Gaddi Kutta
Encyclopedia
Gaddi Kutta is a mastiff
-type mountain dog
found in northern India
, especially states in the western Himalayas
region (Himachal Pradesh
, Uttarakhand
, and Kashmir
). They are also called the Indian Panther Hound, as well as Mahidant Mastiff, the former pointing to the breed’s skills and the latter to its origins. Though initially bred for hunting purposes
, the multi-talented Gaddi Kutta is widely used by local shepherds, mostly Gaddis (from the tribe
of the same name) and are reputed to be strong enough to repulse attacks by snow leopards, and to have the intelligence to herd
stray sheep and goats back to their pens
.
Mahidant of Meerut by crossing the wild dingo
-like hounds (these dingo type dogs are not dholes but are a type of wild mastiff type of pariahs
, descended from the massive Hyrcanian dogs), found in the Jamuna Khader region of India, with the Sha-Khyi variety or fighting line of Tibetan Mastiff
s for hunting purposes. Similar to other breeds of the area and belonging to the lighter strain of Central Asia
n dogs, this ancient Molosser
is an agile and powerful breed, used for trailing and confronting panthers
and other large game
in the past, although these dogs are rarely used by hunters today. Mostly found in India, it also exists in small numbers in neighbouring Pakistan
, although not many examples are pure, with most of the lines reportedly having been crossed with the popular Bully Kutta
breed and even containing some German Shepherd blood.
when socialized properly, but it can be quite aggressive towards other dogs and strange people. Currently, this territorial
and reserved breed is mostly employed to control livestock
and to protect its master's property, as well as occasionally being pitted against other dogs, even though the Gaddi Kutta is not considered to be a fighting breed.
short, although quite a few unaltered examples exist.
Two main coat types
are observed in the breed, the shorthaired variety and the more common, slightly fuller coat of medium length, somewhat shorter on the body with longer feathering on the chest, legs and tail. Although some dogs have small white markings, the Gaddi Kutta is usually solid coloured, with most dogs seen in lighter pastel shades, like cream, fawn, and yellow, but brindle
, brown, and piebald
dogs can be found as well.
Males are between 22 to 31 inches in height
and 40 to 45 kilograms in weight
, while females are between 20 to 28 inches in height and 35 to 40 kilograms in weight.
The size, however, varies greatly and the dogs that are around 25 inches tall are the ones most encountered.
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff, referred to by virtually all Kennel Clubs simply as the Mastiff, is a breed of large dog perhaps descended from the ancient Alaunt through the Pugnaces Britanniae. Distinguishable by enormous size, massive head, and a limited range of colors, but always displaying a black mask,...
-type mountain dog
Mountain dog
Mountain dog is a generic form of canidae, dog, dog breed or landrace typically from mountain environs.They are often a working dog, particularly a livestock or flock guardian or farm dog. By and large, these dogs tend to have a claimed Molosser dog in their genetic heritage...
found in northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, especially states in the western Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
region (Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, and Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
). They are also called the Indian Panther Hound, as well as Mahidant Mastiff, the former pointing to the breed’s skills and the latter to its origins. Though initially bred for hunting purposes
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
, the multi-talented Gaddi Kutta is widely used by local shepherds, mostly Gaddis (from the tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
of the same name) and are reputed to be strong enough to repulse attacks by snow leopards, and to have the intelligence to herd
Herding dog
A herding dog, also known as a stock dog or working dog, is a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding...
stray sheep and goats back to their pens
Pen (enclosure)
A pen is an enclosure for holding livestock. The term describes multiple types of enclosures that may confine one or many animals. Construction and terminology varies depending on region of the world, purpose, animal species to be confined, local materials used, and cultural tradition...
.
History
The Gaddi is thought to have been developed by the Asur KingMaharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Mahidant of Meerut by crossing the wild dingo
Dingo
The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
-like hounds (these dingo type dogs are not dholes but are a type of wild mastiff type of pariahs
Pariah dog
The term pariah dog originally referred to Chinese/Indian feral dogs of a particular type, but it is now used by the United Kennel Club to refer to a purebred dog category.- Feral dogs of India :...
, descended from the massive Hyrcanian dogs), found in the Jamuna Khader region of India, with the Sha-Khyi variety or fighting line of Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed and type of domestic dog originating with nomadic cultures of Central Asia.-Names and etymology:...
s for hunting purposes. Similar to other breeds of the area and belonging to the lighter strain of Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n dogs, this ancient Molosser
Molosser
Molosser is a category of large, solidly-built dog that includes several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus.The proper noun "Mastiff", however,...
is an agile and powerful breed, used for trailing and confronting panthers
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
and other large game
Game (food)
Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...
in the past, although these dogs are rarely used by hunters today. Mostly found in India, it also exists in small numbers in neighbouring Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, although not many examples are pure, with most of the lines reportedly having been crossed with the popular Bully Kutta
Bully Kutta
Bully Kutta is a Molosser type dog which is found largely in Pakistan. The word Bully actually derives from the languages of Sindhi and Urdu as bohli — meaning heavily wrinkled and the word Kutta means dog...
breed and even containing some German Shepherd blood.
Temperament
The Gaddi Kutta is intuitive, calm and gentle with its owner, making an agreeable family petPet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
when socialized properly, but it can be quite aggressive towards other dogs and strange people. Currently, this territorial
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
and reserved breed is mostly employed to control livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
and to protect its master's property, as well as occasionally being pitted against other dogs, even though the Gaddi Kutta is not considered to be a fighting breed.
Appearance
Leaner than most mastiffs, the Gaddi is athletic, deep-chested and muscular, capable of great speeds and prized for its stamina. When left in its natural state, the tail curls over the dog's back. The ears are usually croppedDocking (animal)
Docking is a term for the intentional removal of part of an animal's tail or ears. The term cropping is also used, though more commonly in reference to the cropping of ears, while docking more commonly—but not exclusively—refers to the tail. The term tailing is also commonly used...
short, although quite a few unaltered examples exist.
Two main coat types
Coat (dog)
The coat of the domestic dog refers to the hair that covers its body. A dog's coat may be a double coat, made up of a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or a single coat, which lacks an undercoat...
are observed in the breed, the shorthaired variety and the more common, slightly fuller coat of medium length, somewhat shorter on the body with longer feathering on the chest, legs and tail. Although some dogs have small white markings, the Gaddi Kutta is usually solid coloured, with most dogs seen in lighter pastel shades, like cream, fawn, and yellow, but brindle
Brindle
Brindle is a coat coloring pattern in animals, particularly dogs, cats, cattle, guinea pigs, crested geckos and, rarely, horses. It is sometimes described as "tiger striped", although the brindle pattern is more subtle than that of a tiger's coat...
, brown, and piebald
Piebald
A piebald or pied animal is one that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented, usually white, areas of hair, feathers, or scales and normally pigmented patches, generally black. The colour of the animal's skin underneath its coat is also pigmented under the dark patches and unpigmented under...
dogs can be found as well.
Males are between 22 to 31 inches in height
Height
Height is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
and 40 to 45 kilograms in weight
Weight
In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
, while females are between 20 to 28 inches in height and 35 to 40 kilograms in weight.
The size, however, varies greatly and the dogs that are around 25 inches tall are the ones most encountered.