Why NI? General Chat

No... I don't think anyone does..

NI were bred to look like wolves so it stands to reason people are going to buy them because of their looks

They were also bred to be non agressive and more trainable then some sled types . . Nothing to do with looks there.

I didn't buy mine for their looks, I got them because they were different and because of their temperament.

WHY use TWO sled dogs to make them then! Oh yes..to get the looks..and throw the GSD in, in the hope it might make them more trainable!

My dogs aren't aggressive..and are quite well trained..Yes they don't go offlead but thats a choice NOT a necessity..I beleive my dogs would recall..BUT I will not take that chance...just in case..

My partner wanted one for their looks, and I wanted one for their friendly nature. We did research their temperament well beforehand, as looks aren't everything.

Don`t know if it counts but I agreed to take on my Defa and Willow, [ rescues ], without seeing so much as a photo of them first, I was given full details on their issues, temperaments, history, and disabilities, but their looks were`nt a factor at all, what mattered was whether or not I could give them what they needed - it was just a bonus that when they arrived they happened to be stunningly gorgeous

Tbh it was looks that started the hunt for a breed, OH wanted a 'dog that looked like the dog in Gladiator' .
He looked at what type it was, got looking at CWD, Saarloos, allsorts and then could see dogs with a wolfie look about them. Looked at huskies even, but found a husky site with a 'destruction' page... damage huskies had done, and the recall thing too.

Anyway, eventually saw pics of NI's, liked their wolfie looks and so went for one.

So yes it was looks, but if we then found out everything else wasn't right or didn't suit our situation we wouldn't have got one obviously.

I wouldn't choose a dog I didn't like the look of, unless rescuing (OH bans me from rescue centres because he knows I'd pick all the ones no one else likes the look of).

Dogs are our family members, and I have enough members of my family I don't like the look of, so being able to choose my dogs on looks is a big positive.

The eyes !!! I was in an equestrian shop and I saw an advertisement for NI puppies for sale, I just took one look at the parents, which had the most amazing yellow eyes. I was absolutely smitten. I was left haunted by their knowingly stare. I visited several breeders but only one breeder could tell me whether the eyes would be yellow or not, I also wanted a large dog. Thats how I ended up with Otto, the colour of his coat was not important to me, I got exactly what I asked for a very large, athletic NI with gorgeous yellow eyes. Then when we decided to get a bitch, I then wanted another white with yellow eyes, and hey came away with the lovely Lola.

I had some builders working on the outside of my home last week, and went outside to talk to them, my dogs don't bark, they just stand and stare, and this 6ft2 beefcake builder just said, 'my god those dogs are staring right into my soul, and I cannot work out whether they are sizing me up for dinner';-)

Its that stare that I love,and I can read everyone, my favourites are
'I'm going to be naughty now mummy' (this is usually accompanied by a massive grin)
'shift up I want to get on the settee with you for a cuddle'
'god my tea was good' as they lick their lips and then me!!
'you will take me for a walk now'
and dropping a bone on my knee and staring at me, means hold it while I chew it!!

We were initially drawn to the breed by friends of ours. Their bitch had a fantastic temperament, was trainable and also good looking.

This put us on the hunt for the breed and after researching for a while decided to take the plunge and bought our gorgeous Chaos. We were going to then get another NI but OH came home in September/October last year with Joey, a rottie cross, whom he had picked up from a rescue centre. He was going to be PTS that night if no one took him.

If we had more space (e.g. a farm!!) we would definitely surround ourselves with these amazing dogs!

LOL, Ella just gives us the 'oh woe is me eyes!' because i wouldn't let her fight on the sofa with Cassie 90% the time!

We also went for a combination, looks and temprement.

I've just re-read my post and thought god Claudeen how shallow, what I was trying to say, is that it was the eyes that got my attention first, but we looked into everything about them, we wanted a large dog that was good with cats children and especially livestock, as have horses that were kept on a sheep farm. We wanted to be able to take the dogs with us when riding. They have fit the bill perfectly, and the extra bonus is there incredibly loving nature

Here's a pic of my perfectly behaved boy with the farm's sheep.

I'm so glad I can let my dogs have the freedom to run and express themselves.

I am lucky Kato just didnt naturally do it but my frined is having really awful problems how did you train him not to do it she is desperate as lives in the New Forest she has tried everything.

We were down in the new forest early June, and there are abviously loads of livestock roaming around, it was really nice could we could walk anywhere but so quite alot of people putting their dogs on leads. I think the key is to start as soon as they have had their jabs. We took ours out on long lunge lines and would allow them to go so far and as soon as they showed any interest would give them a command if they responded they were given a treat and if not, they were reeled back in again to our heel. It also helps that when walking through places like that to get them to walk to heel, as they then think they are on a lead, and another good trick, is if they show too much interest throw a clod of earth at them or a small stone it changes their concentration back too you. Also its good to ask your dogs to come to heel even if there is no reason, it just re-inforcing that you are in charge, but you must always reward them with over the top praise. My dogs have learnt some valuble lessons as well, a couple of months ago we were on holiday and there was a very deep pond, with loads of ducks. Harvey was constantly telling the dogs to leave and the last day just before we were leaving the ducks decided to take flight, and the dogs had got far too far away to stop them. Both dogs incidently fell in the pond and went right under, they were shocked and not very happy. But since then they don't go to far incase of another shock

I have told her all the basics but she still struggling but has a strong hunting drive.

WOW Claudeen thats fab to see especially as NI's can get a rough time for their so called prey drive,nice to see they can respect live stock.

Thanks Maggie, I have loads of pics of the dogs loose with livestock, some taken recently in the New Forest, I will dig them out and post them. You have met both my babies and know how well behaved they are, the point I want to make is, that they are not from the same litter and are different ages and we have had no problem training either of them.

With much socialising and training most dogs can be safe around livestock, look at Foxhounds will run through fields of Sheep and rabbits and never look at them!

well i would just like to say that i picked the northern inuit on looks first, the same way i picked my car, did i ask how many miles to the gallon NO!!! and now look at the price of fuel!! the same as i picked my curtains, my settee my carpet,my bathroom, even my dinner plates, my ex husband were all bought on looks first! so ok, maybe i should have asked my ex if he was a b****rd before i married him, but i didnt, shame on me
thank god the breeder whom i purchased my first NI from quizzed me for 2 weeks before i bought my dog, thats just because i have a I WANT I NEED personallity, doesn't mean that i have picked the wrong breed of dog, i couldn't be more amazed that my dogs worship me like a god and do everything i ask, i count my blessings every day, even when im sweeping up copious amounts of dog hair every day and looking down with a frown at my new puppy who has gone to the toilet for the umpteenth time on my newly cleaned rug, i wouldn't change them for the world and im now on my fourth NI, i have never felt love from anything in my life that my dogs make me feel everyday

I know what you mean Claudine, It was my Kismet's parent's piercing blue eyes that drew me to her too...

LOL!

Made me laugh! Kismet does this too, took me a while to work out what she wanted, Must come from the Malamute or Husky side of the NI Then, I wonder which? She also drops a bone or soggy mouldy toy from the garden on my lap then unsubtly poinks the dinner plate or tea cup with her nose as if to say "Trade me?"

Of course I looked for a dog with a certain 'look', who wouldn't? If I had seen NIs in my researches at the time they would have been added to my list of possibles. Its not just about getting a 'wolfy' looking dog. It's just this sort of look speaks to my heart somehow. I also have a softness for the sighthounds' sleek lines. I think I will always have one of each of these dogs. A 'wolfy' dog and an egyptian racer. maybe its the wastes and deserts thing that calls me? I just don't get the same feeling of kinship when I look at other breeds and I can't explain it.