Rajapalayam dog

The Rajapalayam, also known as the Polygar Hound or Indian Ghost Hound, is a southern Indian dog breed.[1][2] Rajapalayam is a town in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.

Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam Hound, Indian sight-hound.
OriginIndia
NotesRecognized by the Kennel Club of India.
Dog (domestic dog)

Four commemorative postage stamps were issued on 9 January 2005 by India Post for four breeds (sic.) i.e. Himalayan Sheepdog, Rampur Hound, Mudhol Hound (Face value Rs. 5 each) and Rajapalayam (Face value Rs. 15). This dog is known to live up to 12 years of age.

Appearance
Semi-adult male rajapalayam dog. Pink nose, paws & mouth.

It is a large dog, usually measuring about 65–75 cm (25–30 inches) at the withers and weighs 30 – 45 kg Mostly found in the centre of Tamil nadu, the Rajapalayam was bred to be the complete hunter and estate guardian and has features that allow it to excel superbly.Primarily used to hunt wild boar independent of the handler, the Rajapalayam is unique in two ways. Firstly it fulfils the functions of a bay dog as well as a catch dog, secondly the Rajapalayam can hunt by sight as well as track by scent. While hunting they can be relentless pursuers that are not intimidated by complex terrain or water bodies. After finding their prey, the dogs take it down and bring it back to the handler. If the dog is unable to bring down its prey, it injures and corners the target till the handler can get to it. This dog can hunt alone, in pairs, in a pack, or with its owner.

Rajapalayams tend to be more muscular and heavier boned than most sighthounds, but they share the depth of chest and basic body structure that exudes speed and physical ability. Its facial structure is considerably different from that of a Caravan Hound with a slightly larger head and more powerful jaws. It has a slightly curled tail.

Rajapalayam Puppies

An extremely handsome and graceful dog, the Rajapalayam has a double suspension gait, similar to the trotting of a thoroughbred horse.The staple colour is milk white though faint brown markings are quite common, the pink nose is standard.

Eye color can range from golden to brown and green. Puppies born with whitish or blue eyes are almost always deaf and should not be bred. The coat is single, short, and fine so these dogs don't do well in very cold climates but excel in the heat of South India or tropics.

Many Rajapalayam dogs suffer from mange, though this is usually not a serious problem, (Mange is not a skin problem and is actually caused by mites), so it is basically a care issue of preventing mites rather than a breed issue. Other than this the breed is robust and requires minimal maintenance.

Future of the breed

The pure Rajapalayam used to only be found in isolated pockets around southern Tamil Nadu. A dog breeding unit was established at Saidapet, Chennai, during 1980–81. This unit primarily rears native breeds like the Rajapalayam, Combai, kanni, and Chippiparai.[3] To create awareness and encourage dog lovers to rear native breeds, the Animal Husbandry Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu participates in dog shows. Localities have established a cooperative and interested families are given female dogs and expertise that is required for large-scale breeding. The Indian Postal Department has brought out postage stamps on the Rajapalayam dog breed,[4] as well as the Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, and the Himalayan Sheepdog. The Kennel Club of India has taken up the cause of the Rajapalayam. With the club's cooperation, the "Save the Rajapalayam Project" has been launched. These initiatives have successfully brought the breed back from the brink of extinction.

It is important to research properly before purchasing or adopting a puppy because many unethical breeders are giving customers inbred and genetically compromised puppies.

See also

References
  1. Raja et al "Phenotypic characterization of Rajapalayam dog of Southern India" Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 87 (4): 447–451, April 2017
  2. Raja, K. N., et al. "Cytogenetic Profile of Rajapalayam Dog Breed of Southern India." Indian Journal of Animal Research OF (2017).
  3. "Every Dog has His Day". The Hindu. February 12, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  4. "INDIA - CIRCA 2005: stamp printed by India, shows dog Rajapalayam, circa 2005". 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
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