A Jindo ( Or "Chindo Gae") is a medium sized Spitz breed indigenous to an island off the Southwest peninsula of Korea. This curious dog comes in a variety of colors ranging from white, yellow, grey, black and sometimes brindle. Males average anywhere from 30-50lbs. while females range from 25-40lbs. Some distinguishing features may include but are not limited to:

• Triangular shaped head from forehead to muzzle
• All black eye rims and lips
• Alert, forward pointing ears
• Paws and toes are short with strong nails and elastic foot pads

Traditionally, the Jindo was divided into two distinct body types:

Tonggol or Gyupgae style: This type was very muscular, shorter in body with a depth of chest equal to one-half the height at the withers and a shorter loin.

Hudu or Heutgae style: This type was more slender with somewhat less depth of chest and a slightly longer loin.

Because these dogs lived in virtual isolation for several centuries, they've managed to maintain a pure bloodline and healthy gene pool on the island. Current measures, such as the Korean Jindo Dog Protection and Rearing Law, continue the tradition of preserving this unique breed.

                                       Map of Jindo Island
                               
                              

Like most primitive dogs, Jindos have the innate ability to survive in rugged conditions and can display basic problem-solving skills. While most domestic dogs look to humans for assitance, Jindos can be independent in nature and will often find their own solution to a problem or obstacle. These island descendants have developed cat-like agility and can navigate the toughest mountain terrain with ease.  They have a strong skeletal structure and a double layered coat to protect them from wind, rain and cold mountain weather. Their highly developed sense of smell matched with a strong prey drive, make them formidable hunters equipped with a useful homing device.  Jindos were originally bred to hunt a variety of game including deer, raccoon and wild boar. Their tenacity and brave spirit is exemplified in the legend of three Jindos that killed a Siberian Tiger.  During the hunt, Jindos have been known to return home and lead their owners to any prey that is too large to be carried alone.   



                                                            Jindo in the City
                                                                 
Jindos remain a relatively unknown breed in the U.S. and  are largely concentrated in Korean immigrant communities on the East and West Coast.  Although it's considered illegal to export a purebred dog without permission, many have opted to bring their Jindos from Korea regardless of proper papers or identification. This can lead to much debate on the "purity" of most Jindos being bred and sold in the U.S. and continues to be an ongoing dilemma. The Korean Jindo was accepted by the AKC on January 1, 1988. 

Here is an excerpt from an article in Asia One that further explains:

Only a handful of purebred Jindo are exported a year and those dogs are typically sent with the help of the government-run Jindo Dog Research and Testing Centre on the island of Jindo.

"Adult Jindo dogs branded as national treasures must stay inside of Jindo Island," said Mr. Park Byung Jin, manager of the centre that breeds the dog and serves as a gateway for government approval to send certified purebreds abroad.

That leaves breeders on the South Korean mainland in a bind.

If they try to send purebreds overseas to establish Jindo lines, they can be charged with violating export control laws.

If they send purebreds abroad but without the proper pedigree, then it becomes difficult to establish the Jindo as a breed worthy of consideration by international kennel clubs.

Mr Park said the Jindo adapts well to its surroundings and can find its niche in a cramped Manhattan apartment or suburban home with a yard.

Few dogs thrive in an animal shelter environment and this is especially true for Jindos seeking adoption, as they rarely posses the initial appeal of their more domesticated counterparts. They often display aloof, withdrawn behavior in shelter conditions which can hinder their ability to find a permanent home.  Often times they are misidentified or mistaken for other Spitz breeds.  Here is a list of breeds that have similar qualities and can often lead to misidentification:


          Shiba Inu       Siberian Husky           Carolina Dog


          Chow Mix                                                                  Kishu