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We’re in search for a handler (or two?) with mushing experience to join us for the 2020/2021 season to help train our prospective Iditarod team- and possibly further. Handler duties will include:

Scooping, feeding, and watering the team
Facilitating freeplay
Walking dogs
Vet care
Preparing drop bags and camping supplies for races
A LOT of mushing including four wheeler and sled driving

There will be mid distance racing opportunities for the right candidate for this season. Living quarters included: we have an apartment with a small bedroom and kitchenette, and a separate yurt (with electricity, and a graywater kitchen setup, but with access to a shower in the main house). There will be a small monthly stipend to cover groceries.

The ideal fit would be interested in sticking with ATAO for a few years— with the big payoff being the opportunity to do a 400-1000 mile race with the full support of the kennel. If you dream of running Iditarod but don’t know how to make it happen, this could be a pathway for you.

We are an LGBTQ+ household – if you are not comfortable with that, this is not a good fit for you!

Qualities we’re searching for:

Independent, driven, committed, and hard working
Experience working with dogs or animals
Experience mushing strongly desired but not required- we will teach the right person
Must get to the point in the season (if not initially ready) to mush the team solo
Ability to learn / orient on new trails / in unfamiliar conditions
Problem solving & quick thinking
Realistic understanding of the down and dirtiness of scooping a lot of poop, working very long days, etc!

Handling is not an easy task. We know that it can be thankless, unforgiving, uncomfortable, and decidedly less romantic than you probably would ever imagine. You’ll be sore, exhausted, and not rich.

But it also means you get to spend 95% of your time with dogs, out in the incredible Alaskan wilderness, doing things many folks can only dream of.

If this sounds like something you can take on, please reach out to us. We are hoping to bring a handler on starting as soon as possible to get to know our dogs over the warm months and prep for an exciting season of mushing.

We especially invite LGBTQIA+ / POC to apply.

–Will

Handler Application

Name
First Last
Pronouns
Email*
Phone*
Can we text this number?*
- Yes
- No
What is your mushing experience level*
- Very experienced
- At least one season
- A little bit
- A very small amount
- None
Describe your mushing experience
What is your experience level with dogs*
- Very experienced
- Fairly experienced
- A little bit
- A very small amount
- None yet
Describe your general experience with dogs
What is your experience with manual labor*
- Very experienced
- Fairly experienced
- A little bit
- A very small amount
- None yet
Describe your manual labor experience
What is your goal in being a handler?*
What motivates you?*
What is the longest you've been awake? How do you deal with sleep deprivation?*
What is one amenity or comfort you couldn't live without?*
Give some examples about how you work within a team*
What do you like about dogs?*
What is your problem solving method?*
Why are you interested in mushing?*
Why are you a good fit for this position?*
List three references & contact info for each & how you know them
Anything else you'd like to add
How did you hear about this application?*
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