We confirm categorically that EVERY dog registered with us is a pure Northern Inuit dog – we have NOT registered any husky crosses or any other cross.   We have been accused of registering Utonagans as NI – this is untrue.   Some dogs previously registered as Utonagans were registered with the NIS before TIDA was formed, one or two others are direct descendants from the very early NI lines and are therefore true NI and have much to offer the breed that has been lost over the years of inbreeding.

We have also been accused of falsifying pedigrees.   This is absurd.   We have spent over two years trying to make sense of scraps of paper, a few old pedigrees and a note book, which were the only records the NIS had until one individual took on the challenge of organising a database of the breed out of her own curiosity and determination to put everything in order.  As the database progressed it began to show up many discrepancies and more are coming to light all the time.  Over the last two years we have found many contradictions in the pedigrees and, not having been there at the time and NIS records being non-existent, we can only go by information supplied to us by breeders and have done so in good faith.  We have no guarantees as to which version of certain pedigrees are correct, especially since we were given differing information from the NIS over a period of time.  All we can say is that to the best of our knowledge the information we hold is as accurate as we can ascertain.  We can only guarantee the records we have kept ourselves over the last two years and onwards.   The possibility remains that the incidence of inbreeding is much higher than is visibly obvious by records – this is very worrying and potentially damaging to the breed.

Every group that has broken away from the NIS in the past has done so for very good reasons – one being that they recognise the very small gene pool and the necessity to expand this in order to improve the health and vitality of the breed.   Without this expansion the breed will become weak and eventually die out.   The only thing all the different groups disagree on is the way in which to expand this gene pool.   The one group refusing to recognise the problem is the NIS.   It must tell the public something when so many individual breeders have felt so strongly that they have broken away to create their own breeding programmes and have changed the name of the dogs they are now breeding in order to distinguish them from what the NIS are breeding.  

TIDA is investigating the possibilities and are considering reintroducing stock of the original breeds used to create the NI in the first place – this will reinforce what is already there but with different, proven and health tested bloodlines.   This, we feel, would have the least impact on the type etc. and will keep the characteristics of the breed we have today.  If we do go down this route then these dogs would not be registered as NI, but will be recorded as what they are and in accordance with the advice given to us by KC genetics experts.   These dogs will not go out to the public, as there would be no point in doing that, selected dogs will go to breeders to be included in a breeding plan involving all the major breeders.   This breeding plan will take approximately 5 years to fulfil but after this time we will have very much-improved bloodlines. 

TIDA was set up to do things right and although this will take time to accomplish we are prepared to take that time.   We have always been willing to work with the NIS but are waiting for them to see sense.   If they decide to ignore the signs and continue to carry on as they are then we shall go ahead without them.

With regard to statements being made by TIDA’s ex-vice chairperson, members will see from the minutes of meetings that he was in fact dismissed from the committee and expelled from TIDA before his resignation email was received.   His pretence that he did not receive any correspondence from TIDA is untrue since all correspondence was sent Recorded Delivery and as such there is proof letters were delivered to him.  

TIDA has been in existence for less than a year and our membership is swelling continually, we have most of the NI breeders with us and we are going from strength to strength.   Our monthly two-day events and seminars are proving to be very popular – we will continue with our aims and are delighted with the response we have received from owners and breeders alike and are looking forward to achieving even more in our second year.

If anyone still has doubts or questions they are welcome to contact the Chairperson who will be happy to help.

Contact information, can be found on the committee page.

Thank you for your attention.