Indian Dog Breeds

 

* IGNORED FOUR LEGGED CREATURES : An Indian Perspective 

• In support for the cause called by our Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi 's call for adopting Indian Canine breeds, presenting you a compiled data of popular indian dog breeds .  
• Our native,indigenous dog breeds have largely been ignored, unrecognised, overlooked and neglected .
• These four legged creatures are not just our companions and trustworthy friends for life, they also play an important role in disaster management and rescue operations. They are expert detectives who can find an alive person under the debris of a collapsed building site. 
• The cost of upkeeping and rearing these Indian breeds is also less. 
• Also they are hardy and compatible with our Indian environmental conditions and do not fall sick often. 
• So,please do your bit in supporting the cause of ‘AtamNirbhar Bharat' by adopting these poor creatures who are the creatures of our own motherland.     

       Breeds                                                States Found

1. CHIPPIPARAI                               Tamil Nadu
2. COMBAI                                        Karnataka, Tamil Nadu 
3. KANNI                                           Tamil Nadu 
4. RAJAPALAYAM                           Tamil Nadu, Karnataka   
5. RAMPUR GREYHOUND             Rampur (between Delhi and Bareilly)  
6. MUDHOL HOUND                       Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana 
7. INDIAN SPITZ                              Most of India 
8. INDIAN PARIAH                          Most of India 
9. MAHRATTA HOUND                  Maharashtra 
10. BHOTIA                                         Eastern Foothills of Kashmir to Nepal.     

1. The CHIPPIPARAI 

• Single colored sighthound breed of dog from Tamil Nadu found in the areas of Tirunelveli, Thenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Madurai.
• It was used to hunt small rabbits, forest pigs, and deer.It is now primarily used as a guard dog or for dog racing or shows.  
• They were originally bred by royal families in its namesake town of Chippiparai in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, where it was kept as a symbol of royalty and dignity.  
• It is also known for its speed and loyalty to owners.  
• The typical color is a silver-grey, with very limited or no white markings. 
• It has a short coat that is very close; on the whole the coat if kept groomed has a shine on it. 
• This kind of coat makes it ideal for hot climates.  
• This hound Is also less prone to ticks and fleas, with their short coat providing easy detection

     2.  The COMBAI 

• Is considered an extremely loyal, intelligent and powerful native breed. 
• The Combai is also known as Indian Terrier.  
• It evolved in the foothills of Western Ghats of South India.
• This breed of dog is slightly shorter than the Rajapalayam but appears heavier because of its powerful build.   
• The Combais usually red or brown, with a black mask, and with a dark line along the back.
• Combai has more powerful jaws than Rajapalayam, often with a black mouth.
• It has Rhodesian Ridgeback, a ridge of fur along its back.  
• Their coats are easily maintainable, and are less prone to skin disorders, fungal infections, and parasite infestation.

     3. The KANNI  

• Meaning pure, (also known as the Maiden's Beastmaster) is a rare indigenous South Indian sighthound breed of dog found in the state of Tamil Nadu.  
• It is said that the name Kanni comes from the fact that the dog used to be given as a gift to the bridegroom just before the marriage. 
• Kanni" refers to the black and tan and black and sable varieties, while the variety which Is one colour is known as the Chippiparai. However some experts claim both Kanni and Chippiparai dogs to be distinct dogs.  
• They are not allowed to roam on the streets and brought up as pet animals. 
• It is a good watchdog. 

     4. The RAJAPALAYAM 

• Also known as the Polygar Hound or Indian Ghost Hound is a southern Indian dog breed.
• It was the constant companion, boar hunter and guard of the royalty and aristocracy in Southern India, particularly in its namesake town of Rajapalayam in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. 
• It is a hound, and therefore should be kept in optimum working condition.
• Dogs tail, long and slender with broad chest and narrow waist. 
• Body coat is short.
• The most prized color is milk-white, with a pink nose and golden eyes. However, other colors including spotted or solid, black, and brown, are known to occur.       

     5. The RAMPUR GREYHOUND  

•  Is a breed of sighthound native to the Rampur region of Northern India, which lies between Delhi and Bareilly.  
• he Rampur Greyhound is a short haired, powerfully built sighthound, it is rarely seen outside of its native land.
• Rarely kept as a companion dog.  
• Thin, slender dog of bony appearance.  
• Coat short, close and rough of fawn to brown colour.
• Ears small and halfcurved. 
• Chest broad and waist narrow
• Tail long, straight and tapering. 

     6. The MUDHOL HOUND

• Also known variously as the Maratha Hound, the Pashmi Hound and the Kathewar Dog, is a breed of sighthound from India The Indian Army has expressed its desire to use the Mudhol sight hound for surveillance and border protection duties.  
• The breed is also known as Caravan Hound. In the villages he is known as the Karwani.
• It is acommon companion among village folk in India's Deccan Plateau, who use the dog for hunting and guarding.  
• The head is long and narrow, broad between the ears with a tapering muzzle
• The nose Is large, and may be black, liver, or flesh coloured.
• The chest is strong and deep with well sprung ribs. 
• The tail is strong at the base, not too long, set low and carried in a natural curve 
• There are two coat varieties—one with an entirely smooth coat and the other with silky featherings on the ears, legs, and tail. 
• All colours and combinations of colours are acceptable.

    7. The INDIAN SPITZ

• Is a spitz-type dog breed belonging to the utility group. The Indian Spitz is a domestic dog and friendly pet. 
• There are varying standards around the world as to the ideal size of the breed, but they are always larger than their smaller cousins, the Pomeranian.

    8. The INDIAN PARIAH DOG

• Is also known as South Asian pye-dog and Desi Dog.
• They have erect ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a curved tail. 
• It is easily trainable and often used as a guard dog and police dog. The skin needs very little grooming and the dogs themselves are relatively clean. They have little body odour.  
• Genetic health ailments like hip dysplasia are extremely rare.  
• Most of their deaths occur due to accidents on the roads and railway tracks, not getting food or drinking polluted water, tumors in the body, getting bit by snakes or being beaten up by humans.  
• Pariah dogs are very alert and social, being very territorial and defensive.

    9. The MAHRATTA HOUND  

• sometimes called the Mahratta Greyhound, Is a breed of dog found in India.  
• It is a sighthound-type dog, like the Banjara Hound it is bred and used for hunting by the nomadic Banjara of Maharashtra.  
• The Mahratta Hound ts believed to be of Arabian or Persian heritage, is often blue and tan in colour and stands around 22 inches (56 cm), it is prized for its prowess in hunting panther and boar, both very formidable prey for a hound, as well as blackbuck.

     10. The BHOTIA  

• Also known as the Bhote Kukkur ,the Himalayan sheepdog or the Himalayan mastiff, and are similar in appearance to Tibetan Mastiff.  
• The Bhotia is found in the Himalayan foothills from Kashmir to Eastern Nepal The breed is primarily used as a livestock guardian, protecting flocks of yak and sheep from various predators, and as a property guard, In certain parts of Tehri Garhwal the Bhotia is also used to assist in hunting. 
• They have a large body and have been known to have a loud bark. 
• Its double coat is long, and found in a wide variety of colors from solid black to light brown with the rarest being white.
•  This breed normally has different shades throughout its body. The usual resemblance in almost all dogs of this breed is a white color fur patch on the chest.
• It sheds its double coat once a year. All dogs of this breed have long, round and hairy tail.  

Reference: Wikipedia

Compiled By

Rounak Singh

B.V.Sc&A.H, UG Student

Ranchi Veterinary College, BAU Ranchi