Introduction-E

attached to dogs that would [normally] have been killed and they would add them to
the team that was already large enough. So when some grew attached to little puppies,
they were just allowed to live. It was better not to keep too many dogs because you
would need to feed them also.
Have you ever heard that dogs come from qallunaat?
Pauloosie: I’ve never heard about that.
Puppies born at which time of year are best for a dogteam?
Pauloosie: Puppies that were born in the winter did not lose weight as easily when the
weather got cold, as ones that were born in the summer.
Do some dogteams use anchors to prevent them from moving?
Pauloosie: I’ve only seen people from Qamanittuaq use anchors.
Did you always have to have a whip when going out by dogteam?
Pauloosie: Yes, you needed to have something to keep them in line. They needed to see
that you had your whip in order to keep them under control; otherwise they were not
scared of anything.
Would your dogs tend to fight?
Pauloosie: Yes, they would fight, I was not pleased with my dogs fighting each other. I
was not pleased with that but I tried not to let it bother me.
How did you stop your dogs?
Pauloosie: By saying “huu,” “huu,” “huu.”
Nowadays they use anchors. Back then your dogs would just stay without
an anchor?
Pauloosie: In winter camp they were not tied up. Today they have to be tied up.
When you would go and wait for a seal at its breathing hole,
how did the dogs stay put?
Pauloosie: Even if there was no one on the sled the dogs knew to pass the breathing hole
and stop further along. They are very capable and learn very well. Even though they are
dogs, they can learn a lot.
Life Stories – Pauloosie Angmarlik 117