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The Inuit dog gives a new meaning to the term fast-food
 Amazing quantities of food can disappear down his throat in a matter of seconds.
Nutrition plays a central role in any dog's development. This is particularly true in the case of the Inuit dog. As more Inuit dogs are brought to southern regions of the continent, differences are appearing in the size particularly when they are fed commercial kibble.
The Inuit dog cannot properly assimilate foods based on wheat, oats, barley or rye.
 The Inuit dog must have a genetic memory of starvation because he consumes everything edible in sight including excrement. He eats or swallows almost anything that is thrown out; an old boot or a plastic pail. Determining the quantity of food needed by a sled dog has become a precise science thanks to the studies made of racing sled dogs.
The table below is for a cold climate.
| Weight |
Daily Maintenance |
Calories |
| Kg(lbs) |
summer rest |
winter rest |
long distance running |
| 20(44) |
1,290 |
2,580 |
3,870 |
| 25(55) |
1,500 |
3,000 |
4,500 |
| 30(66) |
1,680 |
3,340 |
5,040 |
| 35(77) |
1,830 |
3,660 |
5,490 |
| 40(88) |
1,950 |
3,900 |
5,850 |
| 45(99) |
2,070 |
4,140 |
6,210 |
A diet with 50 to 70% fat produces metabolic water. This is why the Inuit dog can survive the winter in the North without being given water. Although they eat some snow, that source would not be enough without the capacity to utilize the fat in their diet.
Copyright © ISDI 2005
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