9781422278444

the oldest of all known dog breeds. In the frozen vastness of Siberia, the Chukchi traveled from their settlements in the Kolyma River Ba- sin to the coast to hunt seals. When they had a catch, they needed to transport it home. It was no easy matter to cover these long distanc- es in sub-zero temperatures. The Chukchi needed to find a way to transport their precious cargo quickly and efficiently. The solution was to breed teams of dogs who could pull sleds over long distances. They needed to be able to keep up a moderate speed and also to keep going for long periods. When there was the opportunity to rest, food was scarce, so the dogs needed to survive on modest rations and sleep outside in the harsh conditions. The dogs had to work and live together in close proximity, so they had to get along with each other. A sound temperament was therefore of paramount importance. In terms of working ability, they needed to take orders, but lead dogs also needed to show initiative, sometimes ignoring instructions if the terrain was unsafe.

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