Sinhala Hound - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
There is not enough historical documentation about Sinhala Hound, but it is believed that it is a very old, ancient landrace dog breed, found all across Sri Lanka. These dogs evolved over the centuries by adapting to local environment and by survival of the fittest, which is why they are very hardy, adaptable and healthy. It is very likely that they share ancestry with similar Indian breeds, such as Indian Pariah dog, which can also be found in Sri Lanka. These dogs are also similar, and possibly related to New Guinea dog, Dingo or the Kadar dog, but no one can be really sure about the exact origin of these dogs.
2) Hunting
The Sinhala Hound is a great hunter and the indigenous Sri Lankan tribe known as Vedda people used this dog for hunting for centuries. And these dogs are very good hunting companions, as they have higher prey drive and chasing instinct, they have great sense of smell, hearing and vision, good problem solving ability and they are very athletic and agile, all very important traits for a hunting dog.
3) Gifts
Not only that Sinhala Hounds were amazing hunters, they were also highly prized as loyal and devoted companions. They were valued so much, that they were given away with daughters on their marriage as a part of dowry.
4) Street dogs
Mostly due to the import of different foreign breeds, the popularity of Sinhala Hounds declined quite a lot, and today, they are very often living semi-wild life of a street dog, that is scavenging for food. They often live in bigger Sri Lanka cities, like Colombo, where they fit in like they are actually part of the city.
5) Companion dogs
But of course, not all dogs are living on the street. Many of these dogs found a sweet home in families all across the Sri Lanka or even in many other countries in the world, just like Jesus from this video, who was rescued from shelter in Sri Lanka and living a happy life in Belgium. And these dogs make very good companion dogs, they are very loyal and devoted, smart, trainable, lively and playful and of course, affectionate. They can live with other dogs in the family as well, but other smaller household pets might be sometimes problematic, due to the higher chasing instinct of Sinhala Hound.
6) Appearance
The Sinhala Hound does not have standardized look, as most of the dogs are breeding naturally, and not according to some breed standard. But very often, these dogs have appearance which is typical for many other old landrace dogs as well and many of them are similar to New Guinea Singing dog, Australian Dingo or Indian Pariah Dog. All these dogs share similar personality as well. The size can vary from one dog to another, but this is always very athletic and agile dog breed with relatively long and thin legs and long body. Most often the size is around 38 cm, which is 15 inch and weight is usually around 23 lbs, which is 10 kg, but again, the size can vary a lot. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.
7) Exercise
The Sinhala Hound is definitely not a coach potatoe, but not a completely hyperactive dog neither. It is very adaptable dog, that will adapt to its owners, but they must be taken on several daily longer walks accompanied with some playtime or fun training sessions, so they stay healthy and happy. The fun training sessions or some task oriented playtimes are also great for exercise the dog not only physically but, also mentally. Without enough exercise, these dogs can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as destruction.
8) Coat
This breed has a very practical and dense coat, which is providing them protection, when they are living outdoors. The coat length can also vary quite a bit, but typically the coat is rather shorter and it can be found in almost any color or color combination, but most common are different shades of brown.
9) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the maintenance as well, and luckily, it is extremely easy. Even without any grooming at all, these dogs will still look good. Of course, regular brushing is only beneficial, as it will remove any dirt and loose hair from the coat and will keep the coat in best possible condition. No other grooming is required. Just like with any other breed, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.
10) Health
The Sinhala Hound is usually very hardy and healthy dog breed and it is not uncommon for them to live well into their later teens. Of course, just like any other breed in the world, they may suffer from some health issues, which may include some infections or allergies, eye problems, or joint problems.