Sled Dogs
North of the Arctic Circle there is only one dog that is allowed to exist: the Greenland Sled Dog. This breed has been developed over time to deliver the keys to survival in the high Arctic: hunting and transport. These dogs are just as majestic as the scenery. As a matter of safety, the dogs will always get you home if something should happen out on the ice. Unlike the dogs we might be used to in our home country, the dogs are working dogs rather than pets. Some of them are trained hunters as well so it’s essential to practice extreme caution around them and please do not attempt to pet them unless you are ok with losing that hand! When in doubt, keep moving.
I took the majority of these photos were taken at Kap Hope near Ittoqqortoormiit in 2022 after my first dog sledding trip. I stayed back while my travel partner went up to try on some pants made of nanooq skin and captured portraits of these beasts. I also had some encounters with puppies in Qasigiannguit but those are a common sight because dogs under six months are free to roam. Last, in Ilulissat, I was able to observe a few dogs assisting fishermen with pulling their containers of fresh catch.
Many people have written extensively about the Greenland Sled Dog. I can recommend Ragnar Axelsson and Carsten Egevang’s work specifically on this topic. Please see more in the books section of this site.
