Is my rescue a Jindo Dog?
Recently, people have come under the belief that the term "Jindo" is a generic term that refers to any spitz breed from Asia, whether it be from Korea, China, or even Taiwan.
That is far from the truth.
A Jindo is a specific hunting breed from Korea (not all dogs from Korea are Jindos), and a good quality Jindo has predictable temperament traits that allows it to fit well in a certain type of home.
The following are simple traits to look for to determine if a dog is not a Jindo:
1. Tongue spots. As part of their standard, Jindos should have all-pink tongues, and so Jindos do not have blue-black tongues or spotty tongues beyond the size of a small birthmark. The Asian breeds noted as having these traits are Chinese Shar-pei, Chinese Chow Chow, Japanese Kai, Japanese Hokkaido, and other south Asian breeds.
2. Wire coat. A Jindo is a double-coated breed, always.
3. Low tail carriage. A dog that never raises it tail above the level of its back, particularly while trotting, is not a Jindo.
4. Non-standard colors. Jindos come in red/fawn, white, black&tan, grey, brindle, and solid black. Any dog that is liver-factored is not a Jindo.
5. Excessive white spots. Pinto dogs are usually the result of mix breedings. Jindos are hardly ever found with white blazes on their faces or white on their tail tips.
6. Excessive weight. Most people will state weights in describing the size of their dogs. A 50 lb female or a 90 lb male is far outside the range of a purebred Jindo.
7. Blue eyes. Jindos never have blue eyes.
The following are traits that require breed experience or a trained eye to make the judgement call of whether the dog is a mixed breed with no Jindo heritage, a Jindo mix, or a non-standard Jindo:
1. Loose Skin on an adult's face. The Jindo is referred to as a dry-skinned dog. The skin is tight over the musculature. The face has no looseness to it. The facial expression should not look like a scowl or look sad due to wrinkles.
2. Large, erect ears. Ears that are large or oblong in shape, like a German Shepherd's, are not typical of Jindos.
3. Atypical tail. Jindos have tails that go up a few inches before forming a roll or a sickle. A tail laying flat on the back like a doughnut is not typical. Also, there should longer tail fur on the outer edge of the tail. Even-length tail fur like a bottle brush is more indicative of Japanese breeds.
4. Bulky muzzle with abrupt transition.
The following are not typical Jindo behaviors:
1. Difficulty in house-breaking. Jindo are extremely easy to house-break. Puppies start on their own at a young age.
2. Great dog park dogs. As convenient as this trait may be, it is not a typical Jindos trait.
3. No human acknowledgement. Some Jindos that have been rescued or rehomed may take a while to bond to a new owner. This behavior is not referring to this. Neither is it referring to aloof/reserved behavior towards strangers. Rather, this is when a dog develops absolutely no connection with a human despite being raised since puppyhood.
4. No prey drive or hunting instincts.
5. Biting of owner. This behavior is debated and excused among the younger generation, but among the oldtimers, they believed that a Jindo that deliberately bites its owner was not a good Jindo. They would disown the dog as not a Jindo.
That is far from the truth.
A Jindo is a specific hunting breed from Korea (not all dogs from Korea are Jindos), and a good quality Jindo has predictable temperament traits that allows it to fit well in a certain type of home.
The following are simple traits to look for to determine if a dog is not a Jindo:
1. Tongue spots. As part of their standard, Jindos should have all-pink tongues, and so Jindos do not have blue-black tongues or spotty tongues beyond the size of a small birthmark. The Asian breeds noted as having these traits are Chinese Shar-pei, Chinese Chow Chow, Japanese Kai, Japanese Hokkaido, and other south Asian breeds.
2. Wire coat. A Jindo is a double-coated breed, always.
3. Low tail carriage. A dog that never raises it tail above the level of its back, particularly while trotting, is not a Jindo.
4. Non-standard colors. Jindos come in red/fawn, white, black&tan, grey, brindle, and solid black. Any dog that is liver-factored is not a Jindo.
5. Excessive white spots. Pinto dogs are usually the result of mix breedings. Jindos are hardly ever found with white blazes on their faces or white on their tail tips.
6. Excessive weight. Most people will state weights in describing the size of their dogs. A 50 lb female or a 90 lb male is far outside the range of a purebred Jindo.
7. Blue eyes. Jindos never have blue eyes.
The following are traits that require breed experience or a trained eye to make the judgement call of whether the dog is a mixed breed with no Jindo heritage, a Jindo mix, or a non-standard Jindo:
1. Loose Skin on an adult's face. The Jindo is referred to as a dry-skinned dog. The skin is tight over the musculature. The face has no looseness to it. The facial expression should not look like a scowl or look sad due to wrinkles.
2. Large, erect ears. Ears that are large or oblong in shape, like a German Shepherd's, are not typical of Jindos.
3. Atypical tail. Jindos have tails that go up a few inches before forming a roll or a sickle. A tail laying flat on the back like a doughnut is not typical. Also, there should longer tail fur on the outer edge of the tail. Even-length tail fur like a bottle brush is more indicative of Japanese breeds.
4. Bulky muzzle with abrupt transition.
The following are not typical Jindo behaviors:
1. Difficulty in house-breaking. Jindo are extremely easy to house-break. Puppies start on their own at a young age.
2. Great dog park dogs. As convenient as this trait may be, it is not a typical Jindos trait.
3. No human acknowledgement. Some Jindos that have been rescued or rehomed may take a while to bond to a new owner. This behavior is not referring to this. Neither is it referring to aloof/reserved behavior towards strangers. Rather, this is when a dog develops absolutely no connection with a human despite being raised since puppyhood.
4. No prey drive or hunting instincts.
5. Biting of owner. This behavior is debated and excused among the younger generation, but among the oldtimers, they believed that a Jindo that deliberately bites its owner was not a good Jindo. They would disown the dog as not a Jindo.