The Fan Hitch Volume 6, Number 3, June 2004

Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog

Table of Contents

Editorial: Who Are You and What Do Want?
*
Fan Mail
*
F.I.D.O.: Ludovic Pirani
*
Geronimo's Travels
*
The Breeding and Maintenance of Sledge Dogs: Part I
*
How We Met Tom
*
Dog Yard Tips
*
Setting a New Standard
*
In the News
*
Behavior Notebook: Qiniliq and Sunny
*
IMHO: Unnecessary Roughness


Navigating This Site

Index of articles by subject

Index of back issues by volume number

Search The Fan Hitch


Articles to download and print

Ordering Ken MacRury's Thesis

Our comprehensive list of resources

Talk to The Fan Hitch

The Fan Hitch home page

ISDI home page


Editor's/Publisher's Statement
              Editor: Sue Hamilton
              Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
The Fan Hitch Website and Publications of the Inuit Sled Dog– the quarterly Journal (retired in 2018) and PostScript – are dedicated to the aboriginal landrace traditional Inuit Sled Dog as well as related Inuit culture and traditions. 

PostScript is published intermittently as material becomes available. Online access is free at: https://thefanhitch.org  PostScript welcomes your letters, stories, comments and The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.

Contents of The Fan Hitch Website and its publications  are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut  06791, USA or mail@thefanhitch.org

"A man's got to know his limitations." 
"Dirty" Harry Callahan, from the 1973 movie Magnum Force
Fan Mail.....


Not exactly Southern California           Nunavut Tourism photo

4/06/04

hi, 

i am a college student born and living in southern california. i have fallen in love with these dogs. i read about them and saw their pictures on a Smithsonian magazine article, and now i can't stop looking for photos and information about them on the internet. please tell me there is an affordable way to own one of these. i have to have one! write back

thank you,
j. c.
 

Greetings,

Your question about the cost of these dogs is a few steps ahead of the more basic questions you need to ask both of me and yourself. Why do you want to own this breed? Are you in a position to fulfill all the needs of an ISD, including its need to work as a sled dog? Assuming your plans do not include relocating to a more suitable climate than Southern California, do you think that keeping an ISD at that latitude is in the best interest of an ISD? In case you haven't yet had a chance to read through the wealth of material in the ISDI and The Fan Hitch journal pages, you will find it said on many occasions that the Inuit Sled Dog is NOT a pet. It is, just as a draft horse on a farm, a working animal. And although this dog, when properly raised, is very social to humans, its temperament is still that of a working animal, which makes it unsuitable for other lifestyles.

It is easy to understand how the Inuit Sled Dog attracts much attention and admiration by anyone who appreciates its natural beauty, athleticism and incredible work ethic. This image of the breed must be balanced against "owning a tiger by the tail". The very qualities that fascinate us also make the Inuit Sled Dog often difficult to manage, even under the best of circumstances and by experienced owners.

I am happy to answer any of your questions regarding the keeping and use of ISDs if this will help you to decide if an ISD is right for you and the breed.

Sue
 

Return to top of page