Hmong Bobtail Dog - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The origin of Hmong Bobtail dog is closely related to the history of Hmong people. Hmong people emigrated to the mountains of northern Vietnam from China in an attempt to escape the persecution by the chinese Qing dynasty. Many of them brought their working and companion dogs with them to their new homes and it is believed that the Hmong Bobtail Dog is a descendant of these dogs that were further crossed in northern Vietnam with local dogs.

​2) Native dogs of Vietnam
Today, the Hmong Bobtail Dog remains very rare and you can almost exclusively find it in northern Vietnamese provinces Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Lào Cai, and Yên Bái. It is also one of the four native dogs of Vietnam, next to the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, Chó Lài and Chó Bắc Hà.

3) Working dog
For centuries, the Hmong Bobtail dog is a valuable working companion of Hmong people. They used this dog for controlling the livestock, protecting property and even for hunting small game. Today, the breed found utilization in police and military as well and they are sometimes used for patrolling the borders. This is very versatile dog that is known for its terrific memory which helped them in any kind of a job. They can easily remember difficult mountain and forest routes which helps them when patrolling, herding or hunting.

4) Companion
Of course, the Hmong Bobtail Dog is not only a superb worker. They also make wonderful family companions. They are known for their extreme loyalty, intelligence and they are pretty easy to train. They are also highly playful and affectionate towards its own family, but they are reserved and aloof around strangers. Due to their hunting ancestry, they are not the best choice for families with other household pets, but they can typically be socialized to live with other dogs without problems. Interestingly, The Hmong bobtail is said to the calmest of all Vietnamese breeds. It is very relaxed dog and they do not need high ammount of exercise.

5) Not for novices
It is also important to say, that the Hmong Bobtail Dog is not a good choice for novice dog owners. This is pretty strong dog with naturally protective and hunting instincts and it is crucial to properly train and socialize such dog from puppyhood, so they can turn into well-behaved and obedient adult dogs. I would definitely not recommend the Hmong Bobtail Dog to first time dog owner.

6) Size
This is a medium sized dog breed with muscular body and average height between 46-54 cm (18-21 in) and weight is usually between 16-26 kg (33-57 lb). The males are naturally slightly taller and heavier than females, but the difference is rather subtle.

7) Tail
Many people believe, that the bob-tail is always docked. But that is not true with the Hmong Bobtail Dog, whose tail is a natural bobtail and no docking is performed. The tail is typically 3-5 cm long (1,2-2 in), but sometimes it can grow up to 15 cm (6 in).

8) Coat
The coat of Hmong Bobtail Dog is typically medium long and it has soft and fluffy texture. The coat is very thick, providing protection from weather, cold temperature and underbrush in the woods. The color can wary quite a lot, but the most common colors are black, brown and white. Some dogs have a coat in one plain color, some have a mixture of colors and some can be brindle.

9) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the maintenance and grooming as well and luckily it is quite easy.The Hmong Bobtail Dog does shed seasonally and during that time it is better to brush their coat regularly to remove all the dead and loose hair and minimize the shedding. No other grooming is needed and the dog can take care of its coat by itself. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
Last, but not least, lets talk about the health of Hmong Bobtail Dog. And great news is, that this breed is extremely healthy with superb resistance to diesaeses. The average lifespan is between 15 to 20 years and the only health issue are ocassionally missing teeth. Other than that, this breed does not suffer much from any serious health issues.