Primitive Dogs (Introduction)

Primitive or aboriginal dogs are canids that have kept close to the original form and have evolved with little or no purposeful human intervention. They spread throughout the world with the first colonizers but preserved a loose association with man.

Primitive dogs in all countries have a very similar, typical morphology known as the "long-term pariah morphotype" (LTPM) or primal body design from which most other dog forms are derived: a wolf or fox-like appearance with wedge-shaped head and a pointed muzzle, almond eyes, erect ears, for optimal sound retrieval and possibly body temperature regulation, and a long, curved tail.

Recent studies investigate the possibility that all dingo-like dog populations, such as the Carolina Dog, Singing Dog of New Guinea and Basenji have descended from from pure dingos. The Indian Plains Wolf would then be the likely ancestor of this group.

The dogs are generally of a medium body size, standing between 20-25 inches at the whithers and weighing from 35 to 45 pounds. Their coat is generally short to medium in length, but can become quite dense in winter in the colder climates. The color may vary according to the region of the world: it ranges from a dull pale-brown to dark red-brown, black and tan, and piebald. Solid-colored dogs often show some darker sabring along the back and tail. White facial markings along the sides of the checks and muzzle are not uncommon. Their long, curved tail is occasionally bushy and usually of a paler color beneath.

Most primitive dogs have one annual estrus cycle at a certain season of the year. During hunting, a primitive dog uses entire set of senses given to her by nature in order to find the game, just like it would be done by a wolf. They produce a typical howling sound. They are extremely alert and, when kept as domestic dogs, are likely to warn their owners of anything strange long before other pets are aware of anything amiss.

In some cases, dogs taken from the original free-living population have become the founder animals of a domestic breed population bred in captivity under controlled conditions. This was the case for example with the Telomian dog of Malaysia, the Basenji of Central Africa, the Canaan dog of Israel, the Chindo Kae dog of Korea and several forms of native Japanese breeds, including the (original) Akita and Shiba Inu.

Others, like the Australian Dingo are still often considered as vermin and lack protection in many parts of the world. The formal recognition and use of studbooks and registrars therfore is a way to ensure protection of these genetically unique strains of primitive dogs against extermination or assimilation within other populations of stray or pure-bred dogs.

Conservation organizations work for the preservation of the New Guinea Singing dog and the Carolina Dog and their recognition of a separate status.

Other primitive or pariah dogs include the Aso, a native Philippine breed, the Indian Pariah Dog, the Indian Santal Dog, the Bali Dog (Bali/Polynesia), the Jindo Gae (Korea), the Dingo of Thailand, the Khoi/Hottentot Dog (South Africa - Cape Area), the Indian Spitz (India) and the Santal Hound (India)