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Canadian Eskimo Dog
Other names	Qimmiq Canadian Inuit Dog Inuit (sled) dog C. familiaris borealis Esquimaux Dog (obsolete) Exquimaux Husky (obsolete) Kingmik
Origin	Canada
Traits Height Males 58–70 cm (23–28 in) Females 50–60 cm (20–24 in) Weight Males 30–40 kg (66–88 lb) Females 18–30 kg (40–66 lb) Coat thick and dense, soft undercoat, stiff guard hairs, mane of thicker fur around the neck Colour about any colour, with or without special markings
Notes	The UKC does not have an official breed standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is an Arctic breed of working dog (Canis lupus familiaris), which is often considered to be one of North America's oldest and rarest remaining purebred indigenous domestic canines. Other names include qimmiq or qimmit (Inuit language word for "dog"). Although once used as the preferred method of transportation by Inuit in the Canadian Arctic, traditional working dog teams became increasingly rare in the North after the 1960s. This is often cited a result of snowmobiles becoming more popular, however it may also be the result of the alleged organized and systematic mass slaughter of Inuit sled dogs in the Eastern Arctic between 1950 and 1970 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Description

Appearance

The Canadian Eskimo Dog should always be powerfully built, athletic, and imposing in appearance. It should be of "powerful physique giving the impression that he is not built for speed but rather for hard work." As is typical of spitz breeds, it has erect, triangular ears, and a heavily feathered tail that is carried over its back. Males should be distinctly more masculine than females, who are finer boned, smaller, and often have a slightly shorter coat.

Its superficial similarity to wolves was often noted by explorers during the Coppermine Expedition of 1819–1822. They noted that the ears of the Eskimo dogs they encountered were similar to those of American wolves, and their forelegs lacked the black mark above the wrist characteristic of European wolves. The most sure way to distinguish the two species was said to be through the length and posture of the tail, which was shorter and more curved in the dog.

Coat and colour

The coat is very thick and dense, with a soft undercoat and stiff, coarse guard hairs. The Eskimo Dog has a mane of thick fur around its neck, which is quite impressive in the males and adds an illusion of additional size. This mane is smaller in females. Eskimo Dogs can be almost any colour, and no one colour or colour pattern should dominate. Solid white dogs are often seen, as well as white dogs with patches of another colour on the head or both body and head. Solid silver or black coloured dogs are common as well. Many of the solid coloured dogs have white mask-like markings on the face, sometimes with spots over the eyes. Others might have white socks and nose stripes with no eye spots or mask.

Size

The size of Canadian Eskimo dogs depends on their sex. Males weigh 30–40 kg (66–88 lb) and stand 58–70 cm (23–28 in) at the shoulder. Females weigh 18–30 kg (40–66 lb) and stand 50–60 cm (20–24 in).

Temperament

The Canadian Eskimo Dog's temperament reflects its original work and environment. It is loyal, tough, brave, intelligent, and alert. It is affectionate and gentle, and develops a deep bond with its owner and is intensely loyal. When used as sled dogs, they were often required to forage and hunt for their own food. Consequently, many Canadian Eskimo Dogs have stronger prey drive than some other breeds. Owing to their original environment, they take pure delight in cold weather, often preferring to sleep outside in cold climates. Like most spitz breeds they can be very vocal.

Care and training

Canadian Eskimo Dogs need a very large amount of exercise. They cannot just be walked, they need higher intensity work, requiring more exercise than many dog owners can give. This need for work and stimulation also makes them well suited for dog sports, such as carting, mushing, and skijoring. They are very trainable and submissive, unlike many spitz breeds, as well as intelligent. The Canadian Eskimo Dog is best kept in a cold climate, and is prone to heatstroke. Its coat is fairly easy to care for most times of the year, needing brushing only one or two times a week. However when it sheds (which happens once a year) it will need grooming every day.

Historically, Inuit would put their dogs to the harness as soon as they could walk, and would acquire the habit of pulling sledges in their attempts to break free. At the age of two months, the pups would be placed with adult dogs. Sometimes, ten pups would be put under the lead of an older animal, coupled with frequent beatings from their masters, which would educate the pups.

History

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is known to have been resident in the Arctic for at least 4,000 years. The Canadian Eskimo Dog was first bred by the Thule people, while research has shown that it is related to the Greenland Dog, with very little significant genetic differences. It is sometimes considered the same breed by authorities, although the Greenland Dog can be criticized for lacking any proper breeding program, questioning its validity as a pure breed. Inuit never considered the dog as part of the animal kingdom (uumajuit), but merely as a tool for human existence. It was, and still is (to a very limited extent), used by the Canadian Inuit as multi-purpose dogs, often put to work hunting seals and other Arctic game, and hauling supplies and people. Explorers noted that the dogs were capable of tracking a seal hole from a great distance, and were occasionally used to hunt polar bears. The dogs were reported to be so enthusiastic in hunting bears that, sometimes, their handlers shouted "nanuq" (Inuktitut name for the bear) to encourage them when pulling sledges. The dogs however would not pursue wolves, and would howl fearfully at their approach. Frozen dog urine was used by Inuit as a medicine, and their fur was more prized than that of wolves, due to its greater resistance to wear. In times of famine, the dogs would be used as an emergency food source. Though once assumed to be a tamed wolf or wolf-dog hybrid by explorers, including Charles Darwin due to similarities in appearance and vocalisations, genetic testing has shown that the Eskimo dog has no recent wolf ancestry.

Decline

There is some debate surrounding the decline of the breed. Often the introduction of the snowmobile is cited as the main contributing factor. In the 19th century and early 20th century this breed was in demand for polar expeditions. When snowmobiles came into use, the population numbers started rapidly declining, because snowmobiles are faster and need less care. In the 1920s there were approximately 20,000 dogs living in the Canadian Arctic, and the breed had been accepted for showing by both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC); however, in 1959 the AKC dropped the breed from its registry because of extremely low numbers. Inuit communities have gone on record for blaming the breed's decline on mass killings that occurred during the 1950s to 1970s. Many claim that the RCMP and other persons in authority killed Inuit sled dogs systematically and determinedly. It is proposed this was done to disrupt Inuit culture and way of life. Though there is no major consensus, by 1963 there was supposedly only one dog registered with the CKC, and when this dog died there were still no others registered. The decline in dog population and allegations against the RCMP by Inuit is documented in the 2010 National Film Board of Canada film Qimmit: A Clash of Two Truths.

Resurgence

It probably would have gone extinct if not for the Eskimo Dog Research Foundation (EDRF) and Brian Ladoon (The Canadian Eskimo Dog Foundation). The EDRF was founded in 1972 by William Carpenter and John McGrath and was largely funded by the Canadian Government and the Northwest Territories Government, with some support from the CKC. The EDRF purchased dogs from the small (about 200 dogs) population remaining in the Canadian Arctic from remote Inuit camps on Baffin Island, Boothia Peninsula, and Melville Peninsula. The EDRF then began breeding dogs in order to increase numbers. Brian Ladoon also bought dogs in the 70s from the northern communities of Canada and started breeding after being given the mission of saving them by Bishop Omer Alfred Robidoux of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Churchill-Baie d'Hudson. Brian Ladoon switched from Malamutes and Huskies to the CED and after breeding for 30 years still has the largest genetic stock colony of Canadian Eskimo Dogs in the world. The documentary "The Last Dogs of Winter" (2011) tells Brian Ladoons story.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is still very rare; however, it is becoming more popular in Arctic tourism, with an increasing number of sled dog teams that entertain tourists. Additionally, commercial polar bear hunts must be conducted by 'traditional' methods in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, which is by dog team. This is required partly for safety reasons; the working dog can better sense when a polar bear is around, whereas the sound of a snowmobile motor masks any sign of a polar bear. On May 1, 2000, as recorded in the Hansard of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, the Canadian territory of Nunavut officially adopted the "Canadian Inuit Dog" as the animal symbol of the territory, thus sealing the name of their traditional dog, qimmiq in the Inuktitut language.

See also

• American Eskimo Dog
• Northern Breed Group

References

1. ^ qimmiq at the Inuktitut Living Dictionary Retrieved December 23, 2012.
2. ^ Legislative assembly of Nunavut: The Canadian Inuit Dog (CANIS FAMILIARIS BOREALIS) - Official Animal of Nunavut
3. ^ Inuit Sled Dog International Retrieved December 23, 2012
4. The Esquimaux Dog Organization Retrieved December 23, 2012.
5. ^ New Zealand Kennel Club: Canadian Eskimo Dog breed standard. Retrieved December 23, 2012
6. Top Dogs Retrieved December 23, 2012
7. ^ Inuit Sled Dogs in the Baffin Region, 1950 to 1975 Qikiqtani Truth Commission
8. ^ Bell, Jim (December 8, 2006). "RCMP: Dogs killed for health and safety". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
9. Final Report: RCMP Review of Allegations Concerning Inuit Sled Dogs
10. Canadian Kennel Club: Canadian Eskimo Dog breed standard. Retrieved April 28, 2007
11. ^ Fauna Boreali-americana, Or, The Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America: Containing Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected on the Late Northern Land Expeditions, Under Command of Captain Sir John Franklin, R.N. by John Richardson, William Swainson, William Kirby, published by J. Murray, 1829
12. Polar Controversy Retrieved December 23, 2012
13. ^ Qimmiq — Dogs Retrieved December 23, 2012
14. Population Genetic Analyses of the Greenland dog and Canadian Inuit dog by Hanne Friis Andersen, page 39. See also Greenland Dog / Inuit Dog…. it makes no difference in The Fan Hitch Volume 7, Number 4, September 2005 Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog International. Retrieved December 23, 2012
15. Polar Bear World Retrieved January 17, 2007
16. nanuq at the Inuktitut Living Dictionary Retrieved December 23, 2012.
17. ^ The Menageries: Quadrupeds, Described and Drawn from Living Subjects by James Rennie, Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain). Contributor Charles Knight, William Clowes, Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Oliver & Boyd, published by Charles Knight, 1829
18. Coppinger, Ray (2001). Dogs: a Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. p. 352. ISBN 0-684-85530-5.
19. The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication Part One by Charles Darwin, 1885
20. The Seven Wonders - Animals Retrieved December 23, 2012
21. "Qimmit: A Clash of Two Truths". Documentary film. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 2 November 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
22. ^ Canadian Eskimo Dog Foundation - About
23. Summary of Hunting Regulations 2010/2011 page 7
24. 2012-2013 Summary of Hunting Regulations page 20
25. Motion 25 – 1(3): Official Emblems, Monday May 1, 2000, Nunavut Hansard, Page 2049

External links

• Canadian Eskimo Dog Club of Canada
• Canadian Eskimo Dog Club of Great Britain
• Canadian Inuit/Eskimo Dog Network
• Inuit Sled Dog International
• Canadian Inuit (Eskimo) Dog
• The Fan Hitch, Website and Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog
• The Inuit Dog: Its Provenance, Environment and History

v t e Dogs originating in Canada
Extant	Canadian Eskimo Dog Landseer Mackenzie River husky Newfoundland Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Extinct	Hare Indian dog Tahltan Bear Dog Salish Wool Dog St. John's water dog

Template:Sled Dogs

• Spitz breeds
• Dog breeds
• Rare dog breeds
• Sled dog breeds
• Dog breeds originating in Canada
• Territorial symbols of Nunavut