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Many countries of the world have their own native dogs.
Germany's shepherd dog
and Doberman, Britain's Yorkshire terrier and bulldog, and
France's poodle are
the very dogs native to them. If a dog native to a country
becomes a pet of
world people, they would have a good impression of and an
interest in the
country, which raised the dog. This is the reason why a native
dog of good
breed is called a good civil diplomat.
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``Chindot-kae'' and ``Sapsal-kae,'' which are the most
representing native
dogs of Korea have superior nature, comparing quite well with
other spices.
Intensive study and people's concern are required to
improve and preserve
them as excellent native dogs that can represent Korea well.
Now, let's look into everything about Chindot-kae, the
most famous dog
native to Korea. This dog was honored as an Asian dog in 1979,
and became
a world-level dog officially in 1995. Let's have a brief look
of the origin of
Chindot-kae and the procedure of its being designated as a
Natural Monument of
Korea.
Origin of Chindot-kae
There is no accuratly-grounded document about the origin
of Chindot-kae,
although we have some rumors that have been handed down orally
from the
generations to generatins. Rumors have them that it was
brought in by
immigrants from China or through trade ships, that it was
originated from dogs
brought in by Mongolian soliders who invaded Koryo Kingdom, or
that was brought
from Mongolia to use it as sheperd dog.
There also is a claim that Chindot-kae had been native to
Korea since the
Old Stone Age. In fact, documents have been found that Korean
hunting dogs
were taken to Japan during the ancient Paekche Kingdom and
influenced to the
creation of dogs native to Japan. Therefore, a claim that
Chindot-kae is not an
imported breed but a native one is very influential. By the
way, it is well
presumed that Chindot-kae used to be a superior breed native
to Korea since
before the Three-Kingdom era. It is noteworthy that Japanese
native dogs such
as Akida, Shiba and Kishu well resemble Chindot-kae.
In this context, the procedure for the designation of
Chindo-kae as a
Natural Monument was not that proud. It was done by Japan
during the Japanese
colonial rule of Korea (1910-1945). A Japanese person by the
name of Mori
visited Cholla-namdo area in 1936 and heard about the dog. He
found through
his own inquiry that Chindot-kae has an excellent hunting
ability and comes of
a good, pure stock, and proposed it be designated as a Natural
Monument. And in
1938, it was designated as Natural Monument No. 53.
Such a Chindot-kae faced a crisis of being extinct
following the times of
confusion after the national liberation from the Japanese
colonial rule in 1945 and
the 1950-53 Korean War. However, the government got to
acknowledge the
importance of the preservation of the dog, abrogated the
Japanese ordinance for
its preservation in 1962 and designated it again as Natural
Monument No. 53 in
accordance with the newly enacted Cultural Property Protection
Law.
Accordingly, Chindot-kae is now protected and preserved by
the state. It is
protected by not only the Cultural Property Protection Law,
but the Law on the
Preservation and Fostering of Korean Chindot-kae enacted in
1967. Literally,
Chindot-kae is a ``VIP'' dog.
Balanced Figure...
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The most characteristic external feature of Chindot-kae is
apparently the
beauty of balance each part of the body creates. You can
imagine the smart, and
heathily balanced appearance of Chindot-kae, can't you? This
is the very
important feature of the dog's appearance. In addition,
Chindot-kae's gender
is well classified by its external feature. While a male is
big and has a
strong bone structure, a female features a ``soft'' figure.
Other chacteristics in the dog's external features are:
the face should
look like a reverse-triangular or an octagonal shape when
viewed from the
front, and its ears should be of a small triangular shape. It
also has strong
and straight legs and well-developed breast.
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The trademark of a Chindot-kae is the tail. A Chindot-kae
which has a thick
and well-rolled tail is a healthy one. Generlly-know fur color
of Chindot-kae
is yellow or white. However, there are breeds with gray or
black furs.
Heroes of numerous episodes and legends, brave
Chindot-kae.....
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Above all things, the most important element that has
earned the dog its
current status is its unrivaled excellent and unique nature _
exclusive loyalty
to masters, outstanding homing instinct, bravery, hunting
ability.....Legends
have it that a Chindot-kae returned home in Chin-do Island
from Kangwon-do
after a lonely journey of more than 500 kilometers. There also
is a legend that
three Chindot-kae dogs killed a tiger.
Chindot-kae's hunting ability is particulary outstanding
in that it can
hunt like well-trained Western hunting dogs without being
trained. In other
words, they are the born hunters. But one should not think
that Chindot-kae
is atrocious or likes fighting. Compared to other pets,
Chindot-kae is loyal to
its master, bold, and able in hunting, and among others, has
an excellent
intelligence enabling it to tide over difficulties during
hunting for itself.
How to preserve Chindot-kae
Under the related law, up to 2,000 Chindot-kae dogs can
be brought out of
Chindo-Island, the home of the native Korean dog. There are
about 20,000 heads
in the island and other breeds are not allowed there to help
maintain the pure
stock of the dog.
A total of 7,000 dogs have passed the criteria set by the
state, and those
which are classified as ``superior'' breeds with the proper
nature number about
1,000.
``I'd like to raise a Chindot-kae''
How to purchase Chindot-kae
You are recommended to visit markets which open every 10
days
or every 5 days in
Chin-do Island or apply to the Federation of Korean
Chindot-kae Raising
Cooperatives (0632-544-4811). When you buy one, you are
required to confirm the
yellow certificate of birth issued by the cooperatives. The
Chin-do Island
market opens on 4, 14, 24 of every month, while Chin-do County
market opens on
2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 27 of every month. You have to be aware of
``bogus''
Chindot-kae. You are recommended to consult experts under any
circumstances.
What Chindot-kae Eats
It is common in Korea that dogs eat bowled rice waste.
Chindo-kae is no
exception, but in order to secure necessary calorie and
nutrition, it hunts.
However, it is quite necessary that the dog needs balanced
nutrition to grow up
healthy. Breeders are required to supply necessary protein,
carbohydrate,
calcium, vitamin and other nutritious elements equally.
How to Tame Chindot-kae
Chindot-kae has a very wild nature and it is required
for the breeders to
have the dogs form a right habit and train properly. In
particular,
Chindot-kae raised in cities may become fat, nervous and
sterile in the long
run due to the lack of physical exercise.
Therefore, the point is that Chindot-kae must be
classified into three
categories, depending on how to use them _ pets, hunting dogs
and dogs for
special use.
What is most important is to train them well in their
early ages, so that
they can form a good habit. If you take care of them with
sincerity, they will
obey you because they are born to be loyal to masters.
As between men and men, the most important thing between
men and animals
is mutual trust and love.
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caption: This is the typical type of Chindo-kae.
The ears, nose and mouth shows
this Chindot-kae is in an excellent state.
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