The Northern Inuit breed originated in the 1980s through the strategic crossing of old-line Alaskan huskies, Siberian huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, German Shepherds, and a number of other mixed-breed dogs that were not fully identified. Genetic testing of NI dogs shows the percentages of these different dogs in the individual dog’s genetic makeup.

Over time, the breed standard emerged, which lays out the characteristics related to appearance and temperament (https://www.northerninuitbreed.com/northern-inuit-breed-standard). The objective was and is to breed “wolf-alike” dogs that are neither wolf-dogs nor wolf hybrids, and that have a gentle, affectionate nature. 

Our breeders’ organization—Northern Inuits International Unleashed—as well as our own program, is also addressing new challenges facing the long-term health of the breed.

As a rare breed, Northern Inuit dogs have what is known as “a closed gene pool”. A gene pool, in general, refers to the degree of genetic variation in a given population. It represents all the different copies of genes carried by members of that population, and therefore every gene that can hypothetically be passed on to the next generation. 

The problem with a closed gene pool is that, over the generations, there is an inevitable rise in in-breeding due to shared grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on.

As a result, breeders unavoidably end up with higher than optimal “Coefficients of Inbreeding” (COI)—the degree of inbreeding resulting from particular pairings. This rise, in turn, increases the likelihood that problem genetic issues will also increase. For example, the repeated combination of recessive genetic variants can introduce mutations and related diseases that were previously not common to the breed.

Ultimately, the result is unhealthier, shorter-lived dogs. For breeders committed to ethical breeding, this is unethical and unacceptable. 

To address this issue, NIIU breeders are doing approved, strategic out-cross breeding, following guidelines developed by the American Kennel Club. This policy involves breeding selected pedigreed NI dogs that have all been tested, with tested dogs carefully chosen to represent the origin breeds that were part of the early development of the NI breed.

Through these strategic out-crossings, we are not introducing new breeds into the mix but are, instead, reinforcing the breed as a whole, while increasing the diversity of the NI gene pool for the health, longevity, and overall well-being of the breed. 

The resulting puppies are recognized by NIIU and are registered either as the offspring of two Northern Inuit dogs, or as part of the GPPP. In either case, they receive a full pedigree from NIIU that is transparent in detailing their genealogies, and their line of descent in the GPPP.

In the case of the out-cross litters, as these dogs get older, some are bred with Northern Inuit dogs, to result in new generations with an enriched genetic makeup. 

At Squam River, we feel strongly about the importance of both aspects of this breeding program. Our own program is actively taking part in the gene-pool preservation program under the direction of NIIU.