Hmong - an amazing cat dog originally from the jungles of Vietnam
Over the thousands of years since the dog became man's companion, more than 400 breeds of dogs have been developed. Some of them look quite exotic, such as Hmong. This is one of the few Vietnamese breeds whose representatives, despite their impressive size, look very cute. These dogs look like strange hybrids of a dog and a cat. Puppies are especially similar to kittens.
The Hmong were bred specifically to help shepherds with their difficult work. The natural conditions of Vietnam have their own specifics, so a special breed was needed. The history of breeding these dogs goes back to antiquity, so it is difficult to say exactly which dogs were the ancestors of the Hmong. But some scientists believe that these animals, despite their appearance, are much closer to wolves than many other dogs.
The breed got its name thanks to the Hmong people, who bred these dogs. They are not only excellent shepherds, but also good watchmen - responsible, vigilant and brave. In Vietnam, these dogs are not common everywhere. They can be found mainly in the provinces of Lao Cai and Hagyang.
The animals are considered national treasures, although they are not recognized by international dog breeding organizations. But in their homeland no one cares about such formalities. The main thing is that the Hmong are recognized by the VKA (Vietnamese Canine Association). The annual exhibition in Hanoi, the capital of the country, organized by the Native Dog Club of Vietnam, is never complete without these animals.
It is worth noting that there is no cult of dogs in the country. The breed is highly valued by representatives of the Hmong people, and the rest of the Vietnamese are calm about the national treasure. In the northeastern regions of the country, these dogs can be seen on the streets, along with ordinary mongrels. Touching is caused mainly by puppies, which look like fluffy kittens with elongated muzzles.
Adult Hmong dogs are medium-sized dogs with a dense, compact build. They have short and very thick fur that is white, brown, gray or black. Occasionally there are red representatives of the breed. They are especially highly valued by dog breeders. The breed standard allows white markings on the chest and paws.
But the main feature of the Hmong is their face. Dogs have large, erect ears and expressive almond-shaped eyes. Once upon a time, these dogs had their tails and ears docked, just like Caucasian Shepherds. It was believed that this would give the dogs additional ferocity, and also make them more maneuverable in dense thickets. But now this custom is in the past and Hmong without ears are difficult to find even in remote mountain villages. But dogs without tails are not uncommon.
Hmong are sometimes kept as companion dogs. They are very attached to their owners and willingly play with children. But it should be remembered that these animals were bred as guards for the herd and home. Therefore, dogs can show aggression towards unfamiliar people and animals. Hmong dogs are recommended to be owned only by people who understand the psychology of dogs well and are willing to devote time to raising a pet.
These dogs are well trained and have excellent memory. The ability to train makes the Hmong attractive as a service dog. They can be found in the police and border troops of Vietnam. Despite the similarity with cats, the Hmong are very hostile towards these animals, which is typical for many hunting and herding breeds.
Representatives of the Vietnamese breed are distinguished by good health. The Hmong rarely suffer from genetic disorders and are not prone to allergies. On average, these dogs live 14-15 years, but with a balanced diet and proper care, the pet has a chance to live up to 20 years. So these dogs can be considered long-lived.
Although the Hmong is considered an exotic breed in many countries, the price of puppies is low and starts at $500. Another thing is that it will be quite difficult to find such a pet outside of Southeast Asia.