Greenland Dog
格陵蘭犬
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The Greenland Dog is one of the world's oldest breeds and has been the Inuit's only sledge dog since ancient times, selected mainly for sturdy strength, hardiness and endurance. It is a very strong polar spitz built for strenuous work under arctic conditions, with a soft dense undercoat under a dense, straight, coarse outer coat, and any colour except albino and merle is permitted; the standard sets no upper limit on size, giving only minimum heights of 60 cm for males and 55 cm for females. The FCI standard names energy, mental strength and boldness as its predominant qualities: a passionate and tireless sledge dog, friendly even to strangers and — while working in harness — not closely attached to any particular person, and therefore not suitable as a guard dog.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 55–60cm |
| 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
Energetic and bold; friendly even to strangers, not a guard dog
The FCI standard's Behaviour / Temperament section reads in full: "The predominant temperamental qualities of the Greenland Dog are energy, mental strength and boldness. He is a passionate and tireless sledge dog. To people — also strangers — he is friendly, and while acting as sledge dog not closely attached to any particular person and therefore not suitable as a guard dog. On hunting seal and polar bear he will show a strong hunting instinct."
The standard gives minimum heights only
The size section reads "Males 60 cm and upwards, Females 55 cm and upwards" — there is no upper limit, and the standard adds that some variation in size is allowed provided working ability and harmony are not affected. The 55–60 cm stored in facts is the span of the two stated minima, not a full adult range.
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 — Grønlandshund / Qimmeq Qimuttoq (Greenland Dog) (standard no. 274, group 5)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Greenland 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]Grønlandshund / Qimmeq Qimuttoq (Greenland Dog) — FCI standard no. 274 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]FCI-Standard No. 274 — Grønlandshund / Qimmeq Qimuttoq (Greenland Dog), 30.03.2022 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Greenland Dog — Breed Information (health and breed characteristics) — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
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.