The Korean Jindo Dog
Posted On May 30, 2022
The Korean Jindo dog is a hunting breed that originated on Jindo Island in Korea. Although relatively unknown outside of Korea, he is highly celebrated and valued for his fierce loyalty and bravery. The Jindo is a medium-sized dog, weighing between 25 and 50 pounds. He has a double coat and looks like a spit type dog. There are two body styles, Gyupgae and Heutgae. Gyupgae describes a shorter, compact and muscular body, while Heutgae expresses a slender dog, with a shallower chest and longer back. Korean law only officially recognizes white and yellow Jindos as having the correct coloration. However, the United Kennel Club recognizes five different coat colors: white, fawn, gray, black and tan, and brindle.
There is no written record of the history of the Jindo. However, experts agree that the Jindo dog originated from Jindo Island. They were probably bred to hunt wild boar, rabbits, badgers, and deer. They are also known to hunt extremely dangerous animals such as Siberian tigers. Jindos are one of three known dog breeds that have been able to hunt tigers. They are renowned for their hunting ability due to their courage, cunning, and sensitivity to the herd. There are anecdotal stories in Korea about owners waking up early in the morning to have their Jindo lead them to a deer they killed overnight. There are also stories of intruding coyotes killed by Jindos in the United States.
Another favorite Jindo dog story occurred in 1993. Baekgu, a 7-year-old female Jindo, was sold to a different owner in a town some 185 miles away from her original owner. She escaped from her new home and traveled 7 months back to her former owner, arriving in a skin and bones condition. Baekgu became a national sensation and has a statue erected in her honor in Jindo County.
Jindo dogs are considered a national monument of Korea. They are protected by the Cultural Properties Protection Law under the “Jindo Preservation Ordinance”. Additionally, the breed was paraded in the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognized the breed in 1998, but the American Kenner Club does not yet recognize it.
The Jindo dog is a loyal and friendly family pet. Because they are such a loyal species and a good watchdog, Jindos can be aggressive towards strangers. If you are interested in learning more about how to handle this problem, this pet aggression website can provide you with some useful information.