Canadian Eskimo Dog
加拿大愛斯基摩犬
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The Canadian Eskimo Dog has an 1,100- to 2,000-year history of interdependence with the Thule Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, and the existing strain descends from stock bought from the remnant Inuit dog population of the Boothia and Melville peninsulas and parts of Baffin Island. Powerfully built rather than fast, it hauled 45–80 kg per dog over 15 to 70 miles a day, located seal breathing holes and held musk ox and polar bear at bay; males stand 58–70 cm and weigh 30–40 kg, females 50–60 cm and 18–30 kg, under a thick double coat with 7–15 cm guard hairs. The FCI standard is unusually blunt about temperament: it is not to be viewed as a domestic pet but as a primitive dog, gentle and affectionate with the average adult yet with an almost over-response to any stimulus, and it is not to be considered a child's pet.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 50–70cm |
| Weight | 18–40kg |
| Breed group | FCI: 5 |
| Role | Working |
| Coat | Double coat |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
The Royal Kennel Club lists hip testing under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme among the pre-breeding health screening it recommends for the breed. Ask your breeder for the parents' hip scores.
Behaviour
A primitive working dog, not a child's pet
The FCI standard's Behaviour / Temperament section states that the breed "is not to be viewed as a domestic pet but rather as a primitive dog originally domesticated by Inuit for specific tasks in a harsh arctic environment". It adds that the mature dog is gentle and affectionate with the average individual and rarely standoffish even with strangers, that it is very pack oriented with dominant and subordinate roles acted out in a group, and that "compared to modern domestic breeds, the Canadian Eskimo Dog has an almost over response to any stimulus whether it be food, work, defense or play. For this reason, the dog should be a companion for adults and is not to be considered a child's pet."
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
FCI nomenclature — Canadian Eskimo Dog (standard no. 211, group 5)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French and German.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Canadian Eskimo Dog
Breed A–Z entry with breed characteristics and the pre-breeding health screening schemes the Royal Kennel Club recommends for the breed.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Canadian Eskimo Dog — FCI standard no. 211 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]FCI-Standard No. 211 — Canadian Eskimo Dog, 28.02.2018 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Canadian Eskimo Dog — Breed Information (health and breed characteristics) — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.