Dog Breeds
Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside is to be back in Eden where doing nothing is not boring, it is peace.
– Milan Kundera
Dogs are usually classified into 6 main groups based on their morphology, body size, behaviour, origin and utility.
1. Working Group
They are used to perform practical tasks as opposed to pet or companion dogs. They are intelligent, strong, watchful and alert. They are good at performing rescues, pulling sledges, guarding property, etc. Some examples of dogs in the working group are Alaskan Malamute, Husky, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Polish sheepdog etc.
2. Utility Group
This group is broadly defined. The dogs in this group were bred for different purposes but now their requirement has become redundant. Now they are usually used for companionship. Examples of dogs in the utility group are Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, etc.
Dogs can also be classified into:
1. Gun Dogs
These dogs include hunting groups or retrievers. Previously used for hunting and now used for companionship. They can also be classified into pointers and setters, flushing dogs and retrievers. Gun dogs include American Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Pointer, Sussex Spaniel, Golden Retriever, etc.
2. Hound Breeds
These are a type of hunting dogs that are used to chase or track preys. They usually include Basset Hound, Beagle, Dachshund, Greyhound, Saluki, etc.
3. Toy Breeds
These refer to small breeds of dogs and can fit into any of the above categories. Examples of toy breeds are King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Pug, Pomeranian, Miniature Pinscher, etc.
4. Terrier Breeds
They are small dogs that were originally bred to dig and hunt however now they’re usually used for companionship only. Some well-known terrier breeds are Bull Terrier, Border Terrier, Irish Terrier, etc.
Indian Dog Breeds
These breeds include Rajapalayam, Gaddi, Rampur hound, Mudhol hound, Himalayan sheepdog, Combai, Chippiparai, and Kanni dog. These dogs may be domesticated, semidomesticated and feral. These dogs thrive in Indian weather and have very few to no general health issues. They tolerate the Indian climate very easily, are very smart and intelligent, easy to train and loyal.
Some of these breeds have recently made their way into the Indian Army.
Here are some interesting links that will show you the journey of Indian Dog Breeds in the Indian Army:
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/mudhol-hounds-the-desi-dog-breed-pm-modi-talkedabout-join-iaf-all-you-need-to-know-3435089.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/low-maintenance-can-walk-for-mileswhy-dogs-of-indian-breeds-are-becoming-popular-with-forces/articleshow/78060823.cms
1. German Shepherd
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Double coated with smooth and glossy hair
• Colour: Grey, dark and various shades of black and white
• Body weight: 25-35 kg
• Salient features: Erect and smooth ears, well-muscled with a long neck, long hairy tail curved towards the end, may extend up to the hock.
2. Beagle
• Place of origin: Great Britain
• Coat: Short, glossy, water-resistant
• Colour: Usually found in the combinations of black, brown, white and grey
• Body weight: 12-20 kg
• Salient features: Small in size with short legs and long ears, they have a keen sense of smell
3. Boxer
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Smooth, short in red, fawn or brindle colours.
• Body weight: 25-35 kg
• Salient features: Placement of tails is usually high, males are heavier than females, broad heads, short nose, strong jaws.
4. Bulldog
• Place of origin: England
• Coat: Short, fine and smooth
• Colour: Various degrees of red, brindle, fawn, fallow and white or their combinations
• Body weight: 20-25 kg
• Salient features: Heavy head with wrinkled face, short, wide and black nose, square jaw.
• They have a very short tail, thick at the root.
5. Dachshund
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Depending on the strain, it may be smooth-haired, long-haired or wire-haired
• Bodyweight: 5-10 kg
• Salient features: Long, drooping and thick ears with a rounded edge
6. Dalmatian
• Place of origin: Dalmatia (Austria)
• Coat: Very smooth and short
• Colour: White with black spots, which may vary in size but never form patches
• Body weight: 20-25 kg
• Salient features: Ears set high and gradually tapering to a round point covered with spotted hair. Their tail is short fine and straight.
7. Dobermann pinscher
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Smooth, short, thick and glossy
• Colour: Black, brown
• Bodyweight: 25-35 kg
• Salient features: Extremities are light in colour, ears are small, slightly dropped forward but erect.
8. Great Dane
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Short, dense, soft and glossy
• Colour: Whole black, fawn or pure white with black or blue patches
• Body weight: Above 55 kg
• Salient features: Small ears, with falling tips. The tail is thick at the root and tapers below the hock joint. They have long and narrow faces.
9. Greyhound
• Place of origin: Egypt
• Coat: Fine, short and smooth
• Colour: Red and fawn, sometimes there are other colours like black, bridle and white
• Bodyweight: 25-35 kg
• Salient features: Long face with blunt pointer nose, the tail is low set, long, tapering and strong
10. Lhasa apso
• Place of origin: Tibet
• Coat: Long, straight, dense
• Colour: Golden, smoky, slaty, black, white, brown or a combination of two or more of these
• Bodyweight: 5-7 kg
• Salient features: Small and active house dog, moody temperament, drooping ears and dark eyes
11. Pomeranian
• Place of origin: Poland
• Coat: Long, straight, coarse and thick. The undercoat can be soft and woolly.
• Colour: White, black, brown, tan, etc
• Bodyweight: 5-10 kg
• Salient features: Very active, small and erect ears, pointy nose, a hairy tail that is usually curved
12. Poodle
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Thick, curly and fluffy
• Colour: Whole white, black, brown or apricot
• Bodyweight: 3-25 kg (depending on the strain)
• Salient features: Long, wide and drooping ears, the tail is usually held high
13. Pug
• Place of origin: China
• Coat: Short, soft, fine, smooth and glossy
• Colour: Black or fawn
• Bodyweight: 6-10 kg
• Salient features: Wrinkled face with a very short snout, tail tightly curled and often double curled
14. Labrador
• Place of origin: Newfoundland
• Coat: Short, dense, smooth and glossy
• Colour: Black, chocolate and cream free from markings
• Bodyweight: 25-35 kg
• Salient features: Webbed paws for swimming, they are good retrievers, ears are large hanging close to head
15. Golden retriever
• Place of origin: Scotland
• Coat: Flat or wavy, dense with water-resistant undercoat
• Colour: Any shade of gold and cream
• Body weight: 28-35 kg
• Salient features: Ears are moderate in size, long, straight and feathered tail.
• This breed is very active, energetic and playful
16. Cocker Spaniel
• Place of origin: England
• Coat: Flat, silky, soft and wavy
• Colour: Black, brown, black and tan, roan
• Bodyweight: 10-15 kg
• Salient features: Head is round with deep and broad muzzle, long drooping ears covered with fine hair
17. Saint Bernard
• Place of origin: Switzerland
• Coat: Can be short or long-haired
• Colour: Usually a combination of white, brown and black
• Bodyweight: Above 60 kg
• Salient features: Massive and broad forehead, tail set high, long and slightly curved, always carried low.
• This dog is NOT suitable for tropical countries
18. Pointer
• Place of origin: Spain
• Coat: Short, fine, smooth and uniformly distributed
• Colour: White and brown, black and white, sometimes whole black
• Bodyweight: 25-30 kg
• Salient features: Ears are set fairly high, lying close to the head. The tail is long, smooth and tapering
19. Rottweiler
• Place of origin: Germany
• Coat: Topcoat is medium length, dense and flat. The undercoat does not show through the
• topcoat.
• Colour: Black with patches of brown
• Bodyweight: 30-45 kg
• Salient features: Very Intelligent breed. Skull is of medium length. The forehead line is moderately arched as seen from the side