General Description
The Tamaskan Dog is a large sized dog with an intelligent gaze who is rangy and wolf-like in appearance bearing witness to his northern heritage of sled dog type. He is a well-balanced working dog, quick and light on his feet and free and graceful in action. He has a well-furred body, erect ears, and bottle-brush shaped tail.
The Tamaskan stands well over the pads; this stance gives the appearance of readiness for activity and a proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity. His characteristic gait is smooth and effortless, showing good forward reach and rear extension. He is a capable and adaptable worker, able to function as sled dog, service dog, or tracking dog, among other roles. He can easily carry a light load at a moderate speed over short distances.
The Tamaskan is intelligent and a fast learner, however he may be willful. He should be considered a working pet that is both happy in harness or at home. His body proportions, form, and movement resemble that of a wolf: balance of power, agility and endurance.
Male Tamaskan should be easily distinguishable from females.
Any characteristic of the individual specimen, including temperament, which interferes with the accomplishment of this purpose is to be considered the most serious of faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The Tamaskan is a slow maturing breed, reaching full maturity at 3 – 4 years.
Size: Ideal height at the withers:
- Males: 63.5 – 73.66cm (25 – 29 inches).
- Females 61cm – 71cm (24-27.9 inches).
Proportion: When measuring from point of shoulder to the point of buttocks the Tamaskan is slightly longer than tall. The proportion of height to length of body is a 9:10 ratio. The depth of chest is less than one half the height of the dog at the shoulders, the deepest point being just behind the forelegs. Tamaskan have a minimum depth of chest to leg ratio of 6:7 (45% depth of chest, 55% leg).
Substance: Substance is muscular with moderate bone, and an easily discernable gender difference. The Tamaskan exemplifies a sound athlete in grace, muscle tone, movement, and carriage. The body carries no excess weight, and bone is in proportion to size. Faults: Excessive weight, poor overall proportion.
Head
Expression: Expression shows attentiveness, intelligence, alertness, and eagerness. The Tamaskan’s gaze should be intense and clever, and may even be mischievous. Sex should be unmistakable.
Eyes: Eyes are almond shaped and of medium size with black pigmentation on the eye rims. The Tamaskan’s eyes are moderately spaced and are set obliquely in the skull. On a dog with the proper eye set, the distance between the ear and the outer corner of the eye is about one and a half times as long as the distance between the eyes. Lids are close fitting. Eyes are yellow through amber and brown. Faults: Eyes set too obliquely or set too close together. Eyes which are protruding or sunken. Droopy eye lids. Blue eyes are a disqualifying fault.
Ears: Ears are fully pricked, triangular and are slightly rounded at the tips, of medium size but in proportion to the head, set wide apart on the skull and carried facing forward and erect. At full attention they are held erect. The bottom of the ear does not pass the zygomatic arch. Ears in adults should be furred on the inside. Faults: Hanging ears are a disqualifying fault.
Skull: The top of the skull is flat. Length is greater than width and should be a 2:1 ratio. There may be a slight furrow between the eyes.
Muzzle & Back Skull Ratio
Viewed from the side the topline of the back skull and muzzle form parallel planes, divided by a slight to moderate stop. The muzzle and back skull are equal in length forming a 1:1 ratio.
Stop: The stop is slight to moderate. Minor Fault: A pronounced stop.
Muzzle: The muzzle tapers slightly to form a blunt wedge from base to nose and is rounded at the tip. The bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip.
Nose: The nose should be black, however a lighter streaked ‘snow nose’ is acceptable in winter. Nose should be bigger than the eyes. Nostrils should be open.
Lips: Lips are black and close fitting with no pink showing on the outside when the mouth is closed. Tighter flews are desirable.
Teeth: A full complement of 42 strong white teeth should meet in a scissors bite on a strong and symmetrical jaw. Faults: Undershot or overshot jaw.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck: The neck is strong, long in length, slightly arched, muscular, and covered with fur to form a protective ruff. The neck blends smoothly into the shoulders and is carried proudly erect when the dog is standing. When moving at a trot, the neck is extended so that the head is carried slightly forward. Faults: Ruff mass should not come from improper shoulder position.
Topline: The back is straight, strong and level with no sign of weakness. Faults: Sloping topline, roach back, sway back, weak back, or slack back.
Croup: The croup should be short, not broad, and slightly sloping. The croup slopes away from the spine at an angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of the hind legs. Faults: Dropped croup, flat croup.
Chest: The brisket reaches to or nearly to the elbows. With the lowest point reaching to the elbow but not beyond. The ribs are well sprung from the spine, oval in shape, flattening toward the lower end to allow for elbow clearance and efficient movement. Faults: Narrow or barrel chest, a chest that is too broad.
Ribs: Ribs are long and neither barrel chested nor slab-sided. The underline shows a tuck up in proportion to their size. The ribs are slightly flattened on the sides to allow for freedom of action. Faults: Barrel shaped ribs, ribs which are too flat or weak.
Loin: The loin should not be longer than 1/3 of the rib cage. The loin is taut and lean, narrower than the rib cage, and with a slight tuck-up. The loin has enough length to be athletic but still in proportion. Faults: A long loin that may weaken the back.
Tail: The tail is set low and is straight and full. It may be carried up if moving or excited. While at rest the tail should be held down and be straight. Tail should go to the hock joint but not beyond. The base of the tail is strong. Tail should be tipped in black, well-furred but not feathered. Faults: A tail curled over the back or a high tail set. Minor fault: White tipped tails.
Forequarters
Shoulders: Shoulder blades are long and are well laid back. Shoulders should be set approximately 45 degrees from vertical. Withers should be well-muscled and pronounced. The upper arm should be the same length as the shoulder blade, and attaches at an approximate 90 degree angle to the shoulder with the forelegs dropping straight, perpendicular to the ground. Most importantly, the forequarter angulation should be in balance with the rear. A 45 degree shoulder should not be favored above a balanced dog. Faults: Straight shoulders.
Forelegs: When standing and viewed from the front, the legs are closely spaced, parallel and straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out. Bone is substantial but never heavy. Length of the leg from elbow to ground is at least 55% when compared to depth of chest: the distance from the elbow to the top of withers. Legs are straight and strong. Bone is strong, oval rather than round. Faults: Too wide in the front, lack of angulation, elbows turned either in or out, heavy bone, fine bone, low withers.
Pastern: The pastern is medium in length and when viewed from the side is very slightly slanted. The pastern joint should be strong but flexible. Front dewclaws may be removed, but it is not required. The pastern joint is strong, but flexible. Faults: Weak pasterns.
Feet: The feet are oval, compact with close knit with well-arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient, and well-furred between the toes and pads. Front feet turn out slightly while standing. Turned out feet must accompany proper fitting shoulders, forearm, and flexible pastern. Turned out feet must not be a result of malnutrition, or turned out or turned in elbows. May be slightly hare foot. Faults: Cat foot, soft or splayed toes, paws too small or too delicate, toeing in, splay-footedness, flat feet.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters: When standing, the width of the hindquarters is equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. The angulation of the pelvis and upper thigh corresponds to the angulation of the shoulder blade and upper arm, forming an approximate right angle. While moving, and as speed increases, the Tamaskan single tracks in the front and the rear. Single tracking should not be mistaken for bad hocks. Faults: Bad pasterns, lack of angulation.
Stifles: Stifles are clearly defined, with the hock joints moderately bent and flexible. The hocks are medium in length. While standing rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. While moving, the dog should have good follow through in the rear to balance the reach of the front assembly. Rear dewclaws should be removed. However, their presence is not a fault if the dog is from a country where removal is illegal. The rear feet point straight ahead. Faults: Straight stifles, slipped hocks, too narrow or too wide in the rear.
Coat
Coat: Guard coat is moderately coarse in texture, straight, weather resistant and of medium length. The undercoat varies in quantity with variations in climate or season, and is soft. Fur is short and smooth on the head, ears, front of forelegs and below the hocks. There is a moderate ruff, more pronounced in dogs than bitches. The coat should conform to the body without standing out or hanging down. The Tamaskan Dog should be shown in its natural appearance. Faults: Long coat, texture too harsh or too silky, trimmed coat, rough coat.
Color: Acceptable coat colors are red gray, wolf gray and black gray agouti patterns. Disqualifying Faults: Piebald, solid white, solid black, liver, lack of agouti coloration.
Masking: Face masking is required and three types of face masking are permissible: a full mask, a middle mask and a minimum mask. The mask should reach to the nose. Faults: White blazes on face, incomplete masking.
Movement
Gait: The Tamaskan Dog has a smooth, free, and effortless gait. He exhibits great agility of movement with a well-balanced, massive ground covering stride. He should exhibit good reach in the forequarters, and good follow through in the hindquarters. Fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the center line of the body. As speed increases, the feet (front and rear) converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog while the back remains firm and level. As the pad marks converge, the forelegs and hind legs are carried straight forward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. Single tracking is highly desired. In movement the head is carried in a forward position. Faults: Short, prancing, clumsy, hindered or choppy gait, lumbering or rolling gait, crossing or crabbing, a stilted gait, or any gait that is not completely efficient and tireless.
Temperament
The Tamaskan Dog is an intelligent, alert, active dog with a friendly and outgoing disposition; he is good-natured and seldom quarrelsome. He may be sensibly reserved in initial meetings but is easily won over. Some may be independent. He does not display the possessive qualities of the guard dog, and he is not aggressive with other dogs. Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected in the mature dog. His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition make him an agreeable companion and willing worker. Faults: Any display of shyness, fear, or suspicious temperament is to be severely penalized.
Summary
The Tamaskan Dog has a wolfish appearance, well balanced proportions, good temperament, and moderate bone, is rangy, possesses ease and freedom of movement, a well-furred agouti coat, lupine head and ears, straight tail, and large size.
Faults: In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide:
1) The extent to which it deviates from the standard; and
2) The extent to which such deviation would affect the working ability of the dog.
Disqualifications include blue eyes, hanging ears in dogs over 12 months of age, aggression, double-curled tail, male lacking two descended testicles.
SOURCES
Tamaskan Dog Register: https://www.tamaskandogregister.com/the-tamaskan/breed-standard/
