Tamaskan dog
Encyclopedia
The Tamaskan Dog is a rare dog breed
of sleddog type, originating from Finland
. It is a highly versatile breed that is known to excel in agility
, obedience
and working trials. It is also capable of pulling sleds, which is inherited from its Siberian Husky
and Alaskan Malamute
ancestors. Morphologically, Tamaskans have been bred to look like wolves and have a notable lupine appearance, although they contain no recent wolf ancestry. Although there are fewer than 3000 registered Tamaskan Dogs worldwide, increasing interest has resulted in their spread throughout continental Europe
, the UK and the USA, as well as Canada
and Australia
.
All pedigree Tamaskan Dogs are registered with the Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) and are DNA profiled; there are notable differences between genuine Tamaskan Dogs and the copycat versions with regards to appearance, temperament and health.
Tamaskans are large, athletic dogs; slightly taller in size than German Shepherds. With regards to build, they are substantially larger than their Siberian Husky
ancestors but smaller than the Alaskan Malamute
.
On average, Tamaskan adults measure around 24-28 inches (60–70 cm) tall at the shoulder and typically weigh between 55-88 pounds (25-40 kg)–the heaviest recorded Tamaskan males (to date) weigh just under 50 kg. Females are usually slightly smaller and lighter than males, with a distinct feminine appearance. Males are more heavyset with broader heads and a heavier bone structure. Tamaskans have a lupine appearance with a straight bushy tail and thick double coat that comes in three main colors: Wolf Grey, Red Grey, and Black Grey. Each individual guard hair
is agouti
banded along its length. The almond-shaped eyes are yellow through amber and brown, with lighter colored eyes being very rare. Blue eyes are not acceptable, nor are mismatched eyes.
, obedience
and working trials. They also make good sled dogs and many Tamaskans living in colder climates regularly participate in recreational, and occasionally competitive, dogsled racing
as well as skijoring
. They make excellent search and rescue dog
s due to their keen sense of smell, stamina and endurance. Tamaskans can also be successfully trained as therapy or assistance dogs due to their friendly and laid-back personality. As a breed they are very social and are good with people, children, and other dogs, as well as other family pets (cats, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, parakeets, etc.). However, Tamaskan Dogs do not cope well without company and if left alone for long periods of time they may become bored, which can lead to destructive behavior and/or escape attempts. Moreover, Tamaskan Dogs love to dig holes and can pull quite strongly on the leash; both traits they have inherited from their arctic heritage. However, unlike some of their husky ancestors, Tamaskans generally respond well off the leash and, with a small amount of training, will return when called.
: undescended testes. With these cases, usually only one testicle fully descends within the scrotum, while the other testicle remains "hidden" up within the abdominal cavity. Epilepsy
has been diagnosed in three dogs, affecting less than 1% of all registered Tamaskans worldwide. Several dogs have been found to be carriers of Degenerative Myelopathy
so it is very important that all breeding dogs are DNA tested for DM so as to prevent the creation of sufferers of this genetic disease. As with all large breed dogs, hip dysplasia is a risk; however, due to the work of the Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) and strict health requirements, which ensure that only dogs with good hip scores are allowed to breed, this risk has been greatly reduced.
The first generation of registered Tamaskan Dogs were born in 2002. Breeds used to create the Tamaskan Dog include Northern Inuit, Utonagan
, Siberian Husky
, Alaskan Malamute
, German Shepherd and other arctic breeds including Finnish racing huskies (unregistered huskies and husky crosses bred for competitive sled racing in Lapland). Each dog was carefully selected for its appearance, intelligence, temperament and health.
The first Tamaskans to be imported into the United States
arrived in 2005 and they had their first litters in 2007. Since that time the Tamaskan's popularity has grown exponentially and there are now many TDR-registered breeders worldwide.
The Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) consists of an international committee and is the official Governing Body and Registration Database for all Tamaskan Dogs worldwide. The TDR maintains the pedigree and health records for all authentic, registered Tamaskans. The Tamaskan Dog Society of Great Britain (TDSGB), the National Tamaskan Club of America (NTCA), the National Tamaskan Club of Canada (NTCC), European Tamaskan (EuroTam), and the Tamaskan Dog Showing Club (TDSC) are all affiliated with the TDR.
In 2003, Kenai at Blustag appeared on Blue Peter
, a BBC television programme for children. Kenai also starred as a wolf in the 2005 short film, Peleus, which was produced by Real Impact Productions. In 2009, Kenai was featured as the face of Okami (Japanese for "Wolf" as well as "God") at the grand opening of the company's new UK branch.
In 2007, Two Socks at Moonstone partook in promotional photography for the English hardcore punk band Gallows
for their album Orchestra of Wolves
. In October 2007, a Tamaskan named Genghis Khan featured as a wolf in a music video for the band Lucretia Choir.
In September 2010, a Tamaskan named Wave became the official Live Mascot of North Carolina State University's football team: NC State Wolfpack
. Wave (aka "Tuffy") now attends most home games and can be seen stalking around the sidelines.
Rare breed (dog)
Rare breed is any breed of dog that is small in number. Since dogs have greater genetic variability than other domesticated animals the number of possible breeds is vast...
of sleddog type, originating from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It is a highly versatile breed that is known to excel in agility
Dog agility
Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles...
, obedience
Obedience training
Obedience training usually refers to the training of a dog and the term is most commonly used in that context. Obedience training ranges from very basic training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as "sit", "down", "come", and "stay", to high level competition...
and working trials. It is also capable of pulling sleds, which is inherited from its Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family...
and Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is a generally large breed of domestic dog originally bred for use as a utilitarian dog and later an Alaskan sled dog. They are sometimes mistaken for a Siberian Husky, but in fact are quite different in many ways...
ancestors. Morphologically, Tamaskans have been bred to look like wolves and have a notable lupine appearance, although they contain no recent wolf ancestry. Although there are fewer than 3000 registered Tamaskan Dogs worldwide, increasing interest has resulted in their spread throughout continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
, the UK and the USA, as well as Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
All pedigree Tamaskan Dogs are registered with the Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) and are DNA profiled; there are notable differences between genuine Tamaskan Dogs and the copycat versions with regards to appearance, temperament and health.
Description
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family...
ancestors but smaller than the Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is a generally large breed of domestic dog originally bred for use as a utilitarian dog and later an Alaskan sled dog. They are sometimes mistaken for a Siberian Husky, but in fact are quite different in many ways...
.
On average, Tamaskan adults measure around 24-28 inches (60–70 cm) tall at the shoulder and typically weigh between 55-88 pounds (25-40 kg)–the heaviest recorded Tamaskan males (to date) weigh just under 50 kg. Females are usually slightly smaller and lighter than males, with a distinct feminine appearance. Males are more heavyset with broader heads and a heavier bone structure. Tamaskans have a lupine appearance with a straight bushy tail and thick double coat that comes in three main colors: Wolf Grey, Red Grey, and Black Grey. Each individual guard hair
Guard hair
Guard hairs are the longest, coarsest hairs in a mammal's coat, forming the topcoat . They taper to a point and protect the undercoat from the elements. They are often water repellent and stick out above the rest of the coat...
is agouti
Agouti gene
The Agouti gene is responsible for determining whether a mammal's coat is banded or of a solid color . The chief product of the Agouti gene is Agouti signalling peptide , but there are a number of alternative splice products....
banded along its length. The almond-shaped eyes are yellow through amber and brown, with lighter colored eyes being very rare. Blue eyes are not acceptable, nor are mismatched eyes.
Temperament
Tamaskans are highly intelligent and have been known to excel in agilityDog agility
Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles...
, obedience
Obedience training
Obedience training usually refers to the training of a dog and the term is most commonly used in that context. Obedience training ranges from very basic training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as "sit", "down", "come", and "stay", to high level competition...
and working trials. They also make good sled dogs and many Tamaskans living in colder climates regularly participate in recreational, and occasionally competitive, dogsled racing
Dogsled racing
Sled dog racing is a winter dog sport most popular in the Arctic regions of the United States, Canada, Russia, and some European countries. It involves the timed competition of teams of sleddogs that pull a sled with the dog driver or musher standing on the runners...
as well as skijoring
Skijoring
Skijoring is a winter sport where a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog or a motor vehicle. It is derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring meaning ski driving.- Dog skijoring :...
. They make excellent search and rescue dog
Search and rescue dog
The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. Dedicated handlers and well-trained dogs are required for the use of dogs to be effective in search efforts...
s due to their keen sense of smell, stamina and endurance. Tamaskans can also be successfully trained as therapy or assistance dogs due to their friendly and laid-back personality. As a breed they are very social and are good with people, children, and other dogs, as well as other family pets (cats, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, parakeets, etc.). However, Tamaskan Dogs do not cope well without company and if left alone for long periods of time they may become bored, which can lead to destructive behavior and/or escape attempts. Moreover, Tamaskan Dogs love to dig holes and can pull quite strongly on the leash; both traits they have inherited from their arctic heritage. However, unlike some of their husky ancestors, Tamaskans generally respond well off the leash and, with a small amount of training, will return when called.
Health
Overall the Tamaskan breed is very healthy with only a few notable health issues, which only affect a very small percentage of the bloodlines to date. Roughly 10% of males, as with all other dog breeds, suffer from cryptorchidismCryptorchidism
Cryptorchidism is the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum. It is the most common birth defect regarding male genitalia. In unique cases, cryptorchidism can develop later in life, often as late as young adulthood. About 3% of full-term and 30% of premature infant boys are born with at...
: undescended testes. With these cases, usually only one testicle fully descends within the scrotum, while the other testicle remains "hidden" up within the abdominal cavity. Epilepsy
Epilepsy in animals
Epilepsy can occur in animals other than humans . It is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Canine epilepsy is often genetic. Epilepsy in cats and other pets is rarer, likely because there is no hereditary component to epilepsy in these animals.-Canine epilepsy:In dogs, epilepsy is...
has been diagnosed in three dogs, affecting less than 1% of all registered Tamaskans worldwide. Several dogs have been found to be carriers of Degenerative Myelopathy
Canine degenerative myelopathy
Canine degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 7 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination in the hind limbs...
so it is very important that all breeding dogs are DNA tested for DM so as to prevent the creation of sufferers of this genetic disease. As with all large breed dogs, hip dysplasia is a risk; however, due to the work of the Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) and strict health requirements, which ensure that only dogs with good hip scores are allowed to breed, this risk has been greatly reduced.
History
Utonagan
The Utonagan is a breed of dog that resembles a wolf, but in fact is a mix of three breeds of domestic dog: Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky.-Appearance:...
, Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in north-eastern Siberia. The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family...
, Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is a generally large breed of domestic dog originally bred for use as a utilitarian dog and later an Alaskan sled dog. They are sometimes mistaken for a Siberian Husky, but in fact are quite different in many ways...
, German Shepherd and other arctic breeds including Finnish racing huskies (unregistered huskies and husky crosses bred for competitive sled racing in Lapland). Each dog was carefully selected for its appearance, intelligence, temperament and health.
The first Tamaskans to be imported into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
arrived in 2005 and they had their first litters in 2007. Since that time the Tamaskan's popularity has grown exponentially and there are now many TDR-registered breeders worldwide.
The Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) consists of an international committee and is the official Governing Body and Registration Database for all Tamaskan Dogs worldwide. The TDR maintains the pedigree and health records for all authentic, registered Tamaskans. The Tamaskan Dog Society of Great Britain (TDSGB), the National Tamaskan Club of America (NTCA), the National Tamaskan Club of Canada (NTCC), European Tamaskan (EuroTam), and the Tamaskan Dog Showing Club (TDSC) are all affiliated with the TDR.
Famous Tamaskan Dogs
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, a BBC television programme for children. Kenai also starred as a wolf in the 2005 short film, Peleus, which was produced by Real Impact Productions. In 2009, Kenai was featured as the face of Okami (Japanese for "Wolf" as well as "God") at the grand opening of the company's new UK branch.
In 2007, Two Socks at Moonstone partook in promotional photography for the English hardcore punk band Gallows
Gallows (band)
Gallows are a hardcore punk band from Watford, England. The band was formed in 2005 after the disbandment of founding member Laurent Barnard's previous band, My Dad Joe. Gallows' debut album, Orchestra of Wolves, was distributed in the United States by Epitaph Records, and they were subsequently...
for their album Orchestra of Wolves
Orchestra of Wolves
Orchestra of Wolves is the debut album by English Hardcore punk band Gallows. Produced by Banks of fellow Hertfordshire band Haunts, released by In at the Deep End Records on 25 September 2006. A limited edition was re-issued in the United Kingdom in June 2007 with a bonus disc featuring live...
. In October 2007, a Tamaskan named Genghis Khan featured as a wolf in a music video for the band Lucretia Choir.
In September 2010, a Tamaskan named Wave became the official Live Mascot of North Carolina State University's football team: NC State Wolfpack
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
. Wave (aka "Tuffy") now attends most home games and can be seen stalking around the sidelines.