The Jindo, a medium sized breed, is a native of Jindo Island, Korea. Jindo Island is situated off the south-west coat of South Korea.
The Jindo has been used for hunting for centuries and the purity of the breed has remained intact due to the preservation and protection provided by the Jindo Island authorities.
On May 3rd 1938, the Jindo was designated as "National Monument number 53", under the National Monument Act of Korea.
As a breed the Jindo almost died out during the Korean War, and by February 1952, was on the verge of extinction.
At about the time President Lee Seung Man visited Jindo Island with a view to construct a new military training camp. Whilst there he heard about the diminisging number of Jindo dogs and ordered that a strong effort should be made to protect them. He gave the island authorities a subsidy of 5 million Won, to be admininstered by the Office of Education, to assist in re-establishing the breed.
The protection of the breed has continued until the present day. In November 1999, the Jindo Research Institute was set up. This is a general breeding and research centre dedicated to the continuation of purity and general preservation of the Jindo as a breed.
What are they like as pets? Some pros and cons:-
Pro's
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They will be very loyal to their owners
- They are very quick to learn
- They have a great homing instinct and will always find their way home
- They have a great sense of humour
- They are very clean, an excellent house dog
- They have an easy care coat
Con's
- As previously mentioned, they have a great hunting instinct and when thus engaged, may not always respond to your calls.
- In short they can be stubborn
- To own a Jindo, you will need a sense of humour, patience, understanding, and a well fenced garden!
- They are very quick to learn.
- They are very independent characters.
At present the Jindo is registered on the English Kennel Club Import Register. They are in the Utility Group.
The first Jindo was imported into the UK in 2002, and there are now approximately 110 in the country.
The dogs were sent by the Jindo island Breeding Centre with the intention of establishing this rare breed outside of Jindo Island. These Jindo's were the first ones to be officially sent out from the island to anywhere in the world.
It was, and still is, imperative to the Breeding Centre authorities, that the dogs send out should be pure bred.
In order to import a Jindo, and register it with the English Kennel Club, the pedigree must have been stamped by the Jindo Magistrate to guarentee its purity.
Thank you to Meg Purnell-Carpenter for the above information.
