Northern dogs are named so due to their geological origin. If you can imagine the typical husky, then you’re picturing the typical northern dog since many of them share similar body characteristics: tall alert ears, thick coats, and curled tails.

They also share a similar tendency toward independence, aloofness, and roaming behavior. Yes, these are your run-away’s that require some extensive security measures. They also require some monitoring around children. For these canines are very prey-instinctive and will interpret the behavior and cries of small children and babies as sounds of predatory animals.

Because of their high energy level, they function best with owners that have an active lifestyle. Check out our articles about popular dog sports and everyday dog activities to find some fantastic activities for these types of dogs. But to keep the adventure fun, you’ll need to socialize your northern dog since the canines in this group need a little extra help in this area.

Types of Northern Dogs

Ainu
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, faithfulness
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, caution with strangers

Akita
Welcomed Behaviors: loyalty, courage, affection
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers, stubbornness, territorial, aggression with other dogs

Alaskan Klee Kai
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, loyalty
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers, protectiveness, prey-driven

Alaskan Malamute
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, playfulness, intelligence, friendliness toward children
Behavioral Warnings: boredom, stubbornness

American Eskimo Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, loyalty, eagerness, friendliness with children and animals
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers, mischief

Canadian Eskimo Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: playfulness, intelligence, energy
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness

Chinese Shar-Pei
Welcomed Behaviors: seriousness, intelligence, affection, devotion
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers

Chinook
Welcomed Behaviors: loyalty, versatility, friendless, intelligence, trainability, friendliness with children
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers, reservation

Chow Chow
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, loyalty
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers and other animals

Eurasian
Welcomed Behaviors: calmness, confidence, loyalty, devotion
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers

Finnish Lapphund/Swedish Lapphund
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, trainability, friendliness
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, barking

Finnish Spitz
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, loyalty, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: independence

Greenland Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness to children, strangers, and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: independence, roaming, prey-driven

Iceland Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: cheerfulness, friendliness toward children, confidence, enthusiasm, playfulness

Jindo
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, loyalty, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: prey-driven, caution with strangers, independence, dominance and aggression with other dogs

Kai
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, devotion, friendliness toward strangers and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: prey-driven, caution with strangers

Karelian Bear dog
Welcomed Behaviors: even temperament
Behavioral Warnings: prey-driven, fearlessness, aggressiveness with other dogs, roaming

Keeshond
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, friendliness toward children and other animals, intelligence, eagerness, trainability

Lundehund
Welcomed Behaviors: devotion
Behavioral Warnings: caution with strangers, independence, stubbornness, prey-driven

Norwegian Buhund
Welcomed Behaviors: agility, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: barking

Norwegian Elkhound
Welcomed Behaviors: loyalty, friendliness with older children
Behavioral Warnings: independence, stubbornness

Samoyed
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, gentleness, intelligence, friendliness with children and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: mischief

Shiba Inu
Welcomed Behaviors: curiosity, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: independence, roaming

Siberian Husky
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness
Behavioral Warnings: independence, strong roaming

What to Expect

Historically fulfilling the role of the hunter or herder, the bulk of these dogs take joy in the most active of dog sports like skiing, sledding, etc. As you can see from above, they don’t particularly get along with other dogs outside of their own breeds so if you’re interested in building a team of sport dogs, try to select a same breed team. A close kinship among a team of two or more may also reduce a northern dog’s tendency to run away since each one of these canines prefers the pack lifestyle.