If we talk about dogs of Korean origin, we must bear in mind that both the International Cynological Federation (FCI) and many other national canine societies only officially recognizeas a breed to chindo dog , also known as Korean jindo. However, this is not the only dog whose main development has taken place in the Asian country.
In this article on our site we introduce you to the main breeds of dogs from Korea and we talk about their characteristics, both physical and behavioral.
Korean chindo or jindo dog
This breed is believed to have inhabited the South Korean Island of Jindo for thousands of years and, although its popularity has increased in recent years, it is still very difficult to find specimens outside their country of origin.
The chindo dog is a medium-sized dog, weighing between 15 and 20 kilograms. It has an appearance similar to that of other primitive dogs: muscular and well-proportioned body, erect ears, bushy and curly tail, small eyes and a soft double-layered coat that, in the case of the Korean jindo, can be white, black, reddish bay, brindle or black and tan.
We are talking about a dog with a strong character that is protective and independent, very dedicated and faithful to his guardians, but suspicious of unknown. In order for it not to develop behavioral problems, it is very important to socialize it correctly as a puppy, provide it with sufficient physical and mental stimulation and be very constant with its education, which is why it is not a recommended breed for first-time guardians.
Nureongi
The nureongi is the most numerous dog in South Korea It is a mixed dogwhose name in Korean means "yellow", because, although there are also brown or black specimens, the most frequent thing is that the coat of this dog is yellowish or orange.
Its appearance and temperament are very similar to other dogs of Asian origin such as the Korean jindo, the pungsan or the shiba inu, but unfortunately the nureongi is not considered a pet in Korea, but is raised on farms for later sale and consumption of its meat.
Fortunately, more and more people and associations are fighting to improve the lives of these dogs, making visible the terrible mistreatment they suffer, rescuing them and looking for families to adopt them.
Jeju Dog
The jeju dog is believed to have originated in China and reached the South Korean island of Jeju about 5,000 years ago, where its main development has occurred, for which it is currently considered a Korean dog. This dog was saved from extinction in 1986 when an initiative was launched to protect the very few specimens that remained at that time and encourage their breeding. Today it remains a rare breed, even in Korea itself.
The Jeju dog is a medium-sized, muscular, athletic dog It is very similar to the Korean jindo. He tends to always remain attentive to everything that happens around him, he is very fast and agile and has exceptional senses of hearing and smell, which makes him a formidable hunter. With his tutors he is very dedicated and friendly, although he is also usually very independent.
Sapsali
The sapsali is a dog of Korean origin that is highly appreciated in that country, where it is known by the nickname "ghost hunter", since in the past it was thought that its presence chased away spirits. At the beginning of the last century, very few specimens remained in Korea and it was about to become extinct, but thanks to the efforts of a few lovers of this breed, the population was increased again. However, and as a consequence of the little genetic variability that existed, the sapsali has a certain tendency to develop hereditary diseases, such as hip dysplasia or eye pathologies.
The sapsali is a medium-sized dog that stands out for its long and dense coatthat covers its entire body, which can be smooth or wavy and come in a wide variety of colors, both solid and mixed. On the face, the hairs fall straight over their eyes, which can be light or dark, and they form beards on their snout. Its nose is large and can be black or brown, depending on the color of the coat.
This Korean dog breed tends to be quite independent, protective and somewhat distrustful with what it is not used to, but if He is socialized and educated with perseverance and positive reinforcement from puppyhood, he is a good family dog, very playful and tolerant with children. Likewise, it adapts well to living in an apartment if it is taken out to do enough exercise and is offered daily environmental stimulation, as it is a very intelligent dog.
Pungsan
In 1956, the pungsan was declared a national monument of North Korea and in 2014 it was named national dog of the countryThis breed was originally bred to hunt large animals that lived in the North Korean mountains, such as wild boars or tigers, although it has also been used as a guard and companion dog. Along with the Korean jindo, the pungsan is one of the most popular Korean dogs.
Its appearance is very similar to that of the chindo dog, although the pungsan is somewhat larger, and can weigh up to 30 kilos. It has the typical characteristics of a spitz or primitive type dog, highlighting its upright ears, its curled tail and its dense white fur with a double layer that allows it to withstand temperatures under zero.
It is recommended that the future tutors of a pungsan have previous experience in canine education and have enough time to dedicate to it, because, on the one hand, it is a powerful and very resistant dog that needs a lot of activity daily physical activity and, on the other hand, he is usually very protective and has a hunting instinct, so he must be accustomed from an early age to tolerate other people and animals. Of course, with those with whom he gains confidence, he is an extremely faithful and very affectionate dog.
Korean Mastiff
The Korean mastiff is a giant-sized dog that can weigh up to 80 kilos and was developed as a guard dog during the 19th century from other breeds with similar characteristics, such as the Tosa Inu, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Dogue de Bordeaux.
His body is covered with large folds of skinthat hang especially over his face, neck and limbs. He has drooping ears that are much longer than those of other mastiffs and small, dark eyes, as well as his snout and nose. The rest of his body is chocolate brown or mahogany and his hair is short, shiny and soft.
Despite being a breed created for guard purposes, the Korean mastiff is a sweet, affectionate and good-natured dog, very tolerant with children and other animals, making it an excellent family dog. Despite its large size, it can also live in a house with a garden or in an apartment, as it is a fairly lazy dog and does not require much physical exercise, although we should take it out for daily walks to keep it active and prevent it from gaining weight. as this could cause serious he alth problems.
With this incredible mastiff the list of currently known Korean dog breeds ends. As we can see, all six breeds are large dogs, so there are no small Korean dogs today. If you want to continue learning and discovering new dogs, don't miss this article on Scottish dog breeds.
