Fun Greenland Dog Facts For Kids

The Greenland dog is the moniker given to the large breed of dogs that look like huskies. They are kept as sled dogs in northern Europe.

The Greenland dog's origin story is very interesting as the Thule people brought them from Siberia to North America over 1000 years ago. They are called by many names in different languages such as Kalaallit Qimmiat in Greenlandic, Grønlandshund in Danish, Kalaallit qimmiat in Qimmeq, along with Grønlandshund and Grünlandshund or the Esquimaux Dog.

The Greenland dog is considered to be a national and cultural icon of Greenland, and efforts are being made to preserve the dog and its purity.

The fall in the number of pure Greenland dogs has also worried people leading to several conservation projects which ensure that the sledding culture, knowledge, and use of the dog breed are not lost due to health issues and climate change.

Keep reading to learn and know more interesting facts about the Greenland dog.

If you liked this article with amazing facts about the Greenland dog, check out the Alaskan husky and the Shih Tzu.

Greenland Dog Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Greenland Dog?

The Greenland dog is a type of domestic dog breed.

What class of animal does a Greenland Dog belong to?

The Greenland dog belongs to the class Mammalia.

How many Greenland Dogs are there in the world?

As of 2016, it was estimated that there are approximately 15,000 Greenland dogs in the country of Greenland itself. However, dog researchers have not yet been able to estimate the exact population of Greenland dogs in the world.

Since the dog is bred by professional breeders to sell or adopt, it is harder to keep track of their numbers around the world.

Where does a Greenland Dog live?

The Greenland dog is primarily found in Europe (especially in Greenland and Siberia) and North America. Since they are bred by professional breeders - they can have owners from around the world and be living with them.

What is a Greenland Dog's habitat?

The Greenland Dog can easily survive in a climate where the temperature can drop as low as -35 to -75 F (-37 to -59 C). Due to its origins, the Greenland dog is more comfortable in a moderate to cold habitat and does not like excessive heat.

Therefore, any prospective owner must remember not to expose the dog to a harsh warm climate. The Greenland dog also prefers a lot of space to run around, so it is not comfortable for it to live in close, cramped apartments.

They can easily live outdoors while they are functioning as working dogs. Therefore, even in domestic environments, they need a proper, big yard to roam around comfortably.

Who do Greenland Dogs live with?

Greenland dogs can live in packs of other dogs while they are used as working dogs. When kept as pets, they can comfortably live with human beings and animals, including cats and other breeds of dogs.

How long does a Greenland Dog live?

The average Greenland Dog lifespan lies between 12-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

There is not much known about the reproductive cycle of Greenland dogs whose life expectancy is around 12-14 years. However, they follow the same pattern as other dogs, with breeding happening once the female dog reaches the estrus stage.

The average gestation period from the time of conception lasts for about 63 days. On average, a female Greenland dog gives birth to between four and six puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The Greenland dog has not yet been listed under the categories created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, it is a type of domestic dog, and domestic dogs have been listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Thus, we can assume the same for this breed. Yet, it must be noted that the numbers of this breed were thought to be in decline.

Greenland Dog Fun Facts

What do Greenland Dogs look like?

The Greenland dog is a large, heavily built dog with powerful features. It has a broad, wedge-shaped head with tilted eyes and small triangular ears.

Their body is covered with thick fur coat that protects them from frostbite in extremely cold temperature. Their curved tail protects the dog's face and nose when it is asleep. The thick, medium-length coat of the dog is mostly brown, dark grey, and white, and it consists of two layers - an inner layer and an outer layer.

Greenland dog colors can be varied, and one can see white Greenland dogs and black Greenland dogs. Their appearance resembles that of a Canadian Eskimo dog or a Siberian husky.

Most Greenland dogs in the Arctic regions have a triangle-shaped area on their shoulders called the úlo. It has been named so because it closely resembles a woman's knife in Greenland.

How cute are they?

Greenland dogs are extremely cute! With their furry bodies and sharp, pointed noses, and small triangular ears - they are one of the cutest dog breeds in the world. Even those who do not like dogs will want to pet them and cuddle them!

How do they communicate?

Greenland dogs, like other dog breeds, communicate with their owners primarily through sound and touch. These dogs are frequent barkers, and they can also go into a howling frenzy if they are not getting enough exercise. In addition to that, they convey their mood and expressions through their body language and physical expressions.

How big is a Greenland Dog?

A Greenland dog can grow as tall as 22-25in (56-64 cm) in height. Their height varies between the male and female members of the breed.

The male dogs are relatively larger compared to the female dogs as they can grow up to 23-27in (58-68 cm), and the size of the females lies between 20-24 in (51-61 cm). A giraffe is almost 10 times the size of a Greenland dog since they are as tall as 220 in or 18 ft (5.4 m)!

How fast can a Greenland Dog run?

Greenland dogs have large, powerful bodies along with strong legs that help them run quite fast. Therefore, they are used for hunting and racing as well.

How much does a Greenland Dog weigh?

The weight of a Greenland dog usually lies between the range of 66-70 lb (30-32 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Greenland dogs do not have separate names for referring to the male and female types of the species. The males are known as dogs and the females are known as bitches.

What would you call a baby Greenland Dog?

A baby Greenland dog does not have a separate, unique name. However, all baby dogs are called pups or puppies, so babies of this breed can be called Greenland dog puppies.

What do they eat?

Greenland dogs, with a life expectancy of 12-14 years, need a balanced diet that will support them through the thorough exercise they get daily. Like other dog breeds, their owner can choose from raw, homemade, or dry kibble options.

For a puppy, the food should come from a brand that contains the most nutrients along with vitamins, minerals, and calcium to keep them healthy.

An adult dog of this breed requires two full meals per day. Overeating will cause these dog breeds to gain more weight than required and make them overweight.

Are they slobbery?

Greenland dogs can be quite slobbery as they drool a bit more than the average amount exhibited by most breeds. Their drooling tendencies increase while drinking and chewing. They also shed quite a bit above average, especially during warmer times.

Would they make a good pet?

The Greenland dog would make a wonderful pet for any kind of family - with children or without due to their easy temperament. They are bold, strong, protective, independent, loyal, friendly, and energetic as well!

They are not very difficult to deal with but need a strong, experienced hand for training right from the time they are puppies. They are also very active dogs and need to stay active and busy, so they would fit right in with a family full of energetic children.

They have a very sociable and friendly temperament if they are trained to be so.

In addition to that, they can also suffer from health issues like hip dysplasia, so their owner will have to work hard to keep them healthy and active. They also need a lot of space to run around freely and regular grooming for their thick coat and tail.

Did you know...

A loyal Greenland sled dog named Polaris was the lead dog on Admiral Peary's expedition to the North Pole in 1909! Admiral Robert Peary was an explorer who took several such dogs on sleds with him to reach the North Pole. Polaris was then taken by Admiral Peary back to the United States of America.

It is assumed that the Chinook dog breed was created when a Greenland dog called Ningo had cross-breed babies with a Saint Bernard dog. Incidentally, Ningo was the granddaughter of Polaris!

Explorer Roald Amundsen also used Greenland dogs on sleds for his expedition to the South Pole.

Why are Greenland Dogs good sled dogs?

Greenland dogs function as good dogs for sleds because of their genetic makeup and powerful bodies, physical strength, and high endurance in difficult weather conditions. They have been working as draught animals in the Arctic regions for a long time.

Greenland dog sledding is very easy as they can travel rough terrains easily and maintain a good speed while they are at it. This loyal working dog is also used for hunting, pulling loads, and racing.

This working dog can even assist in hunting whales, polar bears, and seals.

They are not high-maintenance dogs, but they need consistent, patient trainers who will put a lot of time and energy into training these intelligent dogs. The working dog also follows their leader when roaming in a pack.

Having your own Greenland Dog

Having a Greenland dog as a pet is a laborious task as their owner would have to take care of them dedicatedly to keep them healthy. Buying a rare Greenland dog puppy would cost approximately $800.

In addition to that, there will be a variety of expenditures that their owner will have to make to maintain the dog. The average annual expenses for maintaining the dog will cost around $1000, with $270 being spent on their food.

Buying miscellaneous items such as toys for exercising, a dog bed or kennel, and a license will cost around $ 245. In addition to that, its medical expenses and insurance will cost around $485.

To take care of their Greenland dog properly, their owner would have to be very attentive and hardworking. The Greenland dog is protective and has an easy temperament.

However, this rare Arctic breed needs regular exercise and grooming to ensure its health as well as the shine and appearance of its coat and tail. They need to be taken on regular and daily brisk walks as a form of exercise.

The breed also suffers from genetic physical issues like hip dysplasia, bloating, or working injuries it may incur while on sleds. To keep it healthy, its owner must remember to make these animals exercise a lot to prevent injuries like hip dysplasia.

These rare animals also need a firm hand with training and socialization to encourage the positive traits of the breed and follow the leader when required. Otherwise, they can become too independent and stubborn.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the Newfoundland and the chow lab mix.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Greenland dog coloring pages.