Comments on: ‘Atlas’ the definitive guide to world’s worth of canine companions http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:24:49 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: retrieverman http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-467038 retrieverman Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:18:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-467038 If it's a Lapinporokoïra, that's a reindeer herder. It's not a Greenland dog, though. If it’s a Lapinporokoïra, that’s a reindeer herder.

It’s not a Greenland dog, though.

]]> By: retrieverman http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-467035 retrieverman Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:15:49 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-467035 Caribou and reindeer are the same species, but they are different subspecies. In Alaska, there are feral reindeer that are interbreeding with native caribou. The North America subspecies are all called caribou, while the North American ones are called reindeer, even if they are wild and never touch reins. Caribou and reindeer are the same species, but they are different subspecies. In Alaska, there are feral reindeer that are interbreeding with native caribou.

The North America subspecies are all called caribou, while the North American ones are called reindeer, even if they are wild and never touch reins.

]]> By: Cait http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466924 Cait Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:31:37 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466924 AnneT - what's interesting is that there ARE any number of herding spitz breeds- the Samoyed is the most obvious, but the earliest shelties we have photos of are very spitz-like. German Spitz (and Amreican Eskimo Dogs) were a small all-purpose farm dogs and the standards/giants (AED = standards, German spitz (grossespitz) = giant) in both countries have gotten herding instinct certs. My little German Spitz will round up poultry, but it's clearly a predatory behavior that will end in a snack if I don't recall her, unlike my collies' herding behaviors. (Mal, above mentioned smooth, though, is turning into a VERY professional herding dog as he matures. Maybe he won't get a pet home after all. :P) AnneT - what’s interesting is that there ARE any number of herding spitz breeds- the Samoyed is the most obvious, but the earliest shelties we have photos of are very spitz-like. German Spitz (and Amreican Eskimo Dogs) were a small all-purpose farm dogs and the standards/giants (AED = standards, German spitz (grossespitz) = giant) in both countries have gotten herding instinct certs.

My little German Spitz will round up poultry, but it’s clearly a predatory behavior that will end in a snack if I don’t recall her, unlike my collies’ herding behaviors. (Mal, above mentioned smooth, though, is turning into a VERY professional herding dog as he matures. Maybe he won’t get a pet home after all. :P)

]]> By: Anne T http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466920 Anne T Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:13:32 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466920 Interesting about the "Lapinporokoira". The pics I found make it look as if it belongs to that universal, utilitarian, multi-purpose family of spitzes. If they derive from reindeer herding stock ( I thought the taxonomists had stopped playing games with Rangifer and that the NA caribou were subspecies of the Euro reindeer)then it would make perfect sense to have selected out individuals to create a sheep herding breed. Many Nordic sheep breeds are considered primitive, and need the help of an intelligent dog to herd them, as they don't flock as effectively as more modern breeds. Interesting about the “Lapinporokoira”. The pics I found make it look as if it belongs to that universal, utilitarian, multi-purpose family of spitzes. If they derive from reindeer herding stock ( I thought the taxonomists had stopped playing games with Rangifer and that the NA caribou were subspecies of the Euro reindeer)then it would make perfect sense to have selected out individuals to create a sheep herding breed. Many Nordic sheep breeds are considered primitive, and need the help of an intelligent dog to herd them, as they don’t flock as effectively as more modern breeds.

]]> By: Christie Keith http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466890 Christie Keith Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:20:05 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466890 Heather is <s>in a bunker</s> <s>at an undisclosed location</s> on vacation, but her co-author, Stephanie Fornino, had something for us: <em> I think Heather meant to reference the Lapinporokoïra (also known as the Lapponian Herder) when speaking of herding reindeer, not the Greenland Dog. </em> <em> The Lapinporokoïra was used by herdsmen in northern Finland to herd reindeer for many years, but with the advent of the snowmobile, they lost favor. Soon, however, the expense of running the machines helped the breed become popular once again for this purpose.</em> <em> The Greenland Dog was largely used as a transportation animal used to pull sledges, and he was also employed as a hunter and guardian of family.</em> I'm not totally shocked that one would opt to retrieve the name "Greenland dog" instead of "Lapinporokoïra," but nonetheless, I apologize for not catching that at the time. And thanks to Stephanie for the prompt clarification! Heather is in a bunker at an undisclosed location on vacation, but her co-author, Stephanie Fornino, had something for us:

I think Heather meant to reference the Lapinporokoïra (also known as the Lapponian Herder) when speaking of herding reindeer, not the Greenland Dog.

The Lapinporokoïra was used by herdsmen in northern Finland to herd reindeer for many years, but with the advent of the snowmobile, they lost favor. Soon, however, the expense of running the machines helped the breed become popular once again for this purpose.

The Greenland Dog was largely used as a transportation animal used to pull sledges, and he was also employed as a hunter and guardian of family.

I’m not totally shocked that one would opt to retrieve the name “Greenland dog” instead of “Lapinporokoïra,” but nonetheless, I apologize for not catching that at the time. And thanks to Stephanie for the prompt clarification!

]]> By: eli http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466889 eli Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:13:05 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466889 flyover country, eh? slow day on Left Coast? ...clicker, treats, e-collar, aversive, purely positive, trainers, behaviorists, byb, mills, ethical breeders, heritage breeds, oops litters, ... _that_ string'll get your comments goin'... flyover country, eh? slow day on Left Coast?

…clicker, treats, e-collar, aversive, purely positive, trainers, behaviorists, byb, mills, ethical breeders, heritage breeds, oops litters, …

_that_ string’ll get your comments goin’…

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466882 Gina Spadafori Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:52:48 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466882 Iceland, Greenland ... isn't that kinda like Ohio, Iowa? Both places with similar names that you fly over? Iceland, Greenland … isn’t that kinda like Ohio, Iowa? Both places with similar names that you fly over?

]]> By: Christie Keith http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466874 Christie Keith Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:44:56 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466874 I guess we'll have to ask Heather over to explain herself on the Iceland/Greenland confounding... ;) I guess we’ll have to ask Heather over to explain herself on the Iceland/Greenland confounding… ;)

]]> By: retrieverman http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466842 retrieverman Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:21:49 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466842 I've found that some Icelandic dogs herd reindeer in Iceland, but I see nothing of any herding dogs native to Greenland. I’ve found that some Icelandic dogs herd reindeer in Iceland, but I see nothing of any herding dogs native to Greenland.

]]> By: retrieverman http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/07/07/atlas-the-definitive-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-466839 retrieverman Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:16:11 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=7822#comment-466839 Also, Greenland doesn't have reindeer. Because Greenland is closer to North America than Eurasia, its natural history is more affected by North American mammals. Our version of this species is called caribou, and Greenland has North American caribou, not reindeer. Also, Greenland doesn’t have reindeer. Because Greenland is closer to North America than Eurasia, its natural history is more affected by North American mammals. Our version of this species is called caribou, and Greenland has North American caribou, not reindeer.

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