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Korea Jindo Dog


Korea Jindo Dog
Alternative names
Jindo
Country of origin
Korea
Classification
FCI: Group 5 Section 5 (Provisional)
Breed standards (external links)
FCI

The Korea Jindo Dog (진도개) 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. The Jindo is a medium-sized, double-coated dog; only solid colours are permitted.

Nature of Jindo Dogs

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.

Jindo Dogs descended from Mongolian battle dogs that were left on Korea's Jindo Island by the Mongolian army, which planned to invade Japan. Jindo dogs evolved semi-wild because they have been allowed to roam free in the island. Therefore, Jindo dogs tend to hunt small creatures like mice, rabbits, birds, and much bigger games like boar and deer. 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.

With Jindos, establishing the hierachy (humans above dogs) with care and affection is essential. Firm enforecment 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.

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.

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.

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.

External links


Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45