Working Dog Group - Eskimo Dog

An Eskimo dog is of two types, the Canadian Eskimo dog and American Eskimo dog, both of them, distinctly different from each other. The Canadian Eskimo dog resembles the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, Samoyed. This dog is said to be one of the rarest and the oldest surviving purebred native pet dog. This dog was one of the most popular transportation modes for the Inuits; but with the advent of snowmobiles as a mode of transport, these dogs soon started to become rare and they were hunted on a large scale by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 20 years that led to their virtual extinction.

The Eskimo dog is muscularly built and is strong, as it was also used to pull heavy sleds. It has a double, dense coat that helps it to keep warm in the harshest climatic conditions. They also have distinct mane that makes them look bigger and intimidating. Their looks are similar to that of a wolf and hence they are often confused with them. Their coats come in various colors with pure white, black and liver colors being common. Their coat can also have combination of these colors. The males and females can be easily separated from each other, with the males being stronger and muscular looking than the females.

These dogs are known to be loyal, strong and brave. They love their family and are very protective towards it. Though they have a marked resemblance to wolf, their qualities are exactly the opposite. They are independent in nature and highly loyal to their master. They are 'one-man' dogs and develop a deep bonding only with their master. The other family members are respected, but they are completely obedient towards only one person. These dogs have survival instinct and hence tend to dominate other animals. They have to be disciplined and socialized in their puppyhood to make them tolerant towards dogs of other breeds and animals. They bark a lot, like any other dog in the Spitz category, alerting their master the presence of an unknown person in its territory. They should be trained to control their barking.

These dogs are very easy to train, unlike other Spitz dogs, which makes them easy to handle. They need a substantial amount of exercise to keep them healthy, and engaged. They love cold weather and can be extremely happy in such weather, prancing around. They are fast learners. They had been taught to be team players since the ancient times as the Inuits kept them in packs under the supervision of one senior dog.

Contrary to the act that the Inuits committed – of beating the pups to educate them, you only need to be kind and consistent in your discipline with them to train them properly to become good pups. These dogs are also prone to heat stroke, hence they need to be kept in cool weather conditions throughout the time. They shed their coats once a year, hence they need to be groomed and properly brushed during these times. In other cases, brushing them twice a week can suffice, as giving them a bath is a strenuous chore.

The Canadian Eskimo dog is a great companion and a faithful watchdog.