Today I finally had the chance to watch the movie “Last dogs of winter” and I thought I had to share my impressions about it with the Canadian Inuit Dogs lovers.
The movie has a good photography and the location is absolutely charming, that kind of wild nature that both amazes and scares you at the same time.
Nevertheless I honestly have to say that I felt a profound sadness for all those dogs being chained up for their entire lives, exposed to polar bears and extremely severe weather conditions.
Brian Ladoon may say that his dogs didn’t want to use the houses his father made for them, or the other guy may say that they have a very long and warm coat, but I believe that any living being should have the right to chose what is best for him, and he certainly didn’t give them many choices. I also disagree with what he said about breeders who are supposed to keep just the best dogs and get rid of the others for the sake of the breed… I may not be a breeder and don’t understand this choice but this sounds pretty cruel to me.
As I was telling to a friend about the movie, I wouldn’t want to sound like someone who is seated on his couch with 8 degrees outside, judging the life of someone who lives with -40 and who, one way or another, did a lot for this breed.
I’m just saying that the “Brian Ladoon” way doesn’t work for me. Many people have asked me about him through the Canadian Inuit Dogs website and I could just say that I heard rumors. I still have to see things for myself going there and one day I probably will, but I’m pretty sure whatever I will see there I will never agree with some kind of methods.
I usually don’t take positions like this on the Internet, because I don’t like useless discussions and flames and I prefer creating bonds among people rather than divisions, but for this time let me make an exception.
I just recently stayed up until one o’clock in the morning to see “Last Dogs of Winter” and have mixed feelings about what I saw. But I feel Brian, with his 185 dogs, has done something for the breed that the rest of us soft-hearts couldn’t begin to do. The conditions are harsh, without a doubt, but the dogs are being raised as naturally as possible and identically to the life they led when they were the mainstay of the Inuit people. Inuit dog teams, whether at home or on the move, are not provided shelter. Occasionally the lead dog comes inside with the owner, as do chosen others once in awhile, strictly for the bonding process, not for the purpose of providing shelter for them. I only wish Brian Ladoon had the time to work his dogs.
I live in southern Manitoba and my Canadian Eskimo Dog lives in the house with me, but asks out repeatedly just to cool off and has to be shaved in the summer. His favorite spot during a snowstorm is out on top of a snowbank. I honestly don’t feel Ladoon’s dogs are mistreated. He’s doing the best he can under the circumstances and gets plenty of criticism and no help. Even you, who watched the movie and heard the explanation, chose to mention the Polar bears as though the dogs were at constant risk. Yet you saw them sleeping and playing with the bears, and heard that the only time he lost dogs to bears was when the conservation people interrupted the status quo that had been created. His dogs are beautiful, strong, and healthy.
If you are a supporter of the breed, encourage people who can afford to do so to purchase some of the dogs. CARYLANN
Dear Carylann,
I have no doubts that Brian Ladoon is a doer, I just said I don’t approve the way he keeps his dogs. About the polar bears, most of the people who personally know Brian Ladoon say he uses that peculiar situation just as way to make money. Many dog trainers say that, from the body language of the dogs, they don’t like bears at all, they send all the calming signals they can and when they seem to play it’s just what dogs do when they have no way out.
So the point is, we have our idea, but we respect other people’s opinions, if Brian Ladoon ever wants to say something about it he certainly won’t be banned from this website, we tried to reach him and his foundation but we had no luck.
We are supporters of the breed, that’s way we created this website and spent a lots of efforts in keeping a CED database and more are on the way to expand it, we live in a place very far from Canada but we already visited one breeder in New Brunswick and in the near future we will visit more in farther areas of Canada. We don’t directly sell puppies but we have contacts with many Canadian and English respected breeders and any time we receive inquiries on this website we pass them on to them. Any help you think we might give to this breed let us know.
I would encourage you all to visit Ladoon’s operation. Unless you actually get a direct sense of the ambiance of the lifestyle of his dogs it is very hard to grasp what it is truly like for them. I do not agree with these dogs be sentenced to spend their entire life on the end of a chain just eating & defecating. The CID is by nature a pack animal, including her human pack. For those of us who own a CID, we know that they thrive on dedicated handwork and feeling valued. I would acknowledge Brian’s desire to fulfill his calling of saving the breed, but venture to say perhaps he has lost the connection to quality of life. It’s not about more of the breed at any cost but recognizing the value and beauty of what this breed represents.
I personally have one of Brian’s dogs. I adopted her 4 years ago as a puppy. Tartok is the most amazingly bright dog I have been around. She loves attention and to please me – the alpha. I firmly believe this breed should be supported to thrive in a traditional and humane way. Do these dogs have either of those luxuries – I would venture to say no.
One must read : never look a polar bear in the eye.the author goes in detail Bout Brian loons treatment of the dogs. He speaks of how the canadian officials trying to shut his operation down and how many dogs he has lost to polar bears. All to make a buck . In my opinion the body language of the dogs is that they are uncomfortable and nervous. What a sad situation. Chuck m.