Greenland dog

Today, the breed is considered nationally and culturally important to Greenland and efforts are made to safeguard its purity. In western Greenland north of the Arctic Circle and the entirety of eastern Greenland, it is illegal to import any dog from outside (except for police and assistance dogs with a special permit), and since 2017 all dogs have to be microchipped and registered in the Greenland dog database. In the southwest, such restrictions are not in place and the purity of dogs is not monitored. As the population has been falling (c. 15,000 in Greenland as of 2016), a number of projects have been initiated in an attempt of ensuring that Greenland's dog sledding culture, knowledge and use, along with the breed itself, are not lost.

What is an Greenland dog? 

Text: Katinka Mossin.

Part 1. 

I want to tell little about where these wonderful dogs caming from and a bit about the differences within the breed: In Greenland there are three relatively distinct groups of sled dogs, East Coast, West Coast and Thule district (Northwest Greenland) . In addition, we have a small group of dogs belonging to the Danish defense in Northeast Greenland ( Sirius Patrol ) which have been bred for generations for them .I assumes that all agree that this is Greenland dogs? These dogs are called Greenlandic Sled dog or Qimmiq in Greenland. The East Greenland dog lives in an area with less cold that on the west coast because of the Gulf Stream. They are located roughly at the Arctic Circle in an area with high peaks ala a small Alpine scenery. Due to the warmer climate here so it is also more precipitation and less sea ice . That give deeper, looser snow. In addition, there has from immemorial times been very large seasonal variations in food supply. In the spring came the sea ice from the Arctic Ocean floating down at the coastline. And together with the ice came the seals - a lot of food and it was eating party. About the same time also the capelin came in to the coast to add eggs. But in the period before the ice came with "the buffet" was it a few months with starving. During this period it was not uncommon that this human group survived on dog meat. …In additional rigorous winters could at worst have left only a living dog, a pregnant bitch ... These three factors; much snow, steep terrain and hunger I mean is why here we find, on average, a smaller, lighter and more compact built dog than in the other districts . A small dog needs less food during the hunger period, a light dog coming forward in powder snow much better than a heavy dog. A compact ( " large mass " - not weight ) dog because of two things: The surface should be small in cold climates. Especially in combination with hunger and cold. I believe that it has been very important to them. And because strength. When the dog is small and light build, there is not much strength left. I tried to pick large, powerful dogs to our expedition across the ice cap in 1990. Also considering that these dogs should proceed to the South Pole after us. The weight of these was an average of 23 kg ( weighed on aircraft weight ). A few of them below the minimum target (less than 60 cm) but there were actually two of the most powerful dogs. The lightest male weighing 21 kg and was 61 cm high. The west greenland dog living in a geographically more dispersed area and owned by many more people. Approximately 80 percent (? ) of the population living in areas from south to north on the west coast. A large part of them in sled dog districts that stretching from the Arctic Circle and north. The terrain is on average somewhat flatter here than on the east coast, some more sea ice to mush on, at least in the north, but of course with some variation from place to place. Therefore, we also find larger spread of the dogs' appearance from city to city. I sit with a photo of the "medium dog " in my head after seeing numerous thousand dogs from Disco Bay and down to the Arctic Circle. This dog is somewhat larger and more lofty than the dogs in East Greenland. I took with me 4 dogs home after the expedition I was there in 2002. They were 3 medium size and one small in our teams, who probably was like that average for what we saw around us. The weights here were from 24 to 28 kg. Here also one male below the minimum target of 60 cm. I also got me another bunch of Greenland dogs the following year. This was some dogs I learn to know when I was there. They stood out as larger than average in Illullisat where they came from. Here I had the biggest male up to 36 kg/67 cm ( Ulf ) Thule district - Qaanaq . They have been quite separated from the west coast because of a glacier which made it hard to run with the dogs down to the west coast. But on the other hand, they had frequent contact over the sound of those who lived there in Canada. Here we are very far north with colder climates. Sea ice has at least until recently been an important part of the "terrain" that dogs have been used to. Colder climate means less snow. One of the prey that have been important for the hunters was the walrus, another polar bear. Large, heavy prey. The walrus was captured along the ice edge, often ca 40 km or more from the settlements. Here they had a need for a lot of forces and not had problems with a lot of powder snow. The dogs here have probably mostly been stronger and bigger than dogs further south and especially larger than dogs on the East Coast. I Have never been there myself. But we had a large group of dogs in Norsk Trekkhundklubb when I started (The Sled Dog Club where I started to use the breed in 72). They had then recently arrived there after an expedition that crossed over the North Pole and the Arctic Ocean. Little by different informations from different people, they should have been purchased in Thule ( Qaanaq ?) or in Canada. The expedition acquired at least dogs in both this places. These dogs were on average somewhat more compact, more of them with something smaller and better furry ears than what I associate with the average dog otherwise in West Greenland. Plop was one of these dogs. He was the first greenland dog I had with me regularly out in the woods. His owners information was that he weighed about 32-33 kg. Should I quess so had he an height on 64-65 (slightly lower than my Uncas who was 67 ) . And Plop was about medium size of this group of dogs. There were some extremely large dogs in this group too and Plop fathered several dogs in the 45- kilogram class . They had a contagious disease on the dogs in Qaanaq district in the late 80s. Approximately 90% ( ?) Of the dogs died. They were in desperate need of new dogs and a larger number of dogs from "southern" districts were flown up. But the people were not happy and I have heard rumors that most of these dogs were "phased out" and that they bred strong and mainly on those dogs who had been fortunate enough to have been out hunting when the disease arriwed. But anyway so probably was the dogs up there interspersed with other Greenland dogs then. So today's dogs there is enough of a mix of the original and west coast dogs (and possibly east coast too of what I know ..) Sirius Patrol has probably created their own dog. The military will have large, strong dogs and have worked for this over time. Mean hearing that they brought their dogs originally from the Thule district because of this. In Canada, they also have Inuit dogs. Across the Strait of Qaanaq / Thule it must have been more or less identical dogs since this group of people came across the strait regulary until the war in 1940 where it was put a stop to the movements over the sound. In each case, identical to the large mass death in the 80s. Now I don't know very much about the Canadian dogs and differences between them but I think I have seen that some of those who registration CED / CID ( Canadian Inuit dog / Canadian Eskimo Dog ) believe that it is only the eastward CED is the correct dog because the west (near Greenland) are "mixed up" with the dogs in Greenland. Since I started at a time when dogs from all these places were registered as Greenland dogs here at home, they are all still Greenland dogs for me ... In England, the breed was called at that time Eskimo dog and not Greenland dog. And it had perhaps been a more appropriate name. Or Inuit Dog, since Inuit is the name that the ethnic group use about themselves . Beyond these local differences due to terrain and weather conditions, so you also will find large differences within the same towns / villages. I did at least know that I had gathered me a great "old man" -dog team when we crossed the Icecap of Greenland. This is because the old man liked to sit on the sled. And it did not matter if it went so fast. While the young man however desired speed and could well run uphill instead :-D. You will also find differences because of the different owners which also have their own conceptions ideas about what is the most perfect dog. Yes, this is a bit of what the basis of the registered Greenland dog are made of. For our European, registered Greenland dogs is a mix of dogs from all of these areas I have written about over. When I bought the dogs to our expedition across the ice cap in 1990, I showed proudly a picture of my Greenlandic sled dogs at home for an elderly hunter who were very interested and asked interested about where I had taken them from. I told at first that they were born in Norway and so that they were bred there for many generations. He was still very interested and studied the type and tried to guess where they came from. But when I told that they had ancestor both from the west coast, east coast, Thule and Canada, he handed the picture back straight . " Oh, yes .. …Mix Dogs , yes ... " was the comment ;-) Ps . Same hunter could tell me much about the dogs back in his dogs. And he pointed out even the great grandmother of one of the dogs I had bought from him and he was very interested in what was a good, genuine Ammassalik - dog.

Part 2: 

This standard / description of the breed was written by a Danish veterinarian, S. Hjortlund, who lived in northern Greenland at the very end of the 1800s. As far I have managed to find out was "North Greenland" at that time designated on the upper part of Sled Dog districts on the west coast. Personally, I believe this is a good and thorough description of the dog I have seen there about 100 years later (3 visits in 1978, 1990 and 2002). Some small corrections would probably come by, but primarily the eye color. ;-) In addition, I believe that he has measured his own dogs they have probably been easier to handle for him. He says that dogs are larger when they are fed well and he has measured some young dogs. I bet these are the ones who proved they were bigger with much food ... Standard for the Greenland Dog 1 THE GREENLAND DOG is an Arctic sled dog that belongs to the Palaearctic Dogs Canis Familiaris lnostranzewi, Anutschin - Group (Studer). It is medium sized, dense and compact, with rather short but powerful limbs, a wolf-like head with tapered muzzle and upright ears, a long, dense, sleek and glossy hairy coat and, in particular along the underside long and densely hairy tail, which it bears bent up in a curl over the back. It must be proportioned in every detail and make a beautiful and harmonious overall impression. The barks not, but crying (howlings). It is hardiness, frugal and stamina, ferocious and strife. It will make an impression of alertness and vigilance, courage, energy and power, but must not looks heavy. 2 SIZE AND PROPORTIONS. The Greenland Dog is one of the largest Arctic Sled dogs but differ in this respect within fairly wide limits. In still good and plentiful nutrition during growing up is the easy bigger and stronger than -average of the stock, which has often been missing in this respect. Its height of the shoulder is commonly about 55 to 65 cm. Breast volume behind the elbows should be considerably larger than the height and length from snout for seat leg knot considerably larger than the girth of the chest. The front legs length from elbow to toe must be something more than half of the shoulder height. Best illustrated proportions with a few examples: Height (tape measure) / Breast Size / Length / The front legs length Male, 1 year, skinny but well-proportioned: 66 cm / 75 cm / 85 cm / 37 cm . Female dog, 1 year, something small, very well proportioned: 62 cm / 75 cm / 80 cm / 32 cm . Male, 1 1/2 years . Very large, somewhat flat-chested and short in the back : 77 cm / 79 cm / 90 cm / 40 cm . As distinct WORKING DOG should know breeding not be main objective to achieve the greatest possible size of the animals. The largest animals could well be the strongest and fastest, but they make even bigger requirements for nutrition conditions and may be more prone than desirable in many kinds sled trails (deep, loose snow, snow with ice on top, thin ice on the see), so they may be less enduring and efficient in use. A good, well-proportioned body, a spacious chest, a powerful and muscular body, lumbar and cross party and the powerful, muscular and well-off bones should be in connection with a beautiful hairy coat, good sense organs and a lively, energetic temperament be the qualities you in first instans aim at breeding and raising and puts emphasis on the assessment. 3 HEAD is the average size. It should be wide over the back of the head and a domed forehead with strongly defined stop and a clear frontal furrow. The skin on his head must be short hair and be connected with the substrate, so that it does not form wrinkles or loose skin folds. 4 EARS is rather short, triangular with slightly rounded ends. They must be completely upright, only on puppies and very young animals, they can still be somewhat soft and hanging at the head. They must be short-hairy outside, but long and dense hair in the internal. They must be employed far apart and be very moving. The animal must have a lively ear motion. 5 EYES is quite small, somewhat oblique ( Mongoloid ) and usually dark blue, but also occurs brown or lighter colors. They may not be bulging. Eyelid gap is quite narrow, oval, somewhat almond shaped, and eyelids should be quite thin and fit tightly to eyeball without forming folds. Eyelid skin should be black or respond to the hair color and haw may not be strongly prominent. 6 SNOUT or THE FACE be measured from the height of the inner eye hooks to the tip of the nose, be about the same length as the skull lens rear portion, measured from neck top of the inner eye corners. It must be pointed at the front, but otherwise wide, deep and sharply. The Nose back should be straight, and the nose ( snout ) to be small and of black complexion. The nostrils should be large and well developed. 7 LIPS is quite thin, tight and sealed to the tooth row. They should not be loose hanging or form loose folds in the corners of the mouth. They must cover the teeth completely when the mouth is closed. 8 The lower jaw strong and broad between the mandible branches back. The teeth are strong and well developed, there is clear free space ( diastemata ) between the front fangs ( saw-teeth ) and corner second is big and strong . The skin under the lower jaw to end relatively close to the substrate and do not form loose, hanging skin folds. 9 NECK is rather short, thick and strong, but well raised and has a wide powerful, strong, curved neck party, so head is high and free. There must be no loose, hanging skin folds under the neck. 10th CHEST must be broad and strong. 11 SHOULDER must be diagonally, muscular and strong and finish well for chest wall . 12 BACK should be broad, muscular, strong and not too long: it must loin and croup form an approximately straight line, often gently sloping rear. 13 CHEST BOX must be deep and wide with good oval rib behind the shoulders. The animal must not be too flat-chested . 14 Loin should be short, but wide, strong and very muscular. It should be straight and form a straight line with his back which can not be upward or downward curvature. 15 HINDQUARTERS must be well-formed, which can not be upward bending or plump, limp or hanging (in the latter respect, however, be due allowance for female dogs who have had numbers of litters with puppies). 16 THE CROSS should be long, wide, straight and muscular. 17 THE TAIL is long and long, dense hair, bushy. It must be high. Hanging if must reach below hocks, but habitually carried it upright, bent upward and forward over the croup in a curl or ring, which as a rule is rotated something to one of the sides. Only dogs who for some reason do not have it well, carries tail hanging . 18 FRONT LIMBS are rather short, but strong and straight. The elbows should end well until ribcage and forearm muscles be strongly developed. Pelt along the forearm Back is slightly longer than the sides and front, but does not produce any real Hear fringe. The hock is strong and stands almost vertically, it is short and hairy. 19 HIND LIMBS should be strong and muscular rich. They should be slightly bent at hocks, so Metatarsals only slightly oblique . Hocks is a rule so far - favored that rear foot facing something inward. Cow hocks position may not occur. First toe ( hallux ) or "wolf claw" ( Unguis hallucis ) on Baglemmet should not exist. 20 THE FEET should be quite narrow, and oval of elements. Toes are strong, not strongly curved and close up at each other. Nails are coarse and strong. The skin between the toes are densely hairy. The pads are not very rich, but firm and hard. The front paws to show just the front. Hind straight forward or slightly inward. Out at paws should not occur. 21 COAT is semi-long, dense, smooth and soft. Only his head, ears and feet below the knee in front and the hocks formed it rather short, close to the body guard hairs. On the other part of the body's guard hairs several centimeters long and not close to the body, but is rather protruding. Particular progress has hair on the neck, in particular its underside, on the shoulder, back, thighs along the rear and the tail and top coat can be in those places arrive at a length of about ten centimeters. Also along the forearm's and the lower tights back hairs are somewhat longer . Early in the autumn begins between top coat to speed grow very closely spaced, long, soft, light wool hair, which gradually forms an exceedingly close coat that is almost impervious to the ram, and putting animals in stand for day and night under the open sky to resist polar climate extreme cold degrees. At the height of its development is winter coat exceedingly beautiful, dense, soft, sparkling and shiny and skin therefore excellent for furs. In the spring in April and May start felling that in well-maintained animals are carried out fairly quickly, so all the under coat released approximately at once and fall in large flakes. At emaciated animals and at female dogs that have puppies are carried out felling however irregularly and are often over long time. From time to time, but quite rare and full insulation usually resolved, taken from the Greenland Dogs single individuals who excel at to be much more long-haired than usual. They are called by the Greenlanders: MERKUJOK (of merkotuvok; has big hair). Their hair may be completely smooth, but is usually slightly wavy or curly half and fall into tresses. Also on his head, ears and feet is a Merkujôk long hairy. These dogs is already mentioned by the ancient authors, and their presence is due so no crossing with strangers breeds since the country's colonization. 22 THE COLORS is very different. Least often occurs dogs that are entirely black (kernertut) or pure white (kakortut). "Far more common is the so-called "Singarnat". A SINGARNAT is a dog that with a lighter - yellowish or grayish - base color, primarily due the top coat, unites an over coat of darker guard hairs - black, gray, brown or red - which, because of their greater length and density on the back causes that appear darker with smooth color transition for the bright belly side. - This sounded as evident from dog wild ancestors, may be said to be the most typical hue of the Greenland sled dogs. It is among these singarnat that one finds the most beautiful and most splendid skins furs, carpets and the like. Uniform red or brown dogs also occurs and is called by the Greenlanders; KAJOK . Finally, variegated dogs (milagtut) in the various tones and drawings very common. As characteristic can be highlighted the relatively frequent occurrence of white dog with black, red or variegated heads and also that dogs that have colored or variegated heads, sometimes equipped with a brighter, roundish spot over each eye. Breeding efforts should go towards quite plain dogs and Singarnat, these sounded both gives the most beautiful animals that the most valuable skins furs.

A Makriok - or an Merkujok after the old standard

Text: Katinka Mossin.

When I asked abouth this dogs by people in Illulisat in 1978, they give me the answere that they was very good on longer trips. When they stay out for more than 2 days. If they was on short trips they only run with. Then, back in 1978, I think around two dogs in every team was long haired.

When I was back in the same city in 2002 it was not a lot of this dogs anymore. you see some but not every team had one. In the same periode the ice in Disco Bay has been more or less away. So I think they don't need them so much in this city anymore because their trips are shorter