About Poligar hound: Rajapalayam DOG Online in SATHYANIKETHANAM, NEAR AGC., VELLAYANI.P.O.,, Trivandrum

The Rajapalayam, also known as a Poligar hound, is an Indian Sighthound. It was the companion of the royalty and aristocracy in Southern India, particularly in its namesake town of Rajapalayam.
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It is a large dog, usually measuring about 65–75 cm (25–30 inches) at the withers. It is a hound, and therefore should be kept in optimum working condition. It tends to be heavier boned than most sighthounds, but shares the depth of chest and basic body structure.
Its facial structure is considerably different from that of a Caravan Hound, as it is meant primarily for hunting wild boar. The tail has a slight curl.
The most prized colour is milk white, with a pink nose and golden eyes. However, other colours including spotted or solid, black, and brown, are known to occur. The spots will start showing up by 80 days from birth. In the past, puppies of colour were usually culled from the litters since the owners preferred the pure white dogs. The coat is short and fine. An extremely handsome and graceful dog, the Rajapalayam has a gait similar to the trotting of a thoroughbred horse. As with many fully white dogs, there is a high incidence of deafness in this breed. Puppies born with whitish or blue eyes are deaf. Many Rajapalayam dogs suffer from mange, though this is usually not a serious problem. Though the breed dates back a few centuries, the creators of the breed unwittingly ended up fashioning an albino dog, characterized by the pink nose and the lack of pigmentation.

Temperament

The Rajapalayam (known as Rajiv )was used predominantly for hunting wild boar and as a formidable guard dog.They are sight hounds by nature but it was proved that by a little training they can be also a Scent hound. All depends on the trainer. It needs wide open spaces and is very affectionate and devoted towards its owner, although not always demonstrative. They do not usually like to be touched or handled by strangers and are known to be one-person dogs. Rajapalayams are largely aggressive and hostile towards strangers, and will attack intruders. Socialization in puppyhood is important. They usually do not get along well with other pets like cats, owing to their strong hunting instincts.

History

Rajapalayam hounds were primarily bred and used by Nayakar dynasty of Tamil Nadu, it is speculated by some researchers that the Rajapalayam may have been one of the dogs used in the breeding of the modern Dalmatian. The Rajapalayam dog was used during the Carnatic Wars and Polygar War to attack the British cavalry in battle as Rajapalayams were very fast, strong and aggressive in attacking the opponents. It is also believed that 4 Rajapalayams once saved the life of their master fighting against a tiger and killing it bravely many years ago near a forest in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. They are largely used to guard the rice fields, houses and farms. In the last two decades Indian Army started using them as guard dogs to support the army in the borders of Kashmir.

Future of the breed

The pure Rajapalayam is more or less extinct, and only a few are to be found in isolated pockets around southern Tamil Nadu. The breed may vanish altogether if efforts are not initiated soon to revive it. A dog breeding unit was established at Saidapet, Chennai, during 1980–81. This unit primarily rears native breeds like the Rajapalayam, Combai, kanni, and Chippiparai.[1] To create awareness and encourage dog lovers to rear native breeds, the Animal Husbandry Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu participates in dog shows. Localities have established a cooperative and interested families are given female dogs and expertise that is required for large-scale breeding. The Indian Postal Department has brought out postage stamps on the Rajapalayam,[2] as well as the Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, and the Himalayan Sheepdog. The Kennel Club of India has taken up the cause of the Rajapalayam. With the club's cooperation, the "Save the Rajapalayam Project" has been launched. The project has had a great influence in the population of this breed and is well active under KCI.

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Return of the Rajapalayam

There is a move to popularise Indian breeds and the focus now falls on the Rajapalayam. PRINCE FREDERICK writes



TWENTY-ONE-year old Arvind Sabapathy can't stop talking about Valli. No, it isn't what you are thinking. Valli is his pet dog. Six years ago, S. Neelakantan took the road less travelled when he decided to gift his son Arvind a pup. He brought home a tiny bundle of white - a Rajapalayam. Father and son decided that the Indian dog should have an Indian name.

Now, the Kennel Club of India (KCI) avidly seeks to encourage such enthusiasm for Indian breeds and this resolve has manifested itself in the setting up of a breeding centre for Indian dogs in Uthandi on the East Coast Road. To give a fillip to the KCI initiative to create a "level playing field for the Indian breeds," the Postal Department has brought out four stamps on the Rajapalayam, the Mudhol Hound, the Rampur Hound and the Himalayan Sheepdog. When you read this article, the Union Minister of Communication, Dayanidhi Maran, would have released them, on the last day of the National Dog Show.

Temporary arrangement

"The breeding centre in Uthandi is a temporary arrangement. Truth be told, it is just a house belonging to a KCI member. We expect the Government to allocate land or funds for a new centre. At present, we have just four Rajapalayam dogs there. Although half a dozen Indian breeds are part of this programme which seeks to popularise Indian dogs, we plan to focus on the Rajapalayam first and then move on to other dogs like the Chippiparai, the Combai, the Rampur Hound and the Caravan Hound. Already an organisation in Maharashtra that works in tandem with the KCI is breeding Mudhol Hounds," says C.V. Sudarsan, secretary, KCI. "We will, however, not take up dogs like Kanni which are few and about which we have little information."

The club is paying attention to the Rajapalayam for the reason that of all the Indian breeds, this dog has undergone the least `corruption'.

"It has no doubt shrunk in size. Nevertheless, it has retained its original features," says Sudarsan.

V. Kumaraswamy, who breeds Rajapalayams at what he calls Contemplate Kennel, set up alongside his ginning factory at Cotton Market in Rajapalayam, seconds this view. He says now and then Rajapalayam pups turn up with a few brown spots, but all of them arrive with their trademark features intact — pristine white coat, pink nose, broad chest and narrow waist.

Why are they popular?

"This dog is spread across the country in good numbers, thanks to breeders. We have supplied Rajapalayams to places as far away as Baramullah. Recently, we sent two to George Fernandes' house in New Delhi. During the Tenkasi elections, the politician took time off to check out the dogs in our kennel and placed an order with us." Kumaraswamy says the demand for these dogs is great. "The ginning business is on a downswing, and it is the Rajapalayams that put food on our table." These dogs are popular for five reasons. One, they have a powerful nose. Two, they are friendly. Three, they are not at all intractable and can be easily trained to be excellent watch dogs. Four, their owners do not have to spend much for their upkeep. Five, although not numerous, there is an encouraging number of professional breeders who offer these dogs.

While listing out a Rajapalayam's qualities, Arvind gives a specific example. "Valli was curled up in the living room; and all of a sudden she started to sniff in the air. Next, she seemed pretty steamed up about something. She went around in circles. Letting her out, we followed her. She headed straight for the terrace door and started vehemently scratching it. When we opened it, we were shocked to see a delinquent youngster who had landed on our terrace to steal a few chairs lying there. We bound him hand and foot and turned him over to the police," recounts Arvind.

"The Rajapalayam can endear itself to all the members of a family, unlike the Chippiparai which is a one-man dog," says Kumaraswamy, who sells Chippiparai pups as well.

"A Rajapalayam is very intelligent. It instinctively senses who is welcome and who is not. It admirably differentiates between outsiders who are close to the family and those who are not and treats them accordingly," says Arvind.

In the last six years, Valli has been with Arvind, there have been a few visits to the veterinarian. "In any case, they were much fewer than what would have been the case if we had gone for a foreign breed. Being a Rajapalayam, Valli is immune to many diseases against which a foreign breed should be inoculated."

And what is probably the crucial factor contributing to this dog's popularity is its delocalisation. "The dog is not confined as much to its place of origin as the other Indian breeds are. The Chippiparais, for example, are almost bred only by Kambalathu Naikars in Virudhunagar district," says Kumaraswamy.

The Rajapalayam is from Rajapalayam, but definitely not confined to this small town in Virudhunagar district.

Some facts


Name: Rajapalayam

Family: Hound

Nativity: Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu

Features: White coat, pink nose, broad chest and narrow waist

USP: Great sniffer and a reliable hunting and guard dog

Disposition: Friendly and obedient

Character flaw: Easily distracted. Despite its powerful nose, it is not being used as a tracker dog because it has a tendency to scoot