Utonagan

[leelapops]

Never heard of until today-looked them up, not sure how I feel...

Any opinions?
Lisa x

[blackcat77]

I've just googled them as I have never heard of them before, I think that they look and sound really nice dogs, they do look very wolf-like but sound good family dogs.

[lankeela]

These are one of the latest designer breeds, made up from other breeds (usually GSD/Husky) and the breeders have started their own club trying to convince people they are a genuine breed. What is the point, especially as both these breeds suffer from the same inherited conditions i.e. eyes problems and hip dysplasia, so puppies could still get problems. Problem is you don't know what they are going to turn out like and which breed they will take after.

[leelapops]

lankeela-these were my thoughts. Apparently they've been bred since the 80s. They are advertised as "good family pets", but unless it's the kind of family that take 6-hour treks daily, I can't really see it....

*sigh*

x

[terambulan]

Could pull a sledge? Not enuf snow here.

[lankeela]

The breeders cannot even agree on a name. Some call them Northern Inuits, and some changed from calling them that to this name because they fell out with the Northern Inuit 'breeders'. There actually is a breed called a Northern Inuit, but not what these people are producing, they are a north american sled dog breed, but these people have jumped on the bandwagon especially since the film Snowdogs, trying to produce a breed that looks like a wolf. In my view they have failed miserably, nothing is as pretty as a genuine Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute, and nothing as handsome as a genuine German Shepherd Dog. Mongrels is what they are, pure and simple.

[leelapops]

You are very right lankeela :) All of those 3 breeds are beautiful individually, with their own characteristics and traits, which breed lovers will appreciate.

Lisa.

[utepoot]

We have had a Utonagan for five years, and he's the most lovable dog you'll ever meet! He's sensitive and intelligent, loves children, is so gentle that if you hand feed him something he delicately grasps the food in your hand with the tips of his teeth so he doesn't hurt you. We walk him (and our Collie) once a day for 45 minute to an hour, that's all he needs. And yes, he is a "mixed breed" if you want to call him that, but mixed breeds are hardier than purebred dogs, his hips scores were very low, too, so he won't automatically "suffer from the same inherited conditions" as his ancestors. Which are German Shepherd, Husky and Malamute. We love him, and when our 14 year old Collie goes to the great dog run in the sky, we will get another Ute!