Canadian Eskimo Dog or Canadian Eskimo Dog

Unlike the case of the American Eskimo Dog , whose development had nothing to do with the indigenous peoples popularly known as ‘Eskimos’, the creation and evolution of the Canadian Eskimo Dog are intrinsically linked to the history of the Inuit. who lived (and some still live) in the arctic regions of Canada, and mainly with the Thule culture.

Let us remember that the term ‘Eskimos’ is, little by little, falling into disuse due to its racist nature, and today the word ‘Inuit’ is often used to designate the different human groups that would have emerged in Siberia and then spread in almost the entire habitable Arctic. For this reason, many argue that the most ‘accurate’ name for the breed, today, would be the Canadian Inuit dog. However, in the canine federations that recognize it, including the FCI, only the name “ Canadian Eskimo Dog ” remains in force.

The evidence and known representations allow us to assume that this breed of Canadian dog has no less than 2,000 years of history, being, many times, considered the oldest in North America . However, its origins could be placed much further back in time, to the point of referring us to the prehistoric Inuit culture. And, logically, it is difficult to determine precisely when the ‘generic’ huskies, that is, the dogs that accompanied the nomadic peoples of the Arctic on their travels, were crossing – accidentally and/or on purpose – until they generated the first ‘ specimens’ of what would later be known as Canadian Eskimo dogs.

What we do know is that, despite being classified as a spitz-type dog, the development of the Canadian Eskimo Dog has always evolved alongside Inuit cultures. For a long time, it has been the official and preferred working dog breed of these people, serving mainly as snow and sled dogs. However, the penetration of foreign breeds, such as the Siberian Husky , and the subsequent development of local breeds from them, mainly the Alaskan Husky, which were more agile in pulling sleds and more versatile in training, made the Popularity of the Canadian Eskimo Dog was falling year after year.

So much so that, in the 1960s, there was only one Canadian Eskimo dog left in the Canadian Kennel Club stud book and the breed was declared extinct . Fortunately, the Government of Canada joined the Canadian Kennel Club with the aim of recovering this breed that is an Inuit cultural heritage. Experts were sent to the Arctic in search of “pure” Canadian Eskimo dogs and they were so successful that they not only found more specimens than they imagined, but also began an ambitious breeding program that ended up establishing populations in different regions.

Likewise, to this day, the breed continues to fight for survival, with just over 300 registered individuals, but it is considered the rarest preserved pedigree of indigenous domestic canids .

Its appearance is that of a primitive dog, with a rustic and powerful body build , which at first glance seems adapted to tasks that involve more physical strength than speed. The height at the withers for males ranges between 58 cm and 70 cm, with an average body weight of 30 to 40 kilos, while females can be 50 cm to 60 cm tall, weighing between 18 and 30 kilos. Sexual dimorphism is well pronounced.

In both sexes, we observe typical features of the Pomeranian dog breeds , such as the triangular ears well erect and the tail well covered with hair and feathers that falls over the back, but generally without curling. Also very common is the presence of white (or eventually beige) shading around the eyes and/or muzzle, which is very similar to a mask, and is more common in dogs with solid-color coats.

The head of the Canadian Eskimo Dog is solid, but proportional in size to the rest of the body, shaped like a wedge. The stop (naso-frontal depression) is well defined, but not abrupt , and the nose can have a pigment from black to light brown, generally compatible with the predominant tone in the dog’s coat. The so-called “butterfly nose” can appear , although rarely, in individuals with a light brown nose.

The eyes of the Canadian Eskimo Dog are small and set obliquely and well separated from each other. Darker shades of brown predominate, but it is possible to see hazel and yellow eyes. The look gives the Canadian Eskimo dog a certain ferocity that makes it one of the dog breeds most similar to wolves , but it is not even remotely compatible with its quite friendly temperament.

Canadian Eskimo Dog Colors

The coat of the Canadian Esmiko Dog is made up of a double layer of hair, the outer layer being softer and smoother (without a curly or wavy appearance) , with an average length of 7 cm to 15 cm, while the inner undercoat is much thicker. and dense , ensuring excellent protection against cold and climatic adversities. In addition, males display a “mane” over their shoulders and neck, which contributes to making them appear much more robust than females.

It is worth mentioning that Canadian Eskimo dogs go through an important shedding period, which generally occurs between August and September, and during which it may be necessary to brush their coat daily to avoid the accumulation of dead hairs and impurities. Don’t miss our tips for brushing your dog’s hair using the most appropriate tools for his coat type!

Regarding the colors of the Canadian Eskimo Dog, the FCI standard determines that there are no predominant patterns or colors in the breed, but that the following combinations are equally desirable and acceptable:

• Completely white body with pigmentation around the eyes, nose and lips (remembering that the reproduction of albino specimens is not encouraged ).
• Body white with sparse regions of red, tan, gray or black around the ears or eyes.
• A white body combined with the presence of red, fawn, tan, gray or black in the markings located on the head, around the ears and eyes or the entire head and, eventually, a small patch around the hip or flank .
• Red and white; beige and white; tan and white or black and white with a 50/50 distribution on various parts of the body.
• Red, “buff beige” or tan body with white on the chest, and/or legs and lower body.
• Body sable, black or dark gray with white on the chest, and/or legs and lower part of the body, which can extend around the neck in the form of a collar.
• Silvery gray or grayish white body.
• Beige to brown undercoat with black guard hairs.

It is a confident and alert dog whose temperament, according to the FCI, “should reflect the tough and working breed that it is”, and should not be compared to the more modern breeds that were already created to be companion dogs, and not working dogs. in conditions as extreme as those of the Canadian Arctic. But those who think that the temperament of the Canadian Eskimo Dog has something wild are wrong… On the contrary, they are very loyal dogs to their guardians, who behave extremely gently when they are in their family nucleus and enjoy being the center of attention. , although they will need some moments of solitude, during which it is necessary to respect their space.

Even in the presence of strangers, Canadian Eskimo Dogs tend to be quite curious and willing to interact. Therefore, excessively fearful, shy or insecure behavior is not expected in this breed and usually indicates problems in the dog’s socialization and/or exposure to counterproductive educational methods (such as physical punishment, for example) or other forms of physical violence. or psychological.

However, like most primitive dogs that have remained almost isolated in their homeland and in the functions for which they were trained, the Canadian Eskimo Dog tends to react quickly and almost exaggeratedly. The Canadian Eskimo Dog tends to be quite reactive to practically any stimulus (food, work, defense, play, etc.) . This reinforces the importance of starting to socialize them from an early age and taking special care when living with children.

Adopting a Canadian Eskimo Dog will give you a lot of joy, but it also means assuming the responsibility of providing it with a decent quality of life, paying attention to the following basic guidelines:

• Food : regardless of the type of food you decide to offer your furry friend, it is essential that it completely meets the nutritional requirements of his age . Furthermore, having free and assured access to fresh, drinkable water is key to ensuring good hydration, which is crucial for the optimal functioning of your entire body.
• Exercise : Although they are not hyperactive, Canadian Huskies have quite a bit of energy and are used to ‘work’, so they enjoy learning new tasks and doing sports or outdoor activities. Therefore, we recommend that, beyond doing ‘basic’ walks with your best friend every day, you evaluate the benefits of starting him in a canine sport, such as Agility, Frisbee or mushing, taking advantage of his extensive history as a dog. sled. A dog that has a sedentary routine in an impoverished environment is more predisposed to suffering from stress symptoms and behavioral problems associated with destructiveness and aggressiveness. Try to introduce intelligence games to your dog regularly and enrich his environment so that he can entertain and exercise himself even when he is left alone at home.
• Hygiene : The accumulation of food residue between the teeth and gums is the starting point for most common dental problems in dogs, which begin with the formation of tartar and can lead to painful diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. To prevent them, it is essential to regularly brush your best friend’s teeth and we strongly recommend evaluating the benefits of a BARF diet , since Canadian huskies usually adapt very well to this type of diet. Lastly, they generally need daily brushing .

Give him the essential vaccines with the correct frequency, do periodic deworming to prevent infestations of internal and external parasites, and take him to the vet once or twice a year to check his health. You should also keep in mind the basic freedoms of animal welfare and the right to free expression. It is essential that you allow your dog to be and behave like what he is, a dog, without imposing humanization practices or systematically reprimanding him for carrying out instinctive behaviors or needs inherent to canine nature. As a guardian, it is your responsibility to teach your furry friend what it means to “behave well” before reprimanding him for “misbehaving,” and to select the safest methods for this purpose.

Training dogs is a gradual process that should begin upon arrival at home, and ideally from their first months of life (although the same “rule” applies if you adopt an adult dog), and continue advancing throughout your life, always respecting the limitations and typical needs of each stage. If you need help taking the first steps in educating your new best friend, here at AnimalWised we teach you ” How to start educating a puppy? “.

Before your puppy reaches its third or fourth month of life , it will be the most opportune time to begin socializing it , since in this critical period of dog socialization the recognition of friendly species occurs, and it is essential to allow it to assimilate. a greater number of resources to manage their own emotions and deal in a more balanced way with a variety of stimuli, environments and individuals. For safety reasons, it is best that you do not take your little companion outside before giving him all the vaccines provided in the puppy schedule. But, you can start socializing them by introducing them to other dogs and animals that you know are healthy, vaccinated and dewormed, as well as people outside their family, either in your home or in another safe environment.

Once your puppy is properly vaccinated and dewormed, you can start walking him through the streets, squares, parks and other outdoor places to give him the opportunity to continue interacting with other environments, stimuli and individuals. In addition, this will be the perfect occasion to teach your puppy to do his bowel movements in the street and begin to present him with some basic obedience commands to stimulate his intelligence and encourage more stable behavior inside and outside the home.

At this point, if you would like to train your dog at home (and we strongly recommend that you do so), remember to follow a progressive logic when teaching him, always starting with simpler commands and always working on them one by one until your furry friend is capable of reproducing them in a fluid way. Also make sure to carry out short training sessions ( 10 to 15 minutes is more than enough) in an environment free of intense or excessive stimuli, since these will easily destroy your furry friend, and don’t forget to put these 5 training tricks into practice. that every tutor needs to know .

Last but not least, if you have decided to adopt an adult Canadian Eskimo dog, at AnimalWised we offer you a series of practical tips for training an adopted dog and we also tell you how to correctly socialize dogs in adulthood .

When they are provided with all the essential care for their physical and cognitive well-being, they enjoy very good health and notable resistance, with no records of a significant genetic predisposition to most of the hereditary diseases that affect a large part of canine breeds. Their average life expectancy is calculated between 12 and 15 years , and can reach 16 or even 17 years of age in optimal conditions.

Likewise, Canadian Eskimo Dogs , when they reach old age, can be affected by degenerative pathologies common in elderly dogs, such as hip dysplasia , elbow dysplasia , osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis . At this later stage in its life, the Canadian Eskimo Dog also becomes more susceptible to neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s in dogs .

Furthermore, the beautiful coat of this breed of dog is fully adapted to very cold areas with extremely harsh winters, which is why they are quite intolerant of heat and their ownership in warm regions is not recommended.

At ExpertoAnimal, we do not support the breeding of animals for commercial purposes , nor any type of physical, emotional or sexual exploration for human entertainment purposes. For this reason, if you are interested in adopting a Canadian Eskimo dog or a mixed breed with similar characteristics, we recommend that you contact animal shelters or shelters close to your home to schedule a visit and learn about the dogs available for adoption. We are sure that there you will find the great best friend you are looking for, that he will also be the most grateful dog you have ever met. And if you still have doubts about the basic adoption process.