Is a Korean Jindo the right dog for you?

The Jindo is a beautiful Spitz breed from Korea. Like other Spitz breeds, the dogs have a double coat. The breed also has a wedge-shaped head, triangular ears, and a long tail.

The Jindo is a natural breed that evolved without human manipulation. Jindos come in several colors, the most common of which is white. But there also are Jindos in red fawn, black, black and tan, wolf gray and brindle.

History

This dog breed comes from an island in South Korea called Jindo. Korean Jindo dogs have lived amongst humans for thousands of years there. They hunted alongside their owners and guarded their houses. In Korea, the breed is considered a national treasure.

The Jindo was brought to America by Korean immigrants. The dogs have been present in the U.S. since the 1980s and marched in the opening ceremonies at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. 

The breed has long been known in Korea for its impressive hunting ability. The dogs also are effective guard dogs.

Because of these properties, people tried to use Jindos for military, police, and search purposes. Unfortunately, the dogs were not suitable for these positions. That’s because the dogs remain loyal only to their first trainer, which isn’t appropriate in military or police situations.

The personality of the Jindo

Although the Jindo is a loyal breed, they can be strong-willed and stubborn. They like to roam and tend to be dominant. The Jindo is known for protecting its territory and loved ones at all costs.

It is not easy to earn the respect of Jindo. On the other hand, whoever succeeds has a very good relationship with this dog. Not recommended for inexperienced people.

Jindos need consistent, firm training. The dogs thrive when they have rules and a schedule. Without establishing a foundation, it will be difficult to train your dog. At the same time, they respond best to positive reinforcement training.

Although Jindos bond with their owners, they are impassive to strangers. Despite this, it’s important to socialize your Jindo early with other people, animals, dogs, and cats.

The dogs have a strong hunting instinct, so be sure to protect other small animals like rabbits or chickens in the home.

Jindo care

As we have seen, this dog breed is special in many ways. Now let’s look at what it takes to take full care.

Nutrition

Strive for high-quality food. The digestive system of the Jindos developed for eating meat. Because of this, average, poor quality dog ​​food will not be adequate. Talk to your veterinarian before choosing food.

Jindos don’t eat much. But don’t take their lean look for granted, although this is their natural physique, the dogs can become obese if overfed. For more guidance, consult your vet.

It’s easy for this breed to develop into picky eaters. Don’t let your Jindo eat what they want. Provide high-quality food and plenty of water.

Grooming

Like cats, the dogs do self-grooming. The dogs have a double coat that repels dirt and water. They need weekly brushing and occasional baths. 

They blow their coat twice a year, which will require more brushing and cleaning up around your home. 

Activity

This dog breed was developed for serious hunting and can cover huge distances without getting tired.

Because of this, it needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation. Of course, you don’t have to go hunting with your Jindo, but make sure you always give it a “job” to do. Jindos also love sports like agility.

The Jindo isn’t clingy but does tend to follow its owner around the house. They like to quietly watch their family members.

Training

These dogs have a strong hunting instinct. This makes it very easy to train them for that activity. They are intelligent animals with high problem-solving abilities. Because of this, they are easy to train. 

Be warned Jindos are one-person dogs. So they will listen to one person and follow his instructions. Even so, they typically develop good relationships with other family members.

If you choose to have two Jindos in your home, avoid keeping two dogs of the same gender, otherwise, the dogs will be rivals who try to dominate each other. 

Health

Jindos are healthy dogs. Their average lifespan is 14 years.

The breed does tend to suffer from hypothyroidism and allergies that can be managed or avoided by providing the dog with the right diet.

Bottomline on Korean Jindos

Jindos can be very good companions, but you need to start training them early. They are intelligent animals and need a lot of exercise.

Before you commit to one, be sure you can provide the dog with the physical and mental exercise it needs. 

To adopt a Jindo, check Petfinder.com. 

Peter Laskay has loved animals since he was a child. He already had a lot of pets. He is the author of a blog called Petworshiper containing all kinds of pet health-related articles. One of his goals is to do some professional school about pet health to become an even more credible resource on the subject.