This document has been prepared to provide our guests with the highest level of transparency regarding our operations. The below is our initial plan, but please note that nature is unpredictable and may affect the plan.

We always operate our tours according to the well-being and safety of all participants in mind, specifically adjusting to the weakest participants (infants, children, teenagers, elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities). It is our first priority to provide safe experiences for our guests and we will always do our best to offer an alternative, in case the originally booked tour can not be operated.

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

If we have to cancel a confirmed program due to the weather conditions, and are unable to reschedule the booked program we will refund 100 % of the total booking sum. Refunds will be processed in € amounts and Bearhill Husky does not keep themselves accountable for changes in exchange rates between currencies.

 

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 (Happy Trail, Call of the Wild, Running with the Pack, Campfire)

If, on the day of the tour, the temperature is between -28 and -30 degrees Celsius and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) then we reserve the right to shorten the duration, distance and driving time of the tours. Please note that there won’t be any further communications.

If on the day before, at 13:00 o’clock, the forecast shows for the next day at 9:00 o’clock in Sinettä, the temperatures listed below, our sales team will start contacting all the guests of the next day.

 

Self-driven tours (Happy Trail, Call of the Wild):

• -30 to -35 degrees Celsius and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) → Self-driven tours may not be operated anymore. We will contact customers and give them two options:
  • Cancel the booking and receive a full refund;
  • Accept the risk that the tour nature may be changed to a musher-driven tour and if so, accessing a partial refund. In our communication we will inform the price of the alternative tour. Please note, the final decision regarding the tour nature will only be made on the morning of the tour date.

 

Musher-driven tours (Running with the Pack, Campfire):

• -30 to -35 degrees Celsius and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) → We will contact customers and give them two options:
  • Cancel the booking and receive a full refund;
  • Accept the risk that the ride may be shortened and if so, accessing a partial refund. In our communication we will inform the price of the alternative tour. Please note, the final decision regarding the tour nature will only be made on the morning of the tour date.

 

For both self-driven and musher-driven 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, the temperature listed below, we will start contacting all the guests of the next day.

• -35 degrees Celsius or colder and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) → We will contact all customers and inform them that their tour will be cancelled and they 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 the following temperatures:

• -25 to -29 degrees Celsius and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) → 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 and considering the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed) → We shut down Santa’s Husky Rides. We cancel all bookings and every guest will receive a full refund.

 

Trail Safety Protocol

This protocol may come into effect in cases of lack of snow, melting snow, icy conditions or rainfall.

Although we can drive dogs ourselves under quite difficult conditions, we need very forgiving weather conditions before we are able to safely take guests on the trail.

Therefore, even if it looks like there is a lot of snow, please be aware that your tour might take place on carts with wheels or be changed to a musher-driven tour (where guests sit as passengers and our guides drive) if the conditions are unsafe.

The day before the tour, our staff evaluates the safety of the trails. If we deem a tour unsafe to operate, we will contact the guests informing them of the situation. We will always provide the guests with the option of choosing between 2 alternatives:

• Cancel the booking and receive a full refund;
• Join an alternative tour as specified in the communication.

 

Warm Weather Protocol

During the summer and autumn months, for animal welfare reasons, the rides are subject to temperature limits. On the day of the tour we evaluate the following criteria:

• the temperature is 15 degrees Celsius or lower
• the “real feel”(air temperature, humidity level, wind speed)
• the training level of the dogs

Based on these criteria, we reserve the right to change the duration/distance of the ride. Please note that for The Life of the Husky summer tour, the ride may not take place at all, as highlighted in the tour description.

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 general principles that everyone who visits our kennel should follow:

• Always follow the instructions given by our staff members.
• 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.
• Please separate your trash according to Finnish law. For this, we have clearly marked waste bins for mixed waste, plastic and cardboard.
• Please stay within the designated visitor areas.
• Inform one of our staff members immediately if you notice hazards or unsafe situations.
• Bearhill Husky follows safer-space principles. We ask everyone to treat others with respect and do not accept discrimination, harassment, bullying or inappropriate behaviour.

 

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.
• Petting and feeding treats to the dogs is permitted only when instructed by a guide.
• 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 belongings (e.g. gloves, hats, handwarmers, etc) 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.

 

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.
• You may take pictures with our dogs, of course, but please keep a respectful distance between your phone and the dog. Do not put your mobile phone directly into the dogs’ face and do not try to take selfies with the dogs.

 

And the most important rule is:

When you are at our kennel, always follow the instructions given by our staff members!