Native American Indian Dog
Keep This Loyal and Obedient Pet Busy, and It Will Respond with a Lifetime of Love
The Native American Indian Dog(R) is an ancestor to the original Native dog who served as a working, utilitarian dog and companion to the Native Americans.
History
The Native American Dog was bred and utilized by the Native Americans for thousands of years.. They became an integral member of Native American society. Native dogs served their human companions as far north as the Arctic circle, the current U.S., Mexico, and extending southwards through Central and South America.
Their abilities as working dogs were particularly important, because prior to the mid 1500s, when Spaniards introduced horses to the Americas, the Native American Indian Dog was the sole beast of burden, aside from the alpacas of South America . These dogs helped hunt game, served as pack animals, pulled a travois loaded with 250lbs of their owners possessions, or game meats, and made excellent guard and protection dogs for women, children, and older people in the villages.
Over the years, because of the scarcity of the original bloodlines of the dogs utilized by the Native peoples, two Native dogs secured by Karen Markel of Majestic View Kennels, one female dog coming second hand from a Native Nation in Idaho and a male coming second hand from a tribal nation located in Montana. Karen Markel then bred, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Chinook, and German Shepherd into her two Native dogs. In 2001 Majestic View Kennels secured the first ever U.S. government registered trade mark on a breed of dog, and the "Native American Indian Dog," was officially born.
Today, the Native American Indian Dog is nationally recognized as a registered pure bred with four nationally known registries. Native American Indian Dogs can have distinct disparities in appearance. Size wise anywhere from between 55 pounds all the way up to an occasional 165 pounds. Every nation of Native American had a different size and "look" to their dogs based on what tasks the Native Americans required of them and where they were geographically located.
The Native American Indian Dog is one of the very few breeds that are Hypoallergenic and even mixed with another dog breed, all the pups will be hypoallergenic as well. With all other so called hypoallergenic dog breed mixes, there will be on average, 3 pups per litter that are not hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, the asthmatic or pet allergic family member will not realize this until they get the puppy home and have an allergy or asthma attack. Not so with the purebred NAID or any of the NAID "designer dog mixes.
Coat colors vary in color and hair coat length based on the geographic location of where they originated. A famous Native American woman, Buffalo Bird Woman, who was in charge of breeding and training the dogs of the Hidatsa Nation, was quoted as saying, "Our dogs come in every color and color combination that our native squash or gourds come in." The "spirit dog" of the Native Americans was a splotched or spotted dog and was used for ceremonial purposes as well a pack animals, draught animals or hunting dogs. They were often used as "fishing dogs" as well, and would literally catch their owners fish supply for the entire year. The Montagnais Natives of North Eastern Canada were known for their "tortoise shell" colored canines. It would cost a whole years wage of $65.00 in the middle and late 1800's to purchase their "spirit dog" for use in religious ceremonies.
The Native American Indian Dog has a double hair coat, and it comes in three different hair coat lengths. The Native American dog sheds once annually, usually in the spring or early summer. They do not shed in between times. You can grab their hair by the handful and give it a big yank and you will not have a handful of hair. If your NAID is shedding profusely, it is stress related, either nutritional or environmental, often a result of a protein poor, grain filled diet, or leaving the dog crated or left alone without companionship.
It is sometimes wise on the long haired dogs to take them to the groomer for a total body shave in the spring. Then they will spend the rest of the year growing back their hair coat and will not need to be brushed or bathed. They have no "doggy odor", for which the re-creator of the breed, finds it absolutely wonderful, and with no "wet dog" odor either.
They love water and are web footed which means they are excellent swimmers and are equipped with natural snow shoes for deep snow trans versing. It is impossible to freeze a NAID pup once they reach the age of 16 weeks even though totally immersed in water with sub-zero temperatures. Their wind-proof, water-proof hair coat protects them. They will shake, roll in the snow and emerge totally dry.Native Americans would collect their dogs hair and spin it and weave it into coats, hats, gloves, footwear and blankets. Making for a light weight, very insulated garment.The Native American dog is very adaptable to severe temperature and climate change. In a hot humid climate, they simply do not grow the inner, wind proof, water proof hair coat. There has never been an instance, to date, where a NAID living in any of the U.S. southern states, has ever succumbed to a fatality due to heat exposure. The majority of the breed population is considered a "Nordic" dog breed type and able to thrive in minus 50 degree Fahrenheit temperatures.
With broad heads, wide-set almond shaped eyes, prick ears, and a gently tapering muzzle, these dogs can be very striking physically.
Temperament
Every Native American tribe shared a pack of dogs with the whole village. All dogs were "free roaming" meaning they were not contained or leashed or tied, but had to have the demeanor and willingness to come to whom ever called them for whatever task the villagers had in mind for them to accomplish. If the dogs did not obey immediately, they found themselves on the Native's dinner menu. The Native American dog of today still retains that willingness and devotion to humans to obey and come when called. If this breed loves and respects you, there isn't anything they wouldn't do for their humans.
They are extremely intelligent, and even "psychic". Sensing evil, danger and detecting almost all human related health issues. They are excellent with children, and all household and barn yard pets, if raised with them. They are non-dog aggressive and "doggy daycare" facilities across the United States "love" the NAID. As they will take a shy, timid dog and pester it until it starts to relax and play with the other dogs. The NAID will take a dog aggressive or human aggressive animal and pin it to the floor and stand over it, refusing to let it move, until he or she has a major change in attitude. A firm "No" is usually all that is needed to discipline a Native American dog. They are extremely sensitive to a word, look, action or motive that a person is projecting.
The Native American Indian Dog was bred to "work". They are not a "couch potato" breed. They require both mental and physical stimulation. They also almost all require a fenced in area or large enclosure to run and play in at will if their humans are not present. They are much more content to be in a fenced in area outside, than to be locked up in the house when no one is home. Being locked and confined to a crate is a severe form of punishment for the NAID as well. It is very similar to locking a young child in a closet all day long. The NAID does not understand what they did so terribly wrong that their owner would lock them up to a fate worst than death.
The NAID is extremely intelligent, highly trainable for any task you have in mind for them to accomplish. They make an excellent S&R dog, handicap assist, therapy dog, agility dog, draught or sled pulling dog, They can carry a 50lb back pack all day long. They are great babysitters.
As far as a "guard dog" goes, an intruder may perish by suffocation due to a severe tongue lashing, and show the intruder where "Mom" hides her jewelry and will say with a canine grin and a tail wagging, "Come visit me again". But the "look" the NAID will give the intruder, and or a soft growl, communicating that the intruder is not welcome, is usually all that is needed to discourage an unwanted individual. Because the NAID can sense ill-intent or evil in a human, or an animal they actually make incredible guard and protection dogs.
Diet
The NAID thrives on a high protein, high fat diet. No grain, sweet potato, or chicory root. Raw meat and bones are an excellent source of protein and great for their teeth, gums and your NAID will not have "doggy bad breath" either nor will the owner ever have to schedule a vet appointment for a teeth cleaning. Raw, frozen meat , bones and all will not hurt a NAID and it also gives the NAID something to do other than chewing on your Italian leather shoes or leather furniture.
Health
Native American Indian Dog has no known genetic health issues and can live from 14 to 19 yrs of age. They very hardy and resilient, especially for dogs of this size. This dog should enjoy many healthy and happy years with you, which is extraordinarily long!
