A woman living in the Arctic Circle just shared how she walks her dogs

Waling your dog in Svalbard is not the same as walking your dog in, say, Florida.

It’s not the same as walking your dog anywhere, for that matter. Svalbard, a chain of Norwegian islands located well inside the Arctic Circle, experiences total darkness for several months of the year.

Add heavy snow, way-below-freezing temperatures and the threat of polar bears, and you’ve got a pretty tough walk on your hands.

That’s what Svalbard resident Cecilia Blomdahl experiences each day. In a now-viral TikTok video, Blomdahl reveals what it’s like to prepare herself — and her pups — for a stroll.

@sejsejlija

Svalbard lifeee ##meanwhileinthenordics ##northernnorway ##tiktoknorge ##tiktoknorway ##fyp ##foryou ##viral ##dogsoftiktok ##norway ##norge ##svalbard

♬ original sound – Cecilia Blomdahl

As Blomdahl explains in her clip, it’s currently “pitch-black 24/7” outside her home. That means her dogs are basically “invisible” when she walks them — even at 4 p.m.

So, Blomdahl decks the pups out in high-visibility collars, bright vests and plenty of blinking lights. As for herself, she wears a headlamp and many, many, layers of warm clothes.

Perhaps the most shocking reveal in Blomdahl’s video, though, was her rifle. The dog owner said she has to bring a gun with her due to the threat of polar bears.

TikTok users seemed stunned by the amount of work behind Blomdahl’s daily routine.

“I’m sorry. RIFLE? POLAR BEARS?” one commenter reacted.

“I was annoyed to take my dog out in 28-degree weather this morning, and it did not require a rifle,” another added.

“It was the pitch black blizzard at 4 p.m. for me,” another wrote.

Blomdahl’s dogs, meanwhile, don’t seem deterred in the slightest. Her TikTok shows the animals running playfully through the snow and even stopping to roll around in it.

The dog-walking TikTok is just one of Blomdahl’s many videos about her life in Svalbard. Her other clips showcase what it’s like to ride snowmobiles, live in a cabin without running water and drive to the gym — all while living in one of the world’s coldest, most remote places.

@sejsejlija

Svalbard Cabin Tour Part 1 ! ##meanwhileinthenordics ##svalbard ##northernnorway ##tiktoknorge ##nordic ##tiktoknorway ##viral ##fypp ##foryou ##cabin ##arctic

♬ original sound – Cecilia Blomdahl

If you liked this story, check out this article on the collapsible, re-arrangeable cabin.

More from In The Know:

Former TV game show contestants share behind-the-scenes secrets

According to TikTok, the secret to perfect skin is in the first aid aisle

Shop our favorite beauty products from In The Know Beauty on TikTok

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to stay In The Know