Why did you get an Northern Inuit / Utanagon? Discussions

Thought it would be nice to hear why people got these dogs

Note to everyone else, this is just for owners of these dogs to say why they got these dogs. Keep debates, questions etc to the appropriate threads (ie not this one).

I didn't actually set out to get a N.I. I wanted a GSD. It was my ex that wanted a 'wolfie' looking dog after watching the Lost Boys film. I saw a photo of Luca who was up for re-homing on another site and I made enquiries about her.

The rest is history To be perfectly honest, as much as I love the GSD, I'd go for another Northern Inuit again (and another Mahlek, as gobby as they are ) if I had the chance

We decided on an NI, because of their looks too. We looked at the other northern breeds.. but were put off by the down sides of said breeds as stated in their breed profiles (off lead issues etc. etc.)

We haven`t regretted our decision for a second... that`s why we now have two.

I chose for the same reasons, I love the Sibes look but was put off by knowing 3 that are never ever off lead, I love GSD,s and have had 2. So I then thought about getting a GSD/HUskie cross thinking that it would be easier to train than a pure Sibe, I was looking for a x breed when I came across the NI dogs.
They are such great dogs to have that you can't stop at one, now I have 2, but may have more.

I saw the Huskies sledging in Kielder and was blown away by them, so went out looking at Husky or Malamute but it was the off-lead thing which kept bugging me.
Ive always had a fascination of the wolf, they are such majestic animals to me and when I saw on the internet the NI & Ute I was so excited there was a dog which ticked all my boxes.
I went to the first Oldham Northern Inuit Show and I was so excited by the site of them all together I went home built a wall around my garden and waited for Brodie to be born. The rest is history

I waited a long time to get another dog - my career and circumstances got in the way .

When the time was right I was keen on a Pyrenean or a GSD. Or a Newfoundland. Or a Leonburger. I also loved Malamutes and Huskies. And Golden Retrievers. And crosses or mongrels. Hell I just loved dogs. And wolves!

Anyway I was looking at rescue centres online - all those photos that scream, "pick me". OH was looking around too and came across wolf hybrid sites. We ogled these for a while and found the Utonagan sites. Here we seemed to find everything we were looking at in a dog - temperament, health, looks, size, exercise etc.

We got in touch with some breeders and Loki's breeder happened to have two pups left so after grilling her on the phone, we set off to North Wales to visit her and her dogs.

We were just blown away by the Utonagan. After being barked at by a couple of boisterous collies who wouldn't let us move and some friendly huskies we were introduced to these incredibly calm dogs that greeted us by sticking their noses between our legs (and on the first date too ! ).

The breeder had a huge, majestic male who did the meercat impression, rising up on his hind legs until he was looking down on me and he offered me his paw. I was absolutely smitten. What was so sweet too was that there was a surly malamute in a pen next to him who was having a right go at him, growling away and this big Ute kind of stuck his paw through the bars and swatted him playfully - I swear he was grinning. I'm sure he was doing it deliberately to wind this poor malamute up .

Then we saw the puppies and I stroked these teeny paws and they licked and nibbled my fingers. Well I had to have one, didn't I? There were two females in the house that were so sweet-natured and beautiful I was totally smitten again.

We deliberated for a week whether to have one or not, even after we sent up a deposit. But in the end we did, got everything ready at home for our new pup, went back to Wales and chose the nuttiest fruitcake puppy there, who decided to puke all over the gear lever of my car after we got about quarter of a mile down the road.

Well, after the death of my Border terrier, Beany at the grand old age of 16 from cancer, I actually went through a bit of a dogless wilderness for 2 years. My oh had always liked his Bull breeds and I had always had terriers Lurchers and Greyhounds. My hubby Dai had seen a news article about the N.I in our local paper and the pics were stunning so I contacted the owner of the dogs (julie) and were invited to meet the pack. so off we set, sat and had a natter about the breed, she left nothing out, telling us their faults as well as their good points. then she said wold you like to meet the dogs, so out she went and suddenly, in burst3 or 4 of the most fantastic looking adult N.I and i do mean burst. They jumped all over us licking and vying for attention, we were Knocked out by their absolute friendliness, then I met Kyle, he was such a gent, he was around 13 at that time, 3 years before his death, he was a gentle old lad and very dignified. Then Julie brought in a little ball off apricot fluff who just blew me away, we had to have him there and then, we didnt even have to go away and think about it, took him home that very night.
My god that boy was something else, he was my pride and joy and went everywhere with me, everyone loved him and he loved everyone. we often went to my stepsons football matches and all the kids loved to play rough and tumble with Deef, but one little boy, Alex, was born with quite severe cerebal palsey ( obviously he didnt play footy, he went to watch his brother) and Deef seemed to sense he couldnt play the same way with Alex, he was so gentle with him and alex adored him. sadly Deef died tragically at only 3 years old from a burst blood vessel on the brain, i was totally devastated, I cried solidly for 2 weeks, couldnt cry when my dad died but I was bereft when i lost my Deef.
Anyhow, I couldnt forsee my life without an N.i so I contacted Julie again and she helped me immensely, and when Timber came up for rescue, i lost no time in offering her a home, 6 years later she's still here, as is Freya, Tukki, Moon, Inca, Tanika and YumYum, My gang and i love em.

Well i started looking for a dog for my Nan. I trawled through the rescue sites and breed sites trying to fit the bill she gave me. In my surfing i came across NI sites. I have always liked GSD and Huskies but thought a Sibe would be too much for me and i always worried about HD in GSD and i didnt like their sloping back ends.
Anyway the more i saw and read the more i wanted one! At first i found one that was in rescue but her background was shady and when a couple of things came to light and i questioned the breeder i got a right mouthfull. So i decided she wasnt the dog for me and then i looked to see what puppies were around.
Fate bought me to Vienna and i couldnt be happier. I would absolutely love to have another one but Oh says 2 dogs are enough so i am not allowed. lol but one day i will get another NI and thats a promise!

On looking at breeds I realised the type I like seemed to consistanly be Malamute, Husky, Shepherd, CzW and Saarloos...

I couldn't choose between them!...I liked them all but there was something putting me off each one, except CzW and Saarloos not a breed in this country and although a breed of dog and pets across europe and other parts of the world they would need DWA's here in most regions.

So I realised that the above breeds had one thing in common - they were very natural looking dogs. And as far as dogs go they have a slight wolfy look.

I actually never wanted a dog that looked like a wolf! Or at least I didn't know it...but realised a natural looking dog with somewhat wolf like looks was running consistant with the types I really liked.

I loved the markings of NI and many of them I had seen were regardless of being wolfy or not were just gorgeous and size and characteristics really appealled to me.

We decided on the Northern Inuit Dog because we liked the look, the fact that they were described as good with other animals (we have cats) and the fact that they could be let off lead. We have never looked back

The first film that my OH and me saw together was Gladiator, and he had always loved Maximus' dog.

So when we bought our house he started trying to find out what sort it was. He found out about Saarloos, CZW, etc. He even thought about huskies but saw the destructive page on their website, and the fact that they can't run off lead, those put him off. They are also a bit small for him.

So he eneded up finding out about Utongona and Northern Inuits. He e-mailed a few breeders via the various websites and got info about both breeds and puppies available etc.

Then one day I was driving back from Bungay at lunchtime with an 8 week old JRT that I hadn't mentioned anything to him about (for my Mum who lived with us), and he phoned to ask where I was.
'Bungay'
'Why?'
'Erm'
'Yes?'
'We got a puppy'
'Oh?'
'Why?'
'coz at 5 o'clock we are going to Colchester to see a 5 month old NI who needs a new home'

The rest is history... here are Tonto and Inca meeting each other on their first day in our home....

ok I'm being very naughty...I haven't got one...but boy after reading this thread I'm wondering why I haven't got one!!!! What a lovely thread and fantastic posts...inspiring guys, you lot have beautiful dogs who are very lucky to boot. (Sorry Azz I couldn't keep quiet after reading through all this...lovely).

Same here What stunning dogs sorry to go off topic had to comment

Well in the early 90's I decided to stop having dobies due to the fact I had lost 3 unrelated ones due to a genetic back problem and was looking for a dog that was different. I was shown an adv in Cage and Aviary of all things for Husky Hybrids, rang up about them and spoke to Eddy Harrison (one of the founders of the breed) for ages and arranged to go down to Newark to see the pups. I was 'chosen' by Tawney and I have never ever regretted it, she died in January 2006 after a series of strokes.
this is her six months before she died at nearly 12 years old and before she had her strokes

I was already looking for a pup when that photo was taken but hadn't actually found one, but in November I heard of a litter and went over to see them after Christmas and chose Cariad, unfortunately before I could collect her Tawney died, so when I collected Cariad, I collected another one too, Maelona. They are almost 21 months now and here they are
Cariad

Maelona

Mine didn't only throw up when we took them home, they did everything else as well and it was a nightmare smelly 2 hour journey home - but well worth it. It was dreadful when Tawney crossed the Bridge and I missed her so much, and I now have her beautiful g.g.g.g.g.g nieces with me

Awww, thanx Ramble and Morganstar. I would never advocate the N.I for evryone, but for me, for some reason, they just clicked and I have never looked back. All my guys have different personalities, freya is bubbly and confident and has no loyalty to me whatsoever, she would go off with anyone, whereas Moon is my big baby, totally my boy, Inca is a bit of a ditzy blonde, tanika is a bit of a Mavis Riley, Tukki is THE Man and Timber is a wise old woman who would follow me through hell and out the other side, Yummy is like an overgrown school girl and will be playing till the day she dies, they are all wonderful in their own way, they're my second lot of kids

Yes me too I love the looks
we spent ages looking for the right breed for us I have Kids 13yr old and 5 yr old 3 cats 1 kitten and a hamster lol I guess
we needed an all rounder!!
thats what we got
Kyo is fantastic My 5 yr old can hang over him and he loves it I'm sure he thinks he's just another puppy to roll around with lol:smt043
we couldn't of asked for a better temperament
our family dog we're going to have a lifetime of happiness:smt049
we got what it said on the tin :smt041

It is nice to hear your storys, and to see postive threads re NI'S may you all live long and happy lifes.
Sorry azz, but well done too.

We had GSD's as I was growing up, and I still love them to bits, but I really loved the looks of Mals and huskies but they didn't tick all the boxes for me (sorry to all Husky and Mal owners, I do think they are stunning dogs!)

I was looking on the net and doing a bit of research as we were planning on getting a dog again after being dogless for a few years, and I came across the NI. I loved the looks, the temperament etc and resolved to ring a few breeders in the new year this year and go see for myself. Well, the best laid plans never do go right do they! I came across an NI that was looking for a new home (thanks to Misty Blue on here who pointed me in the right direction )

After many emails and phone calls, both parties agreed he should come to live with me and my OH, so we got Zeus a little before we had planned to get a dog, and he was 6 months old and not a puppy but I guess it was fate.

Then a few months ago I got an email from NI rescue about a lovely girl who needed a new home, and after discussing it we decided we would take her too and see how she got on. She was wonderful and is here forever now too

Zeus is such a mummy's boy and has my heart completely, he is a clown and a gobby b*gger as well but he is such a cuddle monster and follows me everywhere. Saski is such a sweet girl, she is quiet and gentle and very loving and is the loveliest soul you could wish to meet.

I know they are not for everyone, but I love them to pieces (even when they're norty!) and I have to say I couldn't imagine life without an NI now (and yes I would have more!)

animal,the way you described zeus,describes my three males,there all mummys boys,and seem to be a lot more loving than the girls.the girlsseem to de slightly more independent.

Oh yes Julie, he really is such a baby when it comes to his mum, he's like my big shadow. If I leave the room to go to the loo he trots after me and lies down behind the door til I get back, if he wasn't so big I'd fall over him all the time lol!

(PS he is very gobby too, but I put that down to the Mahlek genes in him of course ;-))