Husky Petting, in Akureyri

The dogs may steal your heart. This one-hour visit to a kennel just outside Akureyri is built around cuddles, kisses, and photos, not speed or scenery. I like the close contact with friendly huskies, and I like that Gunni and Maria welcome you into their home and explain how these dogs became part of their family and livelihood. The main consideration is simple: at $84.02 per person, this is a short visit, so it makes the most sense for serious dog lovers and families who will value personal time with the animals.

You can meet more than 25 huskies, see puppies, and, depending on what is happening at the kennel, get a glimpse of husky yarn making and a collection of trophies and ribbons. Children have plenty to enjoy, but you should expect an intimate kennel visit rather than a dogsled ride or a broad tour of northern Iceland.

Key things to know before you go

• More than 25 huskies may be waiting at the kennel: You get far more than a quick photo with one dog.
• Gunni and Maria welcome you into their home: The visit has a personal, family-run feel that sets it apart from a standard animal encounter.
• Puppies may be part of the experience: This was a favorite part for several families, especially children.
• The tour lasts about one hour: It is easy to fit into an Akureyri day, but the time passes quickly.
• Pickup is offered 15 minutes before departure: Be ready in front of your accommodation at the arranged time.
• The group is limited to 12 people: That keeps the kennel visit smaller and more manageable.

Meeting the huskies outside Akureyri

The experience begins at goHusky Dogsledding Tours at Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri. Pickup is offered, and the team plans to collect you 15 minutes before the tour. You should be ready outside your accommodation rather than waiting inside for the vehicle.

That small timing detail matters in Iceland, where a delayed start can cut into an already brief activity. Keep your phone nearby and be ready a few minutes early. If you prefer to make your own way there, the listed meeting point is the goHusky base.

The kennel is just outside Akureyri, so this is not a long excursion. You are not spending most of your hour sitting in a vehicle. The focus is the dogs and the people who care for them.

The activity is offered in English, and the maximum group size is 12 people. That is a useful limit for a visit involving excited dogs, children, photos, and plenty of hands reaching out to say hello. A smaller group also gives you a better chance to listen to the hosts and spend time with the animals without feeling rushed by a large crowd.

A warm welcome from Gunni and Maria

The tone of this experience comes from its hosts. Gunni and Maria welcome visitors into their home, which gives the visit a more personal feel than a quick stop at a commercial kennel.

You can hear how they came to raise the huskies and how their love of the dogs became their livelihood. That background adds meaning to the cuddling. You are not simply being shown a group of photogenic animals. You are meeting a family whose daily life revolves around them.

The hosts also explain the dogs as individuals. Huskies are intelligent, curious, and friendly, but that does not mean every dog behaves in exactly the same way. Some will seek attention at once. Others may be more interested in sniffing around or watching the action before joining in.

I appreciate that this kind of visit lets you see the animals as family members, not just working dogs. The setting also gives you a chance to ask questions directly. With a group capped at 12, you should have a better chance to hear the answers than you would in a crowded attraction.

Cuddles, kisses, and plenty of photos

The main activity is exactly what the name promises: petting huskies. These dogs are described as highly friendly and eager to meet new people, and the experience is designed around physical contact.

You can expect plenty of affection. The dogs may offer kisses, lean in for attention, or settle beside you for photographs. If you love dogs, this is the part that makes the price easier to justify. You are not watching the huskies from behind a barrier. You are spending time close to them.

Bring a phone or camera with enough battery and storage. The chance to photograph the dogs is a major part of the visit, and you will probably want more than one picture. Take photos, but do not let the camera replace the experience. A few minutes without posing gives you a better feel for each dog’s personality.

The dogs are described as well behaved and friendly, but you still need to follow the hosts’ instructions. Huskies are strong, active animals, even when they are being gentle. If you are visiting with children, stay close and help them approach the dogs calmly.

This is also worth considering for anyone who is nervous around large dogs. The dogs are friendly, but a kennel full of huskies can be lively. If you prefer quiet, controlled animal encounters, the energy may feel like a lot. If you enjoy dogs that are curious and eager for attention, it should be a happy hour.

Puppies and the family side of the kennel

Puppies can be one of the most memorable parts of the visit. Families have especially enjoyed meeting the younger dogs, and it is easy to understand why. Puppies add a different kind of energy, with smaller bodies, quick movements, and a great deal of curiosity.

The exact puppy experience can depend on the kennel’s animals and daily routine, so you should not treat it as a guaranteed formal puppy session. Still, the possibility of meeting recent puppies gives the visit extra appeal for families.

Children often connect with animals faster than they connect with a museum display. This activity gives them something direct to do: greet the dogs, watch their behavior, take photos, and listen to the owners’ stories. Several families considered it one of the favorite activities of their Iceland vacation.

Parents should keep expectations sensible. A one-hour visit is not a long childcare break, and young children may need reminders about gentle hands and quiet voices. The hosts can help set the tone, but adults should remain responsible for their children around the dogs.

The family focus also makes this a good option when some people in your group are not interested in a long outdoor adventure. You do not need to be an experienced hiker or dog-sled passenger. You simply need to enjoy being around animals.

More than petting: yarn, trophies, and working dogs

One unusual detail is the chance to see husky yarn making. The experience may include a glimpse into how fur from the dogs is used to make yarn, giving you a small look at a craft connected to the kennel.

That detail helps explain how the dogs fit into the owners’ wider life. It is a reminder that the kennel is not just a place where dogs are kept for visitors. There is a working side to the operation, along with the everyday care required to raise a large group of animals.

You may also see an extensive collection of trophies and ribbons. These awards offer another window into the dogs’ background and the owners’ long involvement with huskies. They are not the central attraction, but they add context to the visit.

I would think of these extras as welcome additions rather than promised headline activities. The listed experience is husky petting, and that is where most of your time and attention will go. Still, if Gunni or Maria shows you the yarn-making process or the collection, it gives the hour more depth.

What makes this different from dogsledding

The name of the operator may suggest a dogsledding activity, but this particular visit is not a sled ride. You are going to the kennel to meet, pet, and photograph the dogs.

That difference matters when you decide what to book. If you want speed, snow, and a ride behind a team, this is not the right choice. If you want close contact and a relaxed introduction to the animals, it may be exactly what you need.

The shorter format is useful for an Akureyri schedule. You can fit it between other plans without giving up half a day. It may work well for families, cruise passengers in port, and anyone with limited time in town.

The trade-off is that one hour can feel brief, particularly if you have traveled a long way for the experience or if your group is large within the 12-person limit. The dogs may be the stars, but greeting a kennel full of animals takes time. If you want a longer educational session, ask yourself if the personal contact is worth more to you than a longer excursion.

Is $84.02 a fair price?

At $84.02 per person, this is not a cheap photo stop. You are paying for a small-group experience, pickup availability, access to a private kennel setting, and time with a large number of huskies.

The value improves if you are a devoted dog lover. A visitor who wants to cuddle the dogs, meet puppies, hear the owners’ story, and take home a personal memory may find the cost reasonable. A casual sightseer who simply wants to see a husky for a few minutes may not.

Families should calculate the total carefully. Children and adults both enjoy the activity, but the per-person price means a family visit adds up quickly. The group limit of 12 is helpful for the quality of the experience, yet it does not make the activity inexpensive.

Cruise passengers may find the price easier to defend because the visit has been praised as a favorite port stop. It is compact, close to Akureyri, and does not require committing to a full-day outing. Just allow enough time around the one-hour activity for pickup and return to the meeting point.

The strongest value is the personal setting. You are not paying only for admission. You are paying for access to Gunni and Maria’s dogs, their home, and the story behind the kennel.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this experience for:

• Families with children who love animals
• Adults who want close contact with friendly huskies
• Cruise passengers seeking a manageable Akureyri port activity
• Photographers looking for expressive dogs and puppies
• Visitors who prefer a personal, family-run setting
• Anyone curious about the daily life of a husky kennel

I would be more cautious if you dislike being around many dogs at once. I would also skip it if your main goal is a dogsled ride, a long outdoor trip, or a broad introduction to the Akureyri area.

The activity is offered in English, which makes it easy to follow the hosts’ explanations. Most people can participate, according to the provided details, but no specific accessibility information is given. If you have mobility or other access needs, contact goHusky before booking.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows local Icelandic time.

FAQ

Where does the Husky Petting experience start?

It starts at goHusky Dogsledding Tours, Glæsibær 3, 601 Akureyri, Iceland. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is pickup available from my accommodation?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and you should be ready in front of your accommodation 15 minutes before the tour.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts approximately one hour.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Can children participate?

Yes. Both children and adults can participate, and the activity is presented as a family-friendly way to meet friendly, curious huskies.

Should you book the Akureyri Husky Petting experience?

Book it if you want real contact with friendly dogs, not a quick look from a distance. The combination of more than 25 huskies, possible puppy time, family hosts, photos, and a small group gives the visit a warm personal character.

I especially like that Gunni and Maria share the story of their dogs and their life at the kennel. The yarn-making glimpse and trophy collection add useful detail, while the one-hour format fits neatly into an Akureyri day.

Skip it if you want dogsledding, snow activities, or a longer excursion. At $84.02, the experience depends on how much you value time spent cuddling animals. For dog lovers and families, that may be precisely the point.