Korean Jindo, as the name suggests, originates from Korea and to this day is only common in this country. It was used for hunting, but it is also an excellent companion dog, provided a number of considerations are taken into account, as we will see in this article. On the other hand, he is a strong, robust and energetic dog. He loves to run free, walk with his guardian and protect him from strangers. It is also characterized by great intelligence and a strong character and it requires a good education from childhood.Keep reading this article from PlanèteAnimal to learn more about this Korean breed, its origin, its characteristics and the care it needs.
Origin
- Asia
- South Korea
FCI Nomenclature
- Group V
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Muscular
- Proportional
Size
- Average
Height
- 45-55
Adult Weight
- 10-25
Life expectancy
- 10-12
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Strong
- Very loyal
- Smart
- Active
- Quiet
Ideal for
- Walking
- The hunt
- The guard
- Sports
Recommended climate
- Cold
Hair type
- Short
- Smooth
- Hard
- Big
Origin of Korean Jindo
The Korean Jindo is native to southeastern Korea, particularly on the island of Jindo, and for years has been used as a guard dog and to hunt rabbits, badgers, boars and deer.It is the national dog of Korea. Studies have been conducted to prove its kinship with the Canadian Eskimo Dog, as well as the Sakhalin, Sapsali, and other breeds from Korea. Moreover, experts agree that Jindo's dog lived on this island for a long time.
There are several theories about its origin, but the most famous considers it to be a hybrid of native Korean dogs with Mongol dogs from the forces that invaded Korea in the 13th century. Today, it is a protected dog under Korea's Cultural Property Protection Law, designated Natural Treasure Number 53 by the South Korean government, which approved the Jindo Dog Preservation Ordinance. Currently, it is very difficult to export them out of the country.
Curiously, these dogs paraded during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988. A legend has it that a Jindo dog named Baekgu was sold and transported 300 km, but he is returned to find his first guardian, more than seven months later, emaciated and nearly dead.It is a testament to the loy alty and bravery of this canine breed. The United Kennel Club recognized it on January 1, 1998 and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale did so in 2005.
Characteristics of the Korean Jindo Dog
The Jindo dog can have two different body types:
- Tonggol or Gyupgae: muscular and stocky, with a similar proportion of length and height.
- Hudu or Heutgae: slimmer bearing, shallower chest and slightly longer loin. Additionally, it tends to have a more elongated head, muzzle and ears.
- Also, there can be a mixture of the two types, called Gakgol, which has the body length of Hudu, but the chest depth of Tonggol.
Males measure between 48 and 53 cm and females between 45 and 50 cm. They weigh around 15 to 19 kg, while the males fluctuate between 18 and 23. The main physical characteristics of the Korean Jindo dog are:
- Broad, rounded head, with a medium sized skull in proportion to the body.
- Exact muzzle, neither raised nor rounded.
- Black lips, thin and closed. The upper part slightly overlaps the lower part.
- Black truffle except for white specimens, which are pink.
- Almond eyes, lively and dark brown.
- Scissor bite jaw with strong teeth.
- Well-developed thin cheeks.
- Ears triangular, medium, thick and straight, pointing slightly forward.
- Thick, muscular and balanced neck.
- Strong, straight back.
- Muscular, lean and stiff loin.
- Slightly deep and strong chest.
- Well-curved ribs with developed thorax.
- Retracted belly.
- Sickle-shaped or curled tail with a tip that touches the back.
- Strong and muscular front legs.
- Moderately sloping and muscular hind legs.
Korean Chindo or Jindo Dog Colors
The Jindo dog has a double coat to resist the cold, allowed in the following colors:
- Ivory.
- Red.
- White.
- Fire.
- Ripe wheat.
- Grey.
- Black.
- Doubled.
How is the Korean Jindo puppy?
The Korean Jindo puppy is similar to the chow chow, but with a wolf-like appearance reminiscent of spitz dogs. They are athletic, medium-sized, well-proportioned puppies that already differ markedly depending on whether they are male or female. Females tend to be slimmer and more angular, while males tend to appear more robust, broad and broad.
It is important to socialize these dogs from a young age as they may show signs of aggression towards strangers if not properly socialized. It is also good to teach them from an early age to stay home alone, as they tend to suffer from separation anxiety.
Korean Jindo dog character
These dogs are brave, fearless, attentive, calm, loyal, protective, impetuous and very intelligent. They are also said to be of one guardian, due to their great loy alty. In addition, they are very active, so they need space to run around and let off steam. On the other hand, they are not overly affectionate, on the contrary, they are characterized by their independent character.
In general, they have a strong temperament that you have to know how to master. Although they are hunting dogs by nature, they are also great house companions and great watchdogs. They know perfectly how to differentiate their guardians from strangers.
How to take care of a Korean Jindo?
This dog has a lot of energy that he needs to vent by playing outside, walking and running every day. For this reason it is not a dog suitable for sedentary or inactive people. He needs a committed companion who enjoys being on the go with his dog. On the other hand, although he is independent, he does not like loneliness, so he needs to have places or physical and mental stimuli at home to avoid boredom, anxiety and depression. when he has to be left alone.
As for its hygiene, the coat does not require much care. They are clean dogs that will rarely have a dirty coat. In general, brushing once a week is sufficient, although at times you may brush more regularly due to shedding. Teeth cleaning is important for the prevention and early detection of oral pathologies such as tartar, periodontal disease, gingivitis, fractures, wounds, tumors or infections.The ears should also be cleaned regularly and you should watch for any abnormal discharge as this could indicate inflammation or infection.
The diet must be complete, balanced and of high quality to maintain its muscles, its strength, its vitality and preserve its he alth. In this regard, vaccination and deworming are important as part of preventive medicine. Its objective is to avoid the main infectious and parasitic diseases that affect dogs.
Korean Jindo Education
Jindo dog is very intelligent, which in principle makes training easier. However, it must be borne in mind that they are also strong-willed dogs and, in addition, there are two important points to consider in their upbringing, which are aggression towards strangers and fear of abandonment. . For all these reasons, training must be thorough, careful and patient.It should be based on positive reinforcement, which consists of rewarding desirable behaviors in order to achieve faster learning and to avoid unnecessary fear, punishment and stress.
Korean Jindo Dog He alth
The Korean Jindo Dog has an estimated lifespan of 11-13 years. It is a robust, strong canine and, as a rule, with few he alth problems. However, this breed seems to have a greater predisposition to the following pathologies:
- Patella Dislocation: An orthopedic disorder in which the patella, essential in the knee joint, protrudes from the trochlea, causing severe pain, cracking, weakness, increased tenderness and instability of the joint , causing lameness and restlessness in the affected dog.
- Hip dysplasia: This degenerative disease consists of a lack of adaptation between the acetabulum and the head of the femur, which are the articular surfaces of the bones that intervene in the hip joint.It produces laxity in the joint, allowing movement of both bones with consequent weakening, instability and osteoarthritis, which eventually causes lameness, pain, inactivity and muscle atrophy.
- Hypothyroidism: endocrine disease characterized by low levels of thyroid hormones, the consequence of which is a weak metabolism and clinical signs such as weight gain, intolerance to cold, anemia, lethargy, muscle weakness, infertility, hypothermia , alopecia, nystagmus, ataxia or digestive disorders.
- Discoid lupus erythematosus: an autoimmune disease that affects the skin, particularly in the nose, ears and eye area, with no signs of systemic disease. It causes lesions that can be seen, at first, as areas of ashy or pinkish depigmentation. They gradually inflame and scabs or ulcers form.
Where to adopt a Korean Jindo?
Unfortunately, Korean Jindos are nearly impossible to adopt if you don't live in Korea. You always have the option of searching the net in case you find a rescue association for this breed, but it is certainly very difficult as travel outside its country of origin is very restricted. Either way, we encourage you not to rule out adopting a mixed breed. Race is not the most important thing.