HISTORY
"With one paw in the past and one in the modern world this breed has
survived as one of Canada's oldest indigenous dog breeds for over 4000
years......"
The Canadian Eskimo Dog has a zest for life, they have a gentle disposition,
curious, alert and very intelligent. To the outdoor-minded person, the
Canadian Eskimo Dog is a good companion whether it be backpacking or mushing.
He is quite easy to train and once commands are mastered he does not forget.
In spite of their ruggedness, strength and stamina, the breed on the whole
is playful and submissive. Owing to their original environment, they take
pure delight in cold weather, often preferring to sleep outside in cold
climates.
Canadian Eskimo Dogs need a large amount of exercise, at least 2 long walks
a day. They also need stimulation and they really enjoy dog sports, such as
carting, mushing, and skijoring, they far surpass other spitz breeds for
their drive and endurance. The CED can pull twice his weight and cover at
least 70 miles a day in the most rugged terrain.
Eskimo Dogs were also used as hunting dogs, they would help to locate seal
breathing holes and would also attack and hold at bay Musk Ox and Polar
Bears for the Inuit hunters. Because of this some dogs may have a prey
drive.
The Canadian Eskimo Dog should always be powerfully built, athletic, and
imposing in appearance. He should be of "powerful physique giving the
impression that he is not built for speed but rather for hard work." He has
erect, triangular ears, and a heavily feathered tail that is carried over
his back. Males should be distinctly more masculine than females, who are
finer boned, smaller, and often have a slightly shorter coat. The coat is
very thick and dense, with a soft undercoat and stiff, coarse guard hairs.
They are fairly easy to care for most times of the year, needing brushing
only one or two times a week. However when he sheds (which happens once a
year, or more depending on the climate) he will need grooming every day.
They have a mane of thicker fur around the neck, which is quite impressive
in the males and adds an illusion of additional size. 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 liver 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.
The natural voice is a howl, not a bark. When in a group the dogs often give
voice in a chorus of strangely woven tones, one of the most thrilling tones
of the Arctic
'To hear the wolfish singing of an Eskimo Dog, is to be drawn to him for
life.'