The nearly 400 dog breeds recognized by the International Cinological Federation (FCI) are classified according to standards or characteristics that share certain canine varieties. In this way, it is possible to find bloodhounds, hunting or sled retrievers, among others.
Sled dogs are those that are considered ideal for living in colder habitats. However, there are other equally suitable varieties, and they are snow dogs. Below, on our site, we show you what these snow and sled dog breeds are in a complete list. Keep reading!
Snowdogs or sleddogs?
According to the FCI, sled dogs are those Nordic breeds whose physical adaptations allow them to serve as animals in charge of pulling sleds. sleds. In general, these breeds have a thick coat that is ideal for surviving in low temperatures, they live in herds with a marked hierarchy and they are very strong.
However, when we talk about snow dogs we are not just referring to breeds that are capable of serving as working animals in cold temperatures. This classification also includes those varieties that, due to their physical characteristics, can develop their life in snowy areas without problems. For this reason, in the following sections we will get to know the sled dog breeds, but also all those dogs suitable for living in cold climates.
How hot can dogs be?
In general, small and medium breeds experience cold-related problems starting at 4 degrees Celsius, while large breeds experience them starting at -1. This will depend, however, on the type of fur your dog has, how accustomed he is to these temperatures and the protection you provide him to cope with them.
Tips for going to the snow with dogs
Before you venture out into the snow with your dog, you need to consider the following:
- Make sure the dog is dry before you go out and remove all moisture from the fur when you return home.
- Bring toys that he has to chase, so he can use his time out to exercise.
- Provides suitable clothing, booties for feet and other accessories to protect him from the cold if necessary.
- Avoid the use of antifreeze, as many contain toxic substances.
- Don't take him out without his leash and tag.
- Avoid unsafe areas or unfamiliar terrain to prevent snow from hiding dangerous areas.
- Bring water so your dog doesn't lick the snow, it can be harmful because you don't know if any toxic substance has fallen into it.
- Puppies and senior dogs should walk for less time, as they do not tolerate cold well.
Below, we detail the main breeds of snow dogs that exist.
List of sled dog breeds
As we have mentioned, sled dogs are those classified to carry out this task due to their physical characteristics. The FCI places sled dog breeds in the group 5, dedicated to spitz and primitive type dogs, section 1 Let's meet these dogs!, which, in turn, are considered snow dogs.
1. Canadian Eskimo Dog
This breed native to Canada is among the large snowdogs. It is capable of carrying up to 80 kilos for 75 kilometers, so for a long time it was used as a sled dog, as well as being an excellent hunting dog.
It is characterized by a solid and muscular body with a bushy tail. As for the coat, it develops a thick mat during the winter and then loses it in warmer temperatures. The color varies between pure white, white with reddish or gray spots, reddish cinnamon and silver.
two. Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is easily recognizable as a breed of sled dog. It is originally from the United States and was accepted by the FCI in 1995. It is characterized by a medium to large muscular body covered by a layer of coarse hair. Also, it is among the snow dogs with blue eyes.
In general, it is a playful and outgoing race, but also mischievous, as they are famous for being great escapists. They are in good he alth, except for some congenital diseases that they may suffer from.
3. Alaskan Malamutes
The Alaskan malamute is another sled dog originating in the United States It is among the oldest dogs dedicated to this trade and stands out its resemblance to the Siberian husky. It is a large breed with a solid, strong and muscular body. It has abundant and thick fur in which gray or black predominates for the back and part of the head, mixed with white or cream on the abdomen and legs. Likewise, its coat is longer than that of the huksy, this being one of the main differences between them.
In terms of his personality, he is a faithful and friendly dog. In addition, it accumulates a lot of energy, so it needs games and frequent exercise.
4. Greenland Dog
It originates from Greenland, where it was Inuit sled dog, making it one of the oldest in the world. It has a compact and smaller body than that of the husky or the malamute, despite the fact that its coat is similar. It has a short but strong body and powerful legs.
The Greenland Dog's coat is twofold: a dense but soft undercoat, and a straight, hard, coarse outer coat. It presents different colors, among which white, black and gray stand out, whether they are solid or bicolor.
5. Samoyed
The Samoyed is native to Russia and the Siberian region, where they were used as sled and hunting dogs. It is a large, shaggy dog with an elegant and friendly appearance, which corresponds to its temperament. Due to its easy sociability, it is not recommended as a guard dog.
As for its coat, it is thick all over the body and bushy on the tail. In addition, the coat is double in pure white or cream color.
List of snow dog breeds
The above breeds are the only ones classified as sled dogs by the FCI. In this way, all sled dogs are, in turn, snow dogs, however, not all snow dogs are suitable or recommended for pulling sleds. Next, we show other breeds of dogs capable of withstanding high temperatures.
1. Karelian Bear Dog
This breed comes from Finland, where it was used as a hunting dog for elk and oxen. It is a smaller snowdog than those previously described, but still measures between 55 and 60 cm at the withers. It has a smooth and rough coat that can be black or bicolor.
As for his temperament, he is usually very friendly with humans, but territorial and even aggressive with other dogs. Given his hunting skills, he needs to get plenty of physical activity and play.
two. Finnish Spitz
The Finnish spitz is a snow dog native to that country, where it was used for hunting birds and moose. It is the national dog of Finland, where it is widely found as a pet. It is one of the small snowdogs, as it only reaches between 45 and 50 centimeters at the withers.
It has a thick and semi-long coat that becomes hard in the area of the head and shoulders. The color is bright reddish on the back and head, while the inside of the legs and abdomen have a lighter shade.
3. Norwegian Moose Hunter
There are two varieties: the Grey Norwegian Moosehunter and the black, and both were used for elk hunting. The black one is usually a little smaller, as it only reaches 47 centimeters in height, while the gray reaches 52.
Both have short or semi-long hard and smooth fur, as well as a bushy curved tail. In both cases, the solid gray or black color may be accompanied by some white areas.
4. Norwegian Lundehund
The lundehund is native to Norway, where it was used for hunting hunting seabirdsbecause it has certain anatomical adaptations that allow it to stay in steep areas: flexible fingers, a neck capable of bending to the back and flexible front limbs.
The coat is short all over the body, except for the neck and thighs. It has a bicolor coat, which combines reddish, white or yellow with black.
5. East Siberian Laika
It is a breed originally from Russia and was used for hunting. It was recognized in 1947 and currently extends into its native area. It has a medium and compact body with a large head and powerful muscles.
The coat is smooth, hard and dense, thicker on the head and tail. It presents bicolor tones that mix combinations of white, black and reddish.
6. West Siberian Laika
Also originally from Russia, but from the Urals area. It is used as hunting breed and today it is spread in different areas of the Russian territory. It has a medium size with a long and muscular body.
As for the coat, this variety of Laika has a thick, smooth coat that thickens at the neck and hardens at the legs. The coat is bicolor, a mixture of gray with reddish, red and brown, among other combinations.
7. Russian-European Laika
This variety of the laika from the Russian forests that are part of the European continent was recognized in 1952 and was widely used as a hunting dog, although he currently works as companion dog.
The Russian-European is a medium-sized, strong dog with a long, muscular body. It has a thick, hard and woolly coat that can be black, white or bicolor.
8. Norrbotten Spitz
This dog breed comes from Sweden, where it was used as a hunting dog. It is believed to be descended from some of the Laika varieties, although it was long doubted that it was an independent breed.
The norrbotten is one of the small snowdogs, characterized by an active and courageous personality. He has a fine and dense double coat, which appears solid white with some black areas.
9. Lapland Finn
This breed originates from Finland, where it was long used to herd and protect reindeer. It presents a medium size with a muscular but slender body. He has a docile and cheerful personality.
It has a woolly, semi-long and rough coat, more abundant on the neck and thighs. As for the color, the variations of black stand out accompanied by brown areas, while the chest and neck are white.
10. Eurohound
The eurohound is a variety not yet recognized by the FCI, but it adapts to snowy climates. It is the product of the cross between the Siberian Husky and the Pointer. It has been used as a sled and hunting dog. It is a mestizo breed, so uniformity in appearance is not expected, although most specimens are characterized by a slender body with long legs and short fur.
eleven. Chow chow
The chow chow is a dog originally from China, where it was used as a guard and companion dog. It is an ancient breed, as there are records of its existence for 2000 years.
It is a medium to large sized dog with a leonine appearance, as it is characterized by a lush mane of hair that accumulates around its head. As for the color, it varies between reddish, yellow, white and black.
12. Akita Inu
The Akita is a Japanese dog of large size with a strong and elegant body. He features slanted eyes and a playful and calm personality. As for its coat, it is smooth and hard in brindle, fawn, white and sand tones.
It is precisely this hard coat that allows it to be protected from high temperatures, making it an excellent snow dog.
Other Snow Dogs
The FCI also registers other ideal breeds to live in the snow, such as:
- Finnish Lapland Dog
- Icelandic Sheepdog
- Norwegian Buhund
- Swedish Lapland Dog
- Swedish Vallhund
- German Spitz (great, medium, small and dwarf spitz varieties)
- Italian Volpino
- Eurasian
- American Akita
- Hokkaido
- Kai
- Kishu
- Shiba
- Shikoku
- Japanese Spitz
- Korea jingo dog
