Northern Inuit Dog
.jumbotron {
background-image: url(“https://a-z-animals.com/media/norhern-inuit-1-400×300.jpg”);
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 641px) and (max-width: 920px) {
.jumbotron {
background-image: url(“https://a-z-animals.com/media/norhern-inuit-1-470×370.jpg”);
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 921px) {
.jumbotron {
background-image: url(“https://a-z-animals.com/media/norhern-inuit-1.jpg”);
}
}
Northern Inuit Dog
Canis lupus

Northern Inuit Dog Scientific Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Canidae
- Genus
- Canis
- Scientific Name
- Canis lupus
Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.
Northern Inuit Dog Conservation Status
Northern Inuit Dog Facts
- Common Name
- Northern Inuit Dog
.checked {
color: yellow;
}
Northern Inuit Dog as a Pet:
- General Health
- Energy Level
- Shedability
- Trainability
- Intelligence
- Tendency to Chew
- Size
- Family and kid friendliness
- Yappiness / Barking
- High
- Separation Anxiety
- Moderate
- Preferred Temperature
- Average climate
- Exercise Needs
- High
- Friendly With Other Dogs
- Moderate
- Pure bred cost to own
- $800 to $1,000
- Dog group
- Working
- Male weight
- 79-110 lbs
- Female weight
- 55-84 lbs
This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world’s species..

Spiders that fly! Fish that walk! And 1000+ more incredible animals. Discover them all for FREE
.photo-gallery {
–margin: 0px auto 0px;
–padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.gallery-link {
background-image: url(“https://a-z-animals.com/media/norhern-inuit-1.jpg”);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-size: cover;
background-position: center;
height: 500px;
justify-content: center;
text-align: center;
align-items: center;
display: flex;
border: 2px solid #000;
}
.gallery-link img {
height: 50%;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {
.gallery-link {
height: 300px !important;
}
}
View all of the Northern Inuit Dog images!
Northern Inuit Dogs may look very similar to wolves, but they actually do not have any wolf DNA.
They were bred from dogs such as Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, and Alaskan Malamutes to look just like a dog while still retaining positive traits that are associated with domesticated dogs. This breed’s lifespan is between 12 and 15 years.
See all of our expert product reviews.
Northern Inuit Dogs can make a great family pet. They are very loyal and friendly. However, they can be a challenge to train for first time owners, so this breed will do best with an experienced owner.
button.pulse {
transform: scale(1); animation: pulse 2s infinite;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 1);
}
@keyframes pulse {
0% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0.5); }
60% { transform: scale(1); box-shadow: 0 0 0 15px rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
100% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
}
Owning a Northern Inuit Dog: 3 Pros and Cons
Pros! | Cons! |
---|---|
Friendly: Northern Inuit Dogs are very friendly. They interact well with both strangers and members of the family. | Challenging for first time owners: Northern Inuit dogs are best suited for experienced owners. They can be challenging to train if you have not worked with this breed before. |
Healthy: This breed is relatively healthy. They don’t have as many medical conditions as some other breeds for you to worry about. | Not a good guard dog: Northern Inuit Dogs are too friendly to make a good guard dog. |
Good with other dogs: This breed typically gets along well with other dogs. This means they would be a good choice for homes with other dogs or ones that are planning to adopt multiple dogs. | May develop separation anxiety: Northern Inuit Dogs don’t like being left alone for long periods of time. They are more likely than some other dog breeds to suffer from separation anxiety. |

Aneta Jungerova/Shutterstock.com
Northern Inuit Dog Size and Weight
These Dogs are a medium- to large-sized dog breed. Males are typically significantly larger than females in this breed. They can weigh between 79 and 110 pounds and are between 23 and 32 inches tall. Females, on the other hand, generally weight between 55 and 84 pounds and are between 23 and 28 inches tall.
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
Height | 23 inches to 32 inches | 23 inches to 28 inches |
Weight | 79 pounds to 110 pounds | 55 pounds to 84 pounds |
Northern Inuit Dog Common Health Issues
Before you bring home a Northern Inuit dog, there are a few common health concerns that this breed faces that you should know about. Reading about these health concerns can help ensure that you are ready to provide the highest levels of care possible for your dog.
Hip dysplasia is one health concern you should be aware of. Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition where a dog’s hip bone and thighbone don’t connect together properly. This causes the bones to rub together, which gets painful over time. Dogs with hip dysplasia may develop a limp.
Health and Entertainment for your Northern Inuit Dog
See all of our expert product reviews.
These dogs may also suffer from cryptorchidism. This is a condition in which both or one of the dog’s testes do not drop. Dogs with this problem will need to be castrated, but can then go on to live a normal life.
Another potential health concern for this breed is degenerative myelopathy. This progressive disease affects a dog’s spinal cord beginning around the time they are 8 to 14 years old. At first, dogs will seem to be uncoordinated and may appear to drag their feet. Eventually, degenerative myelopathy will progress to the point that a dog is unable to walk at all.
To review, a few potential health concerns for these dogs include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Cryptorchidism
- Degenerative myelopathy
Northern Inuit Dog Temperament and Behavior
These Inuit Dogs have a very loyal and friendly personality. These traits make this breed a great option for family. Northern Inuit dogs are also loyal and intelligent dogs.
However, owners will need to make sure that their higher activity level needs are met, or they could engage in destructive behaviors. This breed can be a bit strong-willed, so they will do best with an experienced owner who knows how to properly train them.
How to Take Care of a Northern Inuit Dog
Before planning for how you’ll care for your Northern Inuit Dog, you should think about the nutritional needs, common health problems, temperament, and other unique characteristics of this breed.
The Best Dog Food for Northern Inuits
Many of these dogs have a sensitive stomach, so choosing a high-quality dog food is essential. Many dogs do well with kibble from a reputable manufacturer that contains a good amount of proteins and fats. You may also choose to feed them a raw diet. Whichever option you select, be sure to stay away from foods that are too sugary as these could be bad for their health.
Very young dogs (under the age of six months) have smaller stomachs and will need to eat between three and four times every day. After a puppy is six months old, he should be fine transitioning to eating about twice a day.
Our pick at A-Z Animals of the best dog food for Northern Inuits is Victor Purpose – Performance, Dry Dog Food.
With probiotics, this beef and chicken food promotes ideal digestion for this breed that can struggle with a sensitive stomach. As a result, your Northern Inuit’s immune system will be more robust. Additionally, the amino acids and antioxidants help trigger cell regeneration and a functioning nervous system.
Victor Purpose Performance Dog Food is available on amazon.
- PERFORMANCE DOG FOOD: Performance high energy dog food is a nutrient-dense dry dog food for adult dogs with high physical demands; this active dog food is formulated to promote stamina and endurance
- 26% PROTEIN DRY FOOD: This gluten free, multi-protein dog food is a nutrient-dense formula with ingredients to promote digestibility, immune system function and healthy skin and coat
- HIP & JOINT HEALTH: VICTOR Performance dog food is designed with added glucosamine and chondroitin to support hip and joint health in active adult dogs
- PROPRIETARY VPRO BLEND: Every VICTOR dog kibble formula begins with our exclusive mix of supplements, vitamins and minerals that have been designed to help maximize the genetic potential of every dog, regardless of breed, age, or activity level.
- MADE IN THE USA: We proudly produce every bag of VICTOR kibble in our own Texas-based facility and do not waver in our commitment to high-quality nutrition. A majority of ingredients come from ranches, farms and other trusted suppliers who are within a day’s drive of our East Texas plant
Northern Inuit Dog Maintenance and Grooming
These dogs are very heavy shedders, particularly during their shedding seasons in the fall and spring. During these shedding seasons, you will need to brush your dog every day to reduce the amount of hair that is left around your home. During other times in the year, brushing your dog a few times a week should be sufficient.
They should not be bathed too frequently. Their coats are designed to repel dirt, and bathing them too often could cause it to lose these properties.
In addition to brushing your dog, be sure to brush their teeth, clean their ears, and trim their nails on a regular basis.
Northern Inuit Dog Training
These dogs can be a challenge to train. They do best with an experienced trainer who has worked with the breed before. Whether training your dog yourself or looking for obedience training classes near you, look for options that use positive reinforcement. This breed will not respond well to training methods that use negative reinforcement.
Socialization from an early age is also very important with this breed. This will help your dog learn how to interact with people and other pets. It will also help them learn how to act in different situations.
Northern Inuit Dog Exercise
These Inuit Dogs are an active breed, but don’t need as much exercise as some other breeds. You should strive to give your dog between an hour and an hour and a half of exercise each day. Taking your pup for two walks a day and playing with them inside or in the backyard can help fulfill their need for exercise.
Northern Inuit Dog Puppies
There are not many breeders in North America that offers Northern Inuit Dog puppies. For this reason, you may find long waiting lists to bring home a puppy. Also, unless a breeder lives near you, be prepared to arrange to transportation of a new puppy to your home.
Always choose a reputable breeder and avoid adopting a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills do not provide the same level of care to the dogs and don’t take health concerns or temperament into account when breeding dogs.
Before you bring a dog home, make sure your home is ready. Remove anything that could be potentially dangerous to a puppy from your space. Purchase food and all the other necessary supplies that your dog will need so you have everything ready when you bring home your new dog.

Northern Inuit Dogs and Children
When trained and socialized from an early age, these dogs can make an excellent pet for a family with children. They are very friendly and loving dogs who do well with children. Even they are tolerant around children, you should always closely supervise your children when they around this breed or any other dog breeds. This will reduce the chances of an accidental injury to either the dog or the child.
Dogs similar to Northern Inuit Dog
Tamaskans, Siberian Huskies, and Alaskan Malamutes are three dog breeds that have some things in common with these dogs.
- Tamaskan: While Northern Inuit Dogs are a crossbreed, Tamaskans are purebred dogs. Both breeds are affectionate, sensitive, and make a good pet for families with children.
- Siberian Husky: Siberian Huskies and Northern Inuit Dogs both have a strong impulse to roam. They are also both a family-friendly breed. However, a Northern Inuit Dog is larger in size than a Siberian Husky. Male Northern Inuit Dogs have an average weight of 94.5 pounds, while male Siberian Huskies only weigh between 45 and 60 pounds.
- Alaskan Malamute: Both Alaskan Malamutes and Northern Inuit Dogs are territorial and can make a good watchdog. Both breeds are also pretty heavy shedders. Alaskan Malamutes are usually a bit more playful and social than Northern Inuit Dogs.
Famous Northern Inuit Dogs
Because of their wolf-like appearance, these dogs have been used to play wolves in different TV shows and movies. Most famously, this breed was used to play young Direwolves in Season 1 of HBO’s Game of Thrones series. These Inuit Dogs were also used to play Rollo in the Outlander series from Starz.
Popular Names for Northern Inuit Dog
The list below is designed to provide you with some inspiration if you are looking for the perfect name for your Inuit dog.
- Alpine
- Bear
- Dakota
- Storm
- Timber
- Miska
- Shila
- Nini
- Suka
- Tanana
Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
View all 39 animals that start with N
Northern Inuit Dog FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How much does Northern Inuit Dog cost to own?
The cost to purchase a Northern Inuit Dog from a breeder is typically between $800 and $1,000. If you can find a Northern Inuit Dog from a rescue organization or a shelter, you should expect to pay around $300 to cover adoption fees.
Other expenses you should consider before adopting a dog include veterinary bills, training classes, food, toys, and supplies. Expect the cost for these to be highest your first year. You could spend $1,000 or more your first year with your new dog to purchase everything you’ll need. Each of the following years, you should still expect to spend $500 to $1,000 to care for your dog.
Is Northern Inuit Dog good with kids?
Yes, Northern Inuit Dogs are good with kids. They are very loving and friendly. It will be important to begin training and socializing your dog from a very early age to make sure they know how to interact with children.
How long does Northern Inuit Dog live?
The lifespan of a Northern Inuit Dog is between 12 and 15 years.
Do Northern Inuit Dogs make good pets?
A Northern Inuit Dog can make an excellent pet. This breed is extremely friendly and enjoys spending time with his family. It will be important to make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise; this is not a good breed for individuals who are not very active. They can also develop separation anxiety, so you also shouldn’t choose this breed if no one is home for most of the day.
Is a Northern Inuit a wolf dog?
While Northern Inuit Dogs look very much like a wolf, they are not actually wolf dogs. They were crossbred from dogs such as Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and German Shepherds so that they would resemble a wolf while maintaining the even temperament of a domestic dog.
How big are Northern Inuit Dogs?
Northern Inuit dogs are a medium- to large-sized breed. Males generally weigh between 79 and 110 pounds and are between 23 and 32 inches tall. Females are smaller and weigh between 55 and 84 pounds. Females are between 23 and 28 inches tall.
Do Northern Inuit Dogs shed?
Yes, Northern Inuit Dogs shed. At some points in the year, it will be a more manageable amount, but during their shedding seasons in the fall and spring, they will shed a lot of hair. You will need to brush them every day to prevent their hair from being left all over the house.
Are Northern Inuit Dogs herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?
Northern Inuit Dogs are Carnivores, meaning they eat other animals.
What Kingdom do Northern Inuit Dogs belong to?
Northern Inuit Dogs belong to the Kingdom Animalia.
What is the scientific name for the Northern Inuit Dog?
The scientific name for the Northern Inuit Dog is Canis lupus.
Sources
- Northern Inuit Society, Available here: http://nisociety.com/about-the-breed/all-about-northern-inuits/
- Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Inuit_Dog