The Sirius Sled Patrol welcomed new Greenlandic sled dogs into service last year. The dogs, ten females and five males aged between one and three years, were selected and acquired in the summer of 2025 in Ilulissat on Greenland’s west coast. They were then flown more than 1,000 kilometers to the patrol’s headquarters in Daneborg on the east coast. There, they have since been fully integrated into the existing dog teams.
The Sirius Sled Patrol typically maintains around 100 sled dogs. The last major acquisition took place in 2013, while a smaller number of new dogs were added in 2019. A systematic registration of lineage ensures that pedigrees are monitored and inbreeding is avoided.
Sergeant Jensen, head of the Sirius Sled Patrol’s training program, accompanied the team to Ilulissat to select the dogs. The selection follows clearly defined criteria. “For example, we check whether the dog’s coat is neither too thin nor too long. If it is thin, the dog will freeze. If it is too long, ice will cling to it,” Jensen explained in the statement. The skin around the nose and eyes must also not be too light, as dogs are prone to sunburn.
However, the animals’ temperament is of particular importance. “The most important thing is that the dogs are sociable and enjoy working with people,” Jensen continued. Experience has shown that young dogs can be well integrated into existing teams, as they quickly adapt to the established hierarchy.
Ilulissat, Greenland’s third-largest town, was deliberately chosen for the selection process. Several thousand Greenlandic sled dogs live there, allowing for a broad selection and the acquisition of unrelated animals. The 15 new dogs come from a total of 14 different owners to ensure the greatest possible genetic diversity within the patrol.
Rosamaria Kubny, PolarJournal