New Delhi: The Mudhol Hound from Karnataka will be the first desi dog to make it to the Indian Army. The Indian Army which uses German Shepherds, Great Swiss Mountain dog and Labradors is all set to induct the desiMudhol Hound.
It is a Make In India initiative with some bite. The lean and lanky indigenous Mudhol breed of hunting hound is all set to be drafted by the defence forces for guard duty by the end of the year.
This dog variety was initially bred by Ghorpade kings of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mudhol (now in Bagalkot, North Karnataka) back in the 1920s, by crossing Persian and Turkish varieties with local dogs.
The dogs from Karnataka were trained in the Army's Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) centre in Meerut. Six dogs have already been trained and they will soon be inducted into the Army at Jammu and Kashmir. The induction is likely to take place in December.
wThe dogs were bred after selection, at the Canine Research and Information Centre in Thimmapur near Mudhol in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The CRIC is a unit of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.
For training initially, the dogs were kept in quarantine to check if they have any diseases. They then underwent basic obedience training and thereafter battle inoculation followed by specialised training. The most important aspect was building the bond between the trainer and the dog to understand the animal's behaviour as well as its ability.
This was the very first time that an Indian breed was given this opportunity.
Skilled, sturdy, and well adapted to the country’s tropical climate, these dogs are great workers and excellent companions. Unfortunately, the other characteristic Indian breeds share is that they’re disappearing.
Almost half the known breeds have ceased to exist, while several others are at the risk of dying out. In their rapid decline is a story of years of ignorance and neglect, a telling tale of the status of dogs in a country that’s never quite grown to accept them. Over the last few decades, while foreign breeds have caught the fancy of animal lovers across the country, Indian dogs continue to be shunned.
People love fancy foreign imported dogs and thoroughly underestimate the local Indian breed.
Here are few majestic Indian breeds which most of us don’t even know about:
1. Mudhol/Caravan Hound:
This breed is known by various names across different cultures and groups. Known as ‘Karwani’ by village-folk around the Deccan Plateau region, who usually adopt this breed as companions for hunting and guarding. KCI (Kennel Club of India) recognizes this breed as ‘Caravan Hound’ whereas INKC (Indian National Kennel Club) opts for the name ‘Mudhol Hound’, to add to that, the feathered variety of this breed is known as ‘Pashmi’. Talk about one dog - multiple personalities.
2. Rampur Hound:
One of the more popular names in the list, the Rampur Greyhound (alternate name) is native to the Rampur region in Northern India, that lies between Delhi and Bareily. It was a preferred breed by Maharajas of this region to hunt big game and protect against fierce animals like jackals, lions, tigers, leopards and panthers. The Rampur Hound is known for its endurance as it was built to cover large distances at great speeds.
3. Chippiparai
One of the many sighthound breeds originating in India, this dog is bred by royal families in Chippiparai near Madurai district Tamil Nadu. Primarily used for hunting boar, deer and hare; it was later kept as a symbol of royalty and dignity.
4. Rajapalayam
This breed is an Indian guard dog developed in the Rajapalayam region in Tamil Nadu. It was believed that they were used to fight against British Cavalry in a few battles. The most prized look is the milky-white coat with pink nose, although the whiter mutations come with a higher chance of deafness as with all other white coat dog breeds. Lately, they are being used by the Indian army as guards along the Kashmir border.
5. Kombai:
Another hound from South India, the Kombai (Combai) was bred to hunt boar, bison and deer since as early as the 9th Century. In comparison with the Rajapalayam, the Kombai has a tan coat with usually a black muzzle. The jaws are wider and much stronger as well. In recent times, this breed is highly endangered and can be found in scarcity in a few regions and a couple of specialized kennels.
6. Kanni
Kanni is a rare indigenous breed of sighthound also bred in Tamil Nadu. They are closely related to the Chippiparai and are said to be descendants of the Saluki. These breeds were built to hunt deer as they are very agile and light on their feet. Usually a silent dog, they are great as guards of their owners and easy to train. However, they act independant when on a hunt as is their disposition. This is one of the rarest breeds on the list, almost on the verge of extinction. Due to the lack of proper specimen available, no proper effort has been taken to revive the Kanni breed.
7. Indian Pariah Dog:
The most primitive and ancient breed of dog known to us that belongs to India is this Indian Pariah. A relative of Dingo, this breed has no trace of genetic tweaking or modification from the human side. Owing to this, they share an appearance with various other primitve pariah-type dogs around the world like the Basenji (Africa) , Dingo (Australia), Podengo (Australia) etc.
8. Indian Mastiff:
Also known as Bully Kutta, this dog shares origins from both India and Pakistan and is predominantly found in the Punjab region. They are the most common choice for guard dogs but unfortunately, many of these dogs are still bred and nurtured for dog fighting purposes.
References:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
www.dogspot.in
http://www.thehindu.com
www.oneindia.com