caravan hound, pashmi hound, rajapalayamdog, dhangari kutra, India's canine heritage, indian pure breed dogs
 

I am a small man from India with very great respect & love for my motherland and her
rich heritage. I do not claim that I am expert in dogs or zoologist or geneticist. This is
only my effort to put forward India's rich canine heritage to outside world to create
interest among them towards Indian dogs. This generated interest worldwide might
save these dogs from extinction.

India, which has got 5000 years old well documented history of things which can catch the interest &
imagination of outside world. As worship of knowledge was the prime motto of ancient Indians they
developed various Arts/ Sciences. However due to repeated invasions by various tribes & barbaric
people it got destroyed. It is said that when Muslims invaded India they attacked " Taxshila " University
which they destroyed and the library of said University was burning for 6 months. We can imagine the
loss of knowledge as in those time only way to preserve & pass knowledge was manuscripts. However
there was other method also to memorize the knowledge and pass it on to next generation. This type
of knowledge is still present in India on small scale. Although small scale but sufficient to give us out
an idea what is real shape might be.

We will be carrying out a series of web pages on these lost knowledge e.g.

India's canine heritage -

Sarmeya Chikitsa- Treating dogs with Ayurveda .

Sarmeya Vinoda- Training dogs with ancient Indian style.

Training and keeping Falcons with ancient Indian style.

Ashwa Pariksha -( Selection of Horse )

Vastusharstra -

The 1st reference of Indian dog we find in these Vedas. The mythology says that " Indra " the King of
Godwas having a bitch called "Sarama" and when all cows of these divined bodies were stolen by
their bad counterparts Asura’s the Sarama was entrusted a job of finding the cows. On search Sarama
went to Patallok –[nether world] where she found the cows and at that time Asura’s offered bribe to
Sarama & tried to corrupt Sarama. When Sarama rejected all the offerings and gave a true test of Indian
canine loyalty towards her master. Sarama the divine bitch has two daughters called Shama (means black )
and Shabala ( means dotted ).These bitches also appeared in various mythological stories. i.e. In
Mahabharta, when Raja Janmejaya was carrying out sarpayadyna [forcing all snakes by mantravidya
to jump into a fire ) Shabala entered the pendal & she was driven away as dogs were not permitted to
enter insacrificial place. But before this also in Ramayana it is said that Bhrata brother of Rama was
gifted with dogs from his uncle.

The domesticated dog was present in India from Vedic times. Even his loyalty for his master is also
recognized by the ancient Indians. It is said that in Mahabharata when Yudhishthira & other Pandavas
traveled to their final destination in Himalayas ,one by one fell down as they committed some sins in
their life and last was Yudhishthira with his dog. When they reached their final destination i.e. heaven,
at the doors of heaven ,Indra told them ,Yudhishthira alone can enter the heaven without his dog,
Yudhishthira refused saying that it would be great sin if he desert his loyal follower. At the end Dharma
( Hindu deity of Principals of life ) appeared who was in disguise of dog and they both entered the heaven .

Its apparent from all above mentioned evidences of togetherness of ancient Indians. However dogs as
pet concepts is not present in India in general. Dog should live and stay outside the house only. But
then this rendered the Indian dogs very hardy composition. They are fit to survive in Indian climate and
thrive on any food. It is said that Indian dogs is a products of crossing between canine familiars and
canis dhukuminius but this is question of research as Indian dogs has got 5000 years strong history. We
do not know whether they intermingled 5000 years ago, but we can definitely say that these dogs
(distinctive breeds ) hunted & guarded this land for time immemorial.

India as said invaded by may people in these 5000 years. Aryans, Shak, Kasushan, Hune, Greek,
Muslims and finally British. This culture digested all of them beyond recognition. Out of all these
invaders none of them was able to retain its different identity in this land and become part and
parcel .except Muslims. However, other domesticated animals which were accompanying their
masters also lost their identity in this land and became part and parcel of this culture .Also we
cannot segregate these animals from Indian dogs .There is another reason also for various types
of dogs found in this land ,as from times immemorial. India has got strong trade routes for all over
the world. We use to import horses from Arabia and export spices to Western world .Now there are
four regions if we want to study Indian breeds

a) Northern India- Tibetan breeds, Rampur etc.,

b) Eastern India- Santhal, Naga chow etc.

c) Central India- Caravan, Vaghari, Mudhol, Pashmi

d) Southern India- Rajapalayam, Chippiparai, Kombai etc.

Also on Western lines we can segregate them into-

Sight Hounds - caravan, Rampur, Pashmi
Shepherds - Maharashtrian Dhangari Kutra
Scent Hound - Santhal
Terriers - Bordel, Sonkutta, Naga chow
Toy Category - Lhasa apso, Tibetan spaniel etc.

List of Indian dogs known to me

Caravan Hounds- Kept ,bred, hunted ,shown in various shows, won prizes, bred the champions.

Pashmi Hound - Kept ,bred, hunted ,shown in various shows, won prizes, bred the champions

Rampur Hound- Kept

Kaikadi- Kept

Rajapalayam -Seen , photographed

Chippiparai- Seen, photographed

Tibetan Mastiff- seen photographed

Bordel - Seen photographed

Sonkutta - Seen

Naga Chow - Seen

Lhasa - Seen photographed

Santhal – Heard

Tibetan Spaniel - Seen photographed

It is virtually impossible for any one man to keep & study all the Indians breeds so we have requested
our friends from various parts of this land to contribute in this page and we will include their articles in
our article section as soon as these articles arrive.

Pl. check regularly our article section for new updates.

Caravan Hound I kept, bred, hunted and made some champions in this breed. I started keeping them
for last 10 years. My 1st bitch was CH Nina Ricci which won multiple best in show and set a landmark
in Indian dog history as this is the only one -1st time ,any Indian ( and bred in India in any breed, won
best in show in Pune and I think even in India )

I collected this bitch from Maharashtra- Karnataka border, where there are lot many villagers keep
various sight hounds. It's a regular practice for these villagers to go for hunting on daily basis. These
dogs are highly priced for them.

I remember one day I offered Rs. 8000/- ( 200 US dollars ) to one villager as a price for his caravan bitch
and he refused to part.

The population of these dogs is mainly concentrated on the border line of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Their evolution in this land is a question of research as we see distribution is on Maharashtra &
Karnataka border logically points to following theories

1]- .As other sight sounds evolved in parts of the world, these hounds also evolved in this land.

2]- As these dogs are very similar to their counter parts " Sloughi & Azawakh or smooth coated saluki
we can say that these hounds migrated from middle east. We use to import horses from Persia, Arabia
in those golden days. All arabian ships use to travel on wind currents. They use to take advantage of
wind currents an also oceanic currents to sail their ships and use to land on the coast of Saurashtra
or Karwar ( town in Karnataka just below Goa ) .These hounds 1st touched their feet to this lands in
Krnataka & from their they hunted their way on Maharashtra, Karnataka border where land and
economy was most suitable .It is also said that during Maratha- Nizam war this entire area was created
as buffer zone between Maratha and Nizam Kingdoms and Muslim tribes from North-West provinces of
India were allotted special lands and encouraged to settle there as to obstruct advances of powerful
Maratha military.

They resemble to the Azawakhs or Sloughis They are long dogs like Sloughi but carry the exact grace
of Azawakh.

Pashmi :- Pashmi word might be an derivation of the name of the language , of the owners of these
hound speak. The origin of these hounds is again a mystery. They resemble very much to the Saluki.
All types of color and types which western world sees in Salukis are available in India. Plain Golden
color, mouse gray color, tricolor like doberman spotted /with profuse feathering to smooth coated with
heavy boned to light boned. However ,nowadays days you will find many of them are mixed with
imported Saluki blood. Some years ago one Maharaja of Baria gifted 4 nos. American imported
Salukis to Kolhapur Kennel Club and those Salukis were used extensively by the local hunters to
develop their blood stock. However, in deep interiors of Karnataka we can still find pure Indian
bloodline Pashmis. I still own pure Indian bloodline Pashmis. They are white in color. These dogs
are very good hunters as well as very good guard dogs. They can use their nose while hunting. Local
people rate them above caravans for hunting purpose for 2 reasons.

-They can withstand afternoon heat.

-Their ability for taking sudden turns

The theory of tribal settled by Nizam on Karnataka borders fits to these hounds.

Kaikadi :-These are very similar to the whippet dogs, however with very straight top line I feel this is
variation of caravan hound.

Rampur Hound :-Rampur Hound is still available in area called RohilKhand in Utter Pradesh. The name
Rohil Khand means the land where Rohillas stays. Rohilla is a tribe imported from North-West provinces
by Mughul Emperors to counter attack increasing influence of Maratha Power in Utter Pradesh. These
dogs resemble very much to the middle eastern hound Taigan. However old hunters in these area tells
us that whatever Rampurs we now see are not real rampurs ,in their good old time they tell us that
Rampurs were different .Rampur head should resemble to the head of a pig. Now the pig they are
referring is Indian Pig and not what western people eat in their country. I searched for that type of
Rampur for many years in vain.

Although Rampur is said to Grey Hound of Northern India is much more different than Grey Hound.
They are also very good hounds as well as good guard dogs. If somebody is really interested in
Rampur he may get good Rampur with little difficulties in and around Lucknow ( Capital of U.P.).
I use to own one Rampur hound ( Black bitch ) she was exceptionally good in hunting but met with
an accident and died.

Maharashtrian Dhangari Kutra--- This is now days almost extinct breed. Although there are few which
can be seen with local Dhangars ( Shepherds )is a mixture Pashmi and local dogs. However, in my
wondering in search of Indian dogs I saw them at two places, -Near Chikaldara in Vidharbha where
local tribe Korku keeps them. And near Ahamadnagar village called -Dhavalpuri.

This is a dog on very similar lines Tibetan Mastiff. Generally black in color with white pows, tufted
tail, powerful neck, square in body, eyes sparkling like fire.

Rajapalayam : It is from Rajapalayam district on the lines of Great Dane but without heaviness of
Great Danes, more racy body, generally white in color, with pink nose used for hunting wild boar.

It is also said that Dalmations breed is developed from the discarded dogs of these breed by breeders
at that time.

We will be compiling more articles on these Indian breeds in short time.
 
 
 

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