Autumn Training Week with the Huskies (Sweden)

Dog sledding - and so much more!

• Learn to be a musher: The majority of dogs at the kennels will be in training for the winter season ahead, and you'll be fully involved in getting them in shape with training runs on the beautiful forest trails around the kennels. You'll learn how to harness the drive the teams, always with the focus on the dogs' health, happiness and performance in mind.

Training tours in the autumn use wheeled carts and ATVs until conditions are suitable for sledding on snow. Photo: NHF.

• Take part in daily training runs using wheeled carts or ATVs*, including extended day tour: Before the winter snows arrive, the huskies train using wheeled carts or ATVs instead of sleds. One goal of the training runs is to gradually build up the dogs' fitness again after resting during the summer in preparation for the winter tours to come. The training tours also accustom younger dogs, the next generation of future athletes, to being part of a dogsled team, allows the musher to assess which dogs run and work well together, and teaches the dogs to be calm on the lines during rest periods. You'll head out on both shorter and longer training runs with the teams. The intention is that the week will include one longer day training tour with the dogs, when you'll make a stop for 2-4 hours outdoors to train the dogs to be calm on the stakeout lines during overnight tours in the winter. During this time, you will feed/massage the dogs, make a camp fire for lunch and perhaps take time to explore the forest for mushrooms or berries to take home and prepare for dinner. The main season for sledding begins in December/January, though there is often snow cover earlier. If snow conditions are suitable, training tours may also use sleds.

*When ATVs are used, these will be driven by kennel staff with guests as passengers, while instruction is given on aspects such as the dynamics of the team, how to spot which dogs may be working too hard, how dogs are working together in pairs and how to slow down or motivate the team. This is excellent preparation for driving the teams yourself using wheeled cart. No driving licence or experience of ATVs is required.

• Work with and get to know the huskies: During your week at the kennels, you'll really become part of the pack! You'll be working closely not only with the dogs you take out on the training tours, but with all the dogs at the kennels, including the "Elite Athletes" in the race team, the "Senior Citizens" enjoying their retirement, and some dogs that have been rescued from less fortunate circumstances and are being rehabilitated. You'll learn about the dynamics of the pack, how the dogs socialise and interact, and what huskies need at various stages of their lives and training to be happy and healthy.

Huskies are tough athletes with incredible strength and stamina, but they're also extremely affectionate and love a cuddle (almost as much as they love running)! Photo: NHF.

• Learn about husky care: You'll learn about and take part in the various aspects of sled dog care, including kennel cleaning and daily maintenance, feeding, massage, how to check over dogs for signs of injury or illness, and about their individual dietary requirements and the history and special nature of polar dogs.

Like any athletes, huskies benefit from (and love!) a muscle massage. Photo: Nature Travels.

• Improve your general outdoor skills: The focus on this component can be flexible depending on your interest, but the week provides an excellent chance to learn and develop basic bushcraft and outdoor skills, including preparing and lighting fires outdoors, using wild herbs for first aid and foraging for and cooking with wild plants.

An excellent opportunity to improve your knowledge of wild plants, mushrooms and herbal remedies if this is of interest. Photo: NHF.

• Husky mindfulness meditation: Also flexible depending on your interests, but a magical experience not to be missed. Your local hosts will lead a guided meditation and mindfulness session inviting you to connect with the natural world and the energy of the dogs around you.

If you wish, you can join a mindful meditation session with the huskies - a wonderful way to connect with the energy of the dogs and surrounding nature. Photo: Nature Travels.

The flexibility to adapt to your interests

This is a "working holiday" experience in the sense that you are able to be fully involved in all aspects of dog care, training and kennel life. There is no obligation to "work" with particular tasks more than you wish - you are also welcome to spend time walking in the forest or enjoying the general rhythm of life in this remote part of Sweden - but to get the most out of the experience, we strongly recommend that you plan to immerse yourself fully in everything that's going on!

Autumn in Jämtland is beautiful, but conditions may also be wet and muddy and training tours will take place in all weathers as long as it is safe to do so - a little discomfort is just part of the daily life of a musher!

Bring your wellies! Training tours will take place in all weathers. Photo: NHF.

Autumn Training Week with the Huskies provides, in addition to a wonderful opportunity to get to the know the dogs and learn what it means to be a musher, an excellent chance to develop your knowledge of herbs and wild plants, practise simple bushcraft skills and relate to the dogs in a more spiritual way through a meditation session. However, focus on these areas is entirely optional depending on your interests and preferences.

One thing is for sure, though - there'll be plenty of husky hugs!

The "forgotten season" for Northern Lights

Think you can only see the Northern Lights in wintertime? Think again! The Aurora can be visible anytime when the skies are dark enough, which is from around the beginning of September until early/mid-April.

Autumn is a wonderful time to watch for the Northern Lights. Photo: NHF.

Autumn is an ideal period to see the Aurora - temperatures are milder, meaning you can stay out watching the skies for extended periods without getting cold - and displays can be spectacular.

Of course, the Northern Lights can never be guaranteed - conditions may be cloudy, there may be no activity, or you may be asleep after a hard day working with the dogs! See a display as a bonus rather than the a focal point of your trip. But the kennels are located far from light pollution, and you may find that the evenings during the week are illuminated with magical dancing curtains of green and red.

Getting Involved

As with all our dogsled tours, you will be involved in all aspects of the trip, and this is very much part of the experience. You will assist with caring for your dog team, including harnessing, feeding (and, yes, picking up poo!), as well as tasks around camp such as fetching water, chopping wood, preparing food, washing up, etc.

Day 1 - Arrival

Transfer from Östersund* airport, train station or accommodation in town to the kennels (approx. 2 hours). Transfer time will be set to offer the most convenient option once guests' arrival arrangements are known, but will typically be as follows:

• Transfer will meet the SAS flight from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) arriving Östersund (OSD) in the afternoon (normally 15.30). Guests arriving by train from Stockholm may arrive with the night train arriving Östersund around 06.30 or with the morning train arriving around 13.15, to spend some time in Östersund before pick-up in the afternoon.

*If booking as two persons, transfer from/to Östersund is included in connection with arrival/departure. If booking as a solo traveller, you will normally be asked to travel independently by bus from Östersund to Strömsund (approx. 2 hours) for transfer to the kennels from there (approx. 30 mins). If two solo travellers have booked separately for the week and have the same arrival/departure arrangements, transfers from/to Östersund will then be included.

On arrival at the kennels, you will settle in to your cabin or guest room accommodation, meet the dogs for the first time and join in with the evening feeding.

Home-cooked dinner together with your local hosts in the welcoming atmosphere of the farmhouse kitchen and an introduction to the days ahead.

An example itinerary for your days with the dogs:

Your week is likely to include the activities below. See under "Description" for more information on what these components may involve.

Day 2:

• Before breakfast, an introduction to the morning routine at the kennels - cleaning, feeding, welfare checks.
• Breakfast followed by husky meditation session.
• The "A-Z" of mushing.
• Lunch followed by your first training tour, riding as passenger on ATV driven by your hosts to get to know the dogs and the dynamics of the teams.
• After-training dog care and play (e.g. brushing, perhaps walking the older dogs who were not able to take part in the training tour).
• Dinner and free time/optional discussions on husky care/racing, perhaps a documentary about sled racing if of interest.

Day 3:

• Morning kennel routine and breakfast.
• First short training run driving your own team using wheeled cart, followed by dog care and lunch outside (an ideal opportunity to learn fire-marking skills if of interest).
• A nature walk with the puppies or older dogs to forage for mushrooms and berries, optional instruction on herbal remedies for animal and human First Aid care.
• Evening feeding for the dogs followed by dinner.

Day 4:

• Morning kennel routine and breakfast. You will be becoming more confident and independent in the various tasks, and might well know most of the dogs' names by now!
• Training run with outdoor lunch and learning to massage the dogs.
• Afternoon assistance with maintenance at the kennels (such as cleaning dog dishes, changing water, preparing the weekly herbal cures, additional socialisation/cuddle time with the dogs who need extra attention).
• Dinner.

Day 5:

• Morning kennel routine (or have a relaxing lie-in if you prefer!) and breakfast.
• Longer training run with 2-4 hour "trail stop", where you will train the dogs to be calm on the lines during rest periods. The session will include dog care during the rest break as well as preparing lunch over open fire.
• Free afternoon on return to the kennels - of course there's always work to be done if you still have energy to be involved!
• Dinner.

Day 6 (or Day 7 for 7-day itinerary):

Breakfast and departure - if your departure arrangements allow, there may be time for another short training run, or perhaps to take the dogs down to lake together before you leave. Alternatively, add an extra day to give more time for mushing adventures and husky hugging!

Perhaps even more so than on a "normal" dogsled tour, there are likely to be tears as you say goodbye. But don't worry - winter will soon be here, and you can always return!

Arrangements as for Day 1 above depending on number of/travel plans of guests. Transfer to Strömsund bus station or Östersund airport, train station or accommodation in town to the kennels (approx. 2 hours). Transfer time will be set to offer the most convenient option once all guests' departure arrangements are known, but will typically be as follows. Please note that it is not possible to depart with early morning flights from Östersund - driving time from the kennels is approx. 2 hours:

• Transfer will meet the SAS flight from Östersund (OSD) to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) in the afternoon (normally 16.10). Guests departing by train from Stockholm may take the day train to Stockholm departing Östersund 12.17 or of course a later connection if preferred.

Included

Accommodation:

• Five nights' (6-day itinerary) or six nights' (7-day itinerary) accommodation at the kennels. Accommodation may be in cabin or guest room in main house. The cabin is 15 sq. metres with 4 beds (2 x bunk beds with bottom bed 120cm wide and top bed standard single width). The cabin has no running water - guest bathroom with shower/WC is located in the main house 15m away with private entrance. The same part of the main house also has a guest room with 2 beds (bunk beds, same specification as in the cabin) and one sofa bed, to accommodate solo traveller(s) or couple*. Bed linen and towel are provided.

*Solo travellers and couples: As this experience has max. just 2 guests at a time, solo travellers will normally be able to have private accommodation, either in cabin or room, for nights at the kennels. Couples will have own room/cabin.

Cabin/guest room accommodation at the kennels. Photos: NHF.

Meals:

All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day (breakfast, lunch, dinner + coffee/snacks, etc). Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Meals are taken together with your local hosts.

Equipment and Clothing:

• All equipment necessary for the autumn training. Training runs will normally use wheeled carts or ATVs*. The kennel has around 40 huskies, predominantly Siberian Huskies.
• Rain jacket (or thermal overall in cold conditions).

*When ATVs are used, these will be driven by kennel staff with guests as passengers, while instruction is given on aspects such as the dynamics of the team, how to spot which dogs may be working too hard, how dogs are working together in pairs and how to slow down or motivate the team. This is excellent preparation for driving the teams yourself using wheeled cart. No driving licence or experience of ATVs is required.

Instruction and Education:

• Information and instruction in all aspects of sled dog care and handling as appropriate.
• Opportunity for additional focus on herbal remedies, wild foods and developing bushcraft skills according to personal interest.

Transfers:

• Local transfers between Östersund* train station, airport or accommodation and the kennels in connection with arrival/departure for your tour as per itinerary.

*If booking as two persons, transfer from/to Östersund is included in connection with arrival/departure. If booking as a solo traveller, you will normally be asked to travel independently by bus from Östersund to Strömsund (approx. 2 hours) for transfer to the kennels from there (approx. 30 mins). If two solo travellers have booked separately for the week and have the same arrival/departure arrangements, transfers from/to Östersund will then be included.

Not Included

• Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
• Alcoholic drinks.

Required

Health requirements/experience:

General good level of health and fitness and willing to be outdoors in a range of weather conditions. You should love dogs and be interested in their care, training and welfare. You will be working closely with all the dogs at the kennels.

Recommended minimum age 18 years. Adult + one child aged min. 15 (possibly 14 by arrangement) are also welcome.

No previous dog sledding experience is required. During the week, you will be involved in all aspects of daily life at the kennels, including cleaning, feeding, dog care and training runs.

The life of a musher can be physically demanding - it is not necessary to have a high level of fitness or strength, but you should be able to participate fully in all the various daily tasks that are part of kennel life. Training runs will take place in all weathers, which may include rainy/muddy conditions, provided temperatures are suitable for husky training (typically when below +10 degrees C) and the training tours can be operated safely for both human and canine participants.

If weight >95kg, please contact us to discuss suitability.

What makes this "Medium"?

Accommodation is in simple cabin or room at the kennels. The daily tasks around the kennels and working with sled dogs can be physically tiring, and daily schedules subject to adaptation and adjustment. There is no obligation to "work" more than you wish, but the expectation is that you will become part of the team for the week. In order to get the most from the experience, we recommend that you plan to be fully involved in as many aspects of kennel life as possible.

There is a certain amount of flexibility to vary the degree of focus on aspects such as bushcraft/outdoor skills, herbal medicine and foraging depending on your interests.

NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.

Equipment/clothes needed:

For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".

A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.

NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.

Preparing for your trip:

For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.

Minimum number:

No minimum required. This experience is guaranteed to run from the first booking.

Groups

Max. group size 2 participants.

Eco Info

This provider has a written environmental and animal care policy.