DOGPADDLE ADVENTURES

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Canadian Inuit Sled Dog:

A Working Dog

About the Breed

Known as the Canadian Inuit Dog or Qimmiq in Nunavut Territory, which has selected the Canadian Inuit Dog (Canis familiaris borealis) to be the official animal of the new territory.  Called Qimmiq in Inuktitut, this dog is one of the world's oldest pure breeds and, from archaeological evidence, is known to have been resident in the Arctic for at least 4000 years.  This dog has been essential to the survival of the Inuit for generation, being the only draft animal for long-range travel and a willing and capable hunting companion.

The Canadian Inuit Dog is perfectly suited, through long adaptation, to survive in the hostile Arctic environment.  They are thick-coated, robust animals of medium size, with curly tails, upright ears and an overall appearance of strength and stamina. The breed is non-colour specific with all known dog colours and shades being possible.  The breed is free of genetic defects, thrives on a diet of protein and fat and is first and foremost a superb working animal.

It is most commonly associated with the Thule people and seems to be heavily related to the Greenland Dog, so much so that some authorities consider them the same breed, and genetic testing has proved that they are.  The Inuit from Baffin Island and Greenland are related, and travelled back and forth across the frozen sea ice.  It is only natural that their dogs would have originated from the same source and interbred.

In the 1800s and early 1900s this breed was in high demand for polar expeditions, both in the north and in the south.  When snowmobiles came into use and the Inuit were forced into government approved communities, the population numbers started rapidly declining.  In the 1950s, estimates were given that there were approximately 20,000 dogs living in the Canadian Arctic, and breed registries, such as the CKC and the AKC began showing the dogs.  However by 1959 the AKC dropped the breed from its registry because of extremely low numbers.  By 1963 there was supposedly only one dog registered with the CKC, and when this dog died there were still no others registered.  But the breed was still healthy in it's northern habitat in remote communities, away from the interference of modern society.

The EDRF (Eskimo Dog Research Foundation) was founded in 1972 by William Carpenter and John McGrath and was largely funded by the Canadian Government and the Northwest Territories, with some support from the CKC.  The EDRF purchased dogs (about 200) from remote Inuit camps on Baffin Island, Boothia Peninsula, and Melville Peninsula.  The EDRF then began breeding dogs in order to increase numbers, and provided registries, like the CKC, with new breeding stock.  The EDRF was not the only organization or individuals who worked to save this breed, but it is the one that is most often credited.

Appearance

The Canadian Inuit Dog should always be powerfully built, athletic, and imposing in appearance.  It should have a powerful physique giving the impression that he is not built for speed but rather for hard work.  As is typical of spitz breeds, it has erect, triangular ears, and a heavily feathered tail that is carried over its back.  Males should be distinctly more masculine than females, who are finer boned, smaller, and often have a slightly shorter coat.

Coat and colour

The coat is very thick and dense, with a soft undercoat, and stiff, course guard hairs.  The Inuit Dog has a mane of thicker fur around its neck and between it's shoulder blades, which is quite impressive in the males and adds an allusion of additional size.  This mane is smaller in females.  Inuit Dogs can be almost any colour, and no one colour pattern should dominate.  Solid white dogs are often seen, as well as white dogs with patches of another colour on the head or both body and head.  Solid liver or black coloured dogs are common as well, many of the solid coloured dogs are prone to have white mask-like markings on the face, sometimes with spots over the eyes, others might have white socks and nose stripes with no eye spots or mask present.

Size and Proportions

There is significant variance in size among Canadian Inuit Dogs, especially between the sexes.  It is common that the weight and height be proportionate to each other.  The breed has a long back in proportion to the length of it's legs, as compared to other sled dog breeds.  The rear leg, from the hip ball joint, should not reach forward of the tricep of the front leg.  This proportion gives the dog a shorter stride, but great low end power for working.  The average size of the Canadian Inuit Dog is:

Height (at the withers) Males: 60 - 70 cm, Females: 50 - 60 cm.

Weight in Males: 30 - 40 kg, Females: 20 - 30 kg

Temperament

The Canadian Inuit Dog is a happy, bold, energetic dog, that loves to work hard and play hard.  It's greatest attribute is it's working ability, seconded only by it's enthusiasm to play.  It's drive to run seems to know no bounds and it's playful nature and boundless energy can at times be overwhelming.  Like most spitz breeds they can be very vocal, with very little barking, but a huge range of howls and growls, yips and cries.  The unique personality of this energetic spitz is capturing the hearts of many, but it is not a dog for everyone.

The Canadian Inuit Dog's temperament reflects its original work and environment.  It is tough, intelligent, and alert.  It is affectionate and gentle with it's family, in a rough and tumble sort of way.  Canadian Inuit Dogs are best suited as working companions for adults, rather than children, as they can be over-excitable. 

In the high arctic, they were often required to forage and hunt for their own food.  Consequently, many Inuit Sled Dogs have stronger prey drives than some other breeds, and the dogs can work together like a wolf pack to bring down their prey, both small and large. 

To be truely happy and healthy Canadian Inuit Dogs need to live with other Canadian Inuit Dogs, but at times they can be very aggressive with each other.  There have been many instances of dogs being hurt, by their fellow teammates when left unattended.  Specific handing practices are absolutely necessary when owning Working Canadian Inuit Dogs.  It is imperative that prospective Canadian Inuit Dog owners understand this part of the breed's nature.

Care:

Exercise

Inuit Sled Dogs need a very large amount of exercise.  They cannot just be walked, they need high intensity work, requiring more exercise than many dog owners can give.  This need for work and stimulation also makes them well suited for dog sports, such as carting, mushing, and skijoring.  They are very trainable and submissive, as well as intelligent in their area of expertise.

While outdoor activity and exercise is essential, the Canadian Inuit Dog should never be permitted to roam unattended, even in the most remote country setting.  The breed is, above all, a sledding breed, and will at times take to a trail at the most unexpected times.  Canadian Inuit Dogs have been known to run on a trail for days, without food or water because of their strong instinct to run, especially if they have company to run with.  It can be a very frightening experience to lose your dog team, and an impossible situation to the untrained owner who may be inexperienced in sledding with Eskimo/Inuit Dogs, the results could be tragic for both the driver and the dog team.

While sometimes adaptable to a moderate climate, they are first and foremost bred to be sledding dogs.  City or apartment living, or a confined or sedate lifestyle, do not meet the needs of a Canadian Inuit Dog.  These unique dogs require what may seem to be an extraordinary amount of, outdoor activity, exercise, and an understanding and acceptance of their sledding nature.

Consider an outdoor enthusiast, who takes his pet dog along on hikes, jogs, bicycle rides, x-country skiing, camping trips, skijoring, etc, easily putting on more than 50km each week.  At the end of the season, both the person and the dog, will have put on more than 1000km each.  Now consider the exercise needs of a working dog.  Not only sledding dogs, but also dogs that work the field, like pointers and retrievers,  who need a substancially greater amount of exercise.  They can easily cover 30, 40, even 50+km per day before they are content to sit at home.  At the end of the season, a hobby team may easily have covered 6000km or more. 

Diet

The Inuit Dog's eating habits are quite wolflike, and at times it seems to have a genetic memory of starvation.  It will swallow amazing amounts of food in a matter of seconds, sometimes only to find a secluded corner to regurgitate the food and eat it again.  This trait is not only confined to food, but anything that is edible, including feces.  It is not uncommon for Inuit Dogs to swallow anything else that it wants to keep, such as a glove or a boot.  If you run to get something out of it's mouth, the dog will have it swallowed before you can reach it.  It is best to try and bait the dog with a more tempting piece of meat.

Nutrition is key to any dog's development.  This is especially true with the more feral breeds like the Inuit Dog.  The Inuit Dog cannot properly digest the commercial kibble/dog food based on wheat, oats, barley, rye, and especially corn.  Consequently the specimines that are brought south are experiencing poor growth development and health problems.  Feeding grain based diets (commonly found in commercial dog foods), can tear the intestinal lining (easily recognized by bloody stool), and is abuse.

The Inuit Dog is best fed a diet of red meat with a substancial ratio of digestible fat.  It is one of the rare breeds that can metabolize a diet of 60% fat.  Fat is very important to the Inuit Dog's diet, as this is where it get's a great deal of it's water and amino acids.  In the arctic, the Dog was fed a winter diet of marine mammal very rich in fat, and fish, such as char, in the summer.  This is not a practical food source for most people and beef, horse and chicken are often substituted.  Care should be taken to use unprocessed fats when preparing your Inuit Dog's food.  Processed fats such as lard can have a detrimental effect, by draining the dog's vitamine and mineral reserves during digestion.

Feet

The pads of an Inuit Dog's feet are very thick and tough, from centuries of natural selection (Mother Nature's version of selective breeding), for crossing rough and jagged arctic ocean ice.  Of course this does not mean the the feet are impervious to injuries, and should therefore be given special attention, especially during the working season.  Ironically, this is one of the primary targets when an Inuit Dog get's into a fight.  It is almost as if the dog has a genetic understanding that injured feet can easily mean death in the harsh arctic climate. 

A dry yard and kennel area is a must for the Inuit Dog, or any dog for that matter.  A dog's feet, like it's nose, is a window into the health of the animal.  A dog that must live in an environment where it's feet are always damp will catch a cold in a matter of days.  If the condition persists, the cold can easily develop in to the flu or pnemonia. 

Hollywood, the media, and well intentioned animal rights activists (though misinformed) have made the broad generalization that all sled dogs should wear booties.  Great care should be taken when attempting to follow any propaganda spread by people and organizations that do not live and breathe with working animals.  Many times it is necessary to use dog boots, and a good musher will always have a supply on hand, but, like all good things, booties can be over used.  The pad of an Inuit Dog's foot must breath, it is one of the few places that the dog can perspire and cool down.  In the winter, an Inuit Dog has a very thick coat, and when working, the dog can over heat, suffering heat stroke, even at very cold temperatures.  This danger is magnified if the dog is forced to unneccessarily wear boots.  But this is not the only concern, the over use of dog booties holds the perspiration against the skin, forcing the dog to work with wet clammy feet.  Wet feet is the major cause of the dog catching a cold virus.  If it is neccessary to put booties on the dog, they should be removed as soon as possible to avoid compromising the dog's immune system.

Coat

Its coat is fairly easy to care for most times of the year, needing brushing only once a week.  However when it sheds it is best to groom the dog every day.  The breed will commonly shed twice a year in the northern climate, once in the summer when the weather gets too warm for their heavy coat, then again after the first cold snap of the winter.

Owing to their original environment, the Canadian Inuit Dog takes pure delight in cold weather, often preferring to stay outside in cold climates, in matter of fact the breed is prone to heatstroke in warm weather.  It truely loves cold weather, often preferring to sleep outside on cold nights.  In fact, forcing the dog to sleep indoors can have serious health consequences, and borders on abuse.

Family Pet?

The Canadian Inuit Dog can make a terrific companion for the outdoor enthusiast, but it is not really suitable as a family pet.  One of the Inuit Sled Dog's most surprising qualities is a kind and gentle nature.  He is usually friendly with every member of the family, and even strangers, provided each person understands how to properly handle the breed.  Having the exuberent Canadian Inuit/Eskimo Dog characteristics, however, the Dog is usually too rough to be left unattended with children, even older children unless the children are very well behaved and are capable of proper dog handling techniques.  It is absolutely imparative that children, of any age, not be allowed to play unattended with multiple Inuit Dogs.  The dogs can get very jealous of each other and if one is petted, then the other has to be petted.  They can be so jealous that they will fight and injure each other to be the one who gets the attention, this can have very tragic results if a child gets caught in a tug of war between two or more dogs.  Proper care and handling of the breed is imparative. 

Canadian Inuit Dogs are energetic dogs and they don't do very well in small houses or apartments, especially if not given enough exercise and not paid proper attention to.  If a spacious yard with a fence is provided, and the owners are aware that the Canadian Inuit Dog requires training sessions and a considerable amount of exercise to maintain their physical and mental well being, and if the owners themselves are active outdoor enthusiasts, then house living may be all right in rare cases.  However, sitting around inside for long hours without the owner will make the dog seek out an emotional and energy outlet.  Turning the Inuit Sled Dog into a house pet is a form of abuse.

The Canadian Inuit Dog is a rare breed, even in the country of it's origin, but it has attractted a variety of followers with varied interests in the breed.  Those who are interested in the breed are strongly encouraged to thoroughly study all aspects of the Inuit Dog, its special characteristics and needs, and to make a careful evaluation of whether this unique dog will fit into your lifestyle.  The Canadian Inuit Dog does require special handling, but when raised and handled properly, the rewards are limitless.

For the dog fancier, who is only interested in looks and status, it would be better to look for a different breed.  The CKC's version of this breed, known as the Canadian Eskimo Dog, is a more toned down version of the Inuit Sled Dog.  This version is much easier to handle in domestic situations and is perhaps a better fit for a modern lifestyle.

Psychology and Handling

Hiararchal

The Inuit Dog has a very strong social drive.  They thrive on the hierarchal order of the pack.  To the unfamiliar, they may even seem to be fighting excessively.  The young dogs are always jockeying for position, challenging each other and sometimes challenging the older males.  The older males will quickly put the young dog in it's place by biting one of it's feet.  This is actually a psychological ploy, as well as an obvious physical one.  A dog with an injured foot is not only at a significant disadvantage in fights, but it also cannot run with the pack, contributing to the hunt or work required, and is reduced to begging for food and dining rights.  The dogs love to contribute and be a part of the family, and when this is denied they become very sad.  Because of their strong social drive, and perhaps their genetic need to survive in the arctic, they rarely cause life threatening injuries to each other, opting instead for somewhat minor injuries that will teach the young dogs a lesson in humility, and which they will heal from and rejoin the pack in full fellowship.

The Inuit Dog interacts with it's human family in much the same way as it's canine family, only fighting with it's human family members is never allowed.  The human members should always hold the Alpha positions in the pack and break up any fights among the dogs, paying particular attention to the hiarchal order of the dogs that are fighting.  If a dog of a higher status, is humiliated to a dog of lower status, then it may hold a grudge and there will be constant tension until one, or both dogs are seriously injured.  In any case, the dogs will not want to work together and will be constantly fighting and causing serious tention in the entire family.  The key to understanding the hierarchal pattern of a family of Inuit Dogs, is to observe their personal space issues.  This is the most commonly expressed symptom of status, and the most readily apparent.  An alpha dog can move into a lower dog's personal space, and the lower dog will yeild, albeit sometimes with grumbling and growling. 

Canadian Inuit Dogs are very hiararchal and require firm, consistent reaffirmation of their position in the family.  They are extremely motivated and continue to test their limits throughout their life.  More often than not they pass their owners before the owner knows what has happened!  This ability to asume a higher pecking order than their owners is usually very subtle, but can include displays of aggressive behavior.  Their hiararchal nature must be understood and handled properly!

Happy to Work

Although Canadian Inuit Dogs are a happy and fun-loving breed, they are NOT like the sled dogs that are portrayed in the movies, on TV, or other forms of media.  Most of those dogs have had their instincts bred out of them for many generations and are able to be "Hollywood" trained and handled, and are relatively obedient for VERY short periods of time.  Celebrity dogs have their needs met by the trainer, and perform their jobs accordingly.  To be happy, the Inuit Dog must have meaningful employment.  To rob the dog of the opportunity to work and contribute, is to rob it of it's happiness.

Prone to Mischief!

Canadian Inuit Dogs are bred to pull a sled, carry packs and scent quarry.  If they do not have an outlet for their natural instincts, they will invent new and fun jobs for themselves, which frequently include fighting, digging, hunting other pets, and destroying whatever they can get their teeth into. 

On the Run

A securely fenced yard is a must for Canadian Inuit Dogs!  Due to their sledding and hunting instincts Inuit Dogs will roam .... even if left in an unsecured for a few minutes!  They can be let loose every day for three years with no trouble.... but one day they will disappear and may never come back.  "They never did it before..." is a poor excuse when the dog gets lost or a person gets injured, because of the owners negligence.

Obvious care should be taken when keeping multiple Inuit Dogs in fenced yards or kennels.  There should be ample space for the dogs to be able to work out personal space issues, otherwise serious fights and life threatening injuries may result.

Breeding

Inuit Sled Dogs have always been valued for their working qualities.  Perfect arctic sledding dogs, they were bred for strength, endurance and the ability to survive in the worlds harshest climates.  Because they are bred for their working ability, and not for show, a variety of types and colours are possible.

Any conscientious Canadian Inuit Dog breeding program is designed to protect and preserve the unique characteristics and working heritage of this rare northern breed.  Keeping in mind that the Canadian Inuit Sled Dog is first and foremost a working dog, then preserving and enhancing its working dog qualities is a primary goal.

Only working Canadian Inuit Dogs with excellent pedigrees, and which have proven themselves to be excellent sled dogs, should be bred.  The urge to breed a particular dog just because it comes from a line of working dogs at some time in it's pedigree should be avoided at all costs.  No dog should be used in a breeding programme unless it has proven itself to be an exceptional working dog.

Thoughts for New Breeders

Breeding for profit, in order to give your children an opportunity to see the birth of puppies, or a simple wish to have puppies from your pet or show quality dog are erroneous reasons to breed.  These dogs run the risk of passing on less than desirable qualities, and perhaps joining other rescued dogs whose numbers are growing.  Therefore, it is important to realize that responsible breeding is to breed high quality Canadian Inuit Dogs for health, working temperament and working skills. 

Prior to the involvement of kennel clubs, the Canadian Inuit Sled Dog had no genetic defects.  Breeding was controlled only by Inuit ideals and natural selection.  For example if the dog did not have a proper coat, then it died in the harsh arctic climate, and was subsequently not able to pass on it's genes.  The dogs were never bred for looks.  They were bred for survival, to do the work required to help their human counterparts to survive.  After the involvement of kennel clubs, the Inuit Dog's genetic heritage was severly compromised.  This occured when the CKC took a very small genetic cross section of the Inuit Dog and selectively bred for show, pet, and pet temperment, which eventually brought about a domestic version of the Inuit Dog. 

Inuit Dogs bred for appearance often lack the physical and mental attributes necessary to make a good sled dog.  Hence, many Working Candian Inuit Sled Dog owners strongly oppose the idea of CKC registration.  Purebred show dog registries have such a narrow field of genetics to draw from that working dog enthusiasts tend to avoid  adding those specimins to their breeding programme.  Breeding decisions solely on kennel club titles such as Champion or Sled Dog Excellent, can often have detrimental effects to an established pedigree.  The responsible breeder will always try to improve their genetics, protecting the Canadian Inuit Dog from turning into a mere show dog.

Dog owners who don't know what faults they should look for or what advantages are desirable to enhance in the litter, must not consider breeding at all.  It is important to remember that the breeder who creates life is responsible for it.  Responsible breeders of Canadian Inuit Dogs work hard to maintain the breed's working characteristics. 

Purchasing a Canadian Eskimo Dog/Inuit Sled Dog - Show Dog vs Work Dog

There is a huge difference between show quality and working quality dogs.  If all you want is a pet, then getting a show quality dog may be acceptable, but if you actually want to use the dog for what it was designed for, find a working quality dog, from a breeder who depends highly on their dogs in daily life. 

Obviously then, extreme care must be taken when choosing a kennel from which to purchase your Canadian Inuit Dog.  There are many breeders that are only interested in selling a dog, any dog, no matter the quality.  They are only interested in making money.  Although we all have to earn a living, there is no reason to sacrifice quality.  Be wary of breeders who quote their membership in any particular organization, as enough proof of their credibility.  There have been many broken hearts from buyers that have been promised registration papers, show quality dogs, and even working quality dogs from breeders, who belong to show dog clubs and organizations.  Then, to pursue a legal battle over the broken promises and misunderstandings, will cost thousands of dollars and lost income from many days of missed work.  It is just not worth it!

Many of these show dog kennels have all the colourfull and flashy new equipment that is alluring to potential buyers.  They have bright and shiny web sites that say all the right things to make the sale, just like a used car salesman.  This does not mean that all breeders are bad, only that the buyer should be cautious and investigate first.  Find references, or better yet travel to the kennel and witness the dog working first hand.  The most common complaint, from people who tried to purchase a working dog from a show dog kennel, is that the dog does not live up to it's reputation.

Abuse

Some methods of animal treatment, that are commonly accepted as "humane" treatment for other dog breeds, including other breeds of sled dogs, are/can be abusive when applied to the Canadian Inuit Dog.  We have chosen to only list a few of these abuses.

Feeding grain based diets (commonly found in commercial dog foods).

Forcing the dog to live indoors.

Bringing an ill or injured dog into a heated enclosure, during the winter, can have severe health consequences.  Subjecting the already ill dog to a sudden rise in temperature of only 20 degrees can be fatal.

A wet, muddy, or urine and feces filled dog yard.

Forcing the dog to wear booties, at unnecessary times.

Forcing the dog to live a sendentary lifestyle.

Using any kind of violence to "train" the dog is abuse.

An Amazing Heritage

The Working Canadian Inuit Sled Dog is a very unique breed.  It has been kept sound, functional, and relatively unchanged because of responsible people who have cared about its heritage.  The major goal and purpose of DogPaddle Adventures is to maintain the Canadian Inuit Dog as the wonderful working dog that it has been for more than 1000 years.  The real future of the Inuit Sled Dog, however, depends on all owners and breeders, who will hopefully share a strong dedication to preserving the Canadian Inuit Sled Dog as the sound working breed it has been for many generations, and hopefully will be for many more generations yet to come!

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