Known for their wolf-like features, the Tamaskan traces most of its bloodline to Finland. It is a crossbred dog which, besides its looks, is notable for the ability to pull sleds. With development starting from the 1980s, the Tamaskan is one of the newer dog breeds. Sleddogs from the United States were bred with imported dogs like the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and German Shepherd. Finnish huskies commonly used for sled racing were added to make the breed look more like a wolf, as well as increase its level of intelligence and working ability. The first dogs were born at the beginning of the 21st century, and breeders closed the doors on any new bloodlines in 2006. It was then that a name for the dog was chosen: Tamaska, which means “Mightly Wolf” in a Native American language.
Due to its wolf-like appearance, the Tamaskan is often compared in look and size with its sibling, the slightly smaller German Shepherd. The double coat on the dog consists of a dense undercoat and a coarse outer coat, and it comes in three colors: black-gray, red-gray or wolf-gray. Capping off the wolf-like features are its straight bushy tail and almond-shaped amber or brown eyes. Males stand at 25 to 28 inches (63 to 71 centimeters) and weigh around 66 to 99 pounds (30 to 45 kilograms). Females are usually 24 to 27 inches tall (61 to 66 cm) and weigh around 50 to 84 pounds (23 to 28 kg).
Personality
An incredibly athletic and hardworking dog, the Tamaskan is notable for its high level of intelligence, which greatly aids its ability in agility, obedience, and sled racing. The Tamaskan is ranked as a good family dog, with a gentle disposition to children and other dogs. To the dog, the owner represents the pack, or the leader of the pack. So, the owner must assert his or her leadership and provide plenty of physical and mental exercise. Left idle or untrained, the Tamaskan can get bored and become destructive. Also, as a highly active dog, a spacious living area or permission to run freely each day is highly recommended. On the other hand, apartment life is not suited for the dog.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 14 - 15 years |
| Nicknames: | Tam, Tamaskan Husky, American Tamaskan |
Tamaskan Build Information
Due to its wolf-like appearance, the Tamaskan is often compared in look and size with its sibling, the slightly smaller German Shepherd. The double coat on the dog consists of a dense undercoat and a coarse outer coat, and it comes in three colors: black-gray, red-gray or wolf-gray. Capping off the wolf-like features are its straight bushy tail and almond-shaped amber or brown eyes. Males stand at 25 to 28 inches (63 to 71 centimeters) and weigh around 66 to 99 pounds (30 to 45 kilograms). Females are usually 24 to 27 inches tall (61 to 66 cm) and weigh around 50 to 84 pounds (23 to 28 kg).
| Size: | Large |
Behaviour and Personality
An incredibly athletic and hardworking dog, the Tamaskan is notable for its high level of intelligence, which greatly aids its ability in agility, obedience, and sled racing. The Tamaskan is ranked as a good family dog, with a gentle disposition to children and other dogs. To the dog, the owner represents the pack, or the leader of the pack. So, the owner must assert his or her leadership and provide plenty of physical and mental exercise. Left idle or untrained, the Tamaskan can get bored and become destructive. Also, as a highly active dog, a spacious living area or permission to run freely each day is highly recommended. On the other hand, apartment life is not suited for the dog.
| Activity Level: | Very active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
The Tamaskan does not require a lot of grooming. However, when the dog begins to shed, it can get at least one brush a week.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low maintenance |
Tamaskan Common Health Conditions
Due to its generally large size, it is at great risk of developing hip dysplasia. Around 10 percent of males suffer from undescended testes, a condition known as cryptorchidism. With such a condition, one testicle is fully descended within the scrotum, while the other stays up within the abdominal cavity. One out of every 100 registered Tamaskan dogs suffer from epilepsy, and several dogs are known to carry degenerative myelopathy (DM). So, DNA testing is now necessary for detecting DM in other dogs.
Tamaskan Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
The first generation of Tamaskan was registered in 2002. The Tamaskan Club of America is the official registration body for the Tamaskan. The dog breed is also known as the American Tamaskan for its breeding in the United States. Other names include Tam and Tamaskan Husky. The Tamaskan can live for around 14 to 15 years.
| Training: | Easy to train |