Greenland Dog

The Greenland Dog is an Arctic sled breed of considerable antiquity — a heavy, powerful spitz kept in teams rather than as a companion.

History

It came to Greenland with the Thule people around a thousand years ago and has hauled sledges and hunted seal and polar bear ever since. It is closely related to the Canadian Eskimo Dog, and Greenland has long restricted the import of other breeds north of the Arctic Circle to keep the population distinct.

Temperament

The breed is known for being tough, independent and strongly pack-oriented, with a hierarchy it takes seriously. It is friendly rather than protective — an indifferent guard dog — and it howls rather than barks.

Care and training

It needs an enormous amount of exercise, ideally pulling something, and secure containment; this is not a breed for a warm climate or a small household. The dense double coat sheds spectacularly twice a year.

Health

Generally hardy, with hip dysplasia among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.