Dog Handler/Musher Guide

We are seeking guide professionals and kennel help at our adventure company, Snow Buddy Sled Dog Adventures, LLC.  Applicants will be expected to be available to work 6 days per week, driving one day a week with guest shuttles and guiding at the trailhead the other days.  We have extended breaks at Christmas time and two other times in the short season.  No other time off requests will be honored in the short season. The schedule will be made available to guides at hiring and everyone is otherwise expected to be available to work.  You must have some pertinent work experience in the guiding world, handling animals or both, preferably.  We can offer staff housing, but not to applicants with pets.

A clean driving record and experience driving in the snow are required. Applicants must own a decent winter vehicle and report to work in November with snow tires on their vehicles. Applicants must pass a background check. All new hires will report to the kennel for work immediately and will commit to working through April 30th.  Please understand we cannot make exceptions.  If an applicant has conflicting work commitments or is uncertain about ability to commit to the season completely, we will not consider your application.

We operate in the back country in Routt National Forest about 45 minutes southwest of Steamboat Springs, CO, and 90 minutes North of Vail, CO. 

Our family takes a tremendous amount of pride in the quality of the experience we provide our guests.  Coming into our 13th season, we are excited to continue to offer a preeminent and authentic mushing experience to everyone young and old.  Guests have the opportunity to learn to mush a dog team of their own with trail support or to have a fully guided experience.  Guides learn both rolls and are flexible at a moment's notice. We cater to each guest's expectations and comfort level.  All trips are small and personalized, both for safety and to maintain the integrity of the experience.  Our company culture is based on safety, fun, and learning.  We are 100% in the service of every person who comes to meet us and our family of dogs.  We serve with integrity, honesty, and consistency.  The first trip of the season is as wonderful as the last.

The guiding position is paid at a flat rate per tour, once you are trained in our program. Applicants must have animal handling experience, sled dog experience is preferred.  All applicants will have required reading and on the job training.  We pay for one week of training. Applicants who need more than a week to meet our standards will be required to continue to train on their own time. We have 3 tiers on the pay schedule.  All applicants will start at the base level and work for the top tier based on skill set and commitment to the program.  Base level pay is $75 per tour, two tours per day, 5 - 6 days per week, plus guaranteed often generous gratuities. Our lowest paid entry level staff member last season cleared approximately $12,500 and our highest paid return staff member made over $17,000 for the season (cash tips not included in these figures, but again tips are guaranteed - we have a minimum gratuity policy). We pay an end of the season bonus to all staff who complete the season without issue - the lowest bonus last season was $450 and the highest was $1000.  Bonuses work out to be $5 per trip worked.

We have staff housing available for $550 a month per private room, plus utilities. The house is 1 mile from the kennel and located on Main Street in downtown Oak Creek, walking distance from the gas station, grocery store, restaurants and coffee shops. Employees are welcome to live away from staff housing, but we have found most options in Routt County to be more than triple this rent and require a longer rental term than our season. We have also had people struggle with the notion of paying rent.  Working for Snow Buddy, you will cover your rent and utilities for the month in 2-3 days of work.

The paid working season kicks off officially the Friday after Thanksgiving and ends in late April depending on snow levels.  There is potential for the position to extend through the summer months for the right candidate. Again, each staff member will be expected to be available for work 6 days a week either on the trail or at the kennel. We are always closed on Sundays and sometimes not fully booked through the week.  We divide the work load evenly among team members. Come play in the snow with us, our guests, and all our beautiful dogs!

Check us out on TripAdvisor (#1 winter activity in Steamboat), Facebook, and Instagram.  Visit the website for more info about our program.