Nordic Dog Breed

At the top of the globe is a harsh, beautiful land where humans and other animals eke out an existence with little regard for political boundaries. The faithful dog has served humankind here probably as long as humans have braved this difficult life.

Typically sporting long double coats and tails that curl forward, these nordic breeds in some cases may have their origins in the last ice age, and they are well adapted for cold weather. The most recognized use for these dogs is as sled dogs, but many were traditionally used for hunting and for herding reindeer.

They are quite versatile hunters and have been employed to hunt small game as well as large bears, moose, and mountain lions. Where these breeds are found in more southern regions, they are often used for herding cattle and sheep as well.

Many of these dogs are kept as family pets, but the sport of dog sledding, which can be found in many places around the world, accounts for some of their popularity.

In fact, as the native peoples of the Arctic move increasingly to the use of snowmobiles rather than dogsleds, sledding as a sport is becoming the dominant place to find sled dogs.

Nordic Dogs as Pets

These breeds can make intelligent and affectionate pets, but they are independent and can have serious dominance issues. They also cannot be restricted to an apartment and small yard.

They often do not tolerate other dogs very well, and they have strong predator instincts that can make them untrustworthy around other animals.

They generally do well with older children who understand how to handle them. Some of the newer breeds, like the American Eskimo Dog, were developed primarily as companion dogs and are more suitable pets than the ancient working breeds.