Canadian Eskimo Dog
The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a Canadian dog breed recognized by the FCI (FCI Group 5, Section 1, Standard No. 211). The breed, which belongs to the Spitz group, originated from Inuit dogs and was originally used as working dogs. The dogs pulled sledges, carried loads in summer and served as hunting dogs. Accordingly, the dogs had to be robust. The breed standard describes them as "pack-oriented", gentle and loving, but also as dogs with almost excessive zeal in everything they do.
Bitches are clearly smaller, narrower and lighter than males: While they reach a shoulder-height of 50-60 cm with 18-30 kg, males become 58-70 cm high with 30-40 kg. The coat consists of very dense undercoat and 7-15 cm long topcoat, which is usually shorter in females than in males. Males have mane-like longer hair around the shoulders and neck, which makes them appear larger. Canadian Eskimo Dogs have a large bushy tail, which is usually carried curled over the back. The ears are erect in a pointed fashion. The eyes are dark, narrow and wide-set.
Having already cancelled the breed, the FCI published a new breed standard on 28 February 2018, the German translation of which was published on 15 October 2018, originally the Canadian Eskimo Dog was recognized by the FCI on 25 June 1959.
In a 2015 paper that used autosomal, paternal, and maternal DNA markers to examine relationships between North American Arctic dog breeds, the authors concluded that Inuit dogs from Canada and Greenland (see Greenland Dog) should not be differentiated into two distinct breeds, as work prior to this had found. Only more recent breeding - especially visible in patterns in Y chromosomes, but not in mtDNA - has led to differences. The dogs were not bred separately, at least not over several generations.
Since the Klondike Gold Rush, there have been regular mail routes in the Yukon Territory all the way to Alaska in winter, maintained by these sled dogs, in teams of at least four, usually six animals and two humans; in summer, horses and canoeists kept the routes running. The National Museum of History and Society of Canada has a large permanent exhibit online about this unique service provided by Canada Post worldwide. Back in 1988, Canada Post issued a series of four stamps depicting Eskimo dogs. The online exhibit also features images of the postmarks used. The dogs had to wear moccasins in the field to avoid injuries from sharp ice picks under the snow.
