Raised by the Tahltan Indians to
hunt bear,, the Tahltan Bear Dog was a mighty power in a small package.
Before a hunt, the dogs were ceremonially bled by stabbing them in the
hindquarters with the fibula bone of a fox or wolf. The morning of the
hunt, two dogs were carried in a sack over the Indian's shoulder until
fresh bear tracks were sighted. Upon release, these little dogs moved
lightly over the crust of snow while the bear was slowed down by the
deep drifts. Their foxlike staccato yaps harassed the bear into
submission or confused him until the Indians could come close enough for
a kill. To prepare for a foray against big cats, a claw from a dead lynx
was used to ceremonially mark the dog's face. The Tahltan Bear Dog
had the courage to face a bear, but was friendly and gentle with
smalleranimals and with humans.They lived in the tent with the family,
sharing bed and board. A Jesuit of the 17th century described the
Indians' communal houses in winter, saying he "could not decide
which was worse—the smoke, the fleas or the dogs." Descended from
pariah-type dogs that had come with prehistoric migrations, the Tahltan
Dogs were centralized in the remote mountainous areas of northwestern
British Columbia and the southern Yukon. Their usual diet was small bits
of birds, meat and fish, and they flourished in the bitter cold. Outside
their native environment, they succumbed to distemper, heat prostration
and problems due to dietary changes. As white explorers came into the
territory, bringing a variety of other dogs, the Tahltan Dog became
diluted.Like others of their group, they had a peculiar yodel. Foxy in
appearance, their main distinction among dogs is their novel tail.
Shortjbushy and carried erect, it has been described variously as a
shaving brush or a whisk broom. The CKC has recognized the breed
for many years, but it has been over 20 years since the last Tahltan
Bear Dog was registered. In 1984, only two spayed bitches of this type
were recorded as living in Canada. Sadly, it appears the breed may be
doomed.
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In 
1974, the Canadian Kennel Club rescinded their recognition of the
Tahltan Bear Dog as a distinct breed, after 26 years with no new
registrations. Since that time, the breed is generally considered to be
extinct. This belief is fostered by the Guinness Book of Records, which
for several years tracked the last few Tahltan Bear Dogs as the world's
rarest breed. But is it extinct ?? While the definition of "extinct"
is clear enough, what exactly is a Bear Dog? The Tahltan Indians
of northwestern British Columbia have had dogs around their campfires as
far back as their oral history goes, and they were adept at specialized
breeding of their animals. The most highly valued breed in a Tahltan
camp was not the large "husky" as you would probably expect,
but a much smaller dog, about the size of a fox. These dogs were used to
locate game, and then harrass the target animal with their high-pitched,
staccato barking and unpredictable darting and nipping, until the
hunters arrived with their bows and arrows. Most famous for their
bravery and dexterity around both black bears and grizzlies, they also
assisted in hunting everything from beaver to porcupine, ptarmigan to
elk. Spring hunts in particular were made infinitely easier by these
dogs, who could run easily on the thin crust of the snow.
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small size made it practical to carry the dogs in packs while hunting,
releasing them only when game was near, or at night, when they would
guard the camp. Although they were generally carried in moosehide
backpacks, chest packs were occasionally used as well, possibly for
smaller dogs. It's generally reported that the dogs were carried to
conserve their energy, but the high social value of a Bear Dog makes it
likely that status for the owner, and protection of the little dog from
the huskies, would have been significant factors in the decision to
carry them, as would their very affectionate nature. Not until James
Teit's research at Telegraph Creek in 1915 were Tahltan Bear Dogs
recognized as a distinct, culturally important breed. Although Teit
reported that "not more than two or three" of the dogs
remained, and expressed the opinion that they would probably become
extinct, by the 1930s they were quite common. In about 1939, the efforts
of British Columbia Provincial Police Commissioner T.W.S. Parsons and
Constable J.B. Gray were largely responsible for the CKC's recognition
of the breed, and several years later, the American Kennel Club added
them to their list as well.
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| A
Tahltan Bear Dog was primarily black, with white patches which varied
widely in size and position on different dogs. Standing 12 to 15 inches
high at the shoulder, its relatively large, erect, pointed ears, a
pointed muzzle and a fairly short bushy tail (often described as
resembling a shaving brush) are the primary identifying physical
features. The glossy coat was of average length, with guard hairs
covering a very thick undercoat. Bear Dogs seem to have been
widely traded, and dogs resembling them are mentioned occasionally in
early coastal literature. The most famous example is certainly Stickeen
by California environmentalist John Muir. My absolute favourite dog book,
this slim volume describes a dog which accompanied him on a trip across
a glacier near Fort Wrangel in 1880. Stickeen, "a perfect wonder of
a dog [who] could endure cold and hunger like a bear, swim like a seal,
and was wondrous wise and cunning...", sounds like a Bear Dog
except for his curly tail.
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last strongholds of "purebred" Tahltan Bear Dogs were the
small villages of Atlin, British Columbia, and Carcross, Yukon. Big-game
guide Tom Connolly used Bear Dogs during his hunts around Atlin and Ross
River for 30 years, and following his death in 1970, his wife Shirley
was officially the last person to own purebreds. Two dogs were rumoured
to have been taken to California in 1971, but an extensive search in
1979-1980 by the California Rare Breed Dog Association turned up nothing.
Legend has it that the dogs were unable to survive Outside; Teit
reported that "whites who have taken away to different parts of the
coast specimens of the small Tahltan 'bear dog' say that in all cases
these dogs soon became sick and died." Opinions as to the reasons
vary widely, from unaccustomed levels of heat and stress to an inability
to live on a non-wild diet.
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1988, the Canadian Post Office honoured the Tahltan Bear Dog as one of
four breeds of dog native to the country. The particular dog pictured
would not have ranked very high with Tahltan fanciers, who generally
prefer a black dog with white patches instead of white with black
patches as this one has. Each block of four stamps had all four Canadian
breeds, the Tahltan Bear Dog, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever,
Canadian Eskimo Dog and Newfoundland. In 1997, it is not uncommon
in the southern Yukon to hear of, or see, dogs which resemble Tahltan
Bear Dogs, and several people in Whitehorse and Carcross are attempting
to revive the breed. While these dogs may not be recognized as purebreds,
more important to the local breed fanciers is the fact that they have
both the most important physical attributes of their ancestors, and the
intelligence and attitude that has made them so famous. Many people are
wishing them great success in their efforts.
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| Standard
Head:
Medium size, with a domed skull. Eyes: Dark in color, and medium size.
Ears: Bat-like, and erect. Muzzle: Medium size and well proportioned to
head. Nose: Black and self-colored according to coat. Bite: Scissor or
level. Neck: Moderate length. Top-line: Level. Chest: Oval and deep,
with well sprung ribs. Body: Small, and fox like. Legs: Forelegs are
long and muscular, with hind legs having hocks well bent. Feet: Tight
and compact, with arched toes and hard pads. Tail: Long and thick,
carried erect. Movement: Good reach, with well balanced movement.
Temperament: Energetic, free-spirited, with good movement.
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COUNTRY
Canada
WEIGHT *15
pounds maximum
HEIGHT * 15
inches maximum
COAT* Short,
dense, close-coated, with bushy tail
COLOR * Black
or blue with small white markings
REGISTRY* CKC
GROUP* Southern.
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Faults Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.
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Tahl Tan Bear Dog 
History 
