ORIGIN: The Aatu Tamaskan was developed from the UK Tamaskan Dog, whose origins stem from the Northern Inuit and Utonagan breeds (GSD, Husky, Malamute, wolfdog and Czech wolfdog). The Aatu Tamaskan was introduced in late 2009 with the goal of improving health, stabilizing temperament and enhancing the wolfiness of the background breed.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND CONFORMATION: The Aatu Tamaskan is a powerful and adaptable domestic dog developed to look like a wolf. The body, shape, movement, coat texture, coloring and mask are similar to that of the grey wolf. Developed as a companion dog, with the ability and aptitude of the working dogs, the Aatu is capable of almost any kind of work. This breed is a good companion indoors and out, and is loyal and devoted to its family. The breed is low maintenance in the sense that it is robust and long lived, but higher maintenance in that it is very intelligent with an active mind, preferring challenge and mental stimulation, including solving problems. The Aatu has the structure and stamina for endurance and engaging in active work.

The Aatu is above average in size, with the length of the body typically slightly longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers. The ideal Aatu is 25” – 31” tall with a weight range of 55 – 100 pounds.

HEAD: The Aatu’s head is in balance with the body and forms a blunt wedge.

Forehead: Slightly arched.

Stop: Slight to moderate

Muzzle: Broad, strong and gently tapering, slightly longer than skull. The muzzle should not be pointed or snipey.

Eyes: Acceptable colors are yellow, green, grey, amber, gold or light brown. A lighter eye color is preferred. 

Ears: Small (i.e. not longer than 1/6th of the height at withers), triangular in shape and slightly rounded at tip. The ears of the Aatu are set close to the head and carried facing forward and erect. The lateral point of the set of the ears and the outer corner of the eyes are in a direct line. A vertical line from tip of ear would run close along the head.

Teeth/Bite: The jaw is strong and symmetrical with a scissor bite; the teeth are well developed, especially the canines. Undershot or overshot jaws are regarded as a fault.

Pigment: The nose, lips, and eye rim pigmentation should be black. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable under some conditions.

BODY:

Neck: Moderate in length, with a thick ruff.

Topline: The Aatu has a flowing transition from the neck to the body. The towline is fairly level, with the ribs set well back.

Withers: The withers are well muscled and pronounced, without interrupting the flow of the topline.

Back : The back is firm and straight. A roached back is considered a fault.

Chest: The chest is narrow but deep and the depth of the chest does not reach to the elbows.

Croup: The croup is moderate and fairly short but not steep.

Loin: The loin is short and well-muscled.

Lower line/belly: The belly is taut, with a nice tuck up.

Front Legs: When standing, the front legs are positioned close together with feet turning slightly outwards. The front legs are perpendicular and strong, but lean. Pasterns are long and sloping, but not over-angulated.

Rear Legs: The hocks are long and clean, and set low to the ground

Feet/Toes: Much like a wolf, the Aatu toes are long and arched. Foot size should be maximized within reason and should appear bigger than the connecting leg width.  Black paw pads are preferred.

TAIL: The Aatu tail is bushy and thick, and should not be feathered. It should be carried in a downward position when standing, and held straight and high when excited or in a trot. The tail should not curl on itself, be held consistently high, or over the back. The tail length can range from 13 – 20 inches. A high tail set and straight tail is preferred.

COAT: The Aatu has a dense double coat consisting of a waterproof, harsher topcoat (usually black in color) and a soft thick undercoat. When in full coat, a substantial neck and cheek ruff should be visible. A soft fur covers the belly, the inside of the upper thigh, the scrotum, the inner part of the ear and the area between the toes. The undercoat’s thickness is generally dependent on season or climate. Coat length can range from that of a German Shepherd Dog to that of a longer haired Alaskan Malamute. Very short coats, long flowing coats, excessive feathering, or wavy coats are all faults.

COLORS: Acceptable colors for the Aatu include Wolf Grey and Red Grey, always with a black overlay and the characteristic gray wolf mask. Also acceptable are Black Grey and/or Black Phase depending upon the undercoat and markings. Solid colors or broken patterns (i.e., piebald/ inkspots) are a serious fault.

GAIT: The Aatu has a two-step gait that is effortless and graceful, with good reach and powerful drive. The light-footed trot approximates the movement of the wolf in its appearance, as if gliding over the ground, generally with the head and neck inclined to the horizontal. When walking, the Aatu typically paces rather than trots.

TEMPERAMENT & BEHAVIOR: The Aatu Tamaskan is friendly, loyal, affectionate and intelligent. This breed was developed as a companion dog with the physical stamina and aptitude of the working dogs. The Aatu is highly trainable and eager to please, with excellent recall. When socialized properly, they are good with children and animals, including other dogs and household pets. The Aatu has the capability of doing many different kinds of work, including use as a service or therapy dog, search and rescue, sled dog, or performance activities such as tracking, obedience, agility and rally.

As a companion dog, the Aatu craves and needs consistent contact with people, and can become destructive when left alone for long periods of time. Because of its size, energy level and need for physical exercise, this breed does not do well as an apartment dog or a total housedog.   They require a fenced area where they can run and play at will, and prefer the outdoors or to be with their human companions.

Although the Aatu will likely alert you to visitors, it does not make a good guard dog. Any aggression is considered a fault. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault. The relative seriousness of the fault should be regarded in proportion to its degree.

FAULTS: The following may be considered faults based on their relative severity:

• Overbite or underbite
• Head disproportionate to the body, or atypical for breed standard
• Atypical topline
• Low tail set
• Incorrect tail carriage
• Over/Under-angulation in fore/hindquarters
• Barely pronounced mask (black phase determined on individual basis)
• Short, bouncy stride/movement
• Atypical shape or position of eyes
• Atypical set-on or shape of ears
• Faulty or atypical position of front legs
• Atypical coat
• Atypical movement

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: The following faults may affect breeding status, and advice shall be sought from the TBA Breeding Committee before purchase or breeding:

• Dark brown or bi-colored eyes
• Aggression or overly shy
• Lack of two descended testicles in a male
• Lack of a well-defined mask
• Severe underbite, severe overbite, wry jaw, sideways protruding teeth, irregular bite or missing teeth
• Any obvious severe skeleton deformities
• Flat forehead
• Unpronounced withers
• Long croup
• Strong slope in the croup
• Stand-off coat
• Colors other than those delineated in the breed standard
• Slack ligaments
• Long soft/silky coats

EXERCISE: The Aatu is built for endurance and activity, both physically and mentally. Regular walks and sufficient play space is a must for this breed. They are happiest when they have a job, be it helping with chores around the house, pulling a sled, running, jumping or playing with their canine friends. This is an intelligent breed and must be kept mentally stimulated as well. They love a challenge and learning new skills.

The Aatu should not be left alone and inactive for long periods of time. Therefore, socialization with people and other animals is important, including daily walks, doggie daycare, and/or dog parks. If left to their own devices, the Aatu will easily find challenges in their own environment. If bored, they can be destructive (digging, chewing, etc.) and are known to have a predilection for wood and wood products.

It is important to understand that owning an Aatu is a commitment of your time and energy to provide your dog with sufficient physical and mental exercise.

GROOMING: The Aatu is a comparatively easy dog to care for as they are fastidiously clean and generally free from body odor. Typically, the Aatu will clean themselves if they become muddy or dirty. Bathing, though infrequently required, is recommended to maintain a good coat.
The Aatu Tamaskan is an Arctic type, double coated breed. The thick undercoat of the Aatu protects the body from harsh or cold weather. As the temperatures warm, the thick coat is no longer needed and the dead hair is shed. Substantial shedding will usually occur once a year in males and twice a year in females. Some owners that live in warm climates, especially ones that lack clearly defined seasonal changes, report some shedding year round. It is worth noting that the Aatu, like all Arctic breeds, will leave hair everywhere in small amounts all year around.

Other than during shedding, this breed needs very little grooming. No trimming or shaving of hair is required or recommended. Occasional brushing is recommended to remove dead hair and keep the coat fresh and shiny. Grooming supplies should include a greyhound comb and an undercoat rake. Like all dogs, nails should be checked and clipped or dremmelled periodically (generally every 6 – 8 weeks), and their feet should be checked regularly to ensure good health, particularly in actively working dogs.
As domestic dogs generally spend significant time indoors in artificial, drying climates (heat and air conditioning), the diet should be supplemented with a good quality salmon or fish oil to maintain good coat health and prevent drying of the coat and skin.

REGISTRIES: The Aatu will be registered with the Tamaskan Breeders Association. Eventual AKC acceptance and recognition is a goal.

SUMMARY: This is NOT the right breed for you if you:

• Do not want hair all over the furniture, carpet, clothes, etc.
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle
• Live in an apartment or do not have a fenced area/yard for the dog to run/play
• Have a busy lifestyle with little time for training or spending time with the dog
• Do not want digging or any kind of destruction within the home or yard
• Want a guard dog
• Want a couch potato
• Do not want to have to groom, brush or maintain a dog