INTRODUCTION TO THE STEWARTS

NORTHERN INUIT
A Breed In The Making Or Designer-Dog Ripoff?

Recent discussions on another forum-board regarding the validity of the term Northern Inuit' and the advisability of cross-breeding dogs in general has resulted in much consternation and a censoring of the topic. As always, the position of "Let's Talk Breeding" and its contributors is that all issues are open to discussion and debate. Further, both sides of an issue will
have equal opportunity to state their positions. The following article is based on a letter sent to the matriarch of a leading Northern Inuit Society. It follows her posting on another forum asking for an end to the 'badmouthing' of this breed. The information has been changed to a non-personal style, yet the questions raised are valid.

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It has been claimed by the owner of the Northern Inuits UK (NIUK) web-site that she is not the matriarch for the same titled Northern Inuits UK club. Furthermore, the claimed 'President' of the NIUK club is only fleetingly referred to by a link on the NIUK web-site. Therefore, the question must be asked - why is the Northern Inuits UK web-site owned/run by a person other than said club's 'President'?

The author of this piece has no interest in contacting the stated "President" of Northern Inuits UK. This 'President's" background in this area is well known to me, as well as the fact that said "President" has sold animals in the past tagged as wolf hybrids, incurring legal proceedings in the process. Quoting the Newark Archives from 22 May 1998: "The council
contacted Mrs. Kelham in July over an advertisement offering wolf hybrid puppies for sale. The court was told that the puppies were not Mrs Kelham's and that a neighbour had used her phone number. But Mrs Kelham keeps dogs including Alsatian cross-breeds with timber wolf and husky."

The above clipping makes more interesting reading when it is realised that the owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site continually insists that her animals are 'NOT wolf hybrids', and yet the club's 'President' freely admits to keeping timber wolf crosses!

It has been several weeks now since the Northern Inuits UK web-site came to my attention, and in its original form, its information left many questions unanswered, and some even unasked. It is to this end that an associate and I requested details from Northern Inuits UK regarding these queries, the main 'bone of contention' being that of the 'breed standard' and the changes made to it during the last couple of weeks.

The owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site informed me weeks ago that a copy of the Northern Inuit breed standard had been given to the Kennel Club as part of the Inuits Societies attempt to gain recognition for this animal. I had asked questions regarding this original "standard", noting that there were NO faults listed for this 'breed'.

Every informed breeder is well aware that, whatever the breed, there are ALWAYS faults to be wary of, even if they are not detrimental. Now, after being questioned on this matter, a handful of faults have suddenly appeared listed on the breed standard on the Northern Inuits UK web-site. The owner of the site states that the changes have been made because the pages were originally of a personal nature, however, changing a web-site because it was not originally intended as a public locale does NOT allow the owner to amend the breed standard!

A breed standard is an important document. It is written in such a way as to elaborate and quantify the qualities that enhance or mar the animal concerned. There should be pros and cons to the breed, giving the intended buyer the background with which to adjudicate whether the animal they are inspecting is of an acceptable breed standard or not.

Every breed that is registered, or in the process of gaining recognition has a standard raised which cannot be altered once it has been registered with the Kennel Club. Since it was stated weeks previous that a standard has been sent to the KC for adjudication, how can the owner of Northern Inuits UK web-site justify the amendments that have since been made?

To date, the owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site has not or will not answer the question of who ratified these changes and how they came into existence. One simply contends that those changes were instituted as a direct result of questions asked, and shortcomings shown.

It is this author's feeling that the standard has been updated due to the fact that the original document was of too poor a quality to be accepted by the Kennel Club. Further, one could only legally make these changes if the standard had not yet been sent to the KC for declaration, which would explain WHY the Kennel Club stated to my peer that they have not yet
received a proposed standard for the 'Northern Inuit'.

There are two 'Inuits' Societies in Great Britain, Northern Inuits UK and Northern Inuits Society of Great Britain. This author was concerned to read of the written attacks made on Wolfdogs UK by the owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site against her sister organisation. It would seem that there is an obsession on the part of the Northern Inuits UK web-site owner with her club being 'kosha' [sic] and accepted as the pinnacle of 'Inuit' society! Surely these two entities should be working together to obtain a shared goal, not ripping the heart of their argument out themselves?

Northern Inuits UK's web-site makes interesting reading to the uninformed. It states that "In the early 70's a few Inuit type dogs were imported to Britain." Sadly, documentation freely available on the Internet from Government resources clearly states that the imports took place in 1987:

"We understand that the original animals from which breeders began breeding were imported in around 1987 from San Francisco (see photographs 5-8). Although imported as 25% wolfdogs, we have been informed that these animals were, in fact, rescued animals of unknown ancestry, and therefore their wolf content could never be stated with accuracy. In addition, one reportedly "low content hybrid" female was imported from Alaska (Photograph 9). Even if these animals were accurately described, the offspring of the breeder's animals today do not show any sign of recent wolf ancestry. To the best of our knowledge, neither breeder has ever had access to any animal with a significant wolf content. Photograph 5-8: The animals imported from San Francisco were allegedly the founder animals for well-known breeders in
the north of England."

Therefore, Northern Inuits UK's claims that 'In the early 70's a few Inuit type dogs were imported to Britain,' are proven to be false in that the only animals to be imported were not bona-fide Inuit dogs at all and were, in fact quite obviously of dubious origins!

The owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site argues that "If you (referring to yours truly) read the history of Northern Inuit dogs then it states that they were bred from Inuit dogs imported from the USA." Incredibly, the web-site proclaims that 'As early as 1800, the Inuit dogs existed. The Inuit people needed a dog to suit their life style as a working companion. For this they staked out several bitches to be mated by wolves'! Readers please note that the Inuit Sled Dog (also known as the Canadian Aboriginal or Canadian Inuit) is the only registered Inuit breed. So according to the statement above, Northern Inuits UK's is claiming that its animals are bred from Inuit Sled Dogs (and wolves).

This author has read on the history of the Inuit, and it is markedly different to that which is being touted by Northern Inuits UK. It may interest the reader to learn that the Inuit Sled Dog originated on the continent of Asia, possibly in the region of present day Mongolia. The Thule Civilisation (Tunit people) took their dogs into Canada via the Bering Straits throughout a migration period that ranged between 900 and 1100 AD. The Tunit spread out to the south and east, until they reached Greenland and could expand no further. Until as recently as the 1960s, families have travelled between Greenland and Canada by dog team.

Contrary to what is stated on the Northern Inuits UK web-site, the Inuit people have never found the need to 'stake out bitches to be mated by wolves'. Yes, mating has/does occur between the two species but it is rarely intentional, and it is certainly not to improve their existing stock! Whilst the author is aware that there is a purported desire to have the dogs being featured on Northern Inuit UK recognised as a registered breed; claiming that the Inuit Sled Dog has been bred deliberately with wolves is not the way to achieve this!

The Inuit Sled Dog has a history that can be traced back 4,000 years, or more. This breed has had centuries in which to attain genetic perfection in order to produce an animal that can survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic. As a hunter, this dog sniffed out seal holes, and knew how to remain silent until the seal was gutted and he could eat. With his sled-mates, he could contain a polar bear until the hunters arrived, keeping the beast at bay and sometimes getting mauled in the process.

The Inuit (Eskimo) People lead a harsh and rugged existence. They are heavily reliant upon their sled dogs. It is stretching the bounds of imagination to expect anyone to believe that these proud people would cross their proven breed with a wolf in order to create a creature that would 'suit their lifestyle as a working companion. A dog that could work for long hours in the cold temperatures would live as a family member and be obedient and loyal'? Is that not what they already have in their registered, well-seasoned, well-trusted and well-suited Canadian Inuit?

The owner of the Northern Inuits UK web-site has stated quite categorically on numerous occasions (and on different forums) that the Northern Inuits UK are 'wolf dogs' NOT wolf hybrids. Northern Inuits UK's wolf dogs are advertised as being 'FRIENDLY AND PLACID. NEVER AGGRESSIVE OR SHOWING ANY GUARDING TENDENCIES. WILL SUBMIT WHEN CHALLENGED.' Interestingly, these qualities are well known, text book hybrid tendencies due to the fact that
wolves are naturally shy of humans and will not attack unless injured or hungry! Consider that Northern Inuits should have been bred and socialised for around 200 years ('as early as 1800'), and you quickly realise that they have nothing in common with the claimed heritage from true Inuit.

As one true Inuit site states: "Inuit has a strong pack mentality, and respects its hierarchy. He also loves to fight, whether because another is too close to his food, or has simply crowded him. Working as a pack reduces the incidence of fighting, but individually and collectively, Inuit are stubborn and proud, responding better to gentle persuasion than to coercion. Inuit have always been very friendly towards people but can be stubborn. They are very passionate, but when at play that passion turns to excitement and large paws can inflict serious damage. The breed is particularly remarkable for its toughness, intelligence, loyalty and affectionate nature. The Iniut love to play, eat and run."

Furthermore, Inuit are better suited to working rather than being touted as a 'pet'. Regardless of statements published on the Northern Inuits UK web-site, 'pet' qualities have NEVER been a consideration for the Eskimo people, who bred their animals for load bearing purposes not as something to cuddle up to! The breed's more primitive behaviour, vocalisation (they howl rather than bark) and highly developed need for pack hierarchy means it is better suited to a working environment.
These animals are not suitable as pets!

Furthermore, the author fails to see how breeding them with wolves would create an animal more suitable to domestication.
The Inuit Sled Dog International (ISDI) is well aware of the situation regarding 'wolf dogs' in the United Kingdom; and has issued the following statement regarding 'Northern Inuit UK':

"Another association located in Great Britain, call their wolf hybrids Northern Inuits. They have appropriated the name of the Canadian Aboriginal Dog (the bona-fide Canadian Inuit) and its history. Historically, this dog has been called Esquimau, then anglicised to Eskimo, and Qimmiq (in Inuktitut) and more recently Inuit Sled Dog out of respect for the wishes of the Inuit people."

As a matter of fact, the ISDI club is very upset about the 'Northern Inuit' angle. The club's position is that the name "Northern Inuits" has been created to deliberately mislead in an effort to adopt legitimacy and attempt disguise the genetic identity of hybrid canids: wolf dogs. This name attempts to stave the backlash of public concern over these animals, and
integrate a potentially dangerous breed into society without the consideration for legal and humanitarian ethics.

The Inuit Dog is tough enough in its own right and doesn't deserve to be mistakenly confused with the wolf hybrids a.k.a. "Northern Inuits" especially when, to the lay person (or possibly the victim) they may look alike. It is equally irritating to note that the name is grammatically incorrect for the pleural form of Inuk is Inuit (not Inuits) and both words refer to human beings! The common names for Canis familiaris borealis are Inuit Sled Dog, Inuit Dog, ISD, CISD, GISD and maybe/hopefully there is an R(Russian)ISD.

This author is certain that the 'wolf dog' topic will rage on for the foreseeable future with many issues being raised along the way. There is no doubting that this is indeed a volatile subject, yet questions must be asked and answers are expected. Every one of us in this country has the right to know what they are dealing with, that the dog they are considering purchasing may not be quite what is seems.

Those people who insist upon producing these 'wolf dogs' must be prepared to respond to any and all fears that are raised by their continued breeding of these 'dogs'. Hopefully we should have more to discuss once the matter has been raised with the Kennel Club at Crufts.

On a personal note I would like to state that I do not have issues with the standardisation of a new breed, especially if it means breeding out detrimental defects to the animal. I do however have a serious problem with the introduction of the breed not being carried out in a structured, scientific and bona-fide manner.

And, if breeders like Northern Inuit UK are not prepared to even respond to constructive and critical scrutiny from their peers, how can they ever hope to have this breed accepted by the Kennel Club?

Silver Dragon

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