India is a stunning country known for many distinctive things, including Bollywood, the Taj Mahal, butter chicken, delectable Indian curries, and more. But did you know that some of the most unusual and fascinating dog breeds in the world originated in India?
It should come as no surprise that India, the second-most populated nation, has a wide variety of fascinating dog breeds, both domestic and imported. Actually, there are almost 30 million stray dogs in India! We have an ideal environment for the development of exotic breeds because of the broad and distinctive locations.
Due to a recent rise in the desire for western dog breeds, the majority of India’s indigenous dog breeds are swiftly approaching extinction. Both the overbreeding of foreign dogs and the under breeding of Indian dogs are the results of this trend.
The nearly extinct native dogs of India are still regarded as unusual to uncommon canine breeds even though individuals and groups are working to bring them back. Even if you are in India, it would be challenging to locate the majority of these Indian dog types.
The Gull Dong
The unusual canine breed known as the Gull Dong is thought to have originated in India, while some historians contend that they actually came from Pakistan. The Indian Bulldog and Bully Gull Terr are two of the many names this breed has gone by over the years. But Gull Dong seems to have endured. The Gull Terrier and the indigenous Bully Kutta were crossed to create these canines. Similar to the Bully Kutta, they had a certain hardness from their bully side that made them desirable combat dogs in the past. And in certain instances, they continue to take part in illegitimate dog fights.
The Chippiparai dog
They are the type of dog that most people think of when they hear the term “Indian dog.” However, there are several explanations for why this is. This dog was developed in Chippiparai, Tamil Nadu, a region close to the Madurai district, to hunt small game-like pigs and rabbits. And occasionally they were capable of taking down prey as large as deer. When hunting was outlawed in India, canines that were once highly esteemed saw their function abruptly disappearing.
Also, Read Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste: A bold documentary
Kanni
Tamil Nadu also produces the endangered sighthound breed known as Kanni. They are believed to be the offspring of the Saluki and are closely linked to the Chippiparai. These breeds are incredibly agile and light on their feet, making them ideal for hunting deer. They are excellent protection dogs for their owners and are often quiet. They behave independently when hunting nevertheless, as is their nature. One of the most endangered breeds on the list, it is virtually extinct. There hasn’t been a meaningful effort made to resuscitate the Kanni breed because there aren’t any suitable specimens available.
The Gaddi
The Gaddi is a different mastiff-like dog breed that was created in the Himalayan region by the same-named tribe. The Gaddi has earned a reputation as a formidable guard dog to ward off leopards and other raptors over the years. They are respected for being intelligent enough to also be herding dogs. The Gaddi Kutta, in contrast to the Indian Mastiff, is not regarded as a fighting canine.
The Kombai
Another South Indian dog, the Kombai (Combai) was developed in the ninth century to hunt boar, bison, and deer. The Kombai, in contrast to the Rajapalayam, has a brown coat with a typically black muzzle. Additionally, the jaws are significantly stronger and wider. This breed is now quite rare and only exists in a few areas and a few specialized kennels. It is also severely endangered.
The Rampur Greyhound
The Rampur Greyhound (alternative name), one of the more well-known names on the list, is a resident of the Rampur region of northern India, which is located between Delhi and Bareily. The Maharajas of this area used it to hunt large game and defend themselves against ferocious predators including jackals, lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers. Because it was designed to travel long distances at high speeds, the Rampur Hound is renowned for its endurance.
This Indian Pariah
This Indian Pariah dog breed is the oldest and most primitive canine variety we are aware of. This breed, a relative of the dingo, has not undergone any genetic tinkering or mutation on the part of humans. Because of this, they resemble many other primitive pariah-type dogs found throughout the world, such as the Basenji (Africa), Dingo (Australia), Podengo (Australia), and others.
