The Buryat-Mongolian Wolfhound (AKA the Bankhar Dog, AKA the Hotosho) is a Livestock Guardian Dog that very well might be the forerunner of all other Livestock Guardian breeds! The only native dog of Mongolia, it is speculated that it may have been the dog which accompanied Genghis Khan in his terrifying raids! Similar in temperament to most of his LGD relatives, he is affectionate and faithful towards his owners yet has an unshakeable temperament when it comes to watching over his charges. This dog will defend those charges fearlessly against all manner of foes – human or animal alike. Originally created by the Buryat people, they tell legends that the breed first appeared coming down from the mountains alongside a giant. Indeed, the fierce temperament and seemingly indestructible nature of this dog explains why these legends came to be.
Buryats are so intelligent that some have sworn they can perfectly understand all of human language. This of course isn’t true (probably), and they still must be taught commands just like any other dog, however they are very adept at watching and learning. This molosser can be adapted to take on a variety of roles however they will always have a guarding instinct. Take note that the breed is independent as he was bred to think for himself. This makes him stubborn and frankly better suited for more experienced owners/trainers.
The Mongolian has a dual nature when it comes to those he knows and loves vs. those he doesn’t. He is extremely gentle and affectionate with his own human family, including young children, yet he will not hesitate to attack a stranger that seems to be up to no good. He also seemingly has no fear towards what he may be up against – including wolves or snow leopards! Despite being capable of great damage, he will generally act unassuming unless he has good reason to go into “warning mode”. He is not prone to flying off the handle randomly, and does make his own decisions about who and when to engage against. It is important to note that although this breed is very good with children from his own family, he can be unpredictable around strange children and might make bad decisions around them. Supervision, common sense, and experience with LGD breeds are all important considerations for owners in this regard!
Buryat-Mongolians are known to be very hardy as they had to work tirelessly in the extreme harsh weather conditions of Russia and Mongolia. They also have an almost-unheard of lifespan for a dog of their size, averaging 14-16 years! However, this is unfortunately an endangered breed, having been rapidly declining since the mid-20th century. Despite being healthy and hardy, they were regrettably exterminated in great numbers at certain points in time. Following that, it began to become more difficult to find purebred members of the breed, as remaining bloodlines began to be mixed with other dogs. They do still exist, however are extremely rare at this point in time.
Mongolian Wolfhounds are a giant breed with a dense double coat which can either be longhaired or short-haired. The top coat is coarse while the undercoat is soft and fluffy. The coat is longer behind the ears, the front legs, the haunches and the tail – especially in the longhaired dogs, which are particularly magnificent! The four main color patterns are black/tan, red, solid black and “wolf”, with variations in shade for most of those color patterns. The muzzle is somewhat short, and the head is fairly large with distinct brow ridges. The hanging ears are triangular shaped. The body is muscular and has thick bone. The tail is set high but carried low unless moving, at which point it may be carried over the back.
The Buryat-Mongolian Wolfhound is a very social creature and needs to spend lots of time with his human family. This is not the type of dog that will thrive being kept outdoors all day. In Mongolia, the breed is thought to be “of the same spirit” as humans, so special is his temperament and the bond he forms with his owner. It may come as no surprise that most would sacrifice their lives for their owner! This sensitive soul needs a decent sized house in which he can spend time with the family, in addition to a large enough yard for him to stretch his legs. He has a medium energy level and requires daily exercise – both mental as well as physical. Above all he requires a knowledgeable owner who can provide him the structure, love and respect that he needs.
Photo By Аркадий Зарубин