Job with the sled dogs.

United Kingdom

5

This was my first experience of volunteering aged 50. From being greeted at the airport by the home I felt really at ease. the home amd his family treats everyone equally and respectfully during there time visiting. the home and his Wife taught me many Sami traditions and ways to treat the land and care for huskies and develop new skills I never knew I had in me before. Being with huskies and learning there daily routine was an amazing experience to see how loved and cared . the home had me building new huskies houses and carrying of loads of diy jobs which I absolutely loved.

about 2 months ago

United Kingdom

5

I had a fantastic time here with the home , Beate and their wonderful family . The work taught me a lot about dogs , Sami culture and how to overcome challenges outdoors. I felt extremely welcomed and loved exploring the surrounding areas in my free time. My only disclaimers here would be : 1) Don't apply if you are not an outdoor person 2) Don't apply if you cannot deal well with stressful situations (e.g barking dogs) You are given a progressive sense of autonomy as you learn how everything works which I really valued. Finally a big thanks to Ronja , Jiří , Silvia , Klára and Jonas!

5 months ago

Ronald replied

Thank you for the great feedback! You’re absolutely right – the dogs get loud before running, but once they start, they’re silent and focused.

We appreciate your hard work and positive attitude. You handled everything well, and it was a pleasure having you here. You're always welcome back! 😊🐾

Czech Republic

4

I had a really nice time with the home and his family. I felt respected, and the home made an effort to include me in family life. He also took us on fun weekend activities like climbing and swimming. Remember that even though the landscape is beautiful, the area is quite remote. The work is enjoyable if you like animals and spending time outdoors. I had the chance to learn a lot about dogs, dog sledding, Sami culture and drive a snowmobil which i appretiate. Extra thanks to Jonas, Laith, Ronya and Jiří.

4 months ago

Ronald replied

Thank you, Klara, for your kind words and for being part of our life here!
We’re happy you enjoyed the nature, the dogs, and learning about Sami culture. It was great having you with us – and your feedback is much appreciated. We’ll make sure to clarify tasks and expectations for future volunteers.

Warm greetings from all of us here (yes, all of us 😉)!

Italy

3

I volunteered here expecting a 25h experience, but the reality was a full-time 7/7 with no guaranteed time off. This lack of transparency was the biggest issue, questions about hours and responsibilities were met with vague answers, forcing me to assert my agreed upon limits. The work itself was demanding but manageable; however, the disorganized environment and lack of clear scheduling made it difficult to plan anything outside of work. I strongly suggest to update the annoucement with honest expectations. I hope this review is polite enough, as “kindly” required. Best of luck in life.

6 months ago

Ronald replied

Our profile clearly states that we live a tough and demanding life, which is necessary to survive here. Despite this, you showed little interest in what we do, ignored the children, and spent much of your time on your phone instead of learning about the animals.
Life in the mountains with animals doesn’t fit into a strict schedule—it requires flexibility and engagement. It’s easy to criticize a small Sámi family from the comfort of a big city, but true understanding comes from participation.

Austria

4

It was an incredible time. The host family and especially the coworkers made the stay unforgettably. If you like to be in the nature and to really work a lot, that place is perfect for you. The work with the dogs is amazing and it never gets boring. In general you really need to be flexible, plans are changing super quick and you never know what will happen in the next hours. You should be confident and stand up for yourself, especially in the high season (Dezember - March) times can be tough and stressful. But if you don't have problems with that, this place is amazing.

6 months ago

Ronald replied

You are absolutely right, we are living a tough life here in the mountain. But it seems like Sophie was made for this! You are always welcome back!

Germany

4

My time with the home and Beate was quite impactful. I have learned a lot about working with dogs, about Norway and the Sami culture. They have allowed us to borrow the car and provided us with food. However, the life in the North is tough and you have to prepare for working a lot more than the agreed 25 hours per week and will barely get a day off. It is also important, that you are not scared of dogs, since the 40 beautiful dogs can get very energetic before running and you have to know how to handle them. I couldn't open my window for my entire stay and my walls were leaking.

6 months ago

Ronald replied

Yes, its a lot of job with the dogs. Therefore we work ourself both day and night, when we not take care of the kids.
Yes, we are not rich. Therefore we can not offer perfect acommondation for everybody. The most important is that volunteers, children and dogs have a good time as possible, under this conditions.
Because we belong to the indiginous people (Sámi) many volunteers think we are primitive and unintelligent. I hope you gat a new understanding, during your stay.

Australia

2

My pros and con list Pros -Beautiful scenery -Amazing dogs -Interesting stories by the home -Lots of learning -Meet new people Cons -Big communication issues with the hosts. -Hours on Worldpackers is incorrect you will work more than 25hrs and have no days off! -More work in high season (dec) than low season (jan). -Hosts were often stressed which led to yelling and tension. -Hosts didn't prioritise wellbeing. My advice: be confident in yourself and don't be afraid to speak up! It's a lot of work but it is truly amazing! The hosts won't teach you anything but other volunteers will!

7 months ago

Ronald replied

Thank you for your feedback!

Brazil

5

The home is very welcoming! He picked me up at the airport when I arrived and made me feel part of his family from the beginning! He is also very trusting, allowing volunteers to use one of his cars when needed. The equipaments and explanations provided during our work and activities were very good. I liked listening to his explanations and stories about the Sami culture! I recommend the experience!

10 months ago

Ronald replied

It was so nice to have you here! You are one of few who acceptet that Sami women also have a lot of knowledge about how to treat dogs.
But I think all of us could work a little bit more with the English skills..

Italy

5

I'll start by saying that this experience is particularly suitable for those who want to immerse themselves in nature and for those who want to spend time with a fantastic group of 35 huskies, all simply adorable, sociable and well trained. The family will immediately make you feel part of it and will provide you with everything you need. Working hours are flexible and the family will meet your every need, even providing you with a vehicle if you need it. In your free time you can take fantastic walks in the woods and along the banks of the streams and play sports with children.

about 1 year ago

Ronald replied

Francesco is a nice young man with a good mood and a lot of energy. He loves our dogs, and always treated them kindly. And our children are still asking when he will come back, so they can play football with him. :-)

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