Are you looking for a gentle dog with a wild appearance? Do you need to know everything about Tamaskan dogs? Look no further because we have come up with a comprehensive guide on Tamaskan dog breed.
This article explains the breed appearance, vital stats, personality, care, and general health of a Tamaskan dog.
Let’s begin our ride!
Tamaskan Dog Appearance
The Tamaskan Dog is athletic and similar in size to its cousin, the German Shepherd. Let’s have a look at Tamaskan dog appearance:
General Appearance
They have a wolf-like appearance. They are large working dogs and their frame is relatively light but athletic and muscular.
Coat
Tamaskans have a long and thick coat
Tail
They have a straight, bushy tail
Color
These dogs come in three main colors of red-gray, wolf-gray and black-gray
Head
Their heads are long and somewhat narrow with a black-nosed muzzle
Eyes
Eyes are almond-shaped and are yellow through amber and brown; light eyes are very rare
Ears
Their ears triangular in shape and are relatively small and pricked
Vital Stats About Tamaskan Dogs
Let’s have a look at the important stats that you need to know about Tamaskan dogs:
| Stats | Description |
| Dog Breed Group/Purpose | Not applicable |
| Overall Grooming Needs | Moderate |
| Average Height | Males 25 – 28 inches (63 – 71 cm) Females 24-27 inches (61 – 66 cm) |
| Average Weight Range | Males 66 – 99 pounds (30 – 45 kg) Females 50 – 84 pounds (23 – 38 kg) |
| Energy Level | Moderate |
| Exercise requirements | Greater than 40 minutes per day |
| Social/Attention Needs | High |
| Tendency to Bark | Moderate |
| Tendency to Dig | Low |
| Litter size | About 6 to 10 puppies |
| Life Expectancy | About 14-15 years |
History of Tamaskan Dogs
Tamaskan dog breed is fairly new and has a short history. They were developed in 1980 when five husky type dogs were imported into the USA. They were crossed with Alaskan Malamutes and German Shepherds to create a new breed with a wolf-like appearance.
Tamaskan dogs were designed to have high intelligence and a good working ability. Although the Tamaskans are descendants from recognized breeds, they have not yet achieved this status themselves.
Tamaskan Dogs are gaining popularity these days. More and more people in the USA and Europe are showing interest in this breed.
Personality and Temperament
Tamaskan dogs are highly intelligent and multi-talented dogs. They are full of life and have an outgoing personality. Tamaskans share the following personalities.
- Affectionate: Tamaskans are pack dogs and prove to be great companions. They enjoy spending time with their human companions. They are gentle with children and friendly with other dogs.
- Friendly and Playful: They’re creatures who want to be involved in activities that will keep them busy, healthy, and out of trouble. This breed is incredibly friendly and loves nothing more than meeting new people.
- Loyal and Courageous: This little dog displays a loyal, brave, and courageous temperament. They know when something is not right and they will be very eager to protect you and your family.
- Intelligent: These dogs are exceptionally intelligent and highly trainable. This lets them excel at training for agility, work, and even sledding.
- Sporty: This is a sporty, versatile, and energetic dog. They love to run and fetch and they make wonderful hiking buddies.
- Stubborn: They can sometimes be stubborn and super smart. Giving up is not their character. Tamaskans are highly trainable, and respond when instructed.
- Not suitable Watchdogs: They do not make good guard dogs because Tamaskans love people and tend to become friendly with everyone. This dog is not recommended to be a watchdog.
They thrive on human companionship but need firm and gentle training right from puppyhood. Tamaskans become bored and destructive when left alone by their owners.
What Health Problems Are Tamaskans Prone To?
Tamaskan dog is a fairly new breed and there is limited information regarding congenital health problems. These dogs are generally healthy with a lifespan of 14 to 15 years. However, the common health conditions in this hybrid breed are
Cryptorchidism
This condition refers to the failure of one or both dog testicles (testes) to descend into the scrotum.
Epilepsy
This disease refers to abnormal, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause seizures. An epilepsy treatment plan for dogs reduces seizure frequency and improves their quality of life.
Hip Dysplasia
It is a deformity of the hip that occurs during growth. Some cases are mild and there are no symptoms. In severe cases, it can eventually cause lameness and arthritis of the joints.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The affected dog wobbles when walking or drags the feet. This condition leads to slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis.
It’s important to carry out regular exercise and maintain scheduled checkups with a vet. This will ensure that any potential health issues are identified and treated at an early stage.
How to Take Care of Tamaskan Dogs
Tamaskan dogs are generally task seekers who love to bounce around. They could become destructive if locked up in one place.
If you own a Tamaskan, or are thinking about having one, you need to know how to take care of your dog.
We are sharing some really useful information about Tamaskan’s diet and nutrition, grooming, exercise and training requirements.
Diet and Nutrition
Good diet and nutrition is important for your Tamaskan’s health. Being a working breed, Tamaskans’ diet should be one with high energy.
Here is how you can ensure that your furry friend is taking good diet and nutrition:
- Your dog’s diet should be healthy and include all nutrients. They require a diet that is rich in protein, calories, essential minerals and vitamins.
- It is also important to keep a feeding schedule.
- Offer your Tamaskan a proper amount of food, appropriate to your dog’s age and size. Most commercial dog food products also provide detailed feeding guides on the packaging.
- If your dog is on commercial dog food, it must be safe, affordable, and made with high-quality ingredients.
- Fresh, clean water should be available at all times for this active breed.
Grooming
Grooming and your dog is an essential part of general pet care. Tamaskans have double coats and shed year-round with at least one heavy shed per year. It also depends upon the climate in which they live. Grooming your Tamaskan is a great way to bond with your dog.
Here are some grooming tips and techniques for your dog:
- Brushing: Tamaskans require regular brushing to keep them clean and tidy.
- Bathing: You need to bathe your Tamaskan when they start to get a little smelly. This usually happens on a monthly or bi-monthly basis depending on your dog’s living conditions and activity level.
- Nail trimming: Trim the nails every couple of weeks or as needed. This will keep the dog’s feet in good condition.
- Teeth brushing: Also, their teeths need to be brushed once or twice a week. This helps to remove tartar buildup and prevent gum disease and bad breath.
When it comes to finding tools that can be used for grooming your Tamaskans, here is a list that can help:
- Medium-size pin brush
- Dog shampoo and conditioner
- Grooming rake for removing shedding hair
- Mat comb for removing the occasional mat that forms behind the ears or in the areas where the legs join the body
- Dog Nail clippers
- Canine toothbrush
As you groom your dog, take note of the following:
- Sores and rashes
- Signs of infection e.g. redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin.
- Check the eyes, mouth, ears, and nose for redness or discharge.
If you notice any of the above, get your dog examined by a vet. Your regular grooming and careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards.
Exercise
Tamaskan dogs need some regular physical activities to stay healthy and happy. Owners should expect to participate in daily exercise sessions with their Tamaskans.
Regular exercise can prevent health issues and keep them in good shape. You can meet their exercise requirements by:
- Taking them for a half-mile walk
- Play fetch
- Play frisbee
- Giving them a safe area to run
- Taking them for hiking
- Taking them for jogging
The exercise needs of Tamaskan puppies are quite different. With their still developing bones and joints, the best exercise for puppies is free play with age-appropriate toys.
Training
This is an intelligent dog and is highly trainable. They can fairly understand your commands and learn by positive reinforcement techniques. You can praise them or give treats as a reward. This is a sensitive breed, so punishments and harsh words will make them stubborn and damage their temperament.
If you have got a Tamaskan puppy, here is what you should do:
- The ideal time to start training is when the Tamaskan puppy is 8-12 weeks old. By this time, puppies have weaned from their parents and ready for training.
- Start training in a quiet area with minimum distractions but gradually move on to more distracting areas.
- If you are unable to devote much time, it’s better to enroll your puppy in puppy training classes.
- Socialize your Tamaskan puppy as much as you can. Make sure your puppy gets to encounter all kinds of people, animals, and objects in different places.
- Avoid using choke chains and shock collars during training sessions.
- Train your puppies to understand the basic commands like sit, stay, and lie down.
Here are some of the training that you need to do with your Tamaskan puppy:
- Socialization with other people and pets
- Leash training
- Crate training
- House training
- Potty training
- Basic commands like sit, stay, go, shake-hand, etc.
- Obedience training
How do Tamaskans Relate With Children and Other Pets?
A well trained Tamaskan will always be good with kids and other dogs. This is an affectionate breed and makes a good family dog.
Although Tamaskans have wolf-like appearances, they are very gentle and not dangerous dogs. They are extremely patient and affectionate around young children. As with any breed, small kids should never be left alone with this dog.
Tamaskans are known to be friendly around other dogs and pets as well.
Pro tip: Teach your kids how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and kids.
Parting Shot on Tamaskan
If you’re looking for a gentle, patient, yet, highly active breed, then Tamaskan dog is a great option. He will steal your heart with his love, loyalty, and affectionate nature. The highly intelligent, active, and playful dog possesses all qualities that make them the best dogs to raise.
If you have any further questions about the breed, please don’t hesitate to ask.