History of dogs in Korea
There’s more to Korea than K-pop and intriguing dramas. Some of the rare and exotic canine breeds ever exist behind the scenes of the vast entertainment business. When it comes to dogs, Korea has it all figured out.
And evidence shows that, despite the country’s inexplicable custom of eating dog meat, this practice is, fortunately, dying down. Dog ownership is on the rise, which is a positive sign for the future of the country.
Few people outside of Korea will be familiar with the native dog breeds of that nation.
We must first inform you that there is only one recognized Korean dog breed before we provide our compiled list. This is because only the Jindo Dog is officially recognized by the International Canine Federation (FCI) and other breed groups. However, more Korean dog breeds have established themselves to varied extents despite not being formally recognized.
Despite the lack of a codified breed standard, the 7 Korean dog breeds we profile below share common histories and personality quirks.
Nureongi
In South Korea, the Nureongi is the most common breed of dog. The name of this mutt is a Korean word that translates to “yellow” in English. Yellowish orange is the most prevalent coat color, but brown and black examples exist.
It looks and acts a lot like other Asian dogs, such as the Shiba Inu and the Pungsan from South Korea. As unfortunate as it may be, the Nureongi dog is not widely accepted as a pet in Korea. Its meat is popular; hence it is commonly bred and slaughtered commercially.
Thankfully, people and groups are working to make things better for these canine companions. Rising awareness of these animals’ horrific abuse has prompted a movement to rescue them from farmers and find new homes.
Sapsali
A native Korean breed, the Sapsali dog is distinguished by its long, shaggy hair. In fact, because of the striking resemblance between the two species, locals commonly refer to them as “lion dogs.”
The Sapsali is a medium-sized dog that is both stocky and tall, with hair that completely conceals its eyes. That’s the appearance of an Old English Sheepdog. However, they don’t have a uniform coat color as other breeds do; instead, you might get one that’s gold, brown, red, grey, black, or a combination.
In Korea, the Sapsali is the canine of choice. The Sapsali dog has also designated a National Treasure of Korea in 1992. However, to this day, no major kennel associations have acknowledged this native Korean dog.
It was common for the elite of the Silla Kingdom to own Sapsali dogs. The noblemen of Silla thought so highly of the Sapsali that they enlisted them as multi-purpose working dogs in the Silla military.
Pungsan dog
The Pungsan dogs are similar in appearance to the Jindo. They tend to be fluffier than others of their kind.
The leader of North Korea sent a Pungsan dog to South Korea as a present. As a token of appreciation, North Korea was given the island of Jindo. They’ve become as much of a North Korean institution as the Jindo because of how popular they are there.
In every situation, the Pungsan dog is prepared and ready to act. They hunt in packs and can complete missions without outside assistance. Because of their intelligence and loyalty, they make great pets.
Despite this and a generally even temperament, they are still quite uncommon outside Korea.
The Pungsan dog is another Spitz-like breed with a square build and perked ears. They weigh around 40–55 pounds and stand around 20 inches tall. Their physique is muscular and nimble.
The Korean Dosa Dog (Korean Mastiff)
The largest of all Korean dog breeds is the Korean Mastiff, sometimes called the Korean Dosa or Mee Kyun Dosa. Large and powerful, reaching a maximum weight of 185 pounds, this breed may strike fear in the hearts of some.
The Korean Mastiff, however, does not conform to any preconceived notions about mastiff dogs. They were originally bred for companionship and later became popular on the dog show circuit.
In appearance, they are similar to Bully Kuttas and English Mastiffs, with loose skin covering the entire body, including the head and neck. There is a short, silky, glossy coat great color scheme. They are available in both reddish mahogany and dark brown chocolate.
In the late 1800s is when the first Dosas were created through selective breeding. Regrettably, many scholars disagree on the origins of the Korean Mastiff. The likelihood is that they were created by deliberately breeding European working dog breeds.
Donggyeong dog
The Donggyeongi is next on our list of great Korean dogs. It’s another ancient Korean dog. The short bobtail of the Donggyeongi (also known as the Daeng Gyeon or the Donggyeong Gae) is legendary.
The Donggyeongi dog population was nearly wiped out by the Japanese during their colonial era. They killed the dog because it looked too much like the ‘Komainu’ statues that decorate Japanese imperial shrines.
The Donggyeongi is now a national treasure of Korea and is subject to strict protections. To help spread the word about the Gyeongju Donggyeong Dog, the Korean Gyeongju Donggyeong Dog Association has established breeding facilities at Sorabol College and Yangdong Village.
This canine belonged to the Spitz breed and was bred specifically for hunting. These dogs have superior hunting abilities due to their sturdy build, bobtail, and skill. These canines are expert pack hunters who can locate and retrieve small game from dense covers, such as hares and birds.
This is a typical Spitz. Thus it will need a skilled owner to care for it. They have high intelligence, awareness, and trainability, yet they may be rather stubborn at times. Therefore, this is not the best dog for first-time dog owners.
This dog does best in a human setting because of its early exposure to people. These dogs can quickly become dangerous if not properly trained. The Donggyeongi similarly needs large open space areas to discharge its excess vitality.
Jeju Dogs
The Jeju Dog, sometimes called the Cheju Dog, the Chaeju, and the JejuGae originated in China. About 5,000 years ago, it made its way to Jeju, a Korean island where it was eventually extensively developed.
Consequently, it is currently classified as a breed unique to Korea. The dog was spared from extinction thanks to a campaign begun in 1986 to preserve the few remaining examples and promote their reproduction.
Despite efforts like these, the Korean Hairless Terrier is still a rare breed of dog. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Jeju Dog is a powerful and agile canine of medium size. They pay close attention to their environment and react quickly and deftly. These traits together make them formidable hunters, which must be considered if they coexist with other species.
Korean Jindo Dog
When it comes to Korean dog breeds, the Korean Jindo is by far the most well-known. These canines shot to international fame thanks to the story of Baekgu, a devoted dog that walked 186 kilometers for seven months to find his master.
As a result, the government of South Korea designated them as the country’s 53rd national monument and instituted safeguards to preserve the breed’s genetic integrity.
They often come in neutral colors like white, brown, or cream. The Jindo is a Spitz-like breed that excels at pack hunting with or without a human leader. They can reach a maximum height of 22 inches and a weight of 40–55 pounds.
You can count on a Korean Jindo to be completely devoted to one person, developing a strong emotional connection with that person over time. They are very active puppies who require a lot of playtimes to feel content.
They’re a good breed of dog for families because they’re calm and loving. Because of their strong prey drive, they need early and thorough socialization before they can coexist peacefully with other animals.
Some people in South Korea keep the Jindo dog breed for meat, despite its widespread popularity. This is ironic because they are revered as the country’s national dog. However, they are primarily retained as guard dogs and hunting dogs in rural areas, as well as service dogs in law enforcement and the armed forces.
FAQs
What is the most popular Korean dog breed?
Korean Jindo dogs are the most popular Korean dog breeds
What is Korea’s national dog?
The Jindo dog is the national dog of Korea.
What is the most common dog breed in South Korea?
Maltese dogs are the most common dog breed owned in South Korea, according to a survey conducted in 2021, with 23.7 percent of respondents answering to own such a dog.
