Facts about the Greenlandic Slegdedog

Many hunters in Greenland live in harmony with their slegdedogs. Unfortunately just like in other parts of the world, there will always be cases on dog abuse, but this does not justify a boycotting an entire country. Such threats can easily be taken as an expression of a condecension towards a different culture.

Greenland Home Rule Government Veterinarian Department have veterinarians working in North Greenland. Their job is to supervise and take care of about 21,000 sledgedogs in a district which covers more than the half of the country. The veterinarians organize information campaigns about dog-care. They also cooperate with the municipalities, hunters associations as well as the media and distribute instruction memos about the legislation, diseases, vaccines and medicine.

The Greenlandic Slegdedog lives outdoors all of its life and can cope with all kinds of weather in arctic climate. The slegdedog has a thick fur, which protects it from the extreme temperatures in its natural environment. A natural fed slegdedog has a thick insulating layer of fat under its skin. It is a strong dog in need of substantial exercise, which is why it has been used as a draught animal for at least 2,000 years, first of all by Inuit hunters and also in the past 2 centuries by polar explorers from all over the world.
The Slegdedog also has a strong predatory instinct, which is very useful for the hunter. It is also very territorial and likes to protect its own area, especially against strangers.

In North Greenland, it is normal for a hunter to keep around 10 to 20 slegdedogs. The dogs have a strong hierarchy. Dogs that like each other are normally placed together, in that way, their needs as herd animals are covered. The dogs are kept tethered in chains to protect humans. The chain also protects the weaker dogs from being attacked by the stronger ones. The puppies are kept unleashed. The dog-owner is obligated – by law - to give the pregnant or breastfeeding dog access to a kennel or a run, so the dog can take good care of their puppies.

A hunter uses a whip for steering purposes by whipping beside the slegdedog track. The hunter does not strike the dogs. There is a dog-leader in the pack, who leads the way for the others.

Greenland Home Rule condemns all forms of abuse of the Greenlandic sledgedog. If the owner does not take good care of the dogs, the owner can be fined or removed of his right to keep dogs for at least a year or possibly even for good. The Greenland Home Rule Government Veterinarian Department and dogslegde-drivers organisation, Kalaallit Nunaanni Qimussertartut Kattuffiat, are in cooperation continuing giving courses in dog-care.

Solving the problems in slegdedog keeping is also a matter of changing attitudes amongst individuals and that is a long term process.

Thank you for your time.