Greenland

65-72 lbs
20-24"
Greenland
Greenland Husky, Grønlandshund/Grünlandshund, Esquimaux Dog
One of the most ancient and rare breeds of dog in North America, the Greenland is a nearly timeless figure with an endless drive to work and play. Outside of Greenland itself, it's quite rare to find this breed, as their isolation, heavy coats, and unfaltering temperament hardly make them suitable for living outside an environment of this type. They sport an exceptionally thick double coat that allows them to survive in arctic temperatures comfortably (as low as -75° F) and even their furry pricked ears, the most exposed part of their body, rarely sees any signs of frostbite. Although they are quite affectionate and generally good with people, they require an experienced and consistently authoritative owner to keep them in check, often even after going through extensive training. They are easily one of the highest energy dogs around as they were bred to be working dogs since their origin and have a constant drive to work. Because of it, they have incredible stamina, which, paired with their powerful build, makes them perfect sled dogs. Historically, they've also been used to hunt polar bears and seals, as their nose and hunting instincts are well-established and their mental and physical toughness is nearly unrivaled. So while they may boast excellent working and some well-rounded personality traits, they rarely, if ever, do well in a home that is too small, does not provide the extensive exercise they need, or without a true alpha to command them.
purpose Purpose
Working, Hunting, Sled Dog
history Date of Origin
Ancient Times
ancestry Ancestry
Native Arctic Dog, Spitz-Type, Wolf

Greenland Health

Average Size
Male Greenland size stats
Height: 23-27 inches Weight: 65-72 lbs
Female Greenland size stats
Height: 20-24 inches Weight: 65-72 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Usually A Very Healthy Breed
Minor Concerns
  • Lens Luxation
  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Conditions
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Ear Infections
  • Gastric Torsion
  • Bloat
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination
  • Ear Examination

Greenland Breed History

The Greenland has an extensive history, most of which is undocumented due to its reach back into antiquity, going back as far as 12,000 years at its very earliest origins in Siberia. Historical evidences suggests that a dog very similar in appearance was brought to Greenland by the Sarqaq people, (called Saqqaq as well) also Siberian in origin, somewhere between 4000 and 5000 years ago but remains found on the New Siberian Islands may indicate the breed was already established nearly 7000 years ago, making it one of the oldest breeds in the world. European settlers like the Vikings were known to have learned hunting and sledding from the Inuits and trained dogs for those very purposes. It's believed that the Greenland reached the shores of England around 1750 but didn't appear in any notable capacity until a female was showcased at one of Britain's first dog shows in 1875. Although they were recognized by the Kennel Club in its earliest form in 1880, they were not recognized by the United Kennel Club until 1996. Throughout their history they have been paired with famous explorers in their arctic and antarctic adventures because of their exceptional stamina and power. Since the 1900's and the advent of other vehicles, their numbers have fallen but they are still in use in their home country and others with similar environments. They are still rarely seen outside of Greenland.

Greenland Breed Appearance

The Greenland is a powerful, muscular, and heavy-built dog standing around two feet tall and weighing around an average of 70 pounds with a heavy double coat (soft, wool-like inner layer and a coarse, waterproof outer layer) that protects them from water, cold and aggressive prey. Their fur is thinner around the face and legs, growing thicker down their neck, back and chest, and especially their curly tail that is so long it will form a full loop that rests off to one side of their hindquarters. They have a thick, wedge-shaped face like that of a wolf but with a shorter muzzle and pricked ears with thick fur to protect them from extreme cold. Their legs are heavily muscled and their paws show thick fur with large pads. Their coats come in a variety of colors including white, black, grey, brown, and red.
Eye Color Possibilities
blue Greenland eyes
Blue
hazel Greenland eyes
Hazel
brown Greenland eyes
Brown
amber Greenland eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Greenland nose
Black
brown Greenland nose
Brown
isabella Greenland nose
Isabella
Coat Color Possibilities
brown Greenland coat
Brown
red Greenland coat
Red
white Greenland coat
White
gray Greenland coat
Gray
black Greenland coat
Black
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Greenland wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Greenland Breed Maintenance

Although they have a considerable amount of fur, Greenland dogs take little maintenance compared to many other breeds. Their long coats need brushing 2 to 3 times a week to prevent matting and tangling but they shed very little overall and generally only need their feet trimmed on a regular basis to prevent matting as well. They need bathing only every 2 or 3 months and otherwise keep themselves quite clean. Because of their food intake, they will likely need regular tooth brushing and their nails will need to be trimmed at the owner's discretion.
Brushes for Greenland
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Dematter
Dematter
Scissors
Scissors
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Greenland requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Greenland Temperament

Although Greenlands are generally friendly towards people, they are usually only affectionate with one owner if at all, as they are largely independent and sometimes even a bit aloof. Even though they are quite intelligent, they take extensive training and an owner who constantly asserts authority to keep them in line even after training is completed or their strong-willed nature will make them frustratingly stubborn. Their energy levels are considered some of the highest of almost any breed which means they need nearly exhaustive exercise, as they often out-endure their owners. They have a steady drive for work which is why many become sled or hunting dogs and they will very easily become bored and frustrated if not given a purposeful task or consistent engagement. They are also highly boisterous when they play and due to their size and almost reckless behavior during playtime, need a big space to do so. Because of all these factors, they are not considered good family dogs, watch dogs or even companions, let alone dogs suited for apartments or mild to warm environments, and are mainly employed almost exclusively as a tireless working breed in cold climates. They are used to being one of many in a pack with an alpha leading them and even then, don't always get along.

Greenland Activity Requirements

Greenlands are one of the most high energy dogs around and need extensive exercise to even get close to tiring out. Owners should be ready to run them for miles on the daily, if not train them to be working or sledding dogs to keep them happy and healthy. They require hours of activity and generally need to be stimulated both physically and mentally on a constant basis, which means they will need considerable training and a purpose to keep from becoming frustrated, bored or destructive.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
20 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes
activity minutes

Greenland Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
4 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$2.00 - $4.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$50.00 - $70.00
food bag monthly cost

Greenland Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Greenland size stats at six months
Height: 17.5 inches Weight: 48.0 lbs
Female Greenland size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 48.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Greenland size stats at 12 months
Height: 21.5 inches Weight: 58.0 lbs
Female Greenland size stats at 12 months
Height: 18.5 inches Weight: 58.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Greenland size stats at 18 months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 68.5 lbs
Female Greenland size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 68.5 lbs

Greenland Owner Experiences

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