Northern Inuit Dog

This is a hardy kind that will challenge you as a dog owner. If you’re experienced in handling dogs, you’re probably ready for this one. It has a long life and a quick wit and is good with older kids. Read on to find out more about this breed and whether it would be a suitable choice for you.

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Northern Inuit Dog Appearance

The Northern Inuit Dog breed usually has a large and athletic build. It’s not racy, but it requires a certain level of exercise. The females of this breed are usually 23-28 inches tall and have a weight of 55 to 84 pounds. Males usually stand 25-30 inches tall and weigh around 79-110 pounds. There’s a double coat of fur along with a tail that’s straight.

Since these are crossbreeds, they’re a hardier variety than purebreds. Their lifespan can range from 12 to 14 years. Their coat colors could be any combination or solid shades of black, white, sable, and gray. Their litter size can be anywhere from 5 puppies to 12. The general appearance

Northern Inuit Dog Grooming

The coat of these dogs is weather-resistant. It should still be subjected to frequent and regular brushing and combing sessions. It sheds in a moderate manner, so regular brushing would easily control this issue. However, you would probably have to vacuum frequently to get rid of the shed hair all over your house.

Bathing is not recommended on a regular basis since it can strip the skin and fur of their natural oils. Hence, you should only bath your Northern Inuit Dog when it’s absolutely necessary. When you do bathe your Northern Inuit Dog, be sure to comb and brush out all the mats and tangles from its hair.

While bathing, all the soap should be rinsed out properly. Any soap residue left behind would attract dirt and make its coat filthy again.

Northern Inuit Dog Temperament

The Northern Inuit Dog is calm, friendly and gentle and able to blend in well with families. It’s highly adaptable to several lifestyles and might even be kept in an apartment, although this is not the ideal situation. The best kind of life for it would be a house with a fenced yard where it can run and play in a safe environment. Daily exercise and a fair amount of space are ideal if you want to have this dog as a pet. A long walk on a daily basis is absolutely essential to expend its energy.

These dogs are generally known to be good with children and are suitable for living with them. They’re energetic enough to play with and are affectionate to boot. However, it might be best if they were kept as pets when the children are a bit older.

The Northern Inuit Dogs are not too prone to barking either, which is good news for those who live in a quiet neighborhood.

Northern Inuit Dog Training

The Northern Inuit Dog is quite sharp and quick-witted. It’s not for someone with no prior experience of handling dogs. If you’re the owner of such a dog, you should show yourself as a strong, consistent leader. Otherwise, you may end up being subservient and submitting to its every whim. It’s quite difficult to train, although it’s possible.

This is a breed that’s prone to separation anxiety. If it’s left unsupervised in isolation for long periods of time, it might exhibit destructive behavior. However, this tendency can be curbed if it’s trained to be alone from a very young age. Hence, training of every kind must be started from the very beginning for these dogs.

It’s best if they have another dog with them during the training process. They're likely to perform better this way.

Socialization sessions for the Northern Inuit Dog should begin as soon as it’s vaccinated. It can play roughly at times, so it’s imperative that the training remains stable and consistent. The results of the training wouldn’t be apparent quickly but take their time according to the nature of the dog.

Northern Inuit Dog History

There are actually two stories about the Northern Inuit Dog’s origins.

With one story, the founder of this breed is named Eddie Harrison. This creation is relatively recent, coming about in the late 1980s. The founder bred many rescue dogs with the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute. His intention was to have a wolf-like dog in appearance which still had the traits of a gentle, trainable family dog.

The second story claims this breed originated when the Canadian Eskimo Dogs were crossed with Labrador Huskies who came to the UK from America. This took place in the late 1970s.

No matter which story you believe in, there are several groups that formed from this breed. There are also several dog clubs devoted to this breed. However, they're not recognized as a breed by any kind of official kennel club yet.