Northern dogs

How the northern dogs came to us

Wolfhounds
The Nordic dogs differ from the domestic dogs we know in their wolf-like appearance and character. Researchers have discovered that the dog actually descended from the wolf. It was long assumed that the domestic dog descended from the jackal, but this is demonstrably not true. Based on bone finds, it is assumed that wolf-like dogs were kept as pets and hunting assistants as early as 12,000 years before Christ. Over time, the dogs became more and more important to people and were mainly used to help with hunting or as herding dogs. Today's domestic dogs, however, no longer have much in common with their ancestors.

Vital helpers
The situation is different with the northern dogs. In Greenland, for example, the dogs were important for the locals' survival because the transport of heavy loads was only possible with dog sleds - and in some places this is still the case today. The northern dogs have also been adapted to people over many years through appropriate breeding. They are supposed to pull heavy loads and be friendly to people despite their wild origins.

Breeds
Breeding breeds is still a young thing, however, because it is only in the last few decades that certain standards have been established that are binding for every breed. There is a whole list of characteristics and properties that a certain breed of dog must have in order to be recognized as a purebred dog.

These rules are determined by the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale).

The sled dogs that we know here consist of 4 recognized breeds, which are described in a separate section. There are also other northern dogs that are used, for example, as herding dogs to protect herd animals (sheep, elk, etc.) for people from wolves and other enemies. These are less friendly to people, but are good guard dogs.

Racing dogs
Northern dogs were also bred specifically for racing, for example the greyhound was the favorite in dog racing for a long time.

Conclusion
This makes it clear that our sled dogs are also northern dogs, but not every northern dog is a sled dog. A husky is of course also a northern dog, but its original nature as a wolf has been almost completely lost over time. What has remained with all sled dogs, however, is their hunting instinct and the joy of pulling work. And they are still a little more difficult to train than a "normal" domestic dog. Fortunately, some of their wildness has remained and their love for people is still very great.

Unfortunately, I cannot describe all northern dogs here, there are entire books on that. But anyone who is interested in sled dogs will probably soon be interested in other northern dogs too.