Tamaskan Timeline
Follow the development of the breed
The history of the Tamaskan Dog begins with the origins and foundations of two other arctic breeds. The following timeline follows the general history of these two foundation breeds as well as the formation and continuation of the Tamaskan breed through today.
The Northern Inuit
before
Before this point in time the foundations of these breeds and individual dogs were working arctic breeds. These dogs were sled dogs that were bred by indigenous people in order to work and live beside them - this inspired the start of a new uniform breed . . .
before
In the early 1980s
A group of dedicated breeders
assembled several mixed breed rescue dogs of unspecified origin or heritage of Canadian Inuit Dogs or Labrador Huskies that were imported into Great Britain from North America. These dogs were then bred to Alaskan Malamutes, German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky crosses. The intent of those breedings was to create a dog that closely resembled a wolf in appearance, but with a good temperament - forming a good family dog with a consistent working ability. No one is certain of the exact lines used or pedigrees of all the early foundation dogs and breeding of this breed as the records were not maintained and documented fully, but over a few years they created the breed originally known as wolf-dog.
1988
A name change
In 1988 the name was then changed to Northern Inuit since the name gave a false impression of wolf content when no content was recorded in the breed.
1988
In the 1990's
A parting of the ways...
There were differences of opinion on the direction the development of the breed should take. This resulted in the formation of both the Northern Inuit Society and the Northern Inuit Society of Great Britain.1
The Utonagan
In 2002
Continuing the lines
In order to further separate the two groups, the Northern Inuit Society decided on a new breed name, the Utonagan, and was renamed The Utonagan Society.
In 2002
In 2003
A second divergence
The club lapsed and took two different directions, so in 2003 a number of Utonagan breeders with a small group of dogs decided to split up from the Utonagan Society, and continue to breed under the name 'British & International Utonagan Society'.
The Tamaskan Dog
March 2006
Formation of the Tamaskan Dog
The 'British & International Utonagan Society' was dissolved, and the 'Tamaskan Dog Register'2 was established by some of those individuals3 and dogs from the latter organization within a matter of days. At the foundation of the Tamaskan Dog breed, there are 4 kennels that were involved in this transition: Blustag (Finland), Blufawn (UK), Alba (Scotland) & Moonstone (UK).
March 2006
2006
Foundations in Finland
The Utonagan dogs that were a part of this move were re-designated as Tamaskan Dogs. The founders acquired six arctic-breed crosses4 from a racing kennel, Polar Speed kennels (Reijo Jääskeläinen), in Finland (Lapland) and those dog as well as two other dogs5 purchased from breeders in Finland were added to the registry as foundation dogs.
2009 - 2010
Because the genetic basis of the Tamaskan Dog was still extremely limited, a Saarloos Wolfdog6 (in 2009) and a Siberian Husky7 (2010), were added into the breed's foundation.
2009 - 2010
2009
An acquaintance of Blustag approached some of the Tamaskan Dog breeders and revealed information about Blustag and some of the foundation dogs. Some of the breeders left the Tamaskan Dog Register after learning this information and started a new group to call their dogs Aatu Tamaskans.
2012
Heritage Revealed
In 2012, a few Tamaskan Dogs were DNA tested to confirm parentage from suspected wolfdog lineage and results came back positive. Due to this surprise, the TDR split into two different clubs - the International Tamaskan Dog Register (TDR) and the United Kingdom Tamaskan Dog Register (UK TDR). While the DNA results was not the singular reason for the split, it played a significant role as until this point the Tamaskan Dog was promoted as the "Wolfdog without the Wolf." When the split occurred the TDR dropped the motto to avoid any misunderstanding or the spread of misinformation.
2012
2012 - 2016
Choices
Another side effect of this divergence was the formation of the other registries and further splits that we now see today. You can see those that use Tamaskan Dogs in their programs on our Registries page.
November 2013
Recognition
In more recent years, the Tamaskan Dog was recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) and the Kennel Club of the United States of America in 2013.8
November 2013
June 2017
Showing in Style
The International Canine Events (ICE), International All Breed Canine Association (IABCA), and the International Canine Kennel Club (ICKC) all accepted the Tamaskan Dog as a rare breed, allowing them to compete in conformation and sports and other events to earn official titles.
April 2017
Bringing Research to the Forefront
The Tamaskan Dog Diversity Project (TDDP) was also formed with the intent of identifying breed patterns and statistics through the cataloging and analysis of documented health testing with the intent to offer this data to any breeders, clubs, and individuals who participate in their program and own/manage the health of registered Tamaskan Dogs as well as assist in breed development.9
April 2017
June 2019
A Parting of the Ways
The first of June a group of individuals split off from the TDR and formed the International Tamaskan Register (ITR) This register will operate internationally and accepted most TDR breeding dogs and breeders that did not express a desire to be excluded.10 There are some exceptions to this allowance.
Feb 2020
In the Family
White Attending an IABCA show in King, NC Sundog was notified in person that the Tamaskan Dog would no longer be provisionary and would be considered a permanent breed per IABCA by close of the weekend's events. In the Best in show of this weekend we showed the first Tamaskan Family group and won best in show.
Feb 2020
2020 and beyond . . .
The Future
We have seen the registries and orgs working hard to promote and build the breed ethically through many turns and changes. We can't wait to see any future developments and how they will shape the future of the Tamaskan Dog.
Footnotes
1. The Northern Inuit Society of Great Britain later changed their name to the Northern Inuit Society when the The Utonagan Society was formed.
2. This is not the current TDR, this is what is known today as the UK TDR
3. Ms. Lynn Sharkey/Hardey (Blustag), Jennifer Sharkey (Blufawn), Liz Wilson (Alba), and Zee Turner (Moonstone)
4. Six dogs where purchased from this kennel: Jackal at Blustag, Jodie at Blustag, Susi at Blustag, Dingo at Blustag, Two Socks at Moonstone and Kwakiuth at Alba. *The owner of Polar Speed was also in possession of an American Wolfdog and a Czechoslovakian Vlcak that they used in their breeding program.
2. This is not the current TDR, this is what is known today as the UK TDR
3. Ms. Lynn Sharkey/Hardey (Blustag), Jennifer Sharkey (Blufawn), Liz Wilson (Alba), and Zee Turner (Moonstone)
4. Six dogs where purchased from this kennel: Jackal at Blustag, Jodie at Blustag, Susi at Blustag, Dingo at Blustag, Two Socks at Moonstone and Kwakiuth at Alba. *The owner of Polar Speed was also in possession of an American Wolfdog and a Czechoslovakian Vlcak that they used in their breeding program.
5. These dogs were later discovered to have wolf content while it was not public knowledge at the time. (Whitefang and Jodie)
6. Djoser van Rijneckerhof (Blustag Apache Horse on some pedigrees)
7. Shadowolf Sky Hope at Blustag (Nanny McPhee at Blustag on some pedigrees)
8. As of November 27, 2013, both organizations recognized the Tamaskan Dog
9. Dogs registered with the Tamaskan Dog Register, Tamaskan Germany, Nederlandse Tamaskan Club, Interessengemeinschaft Tamaskan, International Tamaskan Register (ITR), UK TDR (separate database) are all accepted by the Tamaskan Dog Diversity Project.
10. The International Tamaskan Register (ITR) went public on June 1, 2019. All standing breeders and breeding dogs with the TDR were automatically accepted to the new register if they chose to remain/be duel registered.
6. Djoser van Rijneckerhof (Blustag Apache Horse on some pedigrees)
7. Shadowolf Sky Hope at Blustag (Nanny McPhee at Blustag on some pedigrees)
8. As of November 27, 2013, both organizations recognized the Tamaskan Dog
9. Dogs registered with the Tamaskan Dog Register, Tamaskan Germany, Nederlandse Tamaskan Club, Interessengemeinschaft Tamaskan, International Tamaskan Register (ITR), UK TDR (separate database) are all accepted by the Tamaskan Dog Diversity Project.
10. The International Tamaskan Register (ITR) went public on June 1, 2019. All standing breeders and breeding dogs with the TDR were automatically accepted to the new register if they chose to remain/be duel registered.