The Inuit peoples of the Arctic regions, more commonly referred to as “Eskimos” or “Esquimaux”, have always depended upon their canine companions for their very survival in those hostile climes. Indeed the dependency has been mutual throughout the centuries.

What we know today as the Canadian Eskimo Dog has been established in the Arctic for 4,000 years or probably more. The Thule people were the first known breeders of these dogs, though the origins of the animals they first bred from are somewhat obscure. There is also the Greenland dog which modern research suggests is related to the Canadian Eskimo Dog with so little significant genetic difference that many authorities consider both to be the same breed. Apparently some people criticise the Greenland Dog for its lack of any proper breeding programme. They cast doubt on its validity as a pure breed.

That raises a question. How can a dog be criticised for lack of a breeding programme? Dogs do not organise breeding programmes, they have them foisted on them by humans! Human imposed breeding programmes would have started with the Inuit trying to match their dogs with the right bitches and vice-versa in order to produce pups in which the most useful characteristics of their parents were emphasised. There would have been no Kennel Clubs in those days! Those early breeding attempts must have been quite hit and miss affairs with the Inuit learning from their mistakes along the way.

They probably ate the mistakes since it must not be forgotten that these dogs were not only used to perform essential work for their masters. They provided an important emergency food supply when food became particularly scarce, which would not have been an infrequent occurrence. From our comfortable present day perspective the idea of killing and eating our canine helpers does seem quite repugnant. However, people who live in such harsh and primitive environments tend to have no concept of sentiment towards their animals as we do. Indeed it seems that Inuit people never even considered their dogs to be animals at all. They regarded them as just another tool to be used in the daily struggle for survival.

These four legged tools were put to use in a variety of ways. They were real maids-of-all-work. Hunting seals and other animals as well as hauling supplies of all kinds and people on sleds. In Canada the Inuit still make limited use of the dogs for similar purposes although their haulage role has largely been usurped by the ubiquitous snowmobile. Early explorers from outside the Arctic Circle were impressed by the dogs’ prowess in finding seal holes from considerable distances and their enthusiasm for hunting polar bears. Dogs soon learned to recognise the name for polar bears, “nanuq,” and their handlers would often shout that word to spur them on to greater effort when hauling sleds.

Wolves were another matter entirely. The wolf was the one animal the Inuit dogs feared and they would not attempt to chase them. When they sensed that wolves were in the vicinity they would let everyone know by howling in fear.

The value of these dogs to the Inuit is comparable to that of the reindeer to the Lapps of Northern Europe. Their service did not end with being an essential aid in hunting for food, furs and defence and moving everything that needed to be moved. They even provided medicine! The Inuit froze their urine and used it as an antiseptic for wounds. The dog did not even cease to be of use to them when it died. Not only was it then a source of emergency rations as already mentioned but its skin and fur were of great value to the Inuit. It was considered to be better than wolf fur and was prized for its harder wearing qualities.

Even up to Victorian times the Eskimo dog was believed to be a semi-domesticated hybrid bred from wolves. Even Charles Darwin was deceived by the dogs’ appearance and their wolf –like howling into assuming this to be the case. However he and his contemporaries did not have access to genetic testing. With that advantage, modern scientific research indicates no evidence of wolf ancestry within recent centuries.

The decline of the Eskimo Dogs of Canada in modern times is a story in itself but that’s for another time. Watch this space for more on those fascinating dogs of the frozen north.

This article was provided by freelance copywriter uk, Pete Hopper of Write For You.