Monday, March 7, 2011

Breed Time Line

The first of the wolf look alike breeds known today started in 1921 by Dutch dog breeder Leendert Saarloos (1884 - 1969). His ultimate goal was to create "a new and genetically rejuvenated dog breed" by crossing a German Shepherd dog named Gerard Van Fransenum with a female European she-wolf named Fleur. [1]

In 1955, ing. Karel Hartl came up with the idea to combine the useful qualities of the wolf with those of the dog as a military working dog for the CSSR. The first litter from this experiment was born in 1958 from a European she-wolf named Brita and a German Shepherd named Cezar z Brezoveho hagi. [2]

It was after the Saarlooswolfhond and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog were recognized by official organizations that the first wolf look-alike dog breeds (presumably without wolf content) were started.

The first began in 1987 by Edwina (Eddie) Harrison, who imported five northern-type dogs from the USA to England. Her goal was to produce wolf looking dogs that were compatible as family pets. Shortly thereafter, in 1988, the offspring were named Northern Inuit - however, an official breed club was not established until several years later. [3]

Meanwhile, in 1991, Ann Dresselhaus began crossbreeding several different dog breeds from many different dog types [4], with the intent to create a wolf looking dog breed capable of almost any kind of work.

In 1996-97, the Northern Inuit society was finally formed to keep track of the emerging breed. However, there were many different opinions from breeders in this new society, and around 1999 - 2002, a portion of the breeders took stock from the Northern Inuit society and other founder breeds to create their new dog: the Utonagan. After years of careful selective breeding, the Utonagan and Northern Inuit are now phenotypically different. [5]

After disputes in the Utonagan society, a third split occurred in 2005 - 2006 resulting in the formation of the Tamaskan Dog breed [6]. Using Utonagans, Northern Inuits, and Finnish Racing Huskies, the Tamaskan Dog breeding program has recently (2011) produced its sixth generation of registered dogs and the Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) disputes any claim of any wolf content. [7]

This controversy of wolf content, plus controversy surrounding the breeding stock of the Tamaskan, the breeding practices of the TDR, and politics surrounding the breed are the primary reasons a small contingent of Tamaskan breeders broke away from the TDR and found the Aatu Tamaskan in 2009 [8] . Using registered Tamaskan Dogs and some new outcrosses, the Aatu Tamaskan hopes to fulfill the same goal as the original Tamaskan: to produce a healthy wolf look-alike with both working ability and family compatibility. [9]

One of their outcross dog breeds is the Alaskan Noble Companion Dog. The same dog breed started in 1991 by Ann Dresselhaus. The Aatu Tamaskan hopes to introduce this new foundation stock to the breed in 2011. [10]
  • 1921 — Leendert Saarloos begins crossbreeding German Shepherd Dogs with wolves.
  • 1955 — Mr. Ing. Karel Hartl begins crossbreeding German Shepherd Dogs with wolves.
  • 1975 — The Dutch Kennel Club recognizes the Saarlooswolfhond as a new breed.
  • 1981 — The FCI recognizes the Saarlooswolfhond as a new breed.
  • 1982 — The Cynologic Organization in Czechoslovakia recognizes the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog as a new breed.
  • Around 1987 — Edwina (Eddie) Harrison begins crossbreeding northern and herding breeds.
  • 1991 — Ann Dresselhaus begins crossbreeding herding, northern, retriever, sheep guarding, and sighthound breeds.
  • 1996-97 — The Northern Inuit emerged from Eddie's foundation dogs.
  • 1999 — The FCI recognizes the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog as a new breed.
  • 2002 — The Utonagan split from the Northern Inuit and today is considered by some to be a separate breed.
  • 2005-06 — The Tamaskan Dog breeding program began, with foundation dogs including Utonagan/Northern Inuits, and Finish Racing Huskies.
  • After 2007 — Right Puppy Kennel begins breeding the Tamaskan Wolfdog, using Tamaskan Dogs, wolf looking northern breeds, and possibly wolfdogs.
  • 2009 — Breeders who resigned from the Tamaskan Dog Register begin breeding the Aatu Tamaskan.

1. "Saarloos Wolfdogs Basic Info". Saarloos Wolfodgs on Facebook. 7 March 2011.
2. "History". Cheope: Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. 7 March 2011.
3. "Breed History". Wild Horizons Northern Inuit Dogs. 7 March 2011.
4. "Alaskan Noble Companion Dog". Buckhorn. 7 March 2011.
5. "Utonagan History". Twatha Utonagan. 7 March 2011.
6. "The History of the Tamaskan Breed". The Tamaskan Dog Register. 7 March 2011.
7. "Does the Tamaskan Dog Contain Wolf?". Tamaskan Dogs discussion on Facebook. 7 March 2011.
8. "Growth of the Aatu Tamaskan in the US". Tamaskan Breeders Association. 7 March 2011.
9. "The Aatu Tamaskan Breed Standard". Tamaskan Breeders Association. 7 March 2011.
10. "Introducing the Aatu Tamaskan". Buckhorn. 7 March 2011.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

The Tamaskan registry was doctored and it was discovered that the Czech wolf was introduced as foundation stock. The same goes for the Alaskan Noble Companion Dog. These are wolfdogs, plain and simple. I know, because I have one of Ann Dresselhaus' Alaskan Noble Companion Dogs; he has been a challenge, and we've spent tens of thousands of dollars in fencing, both above ground and undergroun, to keep him safe and contained; we love him dearly. I also researched her bloodlines. She has used wolves and wolfdogs for her foundation stock, but she refuses to admit these are wolfdogs. As a result, many of her dogs have had to be re-homed, put into wolf rescues and even one was put down, all because the unsuspecting buyers thought they were getting a dog that looks like a wolf. It's a dangerous and unfortunate road Dresselhus is taking, both for her wolfdogs and for her buyers. The Alaskan Noble Companion Dog is a wolfdog.

Unknown said...

Hi Diana.
I've had a utonagan for almost six years now from the Sulin line and I am totally convinced that she has quite a high content of wolf in her although none of the breeders are prepared to admit it. She is a constant challenge and I have considered re homing her on more than one occasion. I also have an Akita who is a big mush but has had to defend himself against her a few times now as she had attacked him, a couple of times when she was in season and once for no reason at all. Fortunately for her the Akita knows the command "drop it! " very well but she just went back for more!
She has a strong bond with me and would try and stop me from leaving the house by either biting me or jumping up at me and pushing me. I'm 4ft 9 and 6 and a half stone soaking wet and she has caused me injury more than a few times. Nearly six years on, she has gotten somewhat better but still has seperation anxiety if I leave her even if there's someone else in the house with her. She's overly demanding , stamps her feet like a spoiled two year old to get attention or treats (which I don't entertain I might add ) howls non stop if I'm not there, has a strong prey drive and doesn't like small children which is frightening to say the least. A year ago she bit a friend of ours and I tried at that point to find her a new home through the utonagan society and got no end of verbal abuse and assumptions that the problems we were facing with her were my fault and nothing to do with her having wolf content in her.
I am at a loss as to what to do with her short of doggy vallium.
I honstly think that if I re homed her she would bite someone else and be put down and I really don't know what else to do. I feel like a prisoner in my own home and her howling and constant winning for attention is driving us mad.
Both my fiance and I have had many dogs in the past and have never had any problems training them but this one has had us both questioning are affinity with animals.
Can you suggest anything we can do? And do you know for sure whether the Sulin line has got wolf in them?
My email is lydiasturges1967@gmail.com
Kind regards
Lydia

Unknown said...

Hi Diana.
I've had a utonagan for almost six years now from the Sulin line and I am totally convinced that she has quite a high content of wolf in her although none of the breeders are prepared to admit it. She is a constant challenge and I have considered re homing her on more than one occasion. I also have an Akita who is a big mush but has had to defend himself against her a few times now as she had attacked him, a couple of times when she was in season and once for no reason at all. Fortunately for her the Akita knows the command "drop it! " very well but she just went back for more!
She has a strong bond with me and would try and stop me from leaving the house by either biting me or jumping up at me and pushing me. I'm 4ft 9 and 6 and a half stone soaking wet and she has caused me injury more than a few times. Nearly six years on, she has gotten somewhat better but still has seperation anxiety if I leave her even if there's someone else in the house with her. She's overly demanding , stamps her feet like a spoiled two year old to get attention or treats (which I don't entertain I might add ) howls non stop if I'm not there, has a strong prey drive and doesn't like small children which is frightening to say the least. A year ago she bit a friend of ours and I tried at that point to find her a new home through the utonagan society and got no end of verbal abuse and assumptions that the problems we were facing with her were my fault and nothing to do with her having wolf content in her.
I am at a loss as to what to do with her short of doggy vallium.
I honstly think that if I re homed her she would bite someone else and be put down and I really don't know what else to do. I feel like a prisoner in my own home and her howling and constant winning for attention is driving us mad.
Both my fiance and I have had many dogs in the past and have never had any problems training them but this one has had us both questioning are affinity with animals.
Can you suggest anything we can do? And do you know for sure whether the Sulin line has got wolf in them?
My email is lydiasturges1967@gmail.com
Kind regards
Lydia

Unknown said...

Hi Diana.
I've had a utonagan for almost six years now from the Sulin line and I am totally convinced that she has quite a high content of wolf in her although none of the breeders are prepared to admit it. She is a constant challenge and I have considered re homing her on more than one occasion. I also have an Akita who is a big mush but has had to defend himself against her a few times now as she had attacked him, a couple of times when she was in season and once for no reason at all. Fortunately for her the Akita knows the command "drop it! " very well but she just went back for more!
She has a strong bond with me and would try and stop me from leaving the house by either biting me or jumping up at me and pushing me. I'm 4ft 9 and 6 and a half stone soaking wet and she has caused me injury more than a few times. Nearly six years on, she has gotten somewhat better but still has seperation anxiety if I leave her even if there's someone else in the house with her. She's overly demanding , stamps her feet like a spoiled two year old to get attention or treats (which I don't entertain I might add ) howls non stop if I'm not there, has a strong prey drive and doesn't like small children which is frightening to say the least. A year ago she bit a friend of ours and I tried at that point to find her a new home through the utonagan society and got no end of verbal abuse and assumptions that the problems we were facing with her were my fault and nothing to do with her having wolf content in her.
I am at a loss as to what to do with her short of doggy vallium.
I honstly think that if I re homed her she would bite someone else and be put down and I really don't know what else to do. I feel like a prisoner in my own home and her howling and constant winning for attention is driving us mad.
Both my fiance and I have had many dogs in the past and have never had any problems training them but this one has had us both questioning are affinity with animals.
Can you suggest anything we can do? And do you know for sure whether the Sulin line has got wolf in them?
My email is lydiasturges1967@gmail.com
Kind regards
Lydia

Rhiannon said...

Hello, thank you for this very useful timeline! I just learned of another breed you might be interested in researching. The Kunming Wolfdog. According to Wikipedia it is an established breed of wolfdog that originated in China.

Post a Comment

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Powered by Blogger