Differences of opinion have been expressed as to the temper and disposition of these dogs. In the last Edition of this book Mr. Temple wrote: "I have never owned one, dog or bitch, that when loose would not go for the first living thing it could see, be it dog, pig, chicken, horse, or cow. They are awful fighters, and it is rough on the dog they get hold of." This is so utterly opposed to the experience of the writer and others who have kept and bred these dogs in this country, that one can only conclude that Mr. Temple was singularly unfortunate in the specimens he owned or in his treatment of them. That there are bad-tempered and quarrelsome Esquimaux, as is the case in every other breed of dog, no one will attempt to deny ; and that, when half starved and cruelly treated by their hard task-masters, as is too frequently the case, they should be little better than half-tamed animals can hardly surprise any one. The Esquimaux well cared for and properly treated is, however, a very different animal, and is extremely affectionate and a nice companion. Garry, a pure white dog that won many prizes in former years, is described as being quite tame, following his master closely through the streets without chain or muzzle, and as being very tractable and docile. Mr. Brough, in writing of Myouk, a well-known dog in his time, said: "Mrs. Brough takes Myouk out frequently, both riding and driving. He is much bolder than when we first had him, and follows perfectly in crowded streets or elsewhere, and is quite as handy and obedient as any dog we have - more so than most. We never have to speak twice to him. He is most affectionate, and often goes with Mrs. Brough to feed the fowls, and sits there whilst they are feeding all round him without taking any notice of them. If a strange dog threatens him, he neither seems aggressive nor timid, and it never comes to a fight. I take him out to exercise on the sands every morning with about ten couples of Bloodhounds, young and old. He is, I think, more generally admired than any dog we have, although the Bloodhounds, Deerhound, and Chinese get a good share of attention. Myouk is very hardy, and although we have taken him long distances when much younger than now, I never saw him appear really tired. I think you could hardly get to the bottom of him."

Fig. 77. - The Esquimaux Myouk.

Myouk (Fig. 77), as will be seen by his pedigree, was much inbred to Sir John Franklin, unquestionably one of the best Esquimaux ever exhibited. Sir John Franklin was said to have been one of the dogs brought over in the Pandora by Sir Allen Young, but whether this is really the case is doubtful, although there can be little question that he was not bred in this country. He would follow through the crowded streets of London, and never attempted to interfere with anything; it was, too, a daily occurrence for him to be loose with a dozen or more Esquimaux and the same number of Mastiffs and other dogs, and no trouble ever occurred, and he travelled hundreds of miles to shows loose in the same compartment with the Mastiff Cardinal. These dogs become greatly attached to their owners, and are frequently of a very jealous disposition.

Garry, the dog referred to above, was of a different type from many other Esquimaux that have been exhibited. He was sometimes called a North American Wolfdog, and was said to be a cross between a wolf and an Esquimaux bitch. It is a perfectly well-known fact that the wolf and dog will breed freely together, and the late Mr. Bartlett, of the Zoological Gardens, told the writer that the offspring will continue to breed - a fact that has been doubted by some.

Mr. C. E. Fryer wrote of Garry in the first Edition of this book: "The Indians take great pride in rearing a pure white Wolfdog, and when they manage to secure one they have a feast in his honour, called the ' Feast of the White Dog.' Garry is said to be the produce of an Esquimaux bitch crossed nine times by a prairie wolf. The Indians chain up the Esquimaux mothers in the neighbourhood of the wolves, to whose kind attentions they leave them. The dog Garry has travelled many thousand miles over the snow, drawing a sleigh, and is quite tame, following his master closely through the streets without chain or muzzle. Sometimes he is treated to this latter sign of 'civilisation,' under which he is very patient, though he continually endeavours to free himself from it. His food is plain dog biscuit, which he eats without complaint, though at first he eat raw meat ravenously. His master, however, finding his blood was getting too hot, gradually reduced him to one meal per day of dog biscuits. He is very tractable and docile, and but for his enormous size would not give any idea of ferocity. His eyes are very small, and of a pale yellow colour. The long, thick tail, the pointed head, and short, pointed ears, seem unmistakably to show the wolf-blood in him, and his general appearance shows his descent. His mouth would easily take in a man's leg, and his teeth are a caution to dentists. His owner tells me that the dog does not bark, but utters a low growl when enraged, and at night howls piteously."

The Norwegian and Swedish dogs are very much alike, both having larger and more pointed ears than the Esquimaux, which they frequently throw back, which is not the case with the Esquimaux. The coat is very thick and lies close to the body. The Swedish Elkhunds (Fig. 78) are used for hunting the elk, keeping them at bay until their owners are able to reach the spot. Both these dogs are very handsome and make good companions, showing an amount of intelligence not to be surpassed by any of our own breeds of dogs. It is easier to obtain specimens of these dogs than of the Esquimaux, and they are therefore much more frequently to be seen at shows than the latter; but the trouble and expense of importing dogs under the existing quarantine regulations are likely to militate against the success of breeders in this country, as in all probability inbreeding will have to be largely resorted to, which cannot but prove detrimental in course of time.

Fig. 78. - The Swedish Elkhund.