Greenland Dog at a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height
- 51–68 cm
- Weight
- 27–47.5 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 10 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Time alone, Cats and small pets.
Is the Greenland Dog right for you?
Like every breed, the Greenland Dog is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You enjoy long walks and an active, outdoor life.
- You would like a coat that is fairly easy to look after.
Consider another breed if…
- You cannot offer well over an hour of exercise every day.
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
- This would be your first dog.
How would the Greenland Dog fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Greenland Dog
The Greenland Dog has a powerful body and the heavy, stand-off coat typical of spitz breeds. Furry, pricked ears give it an alert, intelligent expression. It is an independent, determined dog with huge physical and mental stamina, but it is also good-natured and affectionate with people.

Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Large
A large dog.
- Exercise
Very high
Usually needs several hours of activity or work a day.
- Energy level
Very lively
Very lively and usually keen to be busy.
- Grooming
Weekly
The coat usually needs brushing about once a week.
- Shedding
High
Tends to shed a lot, so expect hair around the home.
- Trainability
Independent
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Can be selective
Can be selective about other dogs.
- Good with cats
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Suits first-time owners
Experienced owners
Best with an experienced owner.
- Barking / vocality
Can be vocal
Often quick to bark at visitors or unusual sounds.
- Time alone
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
It is Greenland's freight dog and the only surviving native breed there. It survived a canine epidemic and was protected from crossbreeding by a law that banned matings with imported dogs. As a haulage dog it sits between the heavier Alaskan Malamute and the lighter Siberian Husky, and its body and coat are made for a cold climate.
Its ancestors arrived in the Arctic with Paleo-Eskimo people around 4,500 years ago, and again around 1,000 years ago with the Thule people, whose sleds they pulled from Siberia. The breed was first shown in the UK in 1875 and recognised by the Kennel Club in 1880, and it gained wider fame through Roald Amundsen's South Pole expedition.
Greenland Dog temperament
Greenland Dogs are typically intelligent and adaptable, with a strong independent streak. They love people but are not especially loyal to any one person, and will greet strangers as happily as their own family, so they are not guard dogs.
They are usually less friendly with other dogs, so careful socialisation and management are needed to avoid fallouts. They can be very vocal. A bored Greenland Dog is likely to be loud and destructive, and its digging can wreck a garden, sofa or car interior in minutes. They also have hunting instincts.
Size and appearance
The Greenland Dog is a large, heavily built breed. Adults typically stand 51–68 cm at the shoulder and weigh around 27–47.5 kg.
The coat is thick and especially dense around the ears and paws, which helps them cope with very low temperatures. Breed standard colours include white, red, and white combined with black, grey, red, sable, tan or fawn.
How much exercise does a Greenland Dog need?
This breed needs more than two hours of exercise a day, and it is almost impossible to tire one out physically. Trying to do so just produces an even fitter dog, so mix mental exercise with physical, using training, games and puzzles.
Greenland Dogs are ideally suited to mushing and sled work, and may also take to canicross and mantrailing in cooler weather. They need a large house and a very secure garden with tall fencing that is dug into the ground, because they can climb, jump and dig with ease. They are far better suited to rural or remote homes than to towns, and do not enjoy warm, centrally heated houses.
Training a Greenland Dog
The Greenland Dog's mix of intelligence and independence means it needs a skilled trainer who understands positive reinforcement and canine behaviour. Heavy-handed methods will turn training into a contest of speed and strength, which the dog will win.
- Use positive reinforcement consistently.
- Manage the dog's environment carefully so bad habits never develop.
- Strongly reward the behaviours you want to see.
- Socialise well with other dogs and manage meetings carefully.
- Give them a job, such as mushing or other sled work.
Greenland Dog grooming
The Royal Kennel Club lists grooming as once a week, but Purina advises a daily brush through with a pin brush and slicker. In warmer weather, when the dog is moulting, it may need raking several times a day, as Greenland Dogs can shed huge amounts of fur. A blaster dryer helps to blow out the undercoat, or you can teach your dog from a young age to accept a professional groomer. Check paws and legs after every walk for debris, injuries and parasites.
Living with a Greenland Dog
For a family that already has experience of spitz breeds and large dogs and has older children, the Greenland Dog could be a fun companion. It is probably not the best choice for a family that wants an obedient dog, or that has small children who could easily be knocked over. A rural home with older children, or a home without children, suits the breed best.
Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Can be selective about other dogs.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually needs a roomy home.
Garden
A secure garden is strongly advised.
First-time owners
Best with an experienced owner.
Greenland Dog health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
Purina describes the Greenland Dog as a generally hardy breed with no widely recognised breed-specific health problems. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to prioritise genetic diversity and recommends hip testing as best practice before breeding.
Hip dysplasia
The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip testing for hip dysplasia under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Greenland Dog home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Greenland Dog cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Greenland Dog home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 10 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Greenland Dog
If you have decided the Greenland Dog suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Greenland Dog
Greenland Dogs do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Greenland Dogs looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Greenland Dog adverts at the moment.
Find Greenland Dog adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
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View breed guideBoxer
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View breed guideGiant Schnauzer
Affectionate, loyal, alert, good-natured, strong-minded and energetic.
View breed guide
Greenland Dog FAQs
Is the Greenland Dog good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Greenland Dog live in a flat?
Usually needs a roomy home. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Greenland Dog need?
Very high: usually needs several hours of activity or work each day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
Does the Greenland Dog shed?
Tends to shed a lot.
How much grooming does the Greenland Dog need?
Typically: about once a week.
Is the Greenland Dog easy to train?
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Does the Greenland Dog bark a lot?
Can be vocal. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Greenland Dog live?
Typically from 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Greenland Dog get?
Adults typically stand 51–68 cm at the shoulder and weigh 27–47.5 kg.



