10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Korean Jindo

The Korean Jindo is one of the most popular dog breeds to come from Korea. In more recent times, it has managed to make its way to the west, where its bravery and loyalty have enabled it to make great progress in numerous countries. Whether people want a guard dog, a hunting dog, or just a house companion, the Korean Jindo is a surprisingly versatile animal that can perform well in each of those roles provided that they receive the right training. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Korean Jindo:

1. It Is a Kind of Spitz

The Korean Jindo is considered to be a kind of Spitz. In short, a spitz is a kind of dog with long, thick fur as well as both pointed ears and pointed muzzles. No one is sure about the exact origins of spitzes, but it is clear that they have managed to make their way to countries situated all around the world in pre-modern times.

2. National Dog of South Korea

South Korea is very fond of the Korean Jindo, as shown by the fact that it is considered to be said country’s National Dog. The breed is celebrated because of both its strong sense of loyalty and its courageous nature when under threat.

3. Brought to the United States by Expatriates

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Korean Jindo made its way to the United States thanks to South Korean expatriates who brought their dogs with them. Nowadays, it is a recognized breed in the United States, having received formal recognition from the United Kennel Club in 1998. Likewise, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale has followed suit in 2005.

4. One Body Type Is Called Tonggol or Gyupgae

Traditionally, the Korean Jindo is divided into two distinct body types. One of the two is called either Tonggol or Gygae. It can be recognized by its stockier as well as its more muscular build, which are in addition to an increased chest depth matched with shorter loins.

5. One Body Type Is Called Hudu or Heutgae

In contrast, the other body type is called either Hudu or Heutgae. Compared with their counterparts, these dogs have less chest depth as well as longer loins. Moreover, they possess a general slenderness to their build, which pair up well with the increased length of various features such as ears and muzzles.

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6. Third Body Type Is Recognized by KNDA

A third body called the Gakgol has been recognized by the KNDA, which stands for the Korean National Dog Association. Generally speaking, the Gakgol is a combination between the two traditional body types, blending the increased chest depth of the Tonggol with the increased length of the Hudu.

7. Comes in a Number of Colors

The Korean Jindo comes in a number of colors. For example, some members of the breed have white coats, which are actually an off-white that has sometimes been compared to ivory with some shades of tan here and there. Likewise, other members of the breed boast fawn coats, which are often compared to the color of ripened wheat. With that said, brindle coats might be most interesting because they have what looks like the stripes of tigers.

8. Need Frequent Interaction

Members of the breed have a lot of good things about them. For example, they are both brave and loyal, but their intelligence ensures that they will put that bravery and loyalty to good use. Likewise, they are gentle dogs, thus making them great members of the household. With that said, the Korean Jindo is a very intelligent dog who needs regular exercise as well as other forms of interaction. Otherwise, their boredom can cause them to seek out their own diversions, which can be particularly problematic because of their native intelligence.

9. Spooked by Water

Amusingly, there are stories about the Korean Jindo being spooked by water, so much so that they are less than enthusiastic about either going out in the rain or even crossing over flowing rivers.

10. Good at Hunting

Although they are best-known as guard dogs, the Korean Jindo is great at hunting as well. Primarily, they were used for hunting boars and deer, but there are stories about them taking down tigers when working in packs. Moreover, there are modern stories of the Korean Jindo taking down coyotes in the United States.

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