Cold weather protocol

When it is known that the weather is looking extremely cold for the upcoming days, we keep an eye on the weather forecast. The official weather forecast we check is FMI (ilmatieteenlaitos). The measuring points are Sinettä (for tours at our main kennel) and the Rovaniemi Airport (for our Santa’s Husky Rides).

 

Main kennel tours

If on the day before, at 13:00 o’clock, the forecast shows for the next day at 9:00 o’clock in Sinettä:

• 28-30 degrees Celsius → We reserve the right to shorten the duration, distance and driving time of the tours.
• 30-35 degrees Celsius → No self-driven tours will be operated anymore. All tours will be musher-driven, which means that all guests will sit in the sled while one of our guides drives the sled. The guests will be contacted by the sales team about this change beforehand. If a customer wishes to cancel their booking, we will provide a full refund. Guests who are booked on a longer-duration tour (e.g. Call of the Wild, Campfire tour) will receive a partial refund according to the equivalent shorter-duration tour that was provided.
• 35 degrees Celsius or colder → All tours will be cancelled and every guest will receive a full refund.

 

Santa’s Husky Rides

If on the day before, at 13:00 o’clock, the forecast shows for the next day at 9:00 o’clock at the Rovaniemi Airport:

• 25-30 degrees Celsius→ We reserve the right to refuse a guest if they are not properly dressed. In case of such refusal, the guest will receive a full refund.
• 30 degrees Celsius or colder → We shut down the Santa’s Husky Rides. We cancel all bookings and every guest will receive a full refund.

Other weather conditions

We reserve the right to change the nature, duration, and distance of any tour depending on the prevalent weather conditions.

We always operate our tours according to the well-being and safety of the weakest participant.

In order to ensure the wellbeing and comfort of our dogs, we also ask that visitors to our kennel observe a few rules.

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when approaching and interacting with our dogs:

• Do not touch the dogs before the start of the tour. They are ready to work and we want to leave as soon as possible.
• When the time is right, you can pet the dogs and give them snacks. Our guide will instruct you.
• Our dogs are generally very friendly, however, please stay away from dogs wearing bright colored jackets, as they are shy and do not want to be approached. Let them be. You can give your attention to those dogs who are more social.
• Do not put your hands inside the fences or inside the feeding holes of the fences. Dogs can mistake an arm for food and some dogs are young and they might be nipping.
• The dogs might be resting between the tours. Please respect that and please do not disturb them.
• Do not put your gloves on the ground, dogs might grab them. If you are using heating pads please dispose of them responsibly, dogs might eat them, it is very dangerous for them.
• Please do not smoke near the dogs. We have dedicated smoking areas, away from the dogs, where you can go to smoke. Please do not drop your cigarette buds on the ground, but rather dispose of them in one of our available trash cans.

 

Here are some general tips on how to pet a dog:

• See if the dog wants to be social, if the dog is backing away from you, let it be.
• When approaching a dog, avoid sharp movements and let the dog sniff you.
• If you would like to pet the dog, use a low touch. That means that you should not tower over the dog and stretch your hand over its head, but rather make yourself small, maybe kneel down, and keep your approaching hand lower.
• When petting a dog, use slow gentle strokes.
• Do not pull or tug the dogs’ ears or tail.
• Do not hug or try to kiss the dog.
• Do not put your face near the dog’s face.
• Do not pet dogs wearing specially marked jackets.

 

And the most important thing is:

When you are at our kennel, always adhere to what our staff members tell you!