Korea Jindo Dog
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| Korea Jindo Dog | |||
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The Korea Jindo Dog is a breed of dog originating in Korea. The Jindo is a hunting dog, originally from Jindo Island. Although relatively unknown outside Korea, it is celebrated in its native land.
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Appearance
The Jindo is a medium-sized, double-coated spitz-type dog, with an octagonal-shaped face and prick ears. The body is either square or slightly longer than tall. It has been divided into two body types: Tonggol or Gyupgae and Hudu or Heutgae. The former is very muscular and shorter in body, with a depth of chest equal to one-half the height at the withers and a shorter loin, while the latter is more slender with somewhat less depth of chest and a slightly longer loin, resulting in a height to length ratio of 10:11. Typically, males are larger with heavier heads and females have more fox-like features. These two types are gradually being blended into a third type called Gakgol, which retains the length of body of the Hudu style and the depth of chest of the Tonggol style. "The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a strong back with a slight but definite arch over the loin, which blends into a slightly sloping croup. The ribs are moderately sprung out from the spine, then curving down and inward to form a body that would be nearly oval if viewed in cross-section. The loin is muscular but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The chest is deep and moderately broad. When viewed from the side, the lowest point of the chest is immediately behind the elbow. The forechest should extend in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs but the sternum should not be excessively pointed.
- Height: At maturity, desirable height for male dogs should be 19 1/2 to 21 inches and 18 1/2 to 20 inches for females.
- Weight: In good condition, males should be 35-45 lbs. and 30-40 lbs. for a female.
- Tail: There are two types: ring tail, rolled on its back; erect tail, straight up.
- Eyes: Gingko nut-shaped yellowish brown eyes with clear pupils. Jindos with reddish eyes are considered better hunters.
- Hair: Coat is of medium length, coarse with a thick undercoat.
- Color: Korean law currently only recognizes white Jindos and red (tan) Jindos, thus they are the most popular colors. Some Jindo Island residents have valued black, black/tan and red/white Jindos for being good hunters over the years. The UKC recognizes five different coat colors: white, fawn, gray, black and tan, and brindle (tiger pattern).
Temperament
The Korean Jindo Dog is well known for its unwavering loyalty. Because of this there is a misunderstanding that a Jindo will be loyal only to its first owner or the owner when young. However, there are many examples of older Jindos being adopted out of shelters in the United States and becoming very loyal friends to their new owners.
They are highly active and are not meant to be indoor-only dogs. Jindo dogs need reasonable space to roam and run. Jindos require a lot of care and attention, otherwise, they can become aggressive and wild.
Because the Jindo is an active and intelligent dog, it requires frequent interaction with people or another dog in the family. If left alone by itself for a long stretch, it finds its own entertainment. A Jindo may climb over a fence or wall, dig the ground, or tear up the house if confined indoors. Worse still, a mistreated or badly trained Jindo may roam around the neighborhood and attack neighbors' pets and threaten people.
For this reason many Jindo dogs are found in animal shelters. Also because the breed is not well known, there are many good Jindo dogs available for adoption.
With Jindos, establishing the hierachy (humans above dogs) with care and affection is essential. Firm enforcement of rules is important, because Jindos are smart and will constantly test the boundaries and try to bend the rules (for example, getting food off the table, or jumping on the couch, kitchen counter, or furniture, showing bare teeth while playing with people, and entering rooms that are off limits). Probably this applies to many other dogs. However, this is important in that Jindos can be aggressive and dangerous to people if mistrained, similar to what happens with some American Pit Bull Terriers. It is not uncommon for Jindos to kill other dogs that are much bigger.
Do not use violence in taming a Jindo (or any dog) because it will feel threatened every time it encounters a stranger (people or animal) and will attack them in self-defense. A Jindo does not retreat when threatened but assumes that offense is the best defense. This is the reason why sometimes an owner, a member of family, or an acqaintence is bitten by a Jindo.
People adopt Jindo dogs because of their beautiful appearance, high intelligence, loyalty, and sometimes for their fighting spirit, then quickly realize that raising a Jindo dog to be a well-behaved member of the family takes a lot of effort and time. Many Jindo Dogs are abandoned in the U.S. because of the difficulty of training them. Potential owners who are prepared and determined to have an intelligent, loyal, but independent companion can adopt a Jindo dog from shelters.
History
It is said that Jindo Dogs descended from Mongolian battle dogs that were left on Korea's Jindo Island after the Mongols' 13th century invasion of Korea. The Korean King surrendered but some of his armies withdrew to Jindo Island, off the southern coast of Korea, where they continued to fight. The soldiers' dogs ended up isolated on Jindo Island, where they developed a very pure strain. Jindos served both as hunting and guard dogs in Korea. In 1938, the Korean government designated the white Jindo as the 53rd National Treasure, the highest honour given to precious cultural artifact, animals or persons; and passed the "Jindo Preservation Ordinance". Jindos marched in the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. The United Kennel Club recognized the Jindo on January 1, 1998.
Miscellaneous
Availability
Jindo dogs are not well known and not very common in the United States or generally outside of Korea, especially purebreds, since the Korean government restricts the exportation of this breed.
However, Jindo Dogs are taken into the U.S. by former residents of Korea, and are bred for sale there.
See also
Dog Pictures and Clipart
- Pictures of Dogs (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals/Dogs)
- Dog Clipart (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Clipart/Animals/Dog_Clipart)
Clipart and Animal Pictures
- Clipart (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/clipart.htm)
- Animal Clipart (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/animal-clipart.htm)
- Animal Animated Clipart (https://classroomclipart.com/clipart/Animations/Animals.htm)
- Pictures of Animals (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/animal-photos.htm)
- Amphibian Clip Art, Pictures and Photogaphs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/amphibian-clipart.htm)
- Farm Animal Clip Art, Pictures and Photographs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/farm-animal-clipart.htm)
- Mammal Clip Art, Pictures and Photographs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/mammal-clipart.htm)
- Marine Animal Clip Art, Pictures and Photographs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/marine-life-clipart.htm)
- Reptile Clip Art, Pictures and Photographs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/reptile-clipart.htm)
- Spider Clip Art, Pictures and Photographs (https://classroomclipart.com/image/category/spider-clipart.htm)