Handler Duties

Working at Bacon’s Acres requires physical stamina, attention to detail, sound judgment, and steady energy. The responsibilities below reflect the daily operational needs of a structured working dog team. Tasks are hands-on and, at times, labor-intensive. They require consistency regardless of weather, fatigue, or personal mood.

The goal is to maintain a safe, clean, organized, and calm environment where the dogs — and the people — can thrive.

Work includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Daily Dog Care

  • Feeding and watering dogs according to established protocols

  • Maintaining kennel and yard cleanliness (scooping, sanitizing, organizing)

  • Brushing dogs and trimming nails

  • Monitoring dogs’ overall health and behavior

  • Assisting with medications, massage, foot care, and minor wound management

  • Providing full dog care coverage during Kristin’s travels

Training Preparation & Execution

  • Preparing dogs for training runs (booties, harnesses, coats, lines, etc.)

  • Hooking up and unhooking teams safely

  • Exercising dogs appropriately/per established guidelines provided

  • Assisting with ATV and sled training (depending on experience and supervision)

  • Helping load and unload dogs to and from trailers or dog boxes, if needed

  • Preparing sleds and ATVs for training runs

  • Performing minimal trail maintenance as needed

Food Preparation & Handling

  • Cutting, storing, and portioning meat and fish per guidelines

  • Cooking fish and meat for dogs using outdoor propane cooker

  • Cleaning and maintaining saws, cookers, and food preparation tools

  • Lifting and transporting 40 lb bags of dog food

  • Carrying 5-gallon and 7-gallon buckets of food and water

Equipment & Property Maintenance

  • Helping clean and organize gear (buckets, bowls, harnesses, booties, lines, trailer, cook pots, freezers, etc.)

  • Washing and maintaining dog laundry (blankets, harnesses, booties, coats)

  • Sorting and wrapping booties

  • Making tug and neck lines

  • Maintaining dog houses (cleaning, painting, minor repairs, stabilizing structures, adding bedding)

  • Assisting with kennel-related errands

Communication & Operational Support

  • Following instructions carefully and consistently

  • Communicating clearly about observations, concerns, or changes in behavior

  • Assisting with problem-solving when needed

  • Supporting administrative or media-related tasks (optional and dependent on skill set)

Closing Perspective

The daily responsibilities listed above are the practical expression of the standards described on the job description page. Consistency in these tasks is what creates stability for the dogs, clarity for the team, and strength in the overall program.

When the work is done well — even the repetitive parts — the environment stays calm, organized, and healthy. That stability allows the dogs to thrive and gives everyone involved the opportunity to grow.

If this level of responsibility feels aligned with your work ethic and the kind of environment you want to be part of, we welcome your interest in joining the team at Bacon’s Acres.