The Mudhol Hound is an ancient sighthound from India, occasionally lumped together as one breed with both the Caravan Hound and the Pashmi – although many experts assert that the breeds are separate from each other. The origins of the breed is said to go back to Saluki and Afghan stock and the resemblance is quite clear. Although definitely a rare breed, their numbers grew dangerously low at several points in time although have been steadily growing, with both the Kennel Club of India as well as the Indian National Kennel Club showing interest in this recently revived sighthound.
Interestingly, the Mudhol is currently being tested by the Indian Army for border protection as well as general surveillance. A small number of hounds have been given to the military for this specialized work. While sighthounds aren’t normally used for these types of tasks, the giant size, suspicious nature towards strangers and natural guarding abilities of the Mudhol gives them promise for this work. This isn’t a overtly aggressive dog although they may react with teeth if they feel they need to, particularly if they are startled by a strange person encroaching upon them. This said, recent reports show that the hounds may be a little too interested in chasing moving animals rather than do their assigned tasks so it is still up in the air as to whether or not this job will stick long-term.
In a home setting, the Mudhol Hound is loyal and tends to be tolerant of both (older) children as well as other dogs. Because of their high prey drive, they are less likely to live harmoniously with small animals. They are easy to groom although need regular brushing to control their shedding, which they tend to do somewhat frequently. They should be given regular exercise including access to a large fenced yard to run at least a few times a week (the fence is very important!), in addition to daily walks. They are considered an active breed, although their activity is more likely to occur in spurts rather than a constant level of motion. This said, they seem to have more energy than other sighthounds and do require an owner who is somewhat energetic themselves. Unlike similar breeds, they aren’t the best fit for apartment-dwellers due to their energy level and territorial natures.
Mudhols are a sensitive breed that can be somewhat temperamental. They aren’t going to be the life of the party when out in social situations as they are more of a one-man dog vs. a friendly, social creature. They bond particularly strongly to one person in the family and will protect that person if they feel there is a threat – this said, extensive socialization is essential as their suspicious temperament can otherwise turn overly nervous. A nervous dog who thinks they need to protect their person can quickly become a dangerous situation, which means that the dog needs to be socialized from the time they are are very young!
Mudhols need to be trained with a fair training style and they definitely will not work with harsh methods. Their headstrong, yet sensitive temperaments make them more difficult to train than other breeds of dog and they are more likely to ignore commands when faced with distractions. That said, they do enjoy athletic sports such as agility and lure coursing and so there are competitive activities that the breed can still fare well in.
The Mudhol Hound is generally a very healthy breed that doesn’t tend to get sick easily. They have no problems living in hot climates as long as they’ve been acclimated to the temperature, and are able to run great distances with ease. Average lifespan is 13-14 years. Add to this fact that they don’t require any special grooming and it’s clear that they are fairly low-maintenance in general. The majority of the work comes with exercising and socializing – two important facets of Mudhol ownership.
Photo By Tharun Gowda