Pungsan Dog - Facts and Information

Appearance
Pungsan is medium to large sized, athletic and muscular dog with broad chest, strong straight legs and long tail which is curled over their back. Their average height is between 21-24 inches, which is 53-61 cm and weight between 45-68 pounds, which is 114-172 pounds.

They do resemble another, probably more popular Korean breed, the Korean Jindo. They are little bit bigger though. If you are interested in Korean Jindo breed, i am giving you link to another Rocadog video in description.

But back to Pungsan. Pungsans have very thick and dense coat, which is protecting them in the snow and harsh mountainous climate. You can find them in white or cream color.

They have the typical Spitz face, which is kinda wolflike. The Pungsan has straight muzzle, tight fitting lips, almond shaped dark brown eyes and pricked ears.


Personality
The Pungsan is independent and dominant breed, which is also a reason why they are not the best choice for novice dog owners. They are definitely protective over their loved ones and also pretty territorial. Because of their independent nature, they need firm, patient and very consistent leader.

If they are well socialized as puppies, Pungans make great companions. They are totally loyal to their owners and family and create very strong bond with them. On the other hand, they are alert and suspicious towards strangers. But once you introduce the person to them and they get comfortable with the stranger, they are friendly towards the newcomer as well.

But dont worry, they are rarely agressive towards the people they dont know, they will most likely just ignore them unless someone invaded their territory or personal space. Than they tend to bark a lot, which makes them amazing watchdogs and protectors.

This is intelligent dog, but definitely not a pushover to train. Again, this is because of their independent personality, they are just not that eager to please just like some other dogs. But they are definitely capable of learning all the basic commands easily.

Another important fact to know is that the Pungsan has quite high prey drive. This can make them dangerous to other smaller pets in the household. Also, this is a reason why it is recommended to not let them offleash in unknown or unfenced area. They are just hunters by heart and they might try to chase other small animals outside.


Interesting facts
In the year 2000, during the meeting between South and North Korea leaders, there was an exchange of puppies. The North Korean leader gifter two purebred Pungsans to South Korean president and received two purebred Jindo dogs. These two Pungsans produced another generations of puppies.


History
The breeds history can be traced back to the Joseon dynasty, most likely to the 17th century. They were developed as a big game hunters. We can not be sure about its ancestors, one theory says that they were developed from mastiffs and sheepdogs crossed with wolves, another theory says that they are descendants of Siberian Laikas.

There was a dark time in the history of Pungsan breed. In the first half of the 20th century, during the Japanese occupation of Korean peninsula, they were hunted down for their thick fur, which served as material for fur coats for the Japanese military.

In 1942, the breed was declared to be Korean National Treasure, but Korean war reduced their numbers once again. When the war was over, the North Korean government re-established the breed, but there is not many information since than. It is because North Korea is very isolated country. Some Pungsans were smuggled over the Korean-Chinese border, so today, they can be found in other countries as well.


Health and grooming
Pungsan is highly energetic breed and if you want to have healthy and happy dog in your home, than you will need to provide them with a lot of mental and physical exercise. They want to have plenty room to run and romp out their energy outside. Daily longer walks are must. If you will not meet the Pungsan exercise needs, they might become very vocal and destructive.

Pungsan has a good lifespan between 12-15 years. Of course, just like all dogs, they do suffer from some health issues, most commonly from hip and elbow dysplasia, bloating, entropion and ear infections.

This is a heavy shedder, so they require frequent regular brushing to remove the dead hair and minimize the shedding. Great fact about them is, that they have only a little of the typical doggy odor, which means that they dont need bathing very often. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their ears eyes and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.