Activities For Greenland Dogs
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
To clear up any confusion, we're not going to be talking about dogs that just so happen to live in the country of Greenland for this guide. Rather we're talking about a specific breed of Husky-type dog that was bred for the purpose of helping the members of the ancient Thule tribe out as mushing dogs and hunting companions. Greenland Dogs have very thick and fluffy coats that help them endure the cold climate of Greenland, as well as most other cold environments, with relative ease. They also have strong builds that help them power through snowy and rugged terrain. Overall, Greenland Dogs have a wealth of natural attributes that help them complete many physical activities without much difficulty.
Strength Training
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Easy
35 min
Items needed
Fetching Items
Weighted Dog Vest
Activity description
It's actually easier to strength train a dog than most might think; you can take your dog to an area that's positioned on an incline and play with your dog there or you can get a specially made weighted vest and have your pet wear it while the two of you go for a walk. Greenland Dogs will need to develop their muscles to be able to mush through the snow, so this activity is a must if you're looking to go sledding with your Greenland Dog. You can get the items needed to try this activity for around $20 or $30 bucks either online or from a local pet store.
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Incline fetch
Playing fetch with your dog on an inclined surface counts as strength training because your pet's legs will have to work extra hard to compensate for the unique angle of the environment. You'll probably end up feeling the burn as well from simply walking up and down the inclined area, so imagine that feeling pulsating throughout all four of your limbs! That's what your Greenland Dog will be experiencing while playing fetch on an inclined surface.
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Weighted vest
A weighted vest will help your Greenland dog build muscle as well, so long as they're wearing it while staying active. The next time you plan on taking a walk with your dog, outfit them with one of these weighted vests so that their bodies will work harder to compensate for the added weight. Your dog will move at a slower pace initially but as their muscles get stronger, they'll be able to move with much greater ease. Additionally, when starting out with a weighted vest, keep your walks short, gradually increasing them as your Kangal Dog gets stronger.
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Mushing
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Cold Day
Expensive
Hard
45 min
Items needed
Dog Sled
Mushing Harness
Bungee Cables
Activity description
There's quite a bit of confusion between what exactly constitutes sledding as opposed to what constitutes mushing, so we'd like to take some time to clarify the difference between the two terms before going forward; sledding simply refers to the act of using a sled to travel through the snow while mushing refers to dog powered travel. We mentioned earlier that Greenland Dogs were bred for this particular activity and we still stand by that statement; Greenland Dogs genetically have everything they need to handle the cold weather and rugged terrain associated with mushing right off the bat - all they really need is the proper training and guidance to excel at this activity. Most of the money you'll have to spend in order to train your Greenland Dog will be on the sled you'll need to buy for your pet, as well as the harness and cables. Altogether, it'll take about $300 or so to train your pet in the art of mushing.
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Basic commands
Though this is the least physically intensive aspect of this activity, it's no less important than the more physical aspects. Before you take your dog out to go mushing through the snow, they'll need to understand a number of basic commands. You can do this by physically helping your dog understand the specific motion or maneuver to each command while issuing out an accompanying phrase; encouraging your dog to trot forward while saying "hike" will help them eventually associate the command with moving forward. Helping them slow down while saying "easy" will help them relate the command to slowing down, and so forth.
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Simulated training
We don't mean simulated in the "The Matrix, false reality" sense of the word. Rather we mean that you can simulate the feel of pulling a person around by attaching a flat wooden board to your Greenland Dog's harness and then encouraging them to simply walk around with the added weight attached. You can add more weight on top of the board to provide a greater challenge for your dog before you eventually let them tug their sled around without anyone on it.
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Slow and steady
When you finally do attempt to mush with your dog, try to keep things slow early on. The slower your dog is moving, the more control you'll be able to exercise. We suggest only speeding things up once you and your Greenland Dog have both become comfortable with this activity. We'd like to especially encourage you to keep things slow if the area the two of you will be mushing in has a lot of trees or other precarious hazards.
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Ice Fishing
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Cold Day
Expensive
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Fishing Equipment
Snow Gear
Fishing Sled
Activity description
Ice fishing is an activity that really tests one's patience more than anything else; it's a waiting game that can go on for quite some time, with long stretches of quiet and stillness in between catches. Dogs that are more antsy and fidgety probably wouldn't like this activity much, but Greenland Dogs not only have the perfect kind of personality for ice fishing but will also be eager to help you out as best as they can. Greenland Dogs will be able to haul fishing sleds around to assist in this activity, which can be filled with fishing equipment as well as all of your catches for the day. A quality fishing sled usually costs about $100, with quality fishing rods and lines costing about $60 to $100 or more. This can be a pricey activity, but it can also be a very relaxing one to try out if you live in, or plan on visiting, an area with weather that's cold on a regular basis.
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Understanding ice fishing
Ice fishing is a lot like traditional fishing, only you'll be attempting to reel fish in from a small hole in a patch of ice as opposed to casting a lure out in a wide body of water. Like we mentioned before, most of the time you'll be waiting around patiently for a fish to take the bait. Many people use this time to meditate, read books or newspapers, or simply appreciate the silence and detachment from their hectic city lives. Greenland Dogs know how to appreciate a good silence, so that's why they make excellent companions for this activity.
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When dog meets sled
One of the first things you'll want to do is let your dog get used to the weight and feel of the fishing sled long before the two of you set out for icier pastures. Using the rope that comes with your fishing sled, fasten the sled to a harness that your dog can wear and then let them walk around with the empty sled in tow. You might notice that your Greenland Dog will initially begin to walk at a different pace - that's just them adapting to the strange device you've tethered to them. Eventually, they'll get used to the sled and will be able to walk unimpeded.
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Training your fishing assistant
With enough time and practice, you can train your dog to be able to recognize different pieces of fishing equipment by name; you can do this by getting your dog's attention, holding the fishing rod in front of them, constantly referring to the object as a "rod" while your dog's looking at it, and then asking them to "get the rod" from the sled or wherever you've last placed it. This step will be a lot easier for a dog who's undergone a bit of obedience training, so that's another activity to consider trying out with your Greenland Dog (especially given the fact that Greenland Dogs take instructions very well).
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Skijoring
Skijoring is a lot like skiing, only you'll be relying on your dog to pull you through the snow. This activity requires you and your pet to have a strong bond and great rapport, as you'll be issuing commands while relying on your pet to execute them in order to effectively steer and control your speed. Skis, a skijoring harness, and a tether will cost about $100 all together, but there are a few places you can go to get these items at a discounted price.
Snow Treasure Hunting
As the name implies, this activity is essentially just a modified version of a classic game of treasure hunting. It might actually be easier for most folks to engage in this version of treasure hunting with their pets, as they won't need a shovel or any special pieces of equipment to bury their pet's treats under the snow. You can try this activity out for less than $20 as you won't have to pay for anything other than items and maybe a parking spot.
Obedience Training
The easy going attitude that most Greenland Dogs have by default make it easier for them to complete obedience training courses than other, more hyperactive breeds. If you're interested in improving the already formidable bond that exists between you and your Greenland Dog, consider singing up for a few obedience training courses with your dog. The cost of an obedience trainer varies from person to person, but they usually don't cost less than $50 a session.
Conclusion
We talked a lot about the Greenland Dog's physical attributes but there's quite a lot more that can be said about their temperaments and personalities; as with most other snow dogs, Greenland Dogs are fairly stoic and even tempered most of the time. So if you're seriously thinking about adopting a dog but are worried about things like excessive barking or anxious behavior, then the Greenland Dog might be a great fit for you due to their overall calm and relaxed personalities. If you live a warm environment and are worried about potentially overheating this dog, then look for ways to bring your pet to a cooler climate on a regular basis.