Northern Inuit Dog vs Jindo - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Looking at the beautiful Northern Inuit Dog, you’ll think that this crossbred dog is a wolf.

As with many other dogs, there are sometimes different stories regarding their history. It was in the 1980's that founder of the breed, Eddie Harrison, bred a number of mixed-breed rescue dogs with Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes to produce the early Northern Inuit dogs. This is a dog that closely resembled a wolf in looks but which has the more companionable characteristics of the domesticated dog.

The dog is only recognized by its own independent breed club, but by none of the other major kennel clubs.

Hailing from Korea, the Jindo dog's name is actually taken from the island Jindo. The dogs lived on the island for thousands of years, developing into a natural breed with good hunting skills.

They are also known as Jin Dog, Jindo-kae or Jindo-kyon. The exact origins of the Korean Jindo are unknown and it is believed to have been developed from different Mongolian breeds.

They were brought to the United States and been entered into the American Kennel Club.

Friendly, calm and gentle, the Northern Inuit Dog is a crossbreed, described as a medium to large sized dog that stands at roughly 58– 81cm in height, male and female, and weighs in the region of 25–48kg.

He has a double coat in typical wolf shades of grey, white, black and cream. He is regarded as a moderate shedder. The ears are erect, the face bright, intelligent and alert and the tail long, bushy and straight.

Temperament:

The Northern Inuit dog is independent, strong-willed and stubborn, and if you want to own one of these dogs, your dog will respond well if you are firm, fair, strong, kind and consistent. This is because the dog is stubborn, sharp, independent and intelligent.

The owner of such a dog must be a firm leader. Training and socialization should start when the dog is still young. He is good with kids, being playful and affectionate with them.

The Jindo is a medium sized spitz-type dog breed which is well-proportioned with erect ears and a long tail which is held over the dog's back.

He stands at roughly 45 – 65cm and they weigh anything between 11 to 23kg. The coat of the dog is medium length and available in a number of colors – yellow, tan, red, white, brindle, black or bi-color such as black and tan.

When you look at the Jindo you get the impression of bright alertness and intelligence. He makes a great watchdog, and with his bright, alert eyes and upright ears, he just looks like he is on guard.

Temperament:

The Jindo has always been a hunting dog so he has learned to be bold, tenacious and alert. He is also brave, courageous, loving and loyal to his master, but you need to know that he is a dominant dog who will get on well with an owner who is fair, strong, patient, kind and firm.

These dogs are strong willed, independent and dominant as well as being intelligent. He will require socialization and training from an early age. Be fair, firm and consistent with your instructions which he will obey once he has been trained. With training he gets on well with children in the home but he is inclined to have some difficulty with accepting other dogs into the family.

As with any dog breed, the temperament of the Jindo will vary according to the environment he lives in and the type of owners he has. The typical Jindo is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a little bit reserved around strangers.

It’s not surprising that people who love wolves would want a similar looking pet. However, they also want this wolf-like dog to be a friend and companion. This is precisely what they get with the beautiful Northern Inuit dog.

With his bright, alert face, the Inuit is actually a calm, gentle dog, bonding closely with his human family and not showing any aggression.

Intelligent and social, and somewhat stubborn, when you provide him with the home he deserves, you’ll see that this beautiful creature can be relied on to be a wonderful family pet.

The Jindo makes an awesome pet for owners who enjoy an active lifestyle. A happy, contented Jindo becomes a devoted, loyal pet who wants to guard and protect his owner from strangers, for whom he is wary and reserved.

He is an intelligent pet too, being easy to train and socialize and while independent, he loves to spend time with his human family and is an all-round excellent pet.

There are some genetic problems with this dog breed, although with good care, you are highly unlikely to see your dog with them.

Some of these are hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hips are always a worrisome aspect with dogs as it can bring on lameness. There are some things that can be done to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia.

Joint laxity in dogs occurs when the head of the femur doesn’t fit into the acetabulum properly. This could be the result of several things such as the dog being overweight, injury or something else.

Epilepsy:

Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic condition that results in seizures. This neurological disorder is actually a life-long disease, occurring when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain and which changes a dog’s behavior.

Some breeds are more predisposed to epilepsy than others but you will need to get your dog to the vet when you see your pet jerking uncontrollably. Most of these epileptic fits happen without warning, they last a few seconds to a minute or so and stop on their own.

The Korean Jindo dog is looked upon as a generally healthy dog breed with no serious genetic problems to talk about. Look out for eye diseases and dental decay as well as hypothyroidism, a common disease in dogs where you notice deterioration with the coat – thinning, dry and dull.

The dog’s skin also becomes flaky and you’ll notice that your once energetic pet is now gaining weight and is lethargic. Get him to the vet. Hypothyroidism can be treated simply by your vet to get your pet healthy once again.

It’s no longer cheap caring for a dog – just like with a child, by bringing a dog into your home, you have a responsibility to care for it.

If you bring a puppy into your home, you will need to feed him 4x a day. If you feed him commercially manufactured food it will need to be specially formulated for puppies. You will have to read on the packaging to make sure you get the right food.

Later on your pet can start having one or two meals a day. Two smaller meals is best as then he doesn’t gobble up his food too fast which can lead to a life-threatening condition known as bloat. Home-made food is always a welcome treat for your pet, but keep it simple and consistent. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach chopped up and added to his dry kibble can offer him some variety from time to time as well as also adding in some raw meat when you get the chance. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Your puppy will be due at the vet for his first vaccinations. Your puppy's first vaccination will usually be at about 8 weeks of age.

Your new pet will require a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep and to retreat to.

You will need to provide him with chewy toys to stimulate him both mentally and physically.

You will need to exercise your pet – nice long walks, ball- and rope games etc.

Nearly every dog sheds, and the Northern Inuit will require you brushing him twice a week to remove all those loose hairs. During the brushing session, check him over for fleas and ticks and run your hands over him and make sure there are no unusual lumps on his body.

Grooming:

The Jindo has a double coat and this sheds heavily about twice a year, so certainly during these shedding periods you will need to brush his coat twice a week to keep it free from loose hair.

Never just assume that your dog is healthy and happy. When you brush him, check him over for ticks and fleas, check him for any unusual lumps, make sure his nose is wet and that his eyes are bright. Look at the condition of his fur, check his teeth and inside his ears – there are lots of tell-tale signs that can indicate that all is not well with your pet and then you need to get him to the vet.

Diet:

As a medium-sized breed, if you feed your dog commercially manufactured food, he will require a high quality food that has been formulated for a dog of his size and his activity levels. Mix some home-made cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta as well as vegetables into his kibble and try to include some raw meat in occasionally too. He needs to always have access to fresh, clean water.

Exercise:

The Jindo is a high energy dog, and with his bright face you can tell that he is always ready for action. Long ago he was bred to perform hunting and retrieving type jobs, and with their stamina, they require having a busy day.

They certainly require a significant amount of exercise and mental stimulation, so you will need to include him in your daily walks and give him exciting ball games.