Northern Inuit/British Timber Dogs

[CatchIt]

Hello!

I'm looking to see if any MNers have either of the above breeds. I'm looking to get one in 2019 when dd is nearly 8 and ds will be 3.

A bit of background, we currently have a Malamute bitch, she's 9 and is a nice dog. However, she's very much dh's dog and isn't great with other dogs out and about but is ok with other dogs of the same type like other Mals, Sibes etc. She's ok with the children and tolerates them but we're obviously careful that neither children are left alone with her.

Im a sahm and I have a horse. I want a dog that I can take hacking with me and therefore will be more trainable than a Mal.

I'd like to take the new dog gun dog training as I feel it would benefit the dog long term. Our yard (where I keep the horse) is very dog oriented and would provide the perfect opportunity for dog socialisation and we have a massive garden so I'm sure I've got all bases covered.

I've met one NI and he was gorgeous, very friendly and well behaved. His owner told me about the breeder she got him from and I'd like to start there.

Can anyone tell me if they have one and what life is like with them? I'm good with large breeds, training etc but really want to know what their trainability is like and anything else coming from someone who has one.

Many thanks!

Health: there are health problems such as epilepsy, von willibrand, hip dysplasia etc. If you get from a breeder ask what health tests they do.
I've known some die tragically young, usually from epilepsy but equally my old girl is still going strong with just some anti inflammatory tablets for touch of arthritis. She is a rescue but we were able to trace her bloodline and she came from good stock.
Some insurance companies won't cover them (often supermarket ones) but we've never had any problems and the premiums haven't been any different to other large breeds.
Training: we had great success with clicker training (as I strongly believe can be done with any type but some are easier than others) and she has always been allowed off lead with excellent recall. Having said that I wouldn't be confident if having one follow at foot when riding - like all sled dogs they do have a high prey drive and you don't have the same level of control on top a horse if they spotted something. Ours used to come to the stables and loved eating all the poo ;) she did come out on a hack but only if being walked by a person on foot

Temperament: in some ways it is a good mix. The GSD eagerness to please and be trained helps calm down the husky /mal side and equally their natural confidence helps boost the GSD's natural worrying nature.
They are easier to train generally than a pure husky or mal (generally speaking) and tend to be more social than Mals - but equally watch out for entire males just the same as malamutes.
Mine has a host of behavioural problems but that is because she was treated horrendously before we got her. There are also loads in rescue - often through not fault of their own and many would make amazing family pets. Plus if get an adult dog you will be able to see if have any health issues as they usually come out around 1 years old.
Like all sled dog types they shed more hair than seems physically possible, do need a lot of physical and mental exercise or can get very destructive and I also wouldn't trust them around cats. I know several sled dog rescues who won't rehome any type/breed with cats unless can be kept separate - they can live together peacefully but then injure just in play.
And you are right, dogs and small children should never ever be left alone together. We do not allow ours to mix now unless closely supervised as she is so old - would be too easy for something to go wrong and I would consider the same with any type of dog.
In short, if you have experience with any of the sled dog breeds or even a GSD you would have an idea of what getting self into. They are easier in many ways than pure breds (usually...) but are still not an easy type. Hope that's of help and happy to answer any questions :)

“I want a dog that I can take hacking with me”.
I own a horse and a very well behaved small non intimidating dog with excellent recall a non existent low prey drive and live in a rural area. I wouldn’t take my dog hacking with me in a million years.

1. I might meet another horse who is scared of dogs and obviously could put my dog on a lead if I was on the back of a horse unless I was going to get off.
2. I might meet a person who was scared of dogs and couldn’t get put my dog on a lead etc etc.
3. I might meet a another dog who was scared of dogs etc etc.
4. I couldn’t hand on heart guarentee my very well behaved non existent/low prey drive dog wouldn’t chase livestock. I also believe farmers can shoot a loose dog in a field of livestock even if it’s nit doing anything.
5. When I hack out I concentrate on my horse, how it’s going is it straight moving from behind is he in a relaxed longish outline swinging along etc but I’m also look out for potential problems, meeting a big tractor on a narrow road etc even the quietest horse can have a mad moment. When I walk my dog I’ve always got 1/2 an eye out for dogs on leads (when mine isn’t), nervous looking children, livestock that weren’t there yesterday etc. Can you honestly say you can concentrate on your horse and the dog?
6. You may be a world class dog trainer but most of the rest of us are just making a fair stab at it and some are crap, what will you do if your dog is attacked by another badly dog you happen to meet? Get off your horse tie it up whilst you sort it out, but maybe there’s no where to tie it maybe you horse is frightened by the dogs fighting and get agitated then what?
7. Or you dog has a moment of uncharacteristic naughtiness and goes through a hedge into a field and you need to go and get it back but you can’t take the horse then what?
8. And what about traffic?

Even if you have the best trained dog in the world unless you ride in an area where you can absolutely guarentee you’ll never meet another dog human horse traffic or livestock then I think hacking with a loose dog as lovely and romantic as it sounds is utterly irresponsible.

Brilliant post Happygardening.

Agree that hacking with any breed of dog is a silly idea but with the type OP is on about it would be madness.

I actually get the feeling OP that you don’t have much of a clue.

Have you considered a Samoyed? Not quite as "wolfy" looking but honestly IMO the best dogs ever, excellent temperament, friendly, playful, energetic etc.

Tamburlane your dogs are gorgeous! I want one of them now...

Timber Dogs owned by us

We have 8 as mentioned earlier none have health issues all have been health tested extensively and all pups i have bred inuit and timbers have all been healthy. Ive had them for 12 yrs. Ive never had any major behavioural issues other than distruction in the early days. Training is key. If you dont eant to donate the time then defo not the dog for you. I actually do have a couple that hack out with horses with their owners. It can be done with correct training and a good bond wirh owner. Its a personal choice for their owners. They are not the breed for everyone.

Check out Shima Onida. A dog breeder who is very, very ethical and she is extremely knowledgeable about all wolf like breeds - timbers, northern inuits, timber, all of them

OP: I'm thinking of getting a NI, I have done a bit of research, these are the characteristics I'm after. Does anyone have this specific breed and can give their opinion?

1st Post: You should get a Labrador

Oh MN

No wonder the OP is getting pissed off, if you don't have or know the breed, why comment on a post specifically asking about that breed? It just gets in the way of people who can actually answer her question, like the last 2 pp.

Zombie thread FYI. I remember it from first time round as the OP's fixation on getting a wolfie - type dog against all odds was quite entertaining Wonder if she ever took the plunge.

Oops! Wonder why random threads get dragged back up again?
I'm sure she is happily galloping through the woods with a majestic wolfdog running alongside.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Zombie thread FYI. I remember it from first time round as the OP's fixation on getting a wolfie - type dog against all odds was quite entertaining Wonder if she ever took the plunge.

I did actually. He's now 6 months old and he's amazing. Training is going well, obviously I haven't hacked out with him as he's only a puppy but he does come out with me as my dad enjoys walking him with me.

He's super smart and he's great with the kids, super fun and watching them play in the garden together is wonderful.

It took longer than I hoped as this dramatically changed at the end of 2019 by me leaving my husband after he started getting violent so everything went up in the air and I turned a puppy down as the timing wasn't right.

Then obviously covid, so another delay but I finally got him in the summer last year. He's a wonderful dog and I genuinely couldn't ask for more.

@Nesssie

Oops! Wonder why random threads get dragged back up again? I'm sure she is happily galloping through the woods with a majestic wolfdog running alongside.

Not yet, he's only 6 months old and training is still ongoing. I'll make sure to post a video of that magnificent day just for you though 😉

Agree with PP about being hard to train. I've had a NI mix and whilst a lovely dog, a nightmare to train. Had a complete mind of its own. I also think these dogs fare much better in northern climes such as Canada. What about a Samoyed. I've had one of those too and was fairly easy to train if I recall but has the robustness of other husky type dogs.

I think any husky is a big task to take on and you need to know what you are doing (sounds like you do). I lived in the wilderness with mine, would not have one in an urban area

Omg apologies zombie thread. Argh that's ten minutes of my life I won't get back 😅