Tamaskan Dog Breed: Info, Pictures & Traits

The Tamaskan dog breed closely resembles a wolf. Have you ever seen a wolf in a movie and wondered how they got such an animal to behave on-screen, especially once you rule out CGI? The likelihood is that a Tamaskan played them.

The Tamaskan can also be called the Tamaskan Husky because this breed was one of their ancestral breeds. These pups can, therefore, be a handful. They aren’t the best choice for first-time dog owners. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have incredible personalities, though. They just mix it with plenty of mischief and stubbornness.

Tamaskan Puppies — Before You Bring One Home…

3 Little-Known Facts About the Tamaskan Dog

1. The Tamaskan was purposefully bred to look like a wolf.

The development of the Tamaskan breed only began in the 1980s. Their history is short yet interesting. Many designer dog breeds were created because people wanted something fluffier, smaller, or cuter. Some dogs can fit into your handbag. This pup was created to resemble wolves as closely as possible.

To do so, Finnish breeders selected five Husky-like breeds, including the Siberian, and imported them. They bred them together and mixed them with other dogs that had charming personalities and wolf-like characteristics.

These husky mixes were then crossed with Alaskan Malamutes and German Shepherds to obtain similar physical traits and the loyalty and calm demeanor of these dogs. The theory is that they were eventually influenced by crossing them with the Czech Wolfdog or another lupine-like dog.

In the end, the Tamaskans ended up with potential coat patterns involving three primary colors. They can be wolf-gray, red-gray, and black-gray.

However, one of their claims to fame is that they don’t have a drop of wolf blood. These pups are all dog.

You might also like: 12 Breeds that look like Wolves 

2. These are brown-eyed, working dogs.

Like most designer breeds, we are not entirely sure about every part of the origin of the Tamaskans. However, all the dogs that we know are included in their bloodline have a couple of things in common.

One of these things is that they are all working dogs. From the Siberian Husky to the German Shepherd, these dogs want to feel like they have a purpose. They thrive in environments where they have tasks to work at and feel like they are helping.

If you do not have anything for them to do, then consider using frequent training sessions as an alternative to giving them an actual job. Teaching them how to pull things, respond to commands, work through agility courses, or even learn basic commands that they might not already know gives them a greater purpose than nothing.

The note about their brown eye color is a point of interest. You would think that since they are crossed with Siberian and other Husky-type dogs, they tend to have blue eyes. It is not true, though. It is to the point that their breed standard dictates that they need to have brown or hazel eyes. If they have blue or mixed eye colors, this is detraction from their purebred line.

3. Their popularity has grown since the early 2000s.

For the first 20 years of their existence, the Tamaskan breed was relatively unknown. They were not quickly spread from the initial breeders who designed the dog’s lineage.

However, all of this changed when they began to be shown in movies and shows. They were both in Europe and England. Once people realized that the stars of the scenes featuring wolves were Tamaskans, their popularity began to grow.

Since they are still such a newly developed breed, they have not officially been registered by any country’s club. However, separate clubs are beginning to form for them in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Croatia.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Tamaskan Dog 🧠

The dog’s wolf-like appearance isn’t their only draw. The dog has a pleasant personality bred into them as a combination of all their parental lines. They are hard-working and active. At the same time, though, they know how to mix a playful attitude with seriousness when needed.

Although the breed frequently puts on being a ferocious hunter, behind the scenes, they tend to be gentle and friendly dogs. They might be intense, but in reality, they can’t even be used as a guard dog. They are too friendly and would be more likely to invite them in instead of warding them away.

It might melt your heart that these big, wolf-like dogs are big softies on the inside, needing plenty of people time to feel adequately loved. They suffer from separation anxiety if they are not around their people frequently enough.

You don’t want this, not only for your dog’s sake but also your furniture. Their anxiety doesn’t manifest in too much depression but in destruction. If they get enough exercise, then they might only choose one or two things to chew to pieces. If not, they can leave an entire area in utter disarray.

Not only do they have big hearts, but they also have big brains. They are highly intelligent, having been bred exclusively with highly smart breeds. They need plenty of mental stimulation. Giving them puzzles or treats with tricks can help them stave off boredom.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

They are family dogs. They are patient with children and often become their best buds. They have enough energy in them to help them keep up with even the most energetic of kids.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t continue to watch their interactions, especially at first. Make sure your kids know how to kindly treat the dog, decreasing the likelihood of any significant run-ins.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

These snow dogs need plenty of early socialization to have a higher guarantee of appropriate interactions with other pups. They can be relatively territorial but are known to be pretty accepting of other dogs.

One of the reasons for their relatively easy acceptance of other dogs is that they are pack animals. They don’t want to be left alone and seem to have the mentality that strength in numbers is ingrained into them.

Watch out for the dogs around smaller animals, like cats or rodents. They might not be as kind to them if they view them as prey. They need to be taught how to behave around them.

Things to Know When Owning a Tamaskan Dog

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Tamaskans are heavy dogs with multiple musculatures on their slender, agile frame. To satisfy this, they need plenty of food high in protein. Each day, they should receive between 3 to 4 cups of food.

Most of the dogs that were part of the development of the breed are wiser than some others. They can regulate themselves and their intake of food throughout the day. If food is left out for them, they eat when they are hungry and leave it alone otherwise.

If you have other dogs, though, it is still best to plan your pup’s mealtimes instead of letting them free feed. Otherwise, it is difficult to tell which dog has eaten which food and how much. Other breeds might also overfeed if they are not as good at regulating themselves.

Exercise 🐕

The Tamaskan dog breed is considered to be a high-energy dog. They need plenty of activity each week to satisfy their activity requirements. If they do not get enough exercise, they can become destructive, even if you and your family are around enough.

They do not make good apartment dogs unless they get out with even more frequency than most. They do best with a fenced-in yard to run around in or a nearby park area. If they are not satisfied, they become talented escape artists, a regular Houdini-dog.

If you enjoy running, hiking, frequent walks, or going to the dog park, your dog will be happy to get as much out of it as possible. Set a mileage goal of at least 18 miles a week if running or walking. They need an average of 70 minutes of consistent activity each day.

Training 🦮

The training of a Tamaskan can seem like an oxymoron; they train easily but showcase usual stubbornness. It comes down to their trainer mostly and how much exercise they get. If they feel overly obnoxious, they won’t have the attention span to focus on whatever the current lesson is.

To guarantee better training sessions, put the work into it. Teach them to pull, all the commands to mush, and so on. They are built for the work, so don’t worry about overtaxing them unless they are in a warmer climate.

Another recommended activity is agility training. This combines their commands with plenty of running around. Sessions like this help them learn the importance of listening to you while keeping their brains and bodies fully “on.”

Grooming ✂️

Tamaskans are considered a low-maintenance breed even though they do go through times of the year when they blow their coat. They have a double-layered coat, typical to that of Huskies and Malamutes. During fall and spring seasons, the underlayer sheds and produces mountains of fluff.

Other than frequent brushing, they don’t require much more attention. They don’t need to be groomed and can give themselves “baths” as cats do. They should only need special attention if you start to notice that they are shedding more, since giving them a bath and a good brush can loosen it all up faster.

Otherwise, keep their nails trimmed if they aren’t already maintained from their activities. Clean out their ears every once and a while as well. Note that they are not hypoallergenic.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Overall, the Tamaskan dog breed is new enough that they still seem to experience plenty of hybrid vigor. The dogs that were used for their parental lines also tend to be quite healthy. The combination means that they can live long, full lives. Continue to take them to the vet for annual checkups, though, so anything they suffer from can be caught early enough to treat.

Male vs. Female

There is not enough established about the sizes of males versus females to notice a difference between their personalities. Males tend to be heavier, weighing upward of 95 pounds, while females weigh closer to 75 to 85. Females stand a little shorter, but only by 5 inches or less.

Final Thoughts

Tamaskans shouldn’t be adopted only for their wolf-life appearance. Remembering that these dogs are much more than that will make your experience with them much better.

Tamaskans need active owners who have plenty of time for them. If you are an avid hiker or runner, these dogs easily fit into the lifestyle. If not, then it is essential to make a plan to meet their needs.

Featured Image Credit: lonnestudio, Shutterstock