A Tamaskan dog
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Common nicknames | Tam, Tamaskan husky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Origin | Finland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) |
Traits | |||
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Weight | Male | 65–95 pounds (29–43 kg) | |
Female | 55–85 pounds (25–39 kg) | ||
Height | Male | 25–33 inches (64–84 cm) | |
Female | 24–28 inches (61–71 cm) | ||
Coat | Thick double coat; dense undercoat & coarse outer coat. Each individual guard hair is agouti banded. | ||
Color | Wolf grey, red grey, black grey | ||
Litter size | 6-10 puppies | ||
Life span | 14–15 years (projected) |
The Tamaskan dogs are a crossbreed, specifically designed by dog fanciers, beginning in Finland, to morphologically resemble a wolfdog. It is a cross of several standardized breeds of the sled dog type, and its bloodlines may sometimes include a small amount of wolfdog . As of November 2013,[update] Tamaskans have not been recognized as a breed in its own right by any major breed registries or kennel clubs, only being recognized by two minor registries, the American Rare Breed Association, and the related Kennel Club of the United States of America, and by Tamaskan-specific breeder clubs. It is a highly versatile dog that can excel in agility, obedience and working trials. Although there are a little over 600 Tamaskans worldwide registered in these organizations, increasing interest has resulted in their spread throughout continental Europe, the UK, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Tamaskans are large, athletic dogs, slightly taller in size than German Shepherds. With regard to build, they are substantially larger than typical sled dogs but smaller than the Alaskan Malamute. They generally resemble grey wolves and wolfdogs.
On average, Tamaskan adults measure around 24-28 inches (60–70 cm) tall at the shoulder and typically weigh between 55-88 pounds (25–40 kg)–the heaviest recorded Tamaskan males (to date) weigh just under 50 kg. Females are usually slightly smaller and lighter than males, with a distinct feminine appearance. Males are more heavyset with broader heads and a heavier bone structure. Tamaskans have a appearance with a straight bushy tail and thick double coat that comes in three main colors: wolf gray, red gray, and black gray. Each individual guard hair is agouti banded along its length. The almond-shaped eyes range from yellow through to amber and brown, with lighter colored eyes being very rare. Blue eyes are not acceptable, nor are mismatched eyes.