alsatianness

the other main heritage of northern inuits is german shepherd dog, which i usually refer to as alsatian for shortness, whereas others call it GSD, presumably for confusion.

alsatians are lovely dogs, well-known throughout the world with good reason. they're known for their loyalty, trainability and suitability as guard dogs. like all breeds, however, they do have their faults. i used to be neighbours with an alsatian which would come out onto the balcony every sunday morning and bark... bark... bark.

the alsatian in sam is less visible than the "snow dog". he doesn't look like an alsatian, but you do see traces in his shape and colouring. i like to call him a washed-out alsatian. he has none of the aggressiveness or assertiveness to dogs or people of some alsatians. he does seem to be more trainable than your average malamute, and he has an alsatian's bark -- but only if desperate, like when we leave him alone outside a shop.

so i guess the passers-by are correct in thinking sam is a snow dog. but who says alsatians can't be that as well?

"German shepherd in the snow" was taken by Maurice Koop and shared under a Creative Commons by-sa 2.0 license.