WOLF AND DOG

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 2

WOLF AND DOG

EXPERT AMERICAN OPINION. MALEMUTES OF ALASKA. From time to time controversy Ims raged strongly concerning the origin of the Alsatian and the suggestion that jit traces to wolf ancestry. Seeking definite information on this subject. ! following recent correspondence in the columns of the “Standard,” Mr V. A. Christensen, of Heretaunga Street, Palmerston North addressed an inquiry to Mr Victor Shaw, managing editor of a Seattle publication which conducts an information bureau. He has received the following rcnlv from Mr Shaw, who is an acknowledged authority: — I “Concerning the question as to |whether or not a wolf will mate with a dog, the answer is an unqualified affirmative. In fact, the Alaska malemute is the direct result of such a mating, which also answers your next question as to whether or not the progeny of Such mating is neuter. Naturally, that is proved not to be true. iMaiemutes vary, of course, with respect to the wolf strain, but wolfish characteristics seem strong enough to be quite perceptible even when the animal is 90 per cent. dog. Surely .London based his story on proven facts relative to the ancestry of his canine hero. Breeders of sledge dogs in both | Alaska and Northern Canada often chain their females in the timber in ! order to preserve the wild strain. “Concerning the general disposition of the progeny of such a mating, it seems to depend chiefly upon the disposition of the domesticated animal. ;In my own opinion, to carry this 'furi ther, if the domesticated mother is of | a docile, friendly disposition, she is apt to control the wolfish nature of her pups to a great extent. Coupled with this is the nature and general character of the master, in no small degree. If he should he a hard taskmaster, with a cruel nature, who trains I the pups chiefly with the whip, the result will he an ill-natured. surly .malemute that may become dangerous jif. or when, anv crisis occurs, or an opportunity presents itself, or if enraged by some' overt act on the part of a human being. For that matter, this holds true with all the dog family, .although some of the species are less good-natured than others. Witness the difference in this respect between the average- rat terrier and a St. Bernard. I have seen men who actually tamed a wolf—or nearly so. I “Alaska sledge dogs, however, may be—and are —of almost any breed of long-haired dog with a sturdy frame. lln the end, after a period of training, of no matter what breed, all sledge jdogs as a rule delight in the work 'and are crazy to get on the trail. ■They work ‘doggedlv,’ and like it. I “In Northern Greenland (I was Itbere on two Pearv expeditions), the sledge dogs are nothing hut half-tamed wolves: big-framed, strong, and -standling inches above the average malemute. jl have known many that weighed up :to 125 to 1501 b. and the average animal will weigh 90 to- 1001 b. We had to tie them up to rocks when feeding them, and the feeder was always careful to have his whip handy. If allowed ,to work underfed for any protracted I period, the driver had to watch his team closely, because they would attack whenever his back was turned. | A powerful man has as much chance i with those brutes, if they do attack, as with a wolf. Yet Peary readily tamed his team, especially several lead dogs he had, so that they fawned on him, and he could handle them without fear or danger. Few of those Innuits ever succeeded in doing that for, although his dog is the Eskimo’s most valuable possession, he takes little care of it, and pays scant lined, except to use .the whip -to control it. They can take a piece of hide and hair right out of a dog’s shoulder, hip or hack with their whiplash, and can hit a dime at a distance of 30ft. It is a savage j weapon, which all dogs respect. “As to what country the original stock of malemutes derive from, that is for me a matter of pure guess ; although ] am rather certain that the present breed dates back straight to the mating of wolves of the region with half domesticated dogs owned by the early Indian tribes. It seems probable that the sledge animals of the pure-blood Innuits of Northern Greenland (they are the only pure-bloods on earth to-day) are domesticated wolves. They had used [them for centuries before the first white explorer set foot there, j “For that matter, if you look up I the history of our domesticated dogs, you will see that they all derived originally from the wild dogs and wolves. They are intelligent animals as a rule and, as you know, respond readily to training by a firm and kindly band. These malemutes are no exception, as has been proved countless times, and this can readily bo verified.”