| Greenlanders |
Born to pull
The Greenland Dog has been kept by eskimos on Greenland for thousands of years. It is closely related to the Eskimo Dog found in the northern parts of America. I have spoken too several people that either do sleddog adventure tours for tourists or compete in sled racing, one a previous nordic champion. They all say the same thing.
In sleddog racing a strong dog is not required as much as a fast one, so what they use is something called a Racing Husky or Alaskan Husky, which is a cross between Siberian Huskys, Alaskan Malamutes and usually a Pointer. Making a tall, narrowchested, fast dog. To maintain the hardness and sharpness the Greenlander is used as an outcross. A Racing Husky usually has 1/8 to ¼ Greenlander blood. For tourist trips, expeditions or family outings, the Greenlander although not to common is perfect as it easily pulls heavy loads under any conditions for vast distances. Amundsen, the Danish explorer that strived to be the first to reach both the north pole and the south pole many years ago, used only Greenlanders. His story is a good read.
They are the only dogs that can still work in minus 30 to minus 50 degrees Celsius. All other polar dogs lose too much liquid by through breathing in such harsh temperatures. On Greenland the dogs are fed every fourth day and often left to find most of their food for themselves, such as dead seals, fish and scraps. Traditional culling of the weak from the hardy is done by leaving them on an island for a month whereafter only the strong will be there for collection.
Cruelty is in the eyes of the beholder. One reason for them not being more common than they are is that unless brought up together they will not accept a new dog into their pack. So if in a race or on a trip, one of your dogs falls ill and you replace it, the others will readily kill the "intruder". They do not bark but make a strange sound somewhere between a growl and a howl. The three that I owned were one generation imports and maintained all the qualities of their ancestors. I personally find them attractive outgoing and friendly dogs. Their heads are often broad and square not unlike a Pit Bull, their bodies impressively muscled. If you´re looking for a natural weight pulling ace and don´t mind your "bulldogs" extremely hairy, the Greenlander provided he/she is properly socialised, you love exercise and don't live in a flat, could make an excellent contender.
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