Description

The Native American Indian dog comes in two distinct sizes and two hair coat lengths and two distinct coat color combinations. They can range in color from silver to black from the tortoise shell color to the sacred color of the Native Americans who referred to the broken pattern coat coloring as the "Spirit Dog". Their hair coat can be short and dense, two layers thick, of which the undercoat is wind and water proof, to long haired overcoat with the dense undercoat. Ears are prick and upright, head broad and wide between the eyes with an angular shaped head tapering down to a slender muzzle. The eye ranges in color from brown to amber and almond shaped with a sparkle of intelligence looking out on the world. The tail can be tightly curled as in An Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky but preferable breed standards tend towards a long tail held down with sometimes a slight kink or bend in the end.

Origin

The Native American Indian dog is a very rare, almost extinct breed of dog that was used by the Native Americans to pull travois and pack a backpack loaded with the familys possessions' across thousands of miles of the North American continent. These dogs were used for hunting everything from quail to rabbits, bear to beaver, elk to caribou to moose and were even taught how to fish by the Native Americans. They were used to baby-sit the elderly and very young and guard the village from intruders. They accompanied the women and children while they were gathering berries, roots, herbs and other food sources and protected them from man and wild beast alike. They played a very vital role in the lives of the original Americans and were their sole beast of burden until the horse was introduced by the Spaniards. The U.S. government almost succeeded in making this breed of dog extinct in the 1800's. The Montagnais Indians who resided in the Northern most western side of Canada had a dog type they used for hunting and sled pulling. Their dogs were described as a mongrel shaggy beast, prevailing dark brown to black, of a rusty, worn hue with a slight admixture of white. Majestic View's Whitney is a descendant of the Montagnais and in the mid 1800's dogs of Whitney's color now called a tortoise shell color were often sold for as much as $30.00 each. The Indians used this coat coloration of dogs in religious ceremonies as well as hunters and beast of burden animals. Note: There are many folks who claim original native dogs are extinct and have been since before the invention of photography. They claim any dog sold as an Indian dog is a recreation. The Dog Breed Info Center® does not know which the case may be. The information above is what we were told from Native Indian Dog breeders about this breed.

Temperament

The Native American Indian Dog's intelligence level is extremely high. They are highly trainable and eager to please their human companions. They are loyal and protective of their families and some may be shy with strangers, but are totally dedicated to their human owners. Native American Indian Dog's are sensitive animals. They are very good with children and other animals, including other dogs, household pets as well as livestock. Usually a stern "NO" will stop them in their tracks. They are extremely versatile animals bred to work as in pulling a sled or hunting whatever game you choose them to hunt. This breed does not do well in a crate for crate training or housebreaking. They do much better and are happier if you enclose them in a room with a tile floor and put newspapers down and every day move the papers closer to the door way of the room you have them locked in. Most people find that if they put their pup outside (even in the winter) in a small pen with a dog house, in a month of so the pups are automatically house broke if they bring them in to visit the family. The Hare Indians of north western Canada had a dog described as a long haired dog, with patches of gray, brown or black over a white based hair coat. Webbed feet helped these dogs from sinking in the snow as they hunted elk and caribou. Their webbed feet also enabled them to pull large, heavy loads and they were excellent swimmers as well. The tails of the dogs of the Hare Indians did not curl tightly as did the dogs of the Eskimos and the whole village would share their dogs and the work the dogs were required to perform. The Native Americans used to raise dogs for food for work and for religious ceremonies. The broken pattern dog or the "Spirit Dog" was highly revered by the Native American nations and selectively breeding went into producing a dog that was strong, good tempered, as most villages shared their dogs and all dogs were required to work for all human individuals and very versatile in the tasks they performed.

Height

Height: 23-34 inches (58-67 cm.)

Weight

Weight: 55-120 pounds (25-55 kg.)

Known Health Problems

The Native American Indian Dog have no known genetic faults or defects.

Conditions for Living

The Native American Indian Dog does not do well as an apartment dog or a total housedog. They need a fenced in area where they can run and play at will and do not adapt well to a "closed crate" crate training method. If locked in a crate, they think they are being punished and don't understand what they did wrong and why they are being punished. A large yard is ideal. They prefer the outdoors, your bed or the couch, or wherever their owners happen to be.

Exercise Requirments

They require moderate exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, long, area where they can run free where they will enjoy a daily romp. Energy levels vary from one dog to the next, as in people, all are different. About one pup out of 20 will be the high energy run run run type those make good sled dogs for racing, but on the average, they are a very mellow dog, that do not require a lot of room to run.

Life Expectancy

About 14 to 19 years.

Grooming

The coat of the Native American Indian dog is hypoallergenic. They have no "doggy" smell and those who suffer from pet allergies can usually own these animals. People who suffer from asthma can also find these dogs to be ideal pets. The dogs inner hair coat which sheds only once a year in the spring time was woven into yarn and made an ideal weather proof garment or blanket. Bush the coat during the shedding season to cut back on unwanted hair inside the house.

Group

Native American