Kupuk Kupuk , also known as walrus dogs , were creatures native to the Great Glacier and domesticated by the Ulutiun s to serve as sled - pullers . Description . At first glance , a kupuk appeared to be a cross between a walrus and a dog . They were thick - bodied , with leathery skin , which had a gray , yellowish , or tan color to it . They were mostly hairless , but had a thick mane around their heads and hair on their long tails . They had two large tusks , about six inches ( fifteen centimeters ) each , and a canine face . A kupuk had four paws that were webbed and flat , with sharp claws . These allowed it to tread easily atop snow and let it swim with ease . A kupuk had a prehensile , furred tail , which it usually kept curled up in a spiral . The tail was five inches ( thirteen centimeters ) thick and , when fully extended , five feet ( 150 centimeters ) long . The tail also had a sharp , bony point at the tip , which could be used as a weapon by the animal . Kupuk had strong senses of smell and could track prey from up to 300 feet ( 90 meters ) away . They were so adapted to cold environments that not even magical cold effects would cause them harm . A kupuk was strong enough to carry 500 pounds ( 225 kilograms ) on its back and could easily drag sleds carrying double that . They did not , however , like to carry human s on their backs . Behavior . Kupuk made loud howls , which were very similar in sound to those of wolves . Mildly intelligent , they spoke no language but could be trained to understand human commands . Curious creatures , a wild kupuk would often approach a human calmly . If fed or tickled on their tails , kupuk would quickly attach themselves to strangers , even going so far as to protect them . Combat . While generally friendly creatures , kupuk would defend themselves violently if attacked . They clawed and bit but also used the sharp point on their tails to impale enemies . If defending their nests , they would sometimes enter a frenzy , much like a badger or wolverine . Society . In the wild , kupuk packs were led by the largest female , who also usually had the strongest sense of smell . A typical pack would contain between half and two dozen animals . A pack usually had half as many pups as adults . They did not make permanent lairs . Ecology . Most kupuk were raised domestically , but wild packs of the creatures could be found in Alpuk , especially in the plains and the foothills of the Lugsaas Chain . The Surykyk Mountains were also full of wild kupuk . They often used Mount Akka as a nesting place . Small numbers also roamed the Ipinovularond mountains of the Novularond . Kupuk were carnivorous . They preferred seal and fish , but also ate deer , rabbits , and even wolves . They were not , however , at the top of the food chain , and they were hunted by tirichik and white dragon s . Kupuk were egg - laying creatures . They reproduced about once per year . When ready to lay her eggs , a kupuk mother would first dig a shallow hole in the snow and then deposit one to four gold - colored eggs , about a foot ( 30 centimeters ) in diameter each . She would then cover the eggs with snow . A mother would valiantly guard her eggs until her pups hatched . Uses . Kupuk were known for their loyalty . In fact , charms carved to look like kupuk were given to children as a part of the " utqukoku " ritual to symbolize that trait . The primary use for domesticated kupuk was as sled - pullers . A kupuk sled was larger than a dogsled , being between three and four feet ( 90 to 120 centimeters ) wide . Where a dogsled was pulled by a team of six to eight dogs , a single kupuk was strong enough to pull a sled , even if loaded with half a ton ( 450 kilograms ) of weight . Kupuk were also used to pull " hiuchupuk " , types of water sleds , or " umiaks " , which were a kind of boat . Kupuk were often trusted to protect Ulutiun children . Kupuk would naturally wrap crying babies in their tails and allow them to suck on their paws to calm them . A kupuk was worth about as much as five sled dogs in the Ulutiun economy . Kupuk trained in the village of Puttak were especially coveted . So valued were kupuk in general that they were one of the few things allowed to be passed on to one ' s offspring upon one ' s death . In some villages , kupuk even had their own snowhouses , called " jititp " , in which to live . While generally docile , one tribe of bandits on the Great Glacier , the village of Eghagu has trained kupuk to be attack animals , using them to fight in raids on travelers . Rumors & Legends . Those who did not know better believed that kupuk laid golden eggs . In truth , the eggs were not made of any exotic materials ; they simply had a golden color . Even so , kupuk eggs were still valuable . They could be used in certain healing potions and could sell for as much as 500 or even 10 , 000 gold pieces in the Cold Lands ! Unfortunately , the eggs needed to be kept cold to maintain their rigidity ; they would often melt when transported .