Canadian Eskimo Dog Breed Guide

While we love talking about some of the most popular breeds, we also enjoy introducing less-familiar breeds to our readers. One such breed is the Canadian Eskimo Dog. This is a breed of ancient or primitive dog that have been bred by people for hundreds of years.

While most people think of the Husky as being the dog of the North, that honor might more correctly go to the Canadian Eskimo Dog. In recent years though, the breed has been threatened with extinction.

Read below to learn more about this breed.

Canadian Eskimo Dog Breed History

This breed of dog has long been used as a workhorse for the native Inuit people of North America. The Inuit didn’t consider this breed as much an animal as they considered them useful partners for their rugged climate. As such, the dogs were used for many purposes.

The Inuit would use the dogs to hunt seals or other game. They were especially good at finding where seals would come out of the ice for air. This dog enjoyed hunting bears as well. When these dogs passed away, their fur was reused for warmth and was prized even more than wolf pelts.

Canadian Eskimo dogs excelled as sled dogs. They were able to pull between 45 and 80 kilograms per dog with a range of 15 to 70 miles per day. Pulling sleds was one of this dog’s chief responsibilities for hundreds of years.

While the Inuit prized these dogs for their strength and resourcefulness, they fell out of use with the invention of the snowmobile. While there were around twenty thousand of these dogs in the arctic in the 1920s, by 1959 the American Kennel Club dropped the breed due to low numbers. In fact, today the breed is still not recognized by the AKC, though the Canadian Kennel Club has approximately 300 registered dogs. This dog is still at risk of extinction today.

Physical Traits

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a powerful dog. They impress with a thick neck and chest and beautiful coat. This breed comes in a large range of colors, from white to cinnamon, grey, red or black. Their thick underfur keeps them warm in even the coldest of climates.

These dogs work hard, and their build shows it. They grow up to 88 pounds and use that weight to their advantage. Though, they are squarely built. They do not look as fast as some breeds, but that’s because they were built for endurance. Their solid frame helps them pull heavy weights over long distances. The Inuit would put pups in a harness by the age of two months so they could be trained by the older dogs of the pack.

Health Traits

There are currently very few of these dogs, but they are sturdy creatures. As a primitive breed, these dogs are not subject to some of the problems of over breeding that has occurred with some breeds. Though as a dog used for their power, hip dysplasia is one problem to be aware of.

Most Canadian Eskimo Dogs today originate from a breeding program run by the Eskimo Dog Research Foundation that has been purchasing these dogs from rural communities since the 1970s. This ensures the genetic variability of the breed.

Another consideration for a Canadian Eskimo Dog is that they are a primitive breed. As such, they are carnivorous. They will not do well eating traditional dog food. This means their owners have to either make their food or buy special grain free dog food for them.

Grooming a Canadian Eskimo Dog

Taking care of a Canadian Eskimo Dog is not much more intense than other comparable breeds. These dogs do not need to be bathed often. In fact, traditionally they were not bathed during winter months.

Brushing this breed is about what you would expect, about once or twice a week. Though, this breed sheds once a year. During those times they will need brushing daily. By keeping up on their coat, it will keep their living quarters from becoming a furball mess.

Canadian Eskimo Dog Temperament

The first thing to mention is that the Canadian Eskimo Dog is not like modern-day domestic breeds. They are used to being in packs with strong dominate and subordinate roles. This dog will look to the pack leader for instructions, and the pack leader oversees keeping order.

Often, dogs raised in a pack will have torn ears or other scars. This is natural and is part of natural pack behavior. Just remember that these dogs are tough. A scar here or there works to add stability to the pack.

With people, these dogs are great, but a little different than other breeds. They are not going to run up to their master and snuggle up. They are much too independent for that. That is not to say that they don’t like people though. They are quiet and friendly. They exhibit a kind of independent curiosity for others, but they do still enjoy attention from their master. The bond that is shared between the Canadian Eskimo Dogs and their master is intense, as this breed is very loyal.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog should only ever be considered if their owner is willing to give them extreme exercise daily. This dog will not do well in an apartment. They would much rather be tied to a sled and run through the snow. Some Canadian Eskimo Dogs prefer to sleep outside, as they seem to take great joy in the snow. These dogs also make great candidates for dog sports such as mushing, carting, or skijoring.

Final Thoughts

While the Canadian Eskimo Dog is an amazing and beautiful breed, they are certainly not for everyone. This dog only does well on large plots of land where they can exercise to their heart’s content. This dog is also known to somewhat over react. So, this means they are not the best choice for homes with children.

But as an ancient breed, the Canadian Eskimo Dog could use human support to grow this shrinking population.