Top Activities For Tamaskan Dogs

Introduction

Tamaskan Dogs, also known as Tams, are very different than your average hybrid dog. Whereas most hybrid dogs result from mixing two, no more than three, different dog breeds together, Tamaskan Dogs result from mixing a wide assortment of sled dogs together over the course of multiple generations. The pedigree of most Tamaskan Dogs contains Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and German Shepherd DNA, just to name a few of their predecessors. Their distinct parentage causes Tamaskan Dogs to heavily resemble wolves from a physical perspective, so much so that many Tams have been employed to act as wolves in a number of films over the years. Tams are willing to get involved with a number of the same activities that their parent breeds do - we'll discuss a few of those activities down below to give you an idea.

Mushing

Popular

0 Votes

Cold Day

Moderate

Hard

1 hr

Items needed

Mushing Equipment

Snow Attire

waste bags

Activity description

Mushing refers to any method of dog powered transportation in which a person, or a small group of people, is pulled along by a dog, or a small group of dogs. Snow dogs like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are among some of the world's most renowned mushing dogs as they are very obedient and respectful breeds. Interestingly enough, Tamaskan Dogs have also garnered a reputation as reliable and proficient mushing dogs, despite their incredibly small numbers. Due to their friendly temperaments and snow dog pedigrees, Tamaskan Dogs often end up serving as extremely effective members of mushing teams. Mushing activities require very specific pieces of equipment which tend to cost around $150 to $200 to attain as well as a few pieces of general dog equipment like harness and bungee cables (which can be bought for about $50.) Cold weather provides ideal conditions for mushing activities, so you may have to do a bit of travelling to get to an area with enough snow as well.

Step

1

Interpreting commands

A dog has to be able to understand vocal commands and follow them in order to become a reliable mushing dog. You can teach your dog how to understand and follow commands by having them physically act out a movement while you issue the corresponding command. You can teach your dog how to move forward on command by leading them forward with a leash and saying "hike" as the both of you move. Once your dog starts moving on command without the need for you to lead them, you'll know they've got a command down pat.

Step

2

Dress rehearsals

In the same way that stage actors have dress rehearsals before they have a big show, you'll want to complete a few dress rehearsals with your pet before the two of you actually set foot in the snow. Outfit your dog with their harness and then go for a walk around the block. To make things really interesting, try jogging with your dog and then issuing commands to get your dog to speed up, slow down, turn left or right, and stop.

Step

3

On to mushing

Once the basics are mastered, you can venture to a mushing venue where it is likely that your dog will undertake further mushing lessons. The two of you have a headstart on the game, so no doubt, once your Tamaskan gets used to the sled, you will be mushing in no time. Before this though, your dog will learn how to work in a team or duo.

Visit Finland

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Expensive

Normal

72 hrs

Items needed

Leash

Food and Bowl

Dog Bed

Climate Appropriate Clothes

Activity description

Finland is actually the origin place of the Tamaskan Dog; it was here that Tams were first bred into existence to serve as a creature that looks like a wolf but acts like a dog. We think it'd be pretty cool to take your Tamaskan Dog on a trip with you to their homeland. In Finland, you and your dog will find a number of dog-friendly venues and vistas as well as plenty of friendly Finnish folk during our stay. A round trip plane ticket to Finland from the US for three days is not unattainable; you will need to price lodgings for about 3 days too, so you'll want to save up for this trip. You'll also want to plant what time of the year you plan on visiting Finland; you can visit anytime you'd prefer so long as you bring weather appropriate attire.

Step

1

Guesthouse Harriet

The Guesthouse Harriet is a humble inn that allows visitors to bring their dogs with them for an additional charge of ten Euros per night. The Guesthouse Harriet has a lot of wide open space and greenery for you and your dog to play in, as well as a nice patio area to have meals at your leisure. Pack a dog bed and food and check this accommodation out.

Step

2

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna is a gargantuan forest that's been around for more than 260 years. It's the perfect place to go hiking and partake in sight seeing activities, as well as for playing more traditional games like fetch or hide and seek. What makes Suomenlinna so interesting is the history behind the location as well as its significance to Finland as a country.

Wolf Sanctuary

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Moderate

Easy

45 min

Items needed

Dog Leash

Waste Bags

Activity description

Tamaskan Dogs get confused for wolves on a daily basis. We find this phenomenon to be incredibly interesting because all a person would need to do is compare a picture of a Tam to a full-fledged wolf to instantly see the vast differences between the two creatures. Better yet, a person could visit a wolf sanctuary that's open to the public with a Tamaskan Dog by their side and compare the two creatures in person. You can visit a wolf sanctuary that allows visitors during just about any kind of weather, as these areas usually have some sort of enclosure to protect animals and people from the elements.

Step

1

Wolf sanctuary etiquette

Most wolf sanctuaries that allow visitors will lay out their code of conduct so that everyone can have a fun and safe time. The sort of rules outlined in most sanctuaries' codes of conduct are things like not feeding your pet in front of the wolves, not making unnecessarily loud noise, and not taking flash photos of the wolves.

Step

2

Not so different...

Tams aren't just mistakenly identified as wolves by humans; the very inhabitants of the sanctuary will be mystified to see a dog that looks just like them. Your Tam will equally be perplexed by these strange creatures that definitely have canine qualities but are still definitively different than themselves. Wolves aren't a particularly hostile breed animal so feel free to take your Tam as close as you can so that they can get up close and personal with some of their distant relatives.

More Fun Ideas...

Dog Puzzles

Tamaskan Dogs have inherited the intelligence of Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds, so these pups tend to become great problem solvers naturally. To help refine a Tamaskan Dog's problem-solving capabilities, let them play with a few dog puzzles so that they can use their impressive intellects to complete puzzles and earn rewards.

Service Dog Training

The friendly disposition of the Tamaskan Dog, combined with its incredible ability to understand and execute orders, makes them prime service dog material. If you'd like to commend a Tamaskan Dog to service dog work, or if you're looking to teach your pet a few service dog skills for your own benefit, then we heavily encourage you to give it a try.

Hidden Food

A great way to test your Tam's brain power is to get some of their food and hide it in a cardboard box while your Tam isn't currently with you. Place the box near your Tam and wait for them to start sniffing around in an attempt to find the source of their food. Once they correctly start sniffing the box, open it up and reward your dog. Up the number of boxes involved in this game to make things more interesting.

Conclusion

We appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read our guide on Tamaskan Dogs, which we hope has helped to paint a very vivid picture of what these dogs are like in your mind. Tams are actually an incredibly rare breed, as the process one must undergo to actually breed one is very complex and hard to successfully replicate. The Tamaskan Dog's small numbers, combined with their wolf-like appearance, has led to a lot of misinformation about this particular breed. Should you adopt one, hopefully you can become an advocate for these misunderstood dogs and help dispel a number of the rumors surrounding Tams as a whole.