Northern Dog breeds

Northern Dog Breeds

The Northern group of dog breeds refers to dogs of the spitz-type, i.e. any of various stocky heavy-coated breeds of dogs native to northern regions (Alaska, Siberia, Northern Europe) characterized by a wedge-shaped head, often wolf or foxlike with short, erect, triangular ears ("prick ears") and pointed muzzles, and a curled furry tail carried over the back.

Although the terms "Northern Dog Breeds" and "Nordic Dog Breeds" are sometimes used as synonyms, they do not entirely overlap. More about the Nordic dog breeds.

Photo by Alex Maher, Australia

The Spitz group also includes dog breeds like the Akita, the Hokkaido Inu, the Shiba Inu, the Kai, the Kishu, the Japanese Spitz, the Shikoku, the Korean Jindo, etc., which belong to the Asian Spitz group but are not strictly speaking Northern breeds.

The build of the dogs belonging to the Northern group of breeds is stocky and powerful, with the thick chest and strong legs of a beast of burden. This group includes among others, the Alaskan Husky, the Siberian Husky, the East Siberian Laïka, the Alaskan Malamute, the Samoyed, the Canadian Inuit Dog, the Alaskan Klee Kai, etc.

Dog Breeds Home > Northern dog breeds

Their fur is double-coated, an inner, downy coat, and an outer coat of guard hairs that act as weather protection. It is thick, and bushy, and often stands out from the neck like a mane. Their expression is generally intelligent and kind, the mouth often stretching into a seemingly human smile that hides the strong personalities and independent natures common in these dogs.

The spitz family of Northern dogs is one of the least altered by human husbandry and reflects most nearly the prototypical canid.

Most Popular Pages

The Canine Information Library and Bulldoginformation.com 2003-2008 © Photos (except if otherwise stated) courtesy of Marja and Henry Heuver, Nanatsu-Gawa Kennel
Original idea, design and development by C. Marien-de Luca. No part of bulldoginformation.com may be copied, distributed, printed or reproduced on another website without the owner's written permission. Please feel free to link from your site to any of the pages on this website in a non-frame presentation only.

Related Pages