1-2 people per room and a shared common area. Meals are family style or on your own in the main building which has power and running water. We do not provide food/meals for specialty diets (organic/gluten free). You must be comfortable with communal living and are expected to share house duties and upkeep. There is high speed internet access in the main building.

Compensation: Housing and meals are provided along with a $400/month stipend + pay per dog sled tour which is approximately $800-$1200/month December through March. Average take-home pay is approximately $5000-$8000 per season, which does not include tips.  Guides receive generous tips from guests, which are yours to keep and average about $3500 per season. There is not a charge for housing or utilities and food is provided.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a clean and tidy person.  If you do not consider yourself a clean person, do not apply.    

• Self-motivating, can-do, positive attitude, resourceful, organized and energetic.

• Must pay attention to detail regarding record keeping.

• Must be a US citizen or have a US work permit

• Due to housing constratints, we prefer to hire a female guide.  

REQUIRED SKILLS:
Must have love and respect for both dogs and the winter wilderness environment. Can lift and carry 40-70 lbs.  Must be able to work in a remote environment (without unlimited access to cell phone/internet). Must be able to work well in a team and possess solid interpersonal skills. Must be able to lead and entertain a group of guests. Must be able to adapt to changing conditions due to weather, guests, dogs, and trails. You must be able to pass a criminal background check prior to employment.  

You can get more insight on our operation on our Nature's Kennel Facebook page.  After we receive your application, you'll also get a guide handbook which outlines more specific details about the position.