Indigenous Heritage Month
Happy Indigenous Heritage Month! We wanted to showcase some beautiful breeds of dogs native to this great continent! Human history is entwined with that of the domestic dog and that is no different here on Turtle Island, Cēmānāhuac, Abya Yala, and beyond. While history of humans and dogs in the Americas is widely contested, many indigenous peoples stories have been told since time immemorial. Many cultures and civilizations owe survival and success to dogs, let’s pay tribute to them.
Salish Wool Dog
First up the Salish Wool Dog is an extinct breed of white, long-haired, Spitz-type dog that was developed and bred by the Coast Salish peoples of so called Washington state and British Columbia. The small, long-haired wool dog and the coyote-like village dog were deliberately maintained as separate populations. The dogs were kept in packs of about 12 to 20 animals, and fed primarily raw and cooked salmon. They were often used to make "wool" blankets and clothing.
Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli is also called the Mexican hairless dog. It's pronounced "show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee" or Xolo ("show-low") for short. This ancient Mexican breed traces back to the Nahua people over 3,000 years ago. The Xolo was revered by the tribes and considered sacred, and today they're classed as the country's national dog. The name comes from the god Xolotl that according to ancient narratives is its creator and itzcuīntli, meaning dog in Nahuatl language.
Peruvian Inca Orchid
The Peruvian Inca orchid or Inca hairless dog is an ancient hairless breed originating in Peru during the Inca Empire observed as far back as 300 BC in Incan pre-colonization art. pieces dedicated to the breed found among relics from the Incas, Chancay, and Chimu, all three of which were based in so called Peru. The breed is affectionate with its family but wary with strangers. Perhaps because of their standout looks, the Peruvian Inca Orchid was cherished among Peruvian tribes not just as a loyal animal companion but as a provider of healing properties. They were often depicted in pottery wearing sweaters. Talk about man’s best friend.
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is a large breed of dog that was originally bred for their strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog and hound.They are similar to other arctic, husky, and spitz breeds such as the Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Siberian Husky, and the Samoyed. The history of humans and man in the Americas is still widely contested. Although it is believed that the first dogs arrived in the Americas 12,000 years ago, people and their dogs did not settle in the Arctic until the Paleo-Eskimo people 4,500 years ago, followed by the Thule people 1,000 years ago, with both originating from Siberia. Malamutes were thought to be bred by the Malemiut Inupiaq people of Alaska's Norton Sound region.
Tahltan Bear Dog
Raised by the Tahltan people to hunt bears, the Tahltan Bear Dog was small of size but capable of hunting much larger animals. The morning of the hunt, two dogs were carried in a sack over the hunter's shoulder until fresh bear tracks were sighted. Upon release, the dogs moved lightly over the crust of snow while the bear was slowed by the deep drifts. Their fox-like staccato yaps harassed the bear into submission or confused it until the hunter could come close enough for a kill. The Tahltan Bear Dog was friendly and gentle with smaller animals and with humans. They often lived in the tent with the family, sharing bed and board.
Carolina Dog
Carolina Dog, also known as a yellow dog or American Dingo is a medium sized breed native to the Southeastern United States. The ears are characteristic and are erect, very long, and moderately slender, tapering way up to elegantly pointed tips and they can be individually turned to the direction of any sound, providing extremely sensitive hearing. The dog ranges in build from muscular yet slender and graceful to somewhat stockier animals. The Carolina is a pack dog, so they adapt well in a social group with dogs and humans. They do possess a prey-drive, but they’re not aggressive dogs. They bond and play well with children, and they’re clean and intelligent. While some Carolina Dogs show connections to dogs in Korea and other parts of Asia, further DNA studies show that 58 percent of Carolina Dogs carry a genetic trace that can be found in dogs all over the world. So, if you’re wondering what early wild and domesticated dogs looked like, the Carolina Dog may be the closest approximation still out there.
Chiribaya Dog
The Chiribaya Dog or Peruvian Shepherd Dog is an ancient breed of dog from the southwest of Peru. It has been established that it was a llama herding dog. The dogs were not only an important part of the social structure of the Incas, but they received special treatment after death as well. This breed was discovered by Peruvian Anthropologist, Sonia Guillén Oneglio, and thought to be pre-colonization in origin. These dogs were clearly honored by the Chiribaya people because not only were pet cemeteries built for them, but the dogs were buried with blankets and treats to enjoy in the afterlife. As far as we can tell, a total of eighty-two dog tombs have been found by researchers in these cemeteries.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua dog is originally from Mexico and named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua. A national symbol of Mexico, this breed dates back to pre-colonization era. Chihuahuas possess loyalty, charm, and big-dog attitude. This dog is thought to descend from the Techichi, an ancient companion dog from the Toltec civilization (as early as the 9th century), but dog toys from as early as 100 AD have been found depicting Chihuahua-like dogs.
Calupoh
The Calupoh or Mexican Wolf dog has been bred potentially since pre-colonial times, with the Federación Canófila Mexicana recognizing it as a domestic breed in the 1990s. Calupohs have a tremendous socio-cultural impact in Mexico, due to their pre-Columbian roots, despite being a mixed, ancient breed. In 2017, an excavation done in the Templo Mayor in Mexico City found vestiges of the breed. This event has also occurred in the Temple of Quetzalcoat and Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. They were found in the temples surrounded by fine jewelry, suggesting the breed was sacred to the peoples of the region. This leads experts to believe that the ancient breed was sacred to the Nahua. Wolves had an enormous role in war and sacrifices, where blood would fall in large quantities. Nahua would compare them with soldiers, due to their hunting pack tactics which maximize their lethality. Conversely, dogs, such as Xoloitzcuintles, symbolized good harvests and fertility, companionship and spiritual guidance.
Kalaallit Qimmiat
Kalaallit Qimmiat, or Greenland Dog, is a large spitz dog often kept as sled dogs. They are thought to have been brought the island by the Thule People during their migration into the Arctic. This is the only surviving native breed in Greenland, having survived a canine epidemic. The Thule dogs remain genetically pure to this day, and they were integral to the Thule survival. Early sleds were fashioned out of driftwood and whalebone. Roald Amundsen later used Greenland dogs to great success on his 1912 expedition to the Antarctic, where he became the first person to reach the South Pole. The men started with more dogs than they technically needed to pull the sledges, killing them along the way to use as food for dogs and men. The dogs have grown to become part of the family, helping with tasks like hunting and protection as well. A genetic study done in 2020 reveals that the Arctic sled dogs had developed mutations such as how they use oxygen to deal with the cold. Also, their genetic heritage is even older than previously thought. The study revealed that the Greenland Dog is genetically closer to the 9500-year-old remains of a sled dog found in Zhokhov than any other breed. This suggests a continuous genetic line for at least 10 000 years.
Hare Indian Dog
The Hare Indian dog is a domestic breed thought to be exticnt. Thought to be a cross breed of Tahltan Bear dog and dogs brought by Viking explorers. A Scotish naturalist in the region who studied the breed in the 1820s observed no decided difference in form between this breed and a coyote, and surmised that it was a domesticated version of the wild animal. Originally found throughout northern Canada, kept by the Sahtú people. They were originally kept and bred for hunting large ungulates like moose and reindeer. They often subsisted almost entirely on the produce of each hunt. As indigenous hunting methods in the region declined due to the introduction of firearms, the breed lost it’s popularity and now thought to be extinct.
Fuegian Dog
The Fuegian dog or Yahgan dog is a now extinct domesticated breed. An interesting addition because this was a domesticated fox-like species, not like any other breed on the list. The culpeo is in a distinct genus, Lycalopex, than the North American fox. They are more closely related to wolves and jackals. Originally found throughout Patagonia, kept by the Yahgan people. They were kept for hunting small game, such as otters. By 1919, they were presumed extinct by a Silesian missionary. Believed to have been exterminated by colonizers in the area, alleging that they were dangerous to cattle and people.
Argentine Pila
Another hairless breed, the Pila is native to Argentina. They are found mainly in the Salta province of northern Argentina. According to Argentinian legends, Pila Dogs came to the nation as a gift from the Incas to strengthen political ties. Argentine pila dogs tend to be affectionate, playful, and adaptable to new environments. We do know that Pilas were held in high regard by indigenous, middle class and peasant Argentinian families in the Northwest who coined their name from the colloquial Spanish term for ‘hairless’ or ‘naked.’ Pilas are also excellent watchdogs as they are hyper alert to unusual movement or noise in their surroundings
