Jonangi

Jonangi is a breed of dog that originated in India. It is mainly found along the east coast of India, which stretches from Bengal in the North-East to Kanyakumari in the south. Since, the east coast of India has had trade relations with the rest of South East Asia for centuries; it is widely believed that the Jonangi has descended from breeds of dogs that arrived in the country in ancient times near Lake Kolleru.

Jonangi is considered to be spunky, yet primitive. This probably explains why they are wary of strangers and don’t befriend people very easily. But, they are great for hunting small game and for herding ducks. The outdoorsy lifestyle is far better suited to them than that of a domesticated pet. They also make excellent watchdogs and can be extremely useful in the countryside.

The appearance of the Jonangi somewhat resembles the appearance of the Bull Terrier, even though Jonangi is neither cobby nor stocky. However, the Jonangi is a primitive pariah dog and is extremely similar to the pariah dogs around the globe. Most pariah dogs share numerous common characteristics and Jonangi certainly does have a lot in common with most pariah dogs. The breed that the Jonangi is most similar to is likely to be Basenji, the breed from African villages. Both the Jonangi and the Basenji do not bark, but make a yodeling sound instead.

The coat of the Jonangi is rather fine and short, making it very easy to maintain. Additionally, the temperate climate in India makes this the most suitable coat for a breed of dogs, as it is more likely to be hot rather than cold on the east coast. The coat is usually in solid colors like black, white, fawn, brindle, chocolate or biscuit. The forehead of the Jonangi is usually wrinkled. Its tail is never docked and it has a thin, curling tail. It has sharp tulip-shaped ears. The Jonangi is a medium sized dog, usually between 14 and 16 inches at the withers.

Jonangi is an extremely loyal dog, but at the same time, it is what is called a one-man or one-family dog. Its loyalty to its master or his family is unfailing and simply cannot be transferred to another person. It needs good training at the hands of its master and can quickly learn to obey commands. The Jonangi is also an extremely communicative dog as well as highly intelligent.

It is a shame that the Janangi is currently threatened by extinction. On one hand, their breeding is slow since the female comes into heat only once a year. On the other hand, the Jonangi is so adept at catching fish that it threatens the livelihood of many coastal villagers in coastal India. Many dogs of this breed have been killed by coastal villagers as means to protect their fish from them. However, efforts to preserve the species are underway and dogs are being relocated to another region where they do not threaten human survival ir industry.