Jindo Dogs: Korea's National Treasures Known For Their Fierce Loyalty

Are you more of a dog or cat person? I myself have unconditional love for dogs.

Each country around the world has its own national dogs such as the Akita dogs in Japan, French poodles, and German shepherds.

In South Korea, there are Jindo dogs (진돗개). Let's learn more about its origins and why they're one of Korea's National Treasures.

The Origins

Source: YTN

Jindo dogs are indigenous dogs native to Jindo Island.

Although it's impossible to determine the exact origins of Jindo dogs, a study shows that Jindo dogs and other East and Southeast Asian dogs share some common ancestry.

Some believe that these dogs are from the Three Kingdoms and arrived in the Korean Peninsula on a trading ship.

However, there are others that strongly believe that during the Goryeo Dynasty, sambyeolcho (삼별초), a military unit during this period, retreated to Jindo Island and brought these dogs with them.

It's believed that the dogs eventually became the Jindo dogs we know today.

In 1962, Jindo dogs were designated as South Korea's 53rd National Treasure and were further safeguarded under the Cultural Properties Protection Act.

Currently, purebred Jindo dogs are directly managed by the country.

During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea brought Jindo dogs to the opening ceremony.

In 2005, the Jindo breed became recognized in the British Kennel Association, and in 2008, they became recognized in the American Kennel Association.

Characteristics

They are medium-sized dogs and their fur ranges from chestnut yellow to all white.

Their heads are medium-sized and the ends of their eyes are slightly raised which are vertically aligned with their ears.

They have strong instincts and are courageous hunters. They have unwavering loyalty to their owners and have a strong protective nature towards their homes and territories.

They are perfectly suitable as a guard dog or a hunting dog.

They are also known to be very clean dogs and have self-cleaning habits.

To Koreans, Jindo dogs are a symbol of intelligence, cleanliness, and loyalty.

Source: News1 Korea

Experts recommend against keeping Jindo dogs tied to a rope and only letting them drink, eat, and sleep in a fixed area because it will cause excessive stress on the dog.

They thrive with human company and should be raised with a family that has a lot of time to care for their dogs.

Although they have a slight resemblance to Shiba Inu, their genetics are very different.

In fact, Samoyed dogs are more similar to Jindo dogs.

Their Loyalty

Source: JDog

Jindo dogs only recognize one master throughout their lives, even if they are raised by a family or groups of people.

When you raise a Jindo dog from a young age, they will recognize whomever they think loves them and cares for them most as their master.

Therefore, it's very difficult for Jindo dogs to be used by the police or the military.

South Korea actually sent Jindo dogs to Los Angeles to be trained by the local police there but they were rejected.

In 2015, the South Korean army stated that they had successfully trained two Jindo dogs but they are still uncertain of their effectiveness during tasks.

Source: YTN

The former South Korean president Park Chung-hee raised Jindo dogs at the Blue House but the guards and the staff were bitten by the dog as the dog was more eager to protect its owner and didn't listen to anyone else besides him.

Although Jindo dogs are loyal, they are also independent. There are many cases of them biting strangers and other dogs, so they aren't commonly raised within the urban population.

Jindo Dog Alert

Source: GQ Korea

"Jindo Dog Alert" is a warning term used by the South Korean military for military operations.

Jindo Dog 3 means that they are in a peaceful and non-combat-ready state.

Jindo Dog 2 is used as a warning when situations that might be dangerous are detected.

Jindo Dog 1 is used only in high emergency situations in preparations for searches or battles.

The last time South Korea issued Jindo Dog 1 alert was in February 2021 when a North Korean appeared in the East China Sea of Goseong County, the border between North and South Korea.

As the location was accessible by civilians, it was detected as a dangerous situation and the man was moved from the North to the South.

When he couldn't confirm his identity, the authorities immediately issued a Jindo Dog 1 warning and he was arrested.

National Dogs Of North Korea

North Korea also has its own national dog.

The national dog of North Korea is Pungsan dogs (풍산개), traditionally used as hunting dogs.

They have white or chestnut-colored fur that is similar to Jindo dogs. But the average size of Jindo dogs is slightly smaller than North Korea's Pungsan dogs.

The Pungsan Dog Gifted To The Blue House From North Korea (source: Blue House)

Pungsan dogs are also known for their loyalty and their courage in hunting and defending their territory.

The breed was designated a national treasure of North Korea during the Japanese colonial period which protected it during World War.

In the year 2000, two Pungsan dogs were gifted from the president of North Korea to the president of South Korea and they lived in the Blue House in Seoul.

However, the Pungsan dogs have not been recognized internationally.

That concludes our ultimate guide to South Korean Jindo dogs.

They are wonderful companions due to their intelligence and cleanliness.

Just make sure to understand this breed's characteristics before adding them to your family!