Greenland Dog

The Greenland Dog is native to Greenland as their name suggests they were originally bred to work alongside man as a sled dog. They are very similar looking to the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute being somewhere in between the two breeds when it comes to size and height. They have always been highly prized in their native Greenland although they have not been "domesticated" as such which in short means they are not the sort of dog that would suit first time owners. However a Greenland Dog in the right hands and environment thrives in a family environment and with people who understand the specific needs of this particular Spitz-type dog.

With this said very few Greenland Dogs are bred and registered with the Kennel Club every year which means that waiting lists tend to be long and puppies can often command a lot of money. As such anyone wanting to share their home with a Greenland would need to register their interest with breeders for the pleasure of doing so.

The Greenland Dog is thought to be among the most ancient of breeds with evidence of very similar looking dogs having been taken to the Arctic regions of the world some 5000 years ago by people who made the journey to these frozen regions of the world from Siberia. Some remains found on the New Siberian Islands were carbon dated and established that the breed existed there some 7000 years ago.

The Inuit tribes taught the Vikings and early European settlers to hunt and use sleds which saw them using these dogs as they explored the Arctic regions. This saw the Greenland becoming a valuable asset not only to the Inuit tribes but to settlers and adventurers too.

It’s thought that the Greenland made its first appearance on UK soil in the 1750's but it was not until 1875 that a female Greenland Dog was exhibited at one of Britain’s first ever dog shows that was held in Darlington. She caused such a stir that her debut was reported in the Live Stock Journal and Fanciers Gazette which was published in August of the same year. Five years later the Greenland Dog was officially recognised by the Kennel Club as a breed in its own right.

The most famous explorer to use Greenland Dogs on his expeditions across the Arctic was native Greenlander Fridtjof Nansen who was a famous explorer back in the day. He used the dogs during his famous voyage across the Arctic Ocean on his equally famous ship called Fram. Roald Amundsen also used Greenland Dogs during other expeditions he undertook and hand-picked 97 animals to accompany him on his trip to Antarctica for his epic expedition to the South Pole.

Today the Greenland Dog is still highly prized in their native land but not so well known in other parts of the world which includes here in the UK. With this said these handsome dogs are best suited to people who are familiar with the specific needs of such intelligent high-energy dogs and are therefore not a good choice for novice owners.

Interesting facts about the breed

• Is the Greenland Dog a vulnerable breed? Yes even in Scandinavia breed numbers remain relatively low and not many dogs are seen in the UK which means that waiting lists for well-bred puppies tend to be long and puppies can command a lot of money
• Greenland Dogs are known to be robust hardy dogs that boast a tremendous amount of stamina
• They are a popular choice with hikers and walkers in both Sweden and Norway
• They are often confused for being a Siberian Husky or an Alaskan Malamute
• Greenland Dogs have been around in the Arctic region of the world for centuries
• They were bred to hunt bears and seals as well as pull sleds

Height at the withers: Males 58 - 68 cm Females 51 - 61 cm

Average weight: Males 34.0 - 47.5 kg Females 27.0 - 41.0 kg

The Greenland is a Spitz-type dog with small pricked ears an extremely thick coat and a nice bushy tail that curves over their back. These noble dogs have been highly prized in their native Greenland for centuries where they worked alongside man pulling sleds and hunting large prey. Male dogs tend to be a lot bigger than their female counterparts. Their heads are nicely proportioned in relation to the rest of the body being wedge-shaped and broad with dogs having a moderate stop. Their skulls are flat and their jaws are powerful and strong with dogs having either black or brown noses depending on the colour of their coat. Muzzles are moderately long and they gently taper to the nose.

Their eyes can either be a dark brown or tawny colour and they are nicely set with dogs always having a keen alert and fearless expression in them. Ears are set nicely apart being firm to the touch and quite small. Dogs carry their ears erect and pointing forwards. The Greenland has a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. They have rather short well-muscled necks with a good amount of loose skin.

Their shoulders are muscular broad showing a good amount of bone and their front legs are powerful heavily boned and perfectly straight. They have broad deep chests and well sprung ribs. A Greenland's body is powerful and muscular with dogs having nice level backs which adds to their balanced compact look. Their back legs are strong well-muscled and broad showing a good amount of bone. Feet are large with dogs having strong nails and thick pads with a lot of hair growing between their toes. Their tails are bushy and large which dog carry over their backs loosely curled although some dogs carry it to the side.

When it comes to their coat the Greenland Dog has a very dense double coat that consists of an extremely thick undercoat and a coarser top coat that stands well away from the body. The hair on a dog's neck breeches withers and on the underside of the tail is quite a bit longer than it is on the rest of the body. Their underbellies are well covered in hair too whereas the hair on a dog's head and on their legs is that much shorter. The accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration are as follows:

• Black & White
• Dark Grey & White
• Grey & White
• Grey Black & White
• Red
• Red & White
• Sable & White
• Tan & White
• Tan Black & White
• White
• White & Fawn

It is worth noting that the accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration can differ from those set out in the breed standard which are as follows:

• All colours permitted
• All combination of known dog colours

The only colour that is not permitted under the Kennel Club breed standard is as follows:

• Merle

Gait/movement

When a Greenland Dog moves they do so with a strong powerful drive with their legs moving parallel and their backs nice and level.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.

A Greenland Dog is intelligent but they are independent characters by nature. They are definitely not a good choice for first time owners because they need to be socialised trained and handled by people who are familiar with the needs of such a high energy Spitz-type dog. They are known to be quiet but will suddenly decide to start howling when the mood takes them which can cause problems with neighbours who live close by.

With this said they are known to be good-natured and affectionate dogs with females being a lot more amenable than their male counterparts. They are very dignified and they boast a tremendous amount of stamina and energy. As such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise which has to be combined with a ton of mental stimulation for them to be truly happy well-rounded dogs. In their native Greenland they are kept very much in the same conditions as they were centuries ago and are still highly prized for their working and hunting abilities when working alongside man.

With this said they need to be handled with a firm confident yet gentle hand so they understand their place in the pack and who is the alpha dog. These dogs are never happier than when they know who they can look to for direction and guidance. In the right hands and environment a Greenland Dog when given the right amount of socialisation and training does make a loyal protective and confident pet but one that will always retain their independence.

They are naturally wary and aloof when they are around people they don't know but rarely would a Greenland Dog show any sort of aggressive behaviour towards a stranger preferring to keep their distance until they get to know them. Because they have such weather resistant coats they are prone to overheat during the warmer summer months which can prove deadly. As such care has to be taken as to when these dogs are exercised and ideally it needs to be during the cooler times of the day.

Are they a good choice for first time owners?

Greenland Dogs are not a good choice for first time dog owners because they need to be handled socialised and trained by people who are familiar with their specific needs. Being high-energy intelligent dogs a Greenland could quickly get the better of a novice owner and take on a more dominant role making them harder to handle and live with.

What about prey drive?

Greenland Dogs have a very high prey drive and will happily give chase to anything they spot in the distance or that tries to run away from them. As such care should always be taken as to where and when a dog can safely run off the lead more especially if there is livestock and/or wildlife close by.

What about playfulness?

Greenland Dogs have a very playful side to their natures more especially when young. However as a dog matures they tend to take life a lot more seriously although this is not to say that they often have their “mad moments” too.

What about adaptability?

Greenland Dogs are much better suited to people who live in a rural setting and who have large well-fenced back gardens a dog can safely roam in to really let off steam.

What about separation anxiety?

Although Greenlands form strong ties with their families and are very protective of them they are independent thinkers by nature and as such do not typically suffer from separation anxiety. However any dog that’s left to their own devices for longer periods of time could develop some unwanted and destructive behaviours around the home. It is their way of relieving any stress they are feeling and a way to keep themselves entertained rather than being “naughty”.

What about excessive barking?

Greenland Dogs are known to be “howlers” when the mood takes them which can be a problem with the neighbours. However they are not known to be “barkers” being quiet most of the time which is why they make such great watchdogs.

Do Greenland Dogs like water?

Most Greenlands like getting their feet wet and will take to the water whenever they can more especially when the weather is hot. However if anyone who owns a dog that does not like water should never force them to go in because it would just end up scaring them. With this said care should always be taken when walking a Greenland off the lead anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case a dog decides to leap in and then needs rescuing because they cannot get out of the water on their own.

Are Greenland Dogs good watchdogs?

Greenland Dogs are natural watchdogs and always aware of what is going on in their surroundings. They are quick off the mark when it comes to letting an owner know when something they don’t like is going on or when they are strangers about. A Greenland will stand their ground and prevent anyone from getting passed them if they are not happy about a situation.

The Greenland Dog is an independent thinker by nature and they are never happier than when they are working. This can make them quite challenging to train and why they are better off living with people who are familiar with the specific needs of this type of high-energy dog rather than first time owners.

Their socialisation and training has to start when dogs are young and even then a Greenland can be quite disobedient when the mood takes them. Their training has to be consistent throughout a dog’s life and it has to always be fair. A Greenland has to know their place in the pack and who is the alpha dog in a household or they might quickly take on this role themselves making them a lot harder to handle and live with.

Like many other breeds they respond well to positive reinforcement training but don’t like to be corrected too harshly when they get things wrong which would only achieve a negative response from such intelligent dogs. The key to successfully training a Greenland Dog is to keep their training sessions short and as interesting as possible so that dogs stay more focussed and are therefore more likely to understand what is being asked of them.

Like all puppies Greenland Dogs are incredibly cute when young and it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in new homes. As soon as a puppy is nicely settled owners must start out as they mean to go on by laying down ground rules and boundaries so that a puppy understands what is expected of them. It helps establish a pecking order and who the alpha dog is in the household. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follows:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Heel
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

They are not the best choice as family pets especially in households where there are young children. The reason being that a Greenland can be quite boisterous when in a home environment. Any interaction between a dog and children should always be well supervised by an adult to ensure things stay calm and that playtime does not get too rough bearing in mind that Greenland Dogs like nothing more than to play “rough”.

Being pack animals they are generally good around other dogs more especially if they have been correctly socialised from a young enough age. Care has to be taken when they are around smaller animals and pets because it would be a mistake to trust a Greenland dog with them. As such any contact is best avoided.

The average life expectancy of a Greenland Dog is between 10 and 14 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

Like so many other breeds the Greenland Dog is known to suffer from a few hereditary health issues which are worth knowing about if you are planning share your home with one of these active handsome dogs. The conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include the following:

• Hip dysplasia – dogs should be tested by a BVA registered vet or through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Elbow dysplasia – dogs should be elbow tested by a BVA registered vet or through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Primary lens luxation – dogs should be tested
• Glaucoma
• Ear infections
• Bloat/gastric torsion

What about vaccinations?

Greenland Dog puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

A lot of vets these days recommend waiting until dogs are slightly older before spaying and neutering them which means they are more mature before undergoing the procedures. As such they advise neutering males and spaying females when they are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old and sometimes even when a dog is 12 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. With this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

As with other breeds some Greenland Dogs gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Greenlands are not known to suffer from allergies but it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if a problem flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels of grains and other cereal-type fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Greenland Dog breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• Hip dysplasia – dogs should be tested by a BVA registered vet or through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Elbow dysplasia – dogs should be elbow tested by a BVA registered vet or through the Animal Health Trust (AHT)
• Primary lens luxation – dogs should be tested

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Apart from the standard breeding restrictions that are in place for all Kennel Club registered breeds there are no other breed specific breeding restrictions in place for the Greenland Dog.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

Apart from the standard breeding advice and restrictions for all Kennel Club recognised breeds there are no other Assured Breeder requirements for the Greenland Dog.

As with any other breed Greenland Dogs need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this dogs need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Greenland Dog puppy

Greenland puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Greenland puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out making them withdrawn timid and shy.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Greenland puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Greenland Dogs when they reach their senior years?

Older Greenlands need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• They can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections
• Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:
• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Greenland Dog in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include looking at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older dogs need to be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older Greenlands don't need the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

The Greenland Dog boasts having a very plush thick but short coat which is relatively easy to keep looking tidy and in good condition. A twice weekly brush is all it takes to keep their coats free of any dirt and debris which they pick up when out on a walk. They tend to shed throughout the year only more so during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing is usually necessary to remove dead and loose hair. It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

The Greenland Dog is a high energy intelligent dog and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation for them to be truly happy well-rounded dogs. They need to be given a minimum of 2 hour's exercise a day with as much off the lead time as possible. If they are not given the right amount of mental stimulation and exercise every day a Greenland Dog would quickly get bored and could even begin to show some destructive behaviours around the home.

A shorter walk in the morning would be fine but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these high-energy active dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.

With this said Greenland puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.

If you get a Greenland puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy eaters but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Because Greenland Dogs have been known to suffer from bloat it is really important for them to be fed twice a day instead of giving a dog just one larger meal a day. It's also a good idea to invest in a stand for their feed bowls which makes it easier for these large dogs to eat comfortably without having to stretch their necks down to reach their food. Dogs should never be exercised just before or just after they have eaten either because this puts them more at risk of suffering from gastric torsion.

Feeding guide for a Greenland Dog puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Greenland Dog puppy can be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

• 2 months old - 264g to 326g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 327g to 415g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 354g to 450g depending on puppy's build
• 5 months old - 381g to 504g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 405g to 555g depending on puppy's build
• 7 months old - 403g to 556g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 374g to 521g depending on puppy's build
• 9 months old - 349g to 490g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 318g to 452g depending on puppy's build
• 11 months old - 290g to 415g depending on puppy's build
• 12 months old - 288g to 413g depending on puppy's build
• 13 months old - 286g to 410g depending on puppy's build
• 14 months old - 286g to 407g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 15 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Greenland Dog

Once fully mature an adult Greenland Dog should be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult Greenland can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 27 kg can be fed 276 g to 363g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 34 kg can be fed 322g to 424g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 41 kg can be fed 376g to 492g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 47.5 kg can be fed 416g to 522g depending on activity

If you are looking to buy a Greenland Dog you would need to register your interest with breeders and agree to being put on a waiting list because very few puppies are bred and registered with The Kennel Club every year. You would need to pay anything upwards of £500 for a well bred pedigree puppy. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Greenland Dog in northern England would be £19.49 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £45.91 a month (quote as of July 2016). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK a dog's age and whether or not they have been neutered or spayed among other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry making sure it suits the different stages of a dog’s life. This would set you back between £40 - £50 a month. On top of all of this you need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Greenland Dog and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying a dog when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £1000 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Greenland Dog would be between £70 to £110 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a pedigree or other puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You canread our generic puppy/dog advice herewhich includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Greenland Dogs are rarely seen in the UK which means that well-bred puppies can often command a lot of money. As such with Greenland Dogs there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• Prospective owners may find online and other adverts showing images of adorable Greenland Dog puppies for sale. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit to a seller before collecting a puppy from them
• As previously touched upon very few Greenland Dog puppies are bred and registered with the Kennel Club every year which means waiting lists tend to be long. As such some amateur breeders/people breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping
• Prospective owners should make sure that puppies must not be sold before they are 7 weeks old and that parent dogs have been screened for known congenital and hereditary health disorders