Kumaon Mastiff
Encyclopedia
Kumaon Mastiff or Cypro Kukur ( Kumauni - सिप्रो कुकुर), is a rare breed
of dog
originating in India
. Originally bred as a watch dog in the hills of Kumaon
this dog is today a rare, even in the region of its origin.
Folklore suggests it was introduced by Alexander the Great's soldiers in 300 B.C. when he invaded India.
Their appearance has been described to be similar to old Great Danes.
http://bslinfo.tripod.com/id11.html.
that too in the distant interiors of Kumaon hills.
Greater population of these dogs may be present in Europe , particularly in Italy
and Finland
where it was introduced by breeders who took the breed to Europe in the late 19th century.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
originating in 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...
. Originally bred as a watch dog in the hills of Kumaon
Kumaon
Kumaon usually refers to:* Kumaon division, an administrative division of the state of Uttarakhand in Northern India* Kumaon Regiment, a highly-decorated regiment of the Indian Army* Kumaon University, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India...
this dog is today a rare, even in the region of its origin.
Origin
It is said that the dogs primitive ancestors were domiciled in the Mediterrainean region - the name Cypro Kukur literally means Cyprus Dog in Kumauni and is believed introduced in Kumaon by settlers where it was bred by locals as a watch dog. Although no evidence isther which suggests that the breed originated in Cyprus, except the name.Folklore suggests it was introduced by Alexander the Great's soldiers in 300 B.C. when he invaded India.
Appearance
Cypro kukur is a large dog with fairly lean, muscular, well-boned bodies. They have a large powerful head and a strong neck . They have a short, soft coat that always comes in brindle, ranging from dark to light shades. They may also have white markings. The average height of these dogs is 28 inches.Their appearance has been described to be similar to old Great Danes.
Enadangered Breed
It is estimated that only 150-200 heads of this breed exist in its country of origin i.e. IndiaIndia
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...
http://bslinfo.tripod.com/id11.html.
that too in the distant interiors of Kumaon hills.
Greater population of these dogs may be present in Europe , particularly in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
where it was introduced by breeders who took the breed to Europe in the late 19th century.