Pungsan Dog vs Indian Pariah Dog - Breed Comparison

The Indian pariah, known also as the Indi-dog or In-dog, is an ancient dog breed common throughout India as well as Bangladesh.

A breed standard does exist for the dog with the Indian Kennel Club and the dog has also been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society.

A great dog enthusiast, Indian environmentalist, M Krishnan, has written about this ancient dog breed, telling about its wonderful temperament and its hardy constitution.

The Pungsan Dog hails from Korea.

It is a hunting dog and considered to be a National Treasure of Korea. It was during the Japanese occupation of Korea that the dog’s thick coat was sought after for use in fur coats for the Japanese military.

The population numbers plummeted dramatically, with the Korean War reducing the numbers even further. The North Korean government assisted with re-establishing them.

Today, the Pungsan isn’t recognized by the Federation Cynological International (FCI) and also remains unrecognized by any major kennel clubs.

The Indian Pariah dog is a medium sized, lanky looking dog with the males and females standing at 46cm to 64cm in height and weighing roughly between 15 to 30kg.

These dogs aren't big eaters so they tend to be lean and muscular. This is a double coated dog with the hair being coarse and fawn in colour or reddish brown.

He has fairly large, erect ears and brown eyes. He has a long tail which is held down but when he is excited it is held high and over the back, curling at the tip. There is sometimes white around the face and chest.

Temperament:

The Pariah dog is a social dog but he is somewhat timid, even though they make excellent watch dogs, being territorial around their human family. Being territorial, he can have an aggressive side to him so it is wise to have him trained and socialized as then he is obedient and capable of getting on well with children in the home.

These dogs are also very intelligent and therefore easily trained. He is an active dog and likes to be kept busy, wanting to be participating in the activities of his human family.

The Pungsan dog is a large dog – a kind of spitz-type dog which stands between 55 and 60cm in height and weighs between 18-24 kg.

The dog has a thick whitish coat that even allows them to sleep in the snow. They have a muscular build with a deep chest. The legs are straight and strong, with the typical Spitz-type triangular head with the almond-shaped eyes and erect ears. The tail is high-set, curling over the back. After mating, within 60 – 70 days they can produce 2 to 4 puppies.

Temperament:

It it thought that the Pungsan’s intelligence is due to wolf DNA but there is a question mark over this. They are intelligent dogs though.

These dogs are always loyal and protective of their owners, forming strong bonds with them. They are strong-willed and independent and will require training and socialization if you want them to be obedient, well mannered dogs.

They’re intelligent so won’t have problems learning. When properly trained and socialized, they can be good playmates for children. He is also able to get along well with other animals in the house.

They’re aloof with strangers and have strong territorial instincts, but this just goes towards making them excellent watchdogs.

The Indian Pariah dog is just an ordinary dog looking to be a superb companion for you. These are dogs with no airs and graces and in fact they have lots of positive attributes about them.

They are just your ordinary, social dogs who are able to form strong, loyal friendships with their human owners. He is a faithful dog breed and he has had a long association with humans dating back to thousands of years. He is healthy and cheerful and he is just waiting for you to give him a chance so that he can show you what a cheerful, playful, devoted, wonderful friend he can be to you too.

The Pungsan is a wonderful dog if you’re looking for an affectionate, loyal pet.

These dogs thrive on having an owner that is energetic and a strong leader. It likes to become involved in all the activities the family is involved in, loving to join them on hikes and camping trips. Its a dog that is also protective and territorial and makes a good watchdog too.

With proper training and socialization he gets on well with children and other pets in the home, making him a welcome canine family member for any busy household.

This is a dog which can live to between 13 and 15 years of age when he is treated well.

These Indian Pariahs are a natural dog breed, and to this end they are free of genetic health concerns such as hip dysplasia which is a very common ailment with nearly all dogs.

Remember that every dog stands a good chance of picking up some life-threatening illnesses if not vaccinated against them. Some of these diseases to be concerned about are canine distemper and parvo-virus. Rabies, kennel cough and parasites such as fleas and ticks can also pose a real danger to your pet.

The Pariah has been around for a very long time and today he is a robust, low maintenance pet that isn't going to cost you a lot of money .

The Pungsan is a healthy breed prone to very few health issues, yet there will always be those common health issues that plague dogs like these. One of these is hip dysplasia, while others are obesity, bloat and cancer.

Hip dysplasia:

It can be very sad when your vet tells you that your dog has hip dysplasia. Fortunately with modern veterinary medicine, a dog can be kept happy with this ailment.

The hip joint doesn’t develop properly and painful wear and tear with arthritis makes it very difficult for the dog to be mobile. It’s a genetic condition but diet and environmental factors play a huge part too. Get your pet to the vet to ensure he is pain free.

Epilepsy:

Seizures in a dog can be caused usually because of trauma, tumor or infection. Seizures can start from as young as 6 months of age.Some seizures can last for a long time and are considered an emergency, requiring immediate veterinary help.Your veterinarian will want a complete history and perform a neurological exam.

This is a low maintenance dog who also happens to shed little. A brush once or twice a week will be sufficient and it will keep the fur shiny and healthy.

General Care:

Your puppy will need to be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. There are some veterinary clinics in India that offer free vaccine shots. Your puppy will be dewormed too. Make sure he has a nice dry, warm place to sleep, and for during the day, ensure that there is a shady spot for him too.

Diet:

It's always a good idea to try and feed your puppy the best food there is. If you visit a veterinary clinic, find out what the most appropriate food would be for your puppy and how often you should feed him during the day.

If you feed your adult Indian Pariah dog kibble and you're able to, try and add in some home-made food too such as cooked chicken or rice. Some raw meat added in from time to time will also do your dog the world of good. Make sure there is always a bowl of cool, clean water standing by.

Grooming:

With his dense coat, this dog will require a brush twice a week to keep the fur free from matting and from loose hair. He is after all a fairly heavy shedder and will require this regular brushing to remove the dead hair and maintain the luster and sheen of the coat.

Exercise:

This is a strong, athletic dog and he is mentally sharp as well. He will require vigorous physical- and mental activity each day. He isn’t the kind of dog to lie around for long periods of time as this leads to frustration and destructive behavior and then the owner should be blamed.

Take him on walks or long hikes – he’ll love that – and play ball- and rope games with him. He will be quite game for swimming as well.

Diet:

Your Pungsan dog can get to 14 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to be sure your pet gets some nutritious home-made food too.

Make sure that the kibble is the high quality ones with lots of vitamins and minerals. Add in some home-made food twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Your dog will do well on plain, simple, nutritious, tasty food like this. Chop this food up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.