528 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Nansen's dogs were mostly of the white 

 or white and black Samoyede breed. Peary's 

 were of the larger and more wolf-like 

 Eskimo race. Both travellers have much 

 to say in their published records of the 

 working capabilities of their dogs, and 

 from them and the writings of other Arctic 

 and Antarctic explorers one gathers much 

 that is enlightening concerning the nature 

 of the various breeds. 



The Samoyede, or Laika, is the smaller 



YOUNG SAMOYEDES BY PETER THE GREAT ALASKA. 



BRED BY THE HON. MRS MCLAREN MORRISON. 



dog, and the less powerful, as it is also the 

 more decoratively beautiful, with its thick 

 fur of pure snowy white. Some of them are 

 entirely black with a white patch on the 

 chest, and many of the white ones have 

 black about the head, while occasionally 

 brown or fawn occurs ; but unblemished 

 white is the colour most admired, giving 

 distinction to the black nose and the bright 

 dark eyes. With its pointed muzzle, and 

 sharply erect ears, its strong, bushy tail, 

 and short body, the dog is ob\-iously of 

 Spitz type, but the wolf nature is always 

 more or less apparent, and one cannot doubt 

 that the white Arctic wolf has contributed 

 largely to its origin. In height the Samoyede 

 is from i8 to 22 inches; weight about 60 lb. 



The Eskimo, although less comely iii 

 appearance, is larger by a few inches, and 

 zoologically a more interesting dog, as 

 being much more nearly allied to the wolf. 

 Personally he is a sturdy, well-boned animal, 

 with excellent body qualities, and admirable 

 limbs. His resemblance to his wild relative 

 is accentuated by his long, snipy muzzle, 

 and his erect triangular ears, although it 

 may be noted that his Eskimo owner has a 

 fancy for the ear carried low. The eyes are 

 set obliquely, like those 

 of the wolf, and the 

 jaw is formidable, with 

 excellent dentition. 

 \^'ith a strong, arched 

 neck, a broad chest, 

 and muscular quarters, 

 he is apparently made 

 for work, and for ac- 

 complishing long jour- 

 neys, with tireless en- 

 durance. His tail is 

 long and bushy, and 

 in the adult is usually 

 carried over the back. 

 His coat is dense, hard 

 and deep, especially on 

 the back, where it may 

 be from two to four 

 inches in length, with 

 a woolly undercoat to 

 resist the penetrating 

 snow and cold. It is 

 longer about the neck and the thighs, but 

 shorter on the legs and head. In colour it 

 is the same as that of the wolf, black or 

 rusty black with lighter greyish markings 

 on the chest, beUy and tail. Often a pure 

 white dog may be seen, as Peary's Lion, 

 who was very little different from the 

 Siberian breed, and in all there is the 

 characteristic light spots above the eyes. 

 The height of the Eskimo dog maj' average 

 22 inches at the shoulder. 



]\Iany lupine traits are observable in the 

 Eskimo dog. He does not habitually bark, 

 but has a weird wolfish howl ; and he is re- 

 markable for his thievishness and his destruc- 

 tiveness towards smaller animals. Possibly 

 he inherits from the wolf, with whom he is 



