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GREENLAND DOG |
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The Greenland
Dog is closely related to other northern hauling huskies. At one time,
there were dozens of breeds and varieties, but many have disappeared due
to modern use of snowmobiles and other machinery, which has supplanted
the use of these dogs. Much crossing of types occurred as the modern settling
of northern areas provided contact between previously remote areas. The
Gr0nlandshund is one of the breeds saved and fostered by fanciers, especially
in the Scandinavian countries. Sadly, the breed is no longer numerous
even in its native environment.
Before use of
the more recent method of chaining sled dogs when not working, the practice
among the natives was to keep them tethered with thongs of seal hide.
Of course, dogs chewed through their ties, so most working sled dogs had
their incisors broken (the small cutting teeth in the front of the canines),
which necessitated cutting their meat. Since most of the dogs were fed
frozen meat or fish, the rations were chopped into small pieces which
could be swallowed whole. In The Voyage of the Fox., McClin-tock
recalls how he once cut 65 pounds of seal meat into small pieces, and
his 29 hungry Eskimo dogs devoured every morsel in 42 seconds!
Greenland Dogs
were also used by the natives as hunting dogs, utilizing their keen sense
of smell to find seals' breathing holes in the ice. Once the hole was
found, the dog and master sat back to wait, as sooner or later the seal
came up for air and it would be speared. In the summer months, the dogs
carried backpacks of supplies up to 33 pounds.
The breed remains
principally a working dog. They have the typical, Nordic, good, loyal,
affectionate temperament, but when the dogs work in teams, they don't
have the opportunity to develop a relationship with one master. They are
independent and self-willed, and rowdy and boisterous in their play. The
thick, stand-off outer coat and dense underwool allow them to withstand
constant outdoor living in temperatures that can reach -50 or even -75
degrees Fahrenheit.
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