Mary Allen
The Greenland Dog is a typical sled dog that has stayed true to its origins. This extraordinarily robust and persistent animal has retained its pronounced pack behavior, its strong hunting instinct, and its pleasure in draft work over a long period of time.
He needs a lot of exercises. Of course, the best way is to pull a sled or a cart.
Greenland Dog – a hardy polar spitz
A powerful Arctic Spitz, this dog is built to meet the demands of a sled dog in arctic conditions. He has the necessary strength and endurance. So it is not surprising that the Greenland Dog is the only Eskimo Dog recognized by the FCI.
Appearance
This breed has a strong and muscular body with a broad head and a pronounced but not prominent stop. In dogs, stop is the transition from the bridge of the nose to the skullcap, approximately at the level of the eyes. The snout is strong, wedge-shaped, and ends in black nose leather that can become flesh-colored in summer.
The preferably dark eyes are slightly slanted and are neither protruding nor deep-set. The small, triangular ears with rounded tips are carried erect. The fur can be of any color and can be one or more colors. It consists of a rather long, straight, rough top coat that is neither wavy nor curly and a dense, soft undercoat. The strong, rather short ringtail is set high.
Care
The dogs require minimal grooming. If the undercoat sheds during moulting, the best way to comb it out is with a coarse, double-row metal-toothed comb.
Temperament
This dog impresses with its character traits such as independence, balance, dominance, and unselfishness. He can be a little stubborn at times. The Greenland Dog is a passionate and tireless sled dog. He is friendly to most people, including strangers.
The Greenland Dog is a social animal that feels comfortable in a group and needs to feel a firm sense of authority. This loyal and affectionate dog is not only attached to one person but can even get used to a new owner if there is a change of owner. This breed is not suitable as a guard dog, the animals strive for independence and self-determination. The Greenland Dog possesses a strong hunting instinct for seals and polar bears.
Upbringing
The training of these dogs requires a lot of assertiveness because the Greenland dogs have a stubborn and independent nature. As sled dogs, they are used to covering enormous distances and when the opportunity arises (e.g. because of a hole in the fence) they often stay away for days. In front of the sled, this dog is really in his element. So if you buy one for this reason, you are making a good catch with a Greenland Dog.
Attitude
Although the Greenland Dog is used to the harsh climate of the far north, it can also tolerate milder temperatures without any problems. He is not suitable for living in an apartment.
Compatibility
The representatives of this breed do not like to be alone. So if you have decided to get a Greenlander, it is best to take at least two animals. They feel comfortable in an outside kennel. In general, dogs don’t get along very well with cats or other pets. Known and unknown visitors are usually greeted extensively with enthusiastic howls. Despite its size, a Greenland dog is therefore not necessarily suitable as a guard dog.
Movement
It has probably become clear by now that a Greenland dog needs a lot of exercise. Of course, the best way is to pull a sled or cart. If you know from the outset that you cannot offer this to the dog, it is better to look around for another breed. The dogs are too strong to let them run next to the bike. Due to their origin, dogs should not be allowed to work in temperatures above 15°C.
History
According to some experts, the Greenland Dog is descended from the arctic wolf, with which it shares some physical traits such as slanted eyes and a powerful neck, or the instinct to pack. The Inuits of Greenland have always used these animals as sled and hunting dogs. In Europe, this breed gained some notoriety in the 19th century when it was instrumental in the first successful polar expedition.