Eighteen-month-old Toadhall Spitzweg
                    Photo: Montcombroux

The Inuit Sled Dog Registry

by Geneviève Montcombroux

For those readers unfamiliar with the ISD Breed Registry, let me say that it is a record I have been keeping of all known purebred ISDs dating back to 1970. In short, a who's-who of the ISD world.

I have endeavored, thanks to the cooperation of many breeders and owners, to keep track of the birth of litters, to which sires and dams, to which breeders, and the subsequent movement of these dogs. Included are notes regarding any health and behavioral abnormalities.

The ISD Registry fulfills a vital function for the ISDI and for those involved with the breed. It provides potential breeders and owners with the necessary information to permit them to make wise decisions concerning breeding and ownership. In addition, the database keeps track of diseases, either acquired or inherited which, again, is a useful pool of knowledge that helps promote the general health of the breed.

Information from the database is provided free of charge (other than mailing costs) to anyone requesting it. Before acquiring a pup from a certain litter, or before they take over an adult dog, many owners seek background details from the Registry to help them with their decision-making. In the case of rescue dogs, it is extremely important to know the provenance of the animals before deciding where to place them.

There are, however, gaps in the records. Not every owner or breeder is as conscientious as we would like them to be in sending in details of litters and the movement of dogs. If you have ISDs that you believe are not listed in the central registry, please make the effort to email me the required information (<toadhall@mts.net> or <info@inuitsleddoginternational.com>). This small gesture will help keep our records current and ensure the valuable resource of the ISD Registry continues to be available.