The Lost Salish Woolly Dogs
Tags: Dogs, Time, History, Mystery, Seattle

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The Salish Woolly Dog of the Pacific Northwest

In reading about natural dyes, I learned of a nine thousand year old breed of dog that was kept by the Salish for its shaggy wool. For centuries, much debate occurred to the origin of these dogs, but even more recently we have scientific proof that they existed, and as accounts emerge, the trade patterns of the ancient world. It was theorized in the past that they originated from a Japanese Shipwreck, but modern DNA tests have confirmed an ancient mitochondrial link with Ryuku, Shikoku, Siberian Husky, Mongolian Native, airedale terrier, German shepherd, and Mexican hairless dogs which disproves a modern origin. There were also hunting dogs on site which were a different breed, and descended from Yukon wolves and the Tahltan Bear Dog. It is noted that there are two words for dog in Salish languages, one being for hunting dogs, and the other, Skexe, for woolly dogs and that the Salish were known for their textiles in trade (4).

3, also here.

Nine Thousand Year Old Breed

In ancient times, domesticated dogs were found all across the continent with many having short hair. It is believed the first dogs in North America were brought with peoples via migration, or arrived from shipwrecks (9). Though most dogs found on the continent were believed to have been short haired, long hair is a recessive gene and is known to pop up in short haired dogs from time to time as a mutation, notably, in one small dog found among the Coast Salish whose wool was used in blanket weaving (9). The Skexe, or Salish “Woolly Dog”, is one of many “extinct breeds” of dogs found on the North American continent with a pedigree going back a staggering 9,000 years via genetic testing and from the archaeological record, 4,000 years (11). Out of 20 archeaological sites in North West Washington, dog was the most frequent mammal identified (16). Though it has only been 50–200 years since last sighting of the Skexe or Woolly Dog, it is believed that the dog eventually lost its long hair traits due to mixing with European dogs (2, 8).

10, 11.

Sheeps Wool Replaced their Value in Trade

Sadly, the arrival of cheaper blankets sourced from goat/sheep fur marked the decline of the woolly dogs. Since the arrival of the first Europeans to the Pacific Northwest, accounts of the woolly dogs and their uses among the textile industry in the Pacific Northwest have been prominent, but soon they faded from view with the decline of the local textile industry.

Research shows the dogs were well cared for and were kept on islands (2) or in caves, feeding from a diet of mostly fish (2, 20). The dogs were mostly white but also existed in different colors (20). While living, diatomaceous earth was used to keep the dogs pest free, and later to process their wool (16). When the dogs were buried they were often wrapped in a blanket (20).

Salish with their dogs, 17.

Captain Vancouver noticed these specially bred dogs along the coast in 1798 stating they looked like large pomeranian dogs, in specific, 40 dogs running along shore of Whidbey Island (2). In 1808, Simon Fraser noticed a number of these dogs during a trip down Fraser river in British Columbia while others noticed a number of wool dogs near the Makah on Cape Flattery in 1825 (2). It was known that the Thompson River Salish bred these dogs also. Their woolly fur was used in weaving blankets (1) and for trimming baskets and blankets (20). It is believed the last known woolly dogs passed away around 1940 (10). In the year 1926, there were only six wolly dog blankets to have existed, and the dogs were labeled as extinct (17).

Surviving Examples of the Salish Woolly Dog are Rare

Surviving dog hair blankets were even more rare, especially in difficulty of identification when combined with other fibers. Elaine Humphrey, a Canadian Scientist, had spent a great deal of time debating with the Smithsonian Museum on the existence of a particular dog pelt sample from the mid 1800’s that existed within their archives. Finally after evidence was submitted to prove the location of the pelt at the Smithsonian, the pelt was found with its original paperwork (11). The reason this was important is that it was one of the only known sample of this historic dog breed to date, that could be used in comparison with Salish Textiles to prove the use of dog hair in blanket weaving (12). Humphrey was able to use that pelt as a sample to identify a dog woven blanket made by Salish peoples found in a thrift market and to help map trading of textiles that occurred up and down the Pacific coast(12).

A Rare Salish Dog Hair Blanket (1850) 17, 18.

Last Known Photo of the Treasured Woolly Dog

Though the dogs likely did not die out, they likely survived in breeding with other dogs, but lost their recessive wolly phenotype along the way. Recessive traits are known to pop up generations later, so maybe this is not the end of the story for this admirable dog of the Salish people.

Last Known Photo of the Treasured Woolly Dog, 8.

A really good video on PCD (non sponsored)

Reference/Resource/Bibliography

Because my references and resources are about 100 sources and very long, often times, this tanks my stats. I’ve opted to record them on a different page as to not ax my required reading time. You can find them recorded accurately here.