The veterans of Arktika

The Bering Strait was reached by Gilles ELKAIM on the 9th of April of 2004 after a four years exploration.

Then his crew numbered (10) ten dogs being trained to the expedition labour or work with a female doggy named Intcha aged of three (3) months.
Among these (11) eleven athletes, four (4) from them found home at Lavrentia by a Tchoukte hunter.

The (7) seven other ones (Pouchok, Sharik, Kiss-Kiss, Koula, Tourgen, Simba and Intcha) followed Gilles to Moscow then to Gorbovo situated at 300 Kilometres (or at 186.5 Miles) at the North-East from the Russian capital, during two winters before to settle with the recruits from the second generation (see below) at the Arktika Camp in Northern Finland in April 2006.

Pouchok

Gender : Male
Race : Laika nenets
Date of birth : May 6 2000
Birthplace : Varandei, Region d’Arkhangelsk, Russie
Father and mother : unknown
Distinguishing feature : This is the most intelligent among of the head-dogs band in the expedition in which it took part during four years.

Pouchok Pouchok It is difficult to describe such individual in some words. It is an excellent self-educated dog with a superior intelligence being comfortable on hard soils and environments having an unfailing physical condition, Pouchok dominates all companions of its specie but by its good behaviour too, the whole human beings race.

This is what its condescending sight of wolf expresses. The communication established between Gilles and his head dog is so perfect than the both ones are inseparable. Commandant and Captain complement and understand each other beyond the word, Gilles thinks and Pouchok acts ... so it was how during the Arktika expedition. Because after it led its crew at the head during these four winters and over 7,000 Kilometres (or 4,350 Miles) on chaotic ice-floe, the champion of the world ordered that it had earned well its retirement.
So it is more inclined to flirt or to get close with the females, to hunt the duck on the waters of the lake or to loaf around at the hut than to slip on its harness for a tourism walk.

Even it didn't really become a chief of the pack because its placid and calm disposition, all the dogs respect it and pledge themselves allegiance in passing by in front of its kennel.

Sharik

Gender : Male
Race : Métis
Date of birth : Mar. 15 2000
Birthplace : Karataïka, region of Arkhangelsk
Father and mother : unknown
Distinguishing feature : Wheel dog during (4) fours years in the Arktika expedition.

Les races primitives ?

By primitive race, we mean a dog family or specie having evaluated in a particular activity area or field by more often than not natural crosses in an exact geographical area and not by the lonely human being's will.

A primitive race is perfectly suitable for its environment and the (mainly) natural selection created specific standards at the same time it formed in itself Polar dog ideal morphological criteria.

Among the most widespread sled dogs races today, we number the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Husky, the Malamute, the Samoyed and the Greenlander. Only the last one belongs to the primitive race.

Certain from these races are not homologated or confirmed nor listed too by the international canine federations. This is the case with the Taïmyr dog which we are the lonely ones in the world to breed as professional way.

However our breeding is confirmed or approved and agreed by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and we founded the standards of the Taïmyr dog in Russia.

Kiss-Kiss

Gender : Male
Race : Laika Nenets
Date of birth : Mar. 4 2001
Birthplace : Antipayuta (Western Siberia)
Father and mother : unknown
Distinguishing feature : The greatest yelling at the Camp.

Toros et Pourga Kiss Kiss is cut out for speed but and this is there its great fault because it can't reduce it. This small saddle had this lonely and mean idea in its mind during the Arktika expedition: biting the back of Pouchok which was directly harnessed in front of it.
It could have well become the head dog if its spirited disposition makes it uncontrollable.

Koula

Gender : Male
Race : Taïmyr
Date of birth : Apr. 11 2001
Birthplace : Peninsula of Taïmyr.
Father and mother : unknown
Distinguishing feature : The heftiest sled dog at the Camp.

Koula Koula Koula and its father named Volk were the first representatives from the Taïmyr race or species in the Arktika crew. The haired dogs, half-bears, half-lions, turned out extraordinary expedition dogs, that encouraged Gilles to chose this kind or sort of dogs for his future expeditions.

Koula was the main example as role model of the breeding. Its huge size, its thick fur or coat and its endless loving character made it the mascot of the team. Koula suffered from entropion being an eye genetic disease and it had to surgery in order to recover a normal sight.

Tourgen

Gender : Mâle
Race : Indigiehan
Date of birth : Sep. 8 2002
Birthplace : Iakutia
Father and mother : unknown
Distinguishing feature : The most well-behaved dog in the band.

Tourgen Tourgen Coming from the region of the river Indigisha, in Yakutia, Tourgen is the lonely representative example from one of the most famous races of Russian sled dogs, this race being at present lost without trace.

Tourgen is a sensitive dog. It isn't noted for its intelligence but it takes great care to do what it is asked to it and it achieves perfectly to its aim.

As Sharik, this a lonely and placid dog yearning only to one think : its peace and quiet.