We both completed the Wilderness and Nature Guide qualification in Muonio in 2012–2013. During our training we had the chance to try driving a husky sled for the first time, and from that moment on we have worked with sled dogs.
Esa has dreamed of huskies since childhood. His very first “sled rides” happened with his parents’ two Samoyeds when he was about ten years old — quite different from real sled driving, of course. Esa’s uncle has bred Siberian Huskies for many years, but Esa never got the chance to ride with them and could only watch his older siblings — something that clearly left a mark and sparked a lasting passion.
Alma first connected with sled dogs at the age of fifteen while cleaning dog kennels during a summer job. We began working seasonal winters with sled dogs and later continued year-round at a large kennel where we cared for a pack of around 50 dogs.
From the beginning, we dreamed of having our own small kennel where the dogs would be true family members and where we could spend even more time with them. Today our family also includes two two-legged boys who help with the dogs and join us on sled rides.
All our dogs are purebred Siberian Huskies of genuine working lines. We have raised all our dogs from puppies so we can be sure they fit well into our family’s everyday life. We breed under the kennel name Utkuvaara. Esa got his first Siberian Husky, Essi, in 2014, and Alma got her first, Riepu, in 2016.
Currently, 27 Siberian Huskies live in our backyard, and our goal is to maintain the number below 30 so we can give each dog the best possible care. The dogs live in spacious kennels with warm shelters, and the entire area is surrounded by a large fenced yard where the dogs can run freely every day.
We also compete with some of our dogs and plan to focus even more on long-distance races in the future. Still, the best moments are simply exploring nature together as a family — and we are happy to take you along on our adventures as well.
We finished building our home in spring 2020, and since then we have been developing the environment for our four-legged family members while continuously learning and improving in this field. We established our shared company in summer 2024, and working with our sled dogs is now our full-time profession. We have also built dog houses for sale and handmade sleds for our own use. Esa is additionally a trained massage therapist and a certified natural product processor. We try to make as many of our tools and equipment as possible ourselves. Craftsmanship and living close to nature have always been important to both of us.
The wellbeing of our dogs is extremely important and always our highest priority. We aim to breed healthy, strong, Arctic working-line Siberian Huskies who can live happy lives doing what their ancestors have done for thousands of years.