The Chippiparai dog breed is rare and used primarily for hunting wild boar, hare and deer and also for guarding the home. In the past, it was considered a symbol of royalty and dignity.
Origins
These dogs come from southern India, today being mostly encountered in the area surrounding Periyar Lake. In the beginning, they were used for killing enemies that destroyed crops, especially pigs. In time, however, they started to be used as hunting dogs, being also great when it comes to guarding a house.
Physical Features
This type of dog is characterized by a medium size, brown color and a long curved tail. Its height ranges from 27 to 32 inches, while its weight is between 25 and 30 kg. Although this dog breed seems weak at a first glance, it is actually very powerful and strong, so those who want to purchase an excellent hunting dog should definitely turn their attention to this dog breed.
Temperament
The Chippiparai dog is an animal that likes to exercise, but which does not need really lots of exercises. A dog like this can have more owners, socializing very well with all of them. This dog breed loves human companionship and becomes anxious when it is left in isolation.
Training
One should not forget that this type of dog was "designed" to hunt, and this is why an owner of such dog should focus more on training its intelligence, not necessarily its muscles. Still, those who plan to use their dogs in competitions could try several exercises that will increase this dogs native speed. These dogs are capable of very high speeds, being able to overtake a hare in a matter of seconds after spotting it. People that have had the opportunity of seeing a dog like this chasing a hare know that this is a true spectacle, this dog giving the impression that it flows into the air.
Health
This dog breed is considered very healthy, owners of such dogs rarely visiting veterinarians. These dogs do not suffer from specific problems; what is common to most types of dogs can be encountered in case of this dog breed too.
Life Expectancy
Being such a rare dog breed, not much is known about the life expectancy of these southern Greyhounds. Nevertheless, there were reports saying that this dog breed is expected to live more than 9 years, if treated properly.
Conclusion
A dog like this needs a firm owner, one that should use consistent methods of training. It does very well in large spaces; it is not recommended to breed a dog like this in an apartment. These dogs are not meant to be family pets, being more appropriate for hunters. However, if a person wants to purchase a Chippiparai dog, he or she should take their dog to a long daily walk, because this dog breed has a very strong urge to walk and needs to exercise it daily.
