Greenland Dog | Dog Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

The Greenland Dog is a strong and robust dog well adapted to harsh climatic conditions. The breed is not suitable for keeping in an apartment. These dogs constantly need to take care of something, they are used to living in packs. Although the person is sympathetic, affectionate. Before starting a representative of this breed, you need to study its description, reviews of owners, disadvantages of behavior.

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The Greenland dog is also called the Greenland husky, although the breed belongs to the Spitz group. In short, it is called the Greenland dog. It is the only breed bred in Greenland. It is recognized by the FCI, but is one of the smallest, even at home no more than 25,000 individuals are registered. Rare representatives of the breed are found in the northern regions of Europe, Siberia and Canada.

Males measure up to 58–68 cm, females up to 51–61 cm, and the average dog weight is 30 kg

• Head: Brutal and strict look. The shape of the skull is quite wide, slightly rounded. The transition from the forehead to the back of the nose is clearly defined. The muzzle is wedge-shaped, but not tapered. The nose may change in pigmentation due to the change of seasons.
• Jaws: Powerful, well developed, with a scissor bite. The teeth are white and strong.
• Ears: Small, rounded triangle shape, set far apart. Always on his guard.
• Eyes: Slightly oblique, medium size. The color matches the color of the coat. The gaze is piercing and attentive.
• Torso: The height of the body is slightly less than its length. The back is strong, straight, the bottom line is raised. The chest is powerful, quite wide.
• Legs: Massive skeleton, the muscles are well developed. The move is confident, free.
• Yarn: Thick and coarse, without a hint of curl. The undercoat is dense and soft. Any color other than pure white is acceptable.

The character of the Greenland dog is particular. He is balanced, calm, friendly. Does not show aggression even towards strangers. These dogs are very independent, self-reliant and self-confident. They like to work and are ready to help people. But they perceive him as a partner, they do not become attached, they easily endure loneliness and change of ownership. Children are treated calmly, games are not supported.

Greenland dogs do best in a pack of dogs. But they are happy to keep an active owner company while jogging, traveling. They are sociable, they express their emotions by barking, howling, moaning. A strongly pronounced hunting instinct does not allow keeping them in the city – the dog will certainly hunt cats, birds and even small dogs.

The breed is autochthonous, which appeared in difficult conditions. These dogs are accustomed to independence and hard work. This hardened their character and contributed to the development of such features:

• Propensity to dominate;
• Independence ;
• love of freedom;
• Ability to make independent decisions;
• Developed hunting instinct;

These dogs are quite independent and stubborn. Like wolves, they only obey the leader – the leader of the pack or the person recognized as the leader. Therefore, education should start at an early age. The main thing is to gain credibility with the puppy. Classes with him must be regular, consistent. You cannot be rude and use corporal punishment. For representatives of this breed, a clear diet is important, they are used to following the rules.

With the right education, the Greenland dog does not cause problems. In the race and doing his job, he is obedient, focused. But under normal circumstances, it may not execute commands.

Representatives of this breed rarely get sick, they have strong immunity. But sometimes they have such diseases:

• Volvulus;
• Joint dysplasia;
• Hypothyroidism ;
• Retinal atrophy;
• Allergy.

The Greenland Dog is adapted to life outdoors. It can be kept in an aviary on the site of a private house. It tolerates cold well and can sleep in the snow. It is advisable to have several dogs, they are used to living in packs. You have to control their movement, as they tend to run away. It is better not to keep a Greenland dog in a city apartment. In a confined space, even with regular walking, it will develop destructive behavior.

Serious care that these unpretentious pets do not need. It is not recommended to bathe them, because you can wash off the layer of fat that protects the dog from the cold. Therefore, this can only be done in case of severe pollution. Thick hair should be brushed 2-3 times a month. During the moulting period, you will need to do this more often. You will need a comb, shoe polish, brush.

The rest of the hygiene procedures are simple. Eyes and ears should be kept clean and chewy treats should be given to prevent tartar. These dogs do not need to cut their nails, with sufficient physical activity, they manage on their own.

Previously, Greenland sled dogs could go for a long time without food. Therefore, they are picky in the choice of food. But like other Nordic breeds, they need a high protein diet. At least 2/3 should be meat, the rest – cereals and dairy products.

• Greenland dogs cover a distance of 160 km in less than 18 hours. A team of 4 dogs can pull cargo up to 180 km or more.
• In 1911, they helped Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen conquer the South Pole. During the 99 days of the transition, out of 52 sled dogs, only 11 returned home.
• He is considered a possible descendant of the arctic wolf due to his resemblance, temperamental nature, and love for howling at the moon.

The Greenland sled dog is one of the oldest breeds. There is no precise information about its origin. Researchers note that its ancestors were used by the inhabitants of the northern regions as early as 5,000 years ago. It is believed that they were brought to Greenland from Siberia. This is indicated by the similarity with Eskimo huskies. Other researchers believe the breed originated from the crossbreeding of dogs with the arctic wolf.

No one was engaged in special breeding, this is a native breed. They began to talk about it only in the middle of the 20th century, when, after an expedition to the Arctic, the Greenland dog arrived in Europe. A breed standard has been developed, it has been recognized by the International Cynological Federation. But due to their narrow specialization and unsuitability for hot climates, these dogs never became popular.