Dogs Rare, But not Extinct
- The Dispatch - Friday, January 5, 1990
McKenzie Nichols - The Write Stuff
bet you never thought that the family pet could be a piece of
living history. But that's exactly what the American Indian
dog seems to be.
I know all of you out there are saying to yourselves, "Huh?"
This is to be expected. The Indian dog is a rare breed -
literally. If you haven't
heard of it before, you're not alone.
happened to meet the fellow who is president of the American Indian
Dog Club, who lives in Prunedale. Prunedale happens to be
just south of Aromas, which is just south of Gilroy.
had left his card on the bulletin board at the Aromas Feed Store
and I spotted it. So like any inquisitive journalist, I
felt honor bound to call and inquire: Just what exactly was an
American Indian Dog?
President Kim La Flamme is a soft spoken gent - so much so that
sometimes it's hard to catch what he's saying. A carpenter
by trade, he is part Blackfoot Indian, part French. He grew
up with Indian dogs, and decided about 20 years ago that someone
had to do something to save the breed.
problem: Experts thought the dogs were extinct. Kim had
to prove they weren't. He's spent much of his life documenting
his dogs' heritage.
people is the hard part," he said with a sigh.
some 120 dogs have been identified as purebred Indian Dogs throughout
the country. Kim has a breeding program going. The
breed will also be included in the next edition of the Rare Breed
Handbook, a standard in the world of dog texts.
dogs look like well fed, thick-furred coyotes, but are much friendlier.
They come in four basic colors: pale or white (often with blue
eyes), brown, black and red. Kim has about 10 dogs in his
backyard, males separated from females. Right now, the breeding
season is under way, and the animals pace nervously in their kennels.
asked Kim how he identified the dogs. "We looked for
documentation - proof that they came from a reservation or that
they belonged to an Indian family," he said.
their looks, the dogs have the personality of domesticated animals.
Intelligent, quick and agile, they are shy around strangers, but
protective of their human families. In fact, according to
Kim, the dogs were often used as baby sitters in the native American
villages - children that strayed too far were 'herded' back to
mentions a particular "problem" one club member is having
with an Indian dog. The dog gets upset whenever the member's
children are playing in the family's swimming pool, thinks they're
drowning, and jumps over the pool fence to rescue them!! The dog
pulls them all out, much to their consternation.
Indian dogs were domesticated some 30,000 years ago, and most
likely did have coyotes or wolves as ancestors, according to zoologists
and anthropologists who Kim has worked with. The dogs could
be found in every corner of North America and served many different
functions. Some tribes used them for herding or hunting.
Others had them pull loads on a travois.
Klamath Indians, Kim says, used the dog's hair in their weaving.
Dogs were also employed in religious ceremonies, particularly
the white, blue-eyed one, called "spirit dogs".
years is a long time to invest in any project. Kim is finally
making headway in his efforts to preserve the breed. He
also takes the dogs to Indian events, kennel club expositions
and schools, in order to tell people about them.Kim thinks the
public education is important for the historical window it provides
on Native American's lives.
biggest worry is that the dogs might be mistaken for wild animals
and be shot, which is why he's trying to spread the word about
the breed.At the same time, Kim is not interested in getting his
dogs into the American Kennel Club. "I don't want to
get into showing too much," he said. "We're looking
at (the breed) as a working dog."
not easy to get an Indian dog. They sell for as much as
$1,200, and you must agree to provide a good home. The money
goes back into the non-profit club.Members get a regular newsletter
from Kim, full of stories and information about dogs.
you're interested in finding out more about the dogs, or if you'd
like them to visit your event or school, call Kim at 663-5221.
You may also write to him at 17647 Orchard Lane, Prunedale, CA
93907. (Note to readers: Kim LaFlamme is no longer at this
address or phone number -see first web page for correct contact
Kim, it's more than saving a forgotten breed. It's a sort
of a spiritual mission to preserve a living piece of history.
And, as he puts it, "There's a magical something about them.
They do some amazing things."
McKenzie Nichols, former Dispatch lifestyles editor, works for
Nob Hill Foods in Gilroy. She lives in Aromas.