Large and athletically built, the Tamaskan closely resembles a wolf in appearance. Translated, the word Tamaskan also means “mighty wolf”. These lovable family and companion dogs emerged from a special breeding project. The goal was to breed a loyal, cheerful, healthy, and friendly dog suitable for everyday life. The rare breed has not yet been recognized by the FCI.

History of the Tamaskan

The Tamaskan is a very young breed. The wolf-like dog is the result of a mimicry breeding. The breeding aims to make the animal resemble the external appearance of a wolf as closely as possible. The history of the Tamaskan begins in the United States. From there, these dogs, popular as sled dogs, tracking dogs, and pack dogs, were exported to Britain in the 1980s. In England, the breed was crossed with Siberian Huskies, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, German Shepherds, and other active and working breeds.

The offspring of the first Tamaskan were later bred in Finland. This resulted in a loyal household dog with many positive traits, resembling a wolf in appearance. Like wolves, this dog also has a scissors bite and the characteristic wolf mask (black nose, yellowish, brown, or amber eyes). The Tamaskan dog has not yet been recognized as a separate breed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale).

Nature and Character

The Tamaskan is characterized by a friendly and balanced nature. The animal needs its owners around and is content when you take care of the dog. Since it has a strong character, sometimes reacts stubbornly, and ignores your instructions, you should be consistent in dog training. A Tamaskan dog needs clear commands. Early behavioral training is appropriate to turn the wolf-like working dog into a loving family dog. Due to its intelligent abilities, the four-legged friend is generally considered an ideal companion dog and even has the potential to be used as a therapy dog.

The natural needs of this breed, which requires a lot of exercise and outdoor activity, should be taken into account in dog training. A Tamaskan needs a lot of attention and does not like being alone. It is important to provide sufficient stimulation. If you neglect your Tamaskan dog, the animal will express the lack of attention by chewing on your furniture, destroying your slippers, or simply running away. In its inner essence, a Tamaskan is a pronounced pack animal. The animal feels comfortable in the company of other dogs and can therefore be kept with other breeds.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	High
Exercise Needs	High
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Trainability	High
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	Low
Amount of Shedding	Medium

Acquiring a Tamaskan

The Tamaskan is an affectionate family dog but can be stubborn. Whether the breed is suitable for beginners depends on whether you are willing to adapt your lifestyle and accommodate your dog’s needs. Can you give up going to the movies, shopping, or dining out because your Tamaskan doesn’t like to be left alone at home? A complete overhaul of habits is usually not necessary. When you want to go out or travel, it’s best to entrust your four-legged friend to the care of other experienced pet owners in your circle of friends or family.

The Tamaskan was bred as a family and companion dog and readily adapts to its family. The wolf-like dog gets along well with cats and other pets if it has been familiar with them from an early age. However, since Tamaskan dogs naturally have a hunting instinct, there is no guarantee of harmonious coexistence with other pets. You should be cautious with small animals like hamsters and guinea pigs, as they may be viewed as prey by the Tamaskan.

What to Consider When Buying

Are you considering buying a Tamaskan? Then, do your research on reputable breeders. Make sure the animal is healthy and well-behaved. Visit the dog at the breeder, play with it to get to know it. Observe its behavior! Does the Tamaskan wag its tail friendly when greeting, allow you to pet it, and show interest in you? These are good prerequisites for living together. You can expect costs in the four-digit range for a Tamaskan from a breeder. Prices for a puppy usually start at $1,800. Since there are currently relatively few Tamaskan breeders in the United States, waiting times are possible.

Development and Puppy Training

A Tamaskan puppy is moving in with you? The young animal needs a lot of attention and care. It sees you as members of its pack and would prefer to play and cuddle with you all day. Tamaskan puppies generally get along well with children. Nevertheless, you should socialize your Tamaskan dog early and accustom it to all family members. You cannot train away the typical hunting instinct of this breed, but you can control it well with consistent training.

A young Tamaskan needs a lot of exercise and prefers to be off-leash. Like its ancestor, the wolf, it needs to run freely. Lots of outdoor activity is essential for this breed. Therefore, you should plan enough time for walks. In principle, a Tamaskan puppy can also be kept in an apartment, provided there is enough space for it to romp and play. However, the animals feel most comfortable in nature.

The Tamaskan is the ideal dog if you are active yourself, enjoy hiking, jogging, or want to do something with your pet. A garden where the dog can play is a great advantage. Similar to other wolf hybrids, the Tamaskan sometimes emits loud howling noises that may be perceived as annoying by the neighborhood. While you can influence howling and barking behavior through training to some extent, you cannot completely prevent it. Training a Tamaskan puppy can be challenging. With its independent nature, this dog often pushes its owners to their limits. Patience, empathy, and consistency are necessary to train it into a loving family dog.

How to Care for a Tamaskan?

To ensure that the Tamaskan feels comfortable with you, the animal should be kept in a species-appropriate manner. The wolfhound needs plenty of space and regular exercise. A Tamaskan dog gets along well with singles and also feels comfortable in a retirement household if it receives enough attention and opportunities for free movement. The dog is a loyal, cheerful companion who enjoys spending the day with its owner. Tamaskans are very independent and like to explore their environment on their own.

Since they are pronounced pack animals, it is advisable to keep them together with another or several other four-legged companions if possible. He doesn’t like to be alone. Are you a working dog owner? Then you should make sure that someone takes care of your four-legged friend during the day. When feeding the Tamaskan, make sure that the muscular breed needs plenty of protein-rich food to stay strong and fit.

Activities with the Tamaskan

With a Tamaskan, you can do a lot. The animal needs regular stimulation through exercise. The four-legged friend can really exhaust itself in canicross and other dog sports. This dog is suitable for all types of sled dog sports, such as dog trekking or man-trailing. The animal can also be used as a sled dog. However, this breed is too cumbersome for agility. Tamaskans don’t like to stay indoors all day. A large garden is therefore advantageous.

Grooming a Tamaskan

The Tamaskan is an easy-to-care-for breed of dog. Except during the shedding periods in spring and autumn, weekly brushing is completely sufficient. When the undercoat of the double-layered fur sheds in spring and late autumn, there may temporarily be quite a lot of fluff. However, since Tamaskan dogs are very clean, the grooming effort is relatively low.

Health and Hereditary Diseases

With appropriate care, a Tamaskan will live to be about 14 to 16 years old. Major health problems are not known. However, there is a hereditary predisposition to hip dysplasia. Therefore, parent animals are examined for this condition before being allowed to breed. Cryptorchidism is relatively rare. With cryptorchidism, one or both testicles are not in the scrotum from birth. Treatment is usually by castration.

Interesting and Worth Knowing

The name Tamaskan comes from the language of North American indigenous peoples. The large, wolf-like dogs appear very robust, but they are very friendly and need a lot of love. They suffer from separation anxiety if their owners are frequently absent.