Teen lands dream summer job caring for dalmatian puppies

Ingrid del vals Johanessen, 16, has landed what she calls the perfect summer job: cuddling, feeding, and caring for 11 dalmatian puppies at Fossum Farm in Heradsbygd, Dagbladet reports.

“This is the dream job,” Johanessen said, smiling as she explained why she applied. “I gain a lot of experience being with the puppies.” This is her first summer job, and she admitted she had never considered working before this opportunity arose.

Her mother knows the puppies’ owner, Anne Katrine Grindalen. During a visit, Johanessen asked if she could return—and was offered the role of puppy cuddler. “I said yes immediately, even though I didn’t really know what it was,” she laughed.

Her friends are impressed. “They’re very happy for me. They know I love animals.” That love has been lifelong. “I have a golden retriever at home who’s almost six. I’ve always wanted more animals, ever since I was little. And I want to be a vet when I grow up.”

Grindalen described the puppies as energetic, waking at 4 a.m. and going to bed late. “It’s nonstop,” she said. She needed help ensuring each puppy is socialised, meets different people, and gets a good start before leaving for new homes.

When Grindalen posted a request for puppy cuddlers, the response was overwhelming. “Within two hours, 18 people had signed up. I had to stop—I couldn’t take any more.” Now, around 10–12 cuddlers visit daily.

The puppies, temporarily named after vegetables in English—Pea, Cucumber, Parsley—are a handful. “The hardest part is the biting. They bite a lot, and sometimes it actually hurts,” Johanessen admitted. But she added: “It’s also a lot of fun. I’m learning so much about caring for so many dalmatians at once.”

Her favourite is the blackest one. “It’s very calm and unique compared to the others.”

Grindalen acknowledged the work is exhausting but worth it. “I want to deliver puppies that will be good family dogs. I do everything I can to lay the foundation.”

Johanessen knows she’ll miss them when they leave. “I’ll miss them a lot. But I also know they’ll have better lives and can grow. That helps a little.”