Indian breeds showcased by Prime Minister Modi

We love all things dog. In our endeavour to bring awareness and education to pet parents, we collaborated with Shharat Sharma, Ex- Civil Servant, FCI Judge & Full Time Pet Parent. In this convesation we discuss different Indian breeds and learnt more about their history. 

Our fascination with all things dogs is unlimited. As a country, we take pride in worshipping our animals. They are associated with our stories, our culture and our everyday. In a recent address to the nation, our Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, brought to light the courage and valour of Indian breeds of dogs in different walks of life.

While we have heard numerous instances of breeds like German Shepherds, Labradors and Golden Retrievers, as working dogs, the stories of Indian dogs are relatively unknown.

History

Dogs as we know them today, have been engineered over a period of time. Each breed of working dog has its own function and purpose. Indian breeds dogs too have been raised with specific purpose and intent. These are sighthounds bred by the royal families of India for the purposes of hunting and guarding. These breeds are also known to be loyal, fiercely protective, territorial and active.

Rajapalayam, Kanni, Chippiparai, Mudhol Hound and Kombai are some of the fabulous Indian breeds that received a worthy mention in the prime minister’s address. The best thing about these breeds is their natural adaptability to the weather and environmental conditions in the Indian sub-continent.

Indian breeds in Spotlight

“Little information is available on the web regarding these breeds as they are uncommon in their land of origin.”

DogSpot enlisted the help of our resident expert, Shharat Sharma to introduce us to the many different Indian breeds. FCI Judge and full time pet parent, Shharat shares insights on breeds like the Himalayan Sheepdog, Gaddi Kutta, Kanni, Chippiparai, Rajapalayam, Mudhol and Caranvan Hounds, among others. He shares details about the origins of many dog breeds and other stories from his years of experience as a judge at various dog shows.

Truly an informative session, here are some snippets from the same.

1. What are the different breeds of Indian mountain dogs?

 

 

The mountain shepherd dogs include the Bakharwal, the Western Uttarakhand Mastiff and the Himalayan Sheepdog. They are quite similar in terms of the coat they have, their tails and their size. They like their space, are aloof by nature and are loyal yet fierce breeds. Most of these dogs have a mane to keep them warm. These dogs live with families who are often mobile, so the dogs keep alternating between different altitudes too.

Overall, there are many similarities between the Himalayan Sheepdog and the Tibetan Mastiff.

2. Do we have any breed standards specified for these breeds?

Unfortunately, we do not have any local or recognized breed club for the Gaddi Kutta or the Himalayan Sheepdog. In fact, the Gaddi Kutta is not even recognised as a breed by the Kennel Club of India.

The Kennel Club of India is in the process of creating a guide which lists down specifics and talks about all such Indian breeds.

3. What is the difference between the Indian Spitz and a Pomeranian?

 

Spitz is a larger category of dogs from Germany. The Indian Spitz is a breed that is registered and recognized only by the Kennel Club of India, and it has a lot of common features with the German Spitz.

The Pomeranian has been derived from the larger category of the Spitz to contain the size, while retaining the distinct features of the breed.

4. Tell us more about the Bully Kutta.

 

 

The Bully Kutta has been gaining a lot of popularity recently. They were bred by mixing genes from different types of dogs. Breeds like Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, AmStaff, Great Dane, English Mastiff and more have been cross bred to create a large animal appropriate for dog fights. As a result, there has been no consistency in the temperament or size of this dog. Today, people have begun to admire this breed for its image as a masculine dog.

5. What are the major differences between a Mudhol Hound and a Caravan Hound?

 

 

The Mudhol hunts larger game than the Caravan and has a larger head, longer muzzle and broader skull. In fact, the Mudhol is the largest of the Indian hounds.

 

 

The sighthounds were primarily bred to hunt by sight and speed, and thus you’ll never notice an inch of extra flesh on them. They are skinny and very fussy eaters too.

6. Tell us about other Indian breeds like the Rampur Hound, Rajapalayam and more.

The Rampur Hound was the only sighthound known to the Indian shows back in the 70s, 80s and 90s. They were consistently exhibited and judged in dog shows then.

The Kanni is a relatively new breed. It is an offshoot of the Chippiparai. Kannis are always black and tan in colour and that is a distinct feature of the breed.

Next is the Kombai. They are medium-sized dogs, not structured to be sighthounds. Kombais are very strong and loyal, and are mostly used as guard dogs. The closest recognized breed to the Kombai is the Thai Ridgeback.

Last but not the least is the Rajapalayam. They were not bred for the purposes of a hound and are basically guard dogs. The shape of the head of a Rajapalyam is very different from any other Indian sighthound. This is the only breed in the world with a completely white coat with pink pigmentation. The Rajapalayam is also the first Indian breed that is being considered for recognition by FCI.

 

 

It is important to note that the Indian Pariah Dog is a generic term used for native Indian dogs.

DogSpot was in conversation with Mr. Shharat Sharma. Shharat is an Ex Civil Servant. He is also a judge at the Federation Cynologique Internationale – World Canine Organisation. His passion and love for dogs has led him to become a full-time pet parent as well. 

Transcribed by: Ragini Mehra