Sled Dogs.

From my favourite pack. These two were young and played together.

Always on the watch.

I love the sled dog because they are absolutely unique creatures that make my three hooligans (German Shepherd, Wicklow Collie and Spaniel cross with Collie) look like wimps. In Upernavik I am fascinated by them and daily observe these stoical arctic creatures mainly eating or simply curled up sleeping while the snow blankets tuck in gently around them Due to the fact that they have never been cross-bred with other dogs they have adapted perfectly to arctic conditions and the strain has been kept pure and it is illegal to bring other breeds into the sled dog districts for this reason.  It is impossible to ignore the noise as the village constantly resounds with howling instead of barking because they are directly descended from wolves and cannot truly bark It is a wonderful sound especially at night and or if a pack smell fresh meat to hunt.

Himself

I pass my favourite pack daily on my way to make-work. Sometimes I stop and quickly draw the king. He is battered looking and tawny coloured, yet one glare from him silences the rest of the pack. He is chained alone heavily anchored by his owners boat. He has a wide circle of space to patrol but mostly stays in the centre quite still making him a gift to draw.  Others are chained in pairs but a few remain in solitary confinement. When supper comes down the hill on a sled pulled by their owner all get very agitated anticipating the walrus or seal being butchered to satisfy their hunger.

There are not as many sled dogs as previously when the hunting season used to start in October. The season now is shorter as for approx the last ten years the ice has failed to freeze the sea until mid to late February.  This causes the local population difficulties, mainly finding enough fresh meat to feed both themselves and the dogs. The short season also means there is intense pressure to catch enough food to feed and freeze for leaner times. When harnessed they can haul the sleds up to one hundred kilometers in a day. These are highly trained creatures and respond totally to the language of their owners. They are dangerous to approach as they are very unpredictable and Upernavik children in the past have been savaged or even killed by them. It took all my willpower not to approach them but I had been warned so often not to go near that to do so would have been foolhardy.  I would have given anything to touch  and also sled across the ice with them but this was not possible as the sea only froze a few days before left and it was not yet hard enough to take their weight.