Rajapalayam vs Latvian Hound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Latvian Hound is a medium sized Russian or Latvian hunting hound. The dog was bred in Latvia, Russia.

He was developed from a number of English and Polish dogs as well as Lucernese breeds.

It is by no means a new breed and records of it go way back to the 1600s. A certain Duke Courland developed the dog so that it was also known as the Courland Hound. In 1922 the Latvian Association of Hunters' Associations was formed.

It was in 1971 that the Latvian Hound was was approved with it's name and a new standard was developed and approved. It isn't recognized by the AKC or the FCI.

The Rajapalayam dog hails from India, from the small town of Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu.

Known also as the Poligar Hound, this Indian Sighthound has been the companion of royalty in Southern India.

Though the breed dates back a few hundred years, the developers of the breed brought about an albino dog. This Indian breed dog is almost on the verge of extinction. This is a pity as he is a splendid dog. Breeding centers have been set up to prevent the dog disappearing altogether.

The Latvian Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 40 to 48cm in height and weighing about 15 to 20kg.

He has a deep chest, fairly long, floppy ears, a long tail with strong legs. The coat is double and is short, shiny and dense. He is an average shedder. He is essentially black with tan markings, with tan spots above the eyes. The eyes are dark brown and the nose is black.

Temperament:

The Latvian Hound may well be an exceptional hunter but he also makes a great family pet. He is looked upon as being a friendly, amicable, sweet dog.

Because he has been a working dog, he likes to be busy and will happily join in with all your hikes and swimming. He will also run with you while you cycle.

It’s a dog that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, being inclined to suffer with separation anxiety. He doesn’t take kindly to strangers either, but a dog which has been socialized and trained becomes more amicable.

Your Latvian is intelligent so you won’t have any trouble teaching him some simply commands. He is a friendly, lively dog and just having him in your home brings in a joyous atmosphere. He is an easy-going dog, but even so, if you don’t have a fair sized garden and you don’t have the time to exercise him, he is better off living on a farm or where there is a fair sized garden.

This is a large dog, graceful and elegant standing at between 65–75cm and weighing 22 to 25kg.

This is a hound dog, lean and muscular and will rely on good exercise to keep him in tip top working condition.

He is somewhat heavier than other sighthounds with a deep chest and long straight legs. He is a low maintenance dog with the white coat being short and fine. The ears are floppy ad the tail is slim and long and sometimes held up and curved.

Temperament:

The Rajapalayam has always been used for hunting wild boar, and today he makes a good guard- and watchdog. He needs a lot of space and exercise and isn’t suited to living in small spaces in the city.

He is a loving dog and becomes loyal and devoted towards his owner, being essentially a one-person dog. They tend to be aggressive and aloof with strangers.

Training and socialization will be important for this intelligent dog if you want him to behave around people. He doesn’t particularly get on well with other pets in the home, but training and socialization can change this.

The Latvian Hound is an outgoing, fun dog to have around and a great dog for first-time dog owners too. He has always been a working dog, so he has developed skills such as being focused and tenacious.

As a companion and family dog, you will have a true friend as he is sweet, loving and loyal and thrives on the attention of his human family. He is a playful dog, feisty and energetic, and will be protective too. Bring him into your home and you'll see what a bright place it becomes just having him there as pet and friend.

A Rajapalayam dog has always been a hunter and this makes him an excellent watchdog, always on the look out for intruders.

The Rajapalyam has always been a dog deeply attached and loyal to his owners.They are good family companions and pets and with so many good characteristics, one hopes that this dog will still be around for a long time.

The life span of the Latvian Hound is 12 to 14 years, and while there are no reported major health issues, all dogs face some kind of medical issues during their lives. The Latvian Hound can face things like hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat and ear infections.

Vaccinations:

Vaccines can protect your dog from contracting some illnesses which can be fatal.

There is controversy over pet vaccines but the problem is more about HOW the dog is vaccinated.

There was a time when puppies were vaccinated many times, but newer guidelines were updated in 2017, stating that core vaccines be given to adult dogs in intervals of 3 years or more, rather than every year.

Puppy vaccines still need to be done about every 3 weeks between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks against the likes of parvovirus and distemper. Get yourself a good vet who is skilled and safe with vaccines.

The Rajapalayam isn’t a fragile dog, and he can live to 10, 11 or 12 years of age. There are always a few things to look out for with him. With white dogs, there is always a high incidence of deafness. Puppies born with blue eyes are often deaf.

Deafness:

White coated dogs, because of the piebald gene, are often affected by deafness. The piebald gene is because of an absence of melanocytes. These are cells which create pigment. When a dog is born without the genes to create melanocyte cells, a white hair coat and sometimes blue eyes are the result.

There are also skin problems associated with these all white dog breeds such as mange and dermatitis. Check him over for ticks and fleas.

Grooming:

The Latvian Hound has a short coat that is easy to groom. He is a moderate shedder and brushing him twice a week will take care of all that loose hair. He’ll thrive on the attention this grooming session gives him and its the time to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

Check the inside of his ears. Without even realizing it, dirt and wax can build up and result in an ear infection. His ear may be red and you’ll notice him shaking his head and scratching at his ears. Be very careful about cleaning his ears as going to deep can damage the ear.

Any grooming of your dog that you can’t manage can be attended to by professional dog groomers.

General Grooming:

The short coat does shed so he will need to be brushed once or twice a week.

You will also need to follow a regular grooming program with this dog, checking inside his ears for infection, checking his eyes for discharge and checking inside his mouth for bad, rotting teeth. Teeth- and gum disease aren’t just about losing a tooth - bad teeth and gums can cause a host of health issues for other body parts like the heart and kidneys.

His toe nails too wll require clipping to prevent splitting and chipping.

Exercise:

Provide your pet with lots of exercise – a walk every day, a run in the park off his leash as well as ball and frisbee games.

Diet:

You can’t ever become lax with giving your pet good food. Good, wholesome food promotes health and longevity.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods which are wonderfully convenient – you just want to be sure its the high quality ones full of vitamins and minerals.

Also, provide him with uncomplicated, home-made dog food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and mixed in twice a week with the dry kibble will ensue health and contentment.

Try and add some raw meat in as well. This simple diet plan will be gentle on your pet’s digestive system.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.