Alska Nothern Inuits
Based in Scotland
The Northern Inuit Dog
Characteristics, training and temperament
Despite their wolf-life appearance, the Northern Inuit Dog has a very friendly demeanor and they are unlikely to show aggression. These dogs are very intelligent and quick-witted, so they require a strong leader in the family. They also give so much love, commitment and loyalty in return that you would never look back. Buyer beware… they are reported to be very addictive.
It is widely reported that Northern Inuit Dogs make substandard guard dogs as they are generally overly-trusting of people they don’t know. While these dogs have a reputation for being good with children, due to their sheer size and strength, interactions should always be supervised. Howling is instinctive within this breed, and anyone with neighbours nearby should strongly consider this before acquiring a Northern Inuit Dog.
Northern Inuit Dogs are highly intelligent so they are capable of responding very well to training. It should be noted, however, that these dogs do have a tendency to become a little stubborn or strong-willed without consistent and firm training.
Being social dogs by nature, the Northern Inuit generally gets on well with other dogs, especially if they have been well socialised from a young age. Trained properly they also get on with other types of animals: horses, cats and even sheep! However if they haven’t met a particular small animal before they might have a tendency to chase.
The key to successfully training one of these smart dogs is to make the training sessions short, interesting and fun! This helps dogs stay more focused on what is being asked of them. A Northern Inuit would find it hard to concentrate when a training session is long and too repetitive, which can prove harder to train them. They are quite sensitive dogs by nature and as such they do not respond well to any sort of harsh correction or heavier handed training methods.
They do answer well to positive reinforcement which always brings the best out of these clever, handsome dogs. Some Northern Inuits are being used as PAT and assistance dogs thanks to their good natures and their intelligence. They thrive on being kept busy and enjoy activities like hiking, agility, scootering and cani-cross, all of which they are especially good at. They are especially good at scent training too… even more so if there is their favourite treat or toy waiting at the end.
Northern Inuit puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it’s essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. They really like to provide with landscaping services therefore good sense of humour about the state of your lawn is a must. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing, confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. However, a puppy of any breed is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates, which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother, the better although it should never be for too long either.
Like all puppies, Northern Inuits are incredibly cute and it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in a new home. However, as soon as a puppy is settled, it’s vital to lay down ground rules so they understand what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Northern Inuit puppies quickly grow up to be impressive large dogs so it’s important for their education to start early which means owners should always start out as they mean to go on by laying down rules and boundaries as early as possible.
Northern Inuit puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.
The Northern Inuit, as previously mentioned is an intelligent, energetic dog but unlike other Northern breed dogs they don’t need to be given an excessive amount of exercise. However, they still need daily walks for them to be truly happy, well-rounded dogs. Ideally, adult Northern Inuits should be given anything up to 1 hour’s exercise every day (or twice a day depending on their individual characters) and because they are so intelligent, the Northern Inuit should be given enough stimulation on a daily basis to avoid boredom setting in.
Health
Like many other breeds, the Northern Inuit Dog is known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning to share your home with one of these active and good-looking dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:
Hip Dysplasia
This is no more or less prevalent in the Northern Inuit breed than any other breed. Hip dysplasia can be hereditary or environmental, caused by poor nutrition or even by a difficult birth. All breeding dogs should be hip scored so that the chance of hip dysplasia can be reduced.
Elbow Dysplasia
Should be viewed in the same context as hip dysplasia above. All breeding dogs should be elbow scored.
Primary and secondary Glaucoma
This is not a breed wide problem, but can be inherited, therefore all breedings dogs should be eye tested. Glaucoma is found in many breeds of dogs so this is not a breed specific disease.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
A test is available through Laboklin or Embark. All breeding dogs who are not clear by parentage should be DM tested. The Northern Inuit Association is working hard to eliminate this disease by DM testing any dogs who are not clear by parentage, before accepting the dog into the breeding programme. DM is found in many breeds of dogs so this is not a breed specific disease.
OSD3
A life limiting genetic condition which causes limb deformities and severe eye issues. A test has been developed and any dog who is not clear by parentage must be OSD3 tested prior to breeding. The Northern Inuit Association is working hard to eliminate this disease by OSD3 testing any dogs who are not clear by parentage, before accepting the dog into the breeding programme. OSD3 is a breed specific problem (only found in Northern Inuits).
Epilepsy
There currently are no conclusive findings on the mode of inheritance but epileptic dogs are never used for breeding and appropriate veterinary care is always advised. The Northern Inuit Association keep records of every dogs’ breeding lines to try to prevent epilepsy being passed down the generations. Epilepsy is found in at least 26 breeds of dogs so this is not a breed specific disease.
Addisons disease
Although research has shown there is some genetic link, the cause of Addisons is unknown. It is considered to be an autoimmune disease, and there is some indication that it is on the rise. This rise could be a result of high inbreeding – the Northern Inuit Association have a breeding strategy in place to lower the level of inbreeding so that Northern Inuits will be less susceptible to this type of disease. Addisons is found in many breeds of dogs so this is not a breed specific disease.
Retained testicles
Male Northern Inuits can be prone to retained testicles, where one or both testes do not drop. There are no lasting consequences, if the dog is neutered at an appropriate time (for this breed the recommended age is not earlier than 18mths – 24mths of life as they are slow developers). It is proven that this is mainly inherited, although some environmental reasons can be a factor too.
Unfortunately there can never be any guarantee that a puppy of any breed will not develop health issues (genetic or environmental issues), no matter how many tests are carried out. Thankfully, the majority of Northern Inuits live happy healthy lives without issue and the life span averages between 12 and 15 years old.