Taigan vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Canadian Eskimo Dog dates way back to more than 4,000 years ago. This Arctic breed of dog was developed to pull sleds, and wasn’t considered as a pet but as a working dog – an important means to an end – a tool for use.

By the 1960s the dog breed had declined to such an extent that they were removed from UKC and AKC registries. It is believed that the breed would have in all likelihood become extinct if it weren’t for the efforts of Brian Ladoon, William Carpenter and John McGrath who formed the Eskimo Dog Research Foundation in 1972.

After breeding for 30 years, the dog has the biggest genetic stock colony of Canadian Eskimo Dogs and in May 2000, Nunavut, a Canadian territory, adopted the dog as the animal symbol for this region.

Known also as the Kyrgyzdyn Taighany, the Taigan is a sighthound dog from Kyrgyzstan. Today the dog is recognized by a number of kennel clubs,and more recently by the FCI.

It was after 1991, when Kyrgyzstan became independent, that the role of the dog changed and t became a working dog again.

It was about in 1995 that a new breed standard was adopted, and since 2005 a national kennel club has existed in Kyrgyzstan.

Looks of the Canadian Eskimo Dog

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a well-built, medium- to large sized dog looking much like a husky. The male Eskimo dog is somewhat bigger than the female, standing 58 – 70cm at the shoulder and weighing 30 - 40kg.

The male often has some thick fur around the neck, giving him the appearance of looking larger than he actually is. He is slightly larger than the female. Other people say he has a similar appearance to a wolf.

He has a thick double coat which can be white, gray, fawn or even black and white. He has short, erect ears, dark brown eyes and a bushy, feathered tail which curls over the back. Sometimes you find blue eyes with the Canadian Eskimo Dog, and its only when you want to show him, that this isn’t acceptable.

Temperament

The Canadian Eskimo Dog's temperament is hard working, tough, brave, alert and intelligent. When he is trained and socialized, which will be important for this breed, he becomes gentle and loving, forming a strong bond with his owner. He’ll also get along well with children in the home as well as other pets.

The Taigan is a large dog, looking much like a Grehound. He stands at between 55 and 82cm in height and weighs about 25 - 34kg.

He has that typical slender body and slender head of the greyhound. The coat of the dog is medium length and somewhat curly and can be many colours, sometimes even bi-colored – cream, black and white, brown, grey or yellow.

During the Winter the coat can become long and thick. The ears are floppy and covered with wavy fur. The tail is long and a distinguishing mark of the dog is the way the end of the tail coils up into a ring.

These dogs can’t be kept in small city properties – they are used to wide open spaces.

Temperament:

An intelligent breed, the Taigan will readily learn some basic commands to make him well mannered and obedient. He is strong willed and independent, so it will be beneficial to have him trained.

He also makes a good watchdog. He is an even-tempered dog and he enjoys human companionship although he is somewhat reserved with strangers. Even so, he will still need a strong, firm owner as he is strong-willed and independent and likes to go his own way.

He is able to get along well with children in the home and other pets. Being a fairly large dog, and one that likes to run, he is better suited to large properties in the countryside as opposed to living in the city.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a dog which is responsive to training. With training and socialization, as a highly intelligent, strong-will dog he will need to be supervised by a firm, authoritative figure.

He makes such an awesome pet when properly trained, and if you’re a responsible dog owner who knows how to care for- and exercise your pet appropriately, you’ll be rewarded by having a strong, loving companion at your side.

Taigans are energetic dogs and they want a lot of activity. They’re good watchdogs too and are gentle with children.

They’re intelligent and independent and also strong willed. They’re fearless, calm, balanced, loving and loyal and capable of being an excellent pet and companion.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a generally healthy breed who has a life expectancy of between 10 and 15 years when he is lovingly cared for and provided with a top quality diet. Ensure that he has a top quality diet with plenty of raw meat geared towards his age and energy levels.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog suffers from common health issues that most dogs are at risk for, and typically this will include hip dysplasia and eye disease. If your dog develops a disease such as hip dysplasia, speak to your vet immediately.

Any dog, no matter how healthy they may appear to be, can encounter any one of the many common dog illnesses there are. It is highly unlikely that your Taigan will experience these health issues but it’s good to be aware of some of them -

Bone Cancer:

Also known as osteosarcoma, bone cancer is more commonly seen in large dogs of any breed. It’s a cancer which spreads rapidly through the body and it is terribly sad that the prognosis for your dog is poor.

You might notice swelling, joint pain and lameness and your dog will appear to always be tired. Sometimes you might see a growth. Your vet might do x-rays and if you catch it early, you can give your pet a longer lease on life.

Exercise:

The Canadian Eskimo Dog has always been a working dog, used to being driven hard to perform, and to this day he likes to work hard and have his day filled with activities.

His exercise requirements are high and this is one breed that you’re going to have to exercise regularly – long walks, running on a leash as you cycle, ball games, swimming, hiking. It is why the dog is best suited for life in the country as opposed to small properties in the city. If exercise seems like a lot of hard work for you, don’t buy such a breed as it will be cruel and irresponsible to leave him day after day in your back yard. He becomes bored, frustrated, unhappy and destructive.

Grooming:

The dog is an average shedder and his coat is short and dense. There’s not a whole lot of maintenance to worry about with this good-looking dog and he will basically require having a good brush twice a week.

The Taigan is a large slender dog and you want to keep him that way.

Diet:

If you feed him one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure its for a large, active dog breed and that it has a good list of ingredients. There are bad packaged dog foods and you want to avoid these. They are devoid of vitamins and minerals.

Read the packaging to see how much food to give. Also try and give your dog some home-made food too. Make sure it isn’t spicy, exotic foods. Stick to simple, wholesome foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots. Chop the food up and mix it into the dry kibble twice a week or so as a treat.

Also try and include some raw meat in occasionally.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Provide your pet with a dry, peaceful place to sleep.

Get him to the vet if he is showing signs of sickness.

Give him a good dose of exercise – walks, hikes, runs, ball games etc.

See that his vaccines are up to date.

Have him or her neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted puppies.

If you bring a dog into your family, provide it with love and attention.