AKC Dog Breeds: Jindo

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Foundation Stock Service® Breed
Height: 16-25 inches   Weight: 25-50 pounds  Color: white, yellow, red, red and white, tan, tan and white, black, black and tan, and brindle

The Jindo is a medium-sized spitz-type dog that originated from the Jindo Island in Korea. Similar in appearance to the smaller Shiba Inu and the larger Akita, they were originally bred for hunting game as small as rodents to as large as deer. The Jindo are renowned for their outstanding hunting ability, due to their courage, cunning, and pack sensibility. Besides the usual prey of medium to large game, their hunting prowess is displayed in a legend of three Jindos that killed a Siberian tiger. In traditional Korean hunting without guns, a pack of well trained Jindos was extremely valuable. A master with a loyal pack could hunt without much trouble at all, for when the pack brings down a deer, boar or other target, one of them returns to the master to lead him to the prey, while the others stand guard against scavengers. Jindos first started to appear in the United States in the 1980s. The Jindo is protected by Korean Law as a national monument. Their legendary loyalty and affection for their masters, fastidious nature, high intelligence, and unfailing courage have made the Jindo the most popular breed of dog in Korea. The Jindo has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service since January 2008.

General Appearance
Jindos are medium sized, spitz-type dogs, approximately 40 pounds in weight. Full growth is attained fairly young, although they are not fully mature until two years of age. Their ears are prick and stand up between 4 and 6 months of age. The Jindo is a double coat breed. The outer coat is straight, harsh, and more profuse on the neck and chest. The undercoat is dense and soft, but is sufficient to support the outercoat. Jindo tails are plumed and curled up over their hind quarters. Organizations have attempted to categorize the different body types of Jindos. There are two body styles that are most often referred to: the Gyupgae and the Heutgae. The former is muscular and shorter in length, with a chest depth equal to one-half the height at the withers and a shorter loin. The latter is more slender with less depth of chest and a slightly longer loin, resulting in a height to length ratio of 10:11.  The United Kennel Club 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 and gentlemanly nature. Because of this there is a misconception 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 certainly not indoor-only dogs. Jindo dogs need reasonable space to roam and run. Jindos require a lot of care and attention. If kept in a yard, the fencing must be at least 6 feet high. Because the Jindo is an active and intelligent dog, it requires frequent interaction with people or another dog in the family. For some the Jindo may even be too intelligent, for it will commonly think for itself. The same intelligence that allows the dog to learn commands and tricks very quickly can be a bit too much to handle. If left alone for a long stretch, it finds its own entertainment. A young Jindo may attempt to climb over a fence or wall, even by way of a tree or digging under, or tear up the house if confined indoors. Because of this many Jindo dogs are found in animal shelters, abandoned by owners who often did not know what they were getting into when accepting the responsibility of a Jindo. Jindos serve as excellent watchdogs, able to distinguish family from foe, friends from strangers. The Korean Army is known to use Jindos as guard dogs at major bases, where it is said they can learn to recognize 30,000 individual scents. Because Jindos rarely bark aggressively, especially in familiar environments, an owner may lend special credence to the warning of his/her pet. Many are also finicky eaters and will not take food from strangers. Some Jindos display a curious aversion from running water and avoid situations that might get them wet. They let themselves be washed, although with great reluctance.

Grooming

The Jindo has a double coat that sheds heavily twice a year. During the shedding season, extra care must be given to the coat. Warm baths can help the process along. Daily brushing is necessary to remove the undercoat. Otherwise, be prepared for rolling tumbleweeds of undercoat.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Jindo is a relatively healthy dog. Hypothyroidism can be a problem.  The Jindo has a life expectancy of 12-15 years.

Activity Level
Jindos need room to move. These dogs love to roam and investigate their territory (which to them, is fairly expansive). Unless well-trained on recall, it is highly recommended that Jindos be walked on lead at all times because of their prey drive. A minimum of two, 30-minute brisk walks are necessary and should be enough to keep a Jindo happy.


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