The Rajapalayam hails from India, where he once was a dog of royalty before later being faced with extinction. Luckily, with the help of the Kennel Club of India’s “Save the Rajapalayam Project”, he has been slowly growing in numbers again – even making an appearance on local postage stamps! While he is recognized in India, he is still virtually unknown in most other parts of the world. This sighthound breed was created to hunt wild boar as well as to guard the estate. At one point he was also used a war dog. He primarily uses his eyes to spot prey although does also rely on a great sense of smell as well. The breed can hunt in packs, in pairs or by himself (with or without a human hunter in tow to dispatch the prey once he takes it down).
Rajapalayams are suspicious toward strangers – if not even outright aggressive, although are extremely loyal to their owners. This is due to their guard dog instincts which are very prized in the breed. Some owners find it hard to have guests over because this hound is so territorial, which means they should only be owned by experienced dog people! They need to be carefully introduced to family friends in order to accept them – and ideally done on neutral ground initially. This fearless breed will bite first and ask questions later – it is not for the faint of heart! With their own family they are friendly and loving – often bonding particularly strongly to one person. They also have naturally high prey drives which means that they do best in homes without cats or other small animals. Even small dogs may be regarded as prey.
The Rajapalayam is more muscular than many sighthounds, yet still possesses long thin legs, a long tapering tail and a lean frame. The muzzle is elongated and the forehead is domed, with soft pendant ears hanging on each side of the face. They have a smooth, yet dense coat that is milk-white in color. The nose and lips are pink and the eyes are often gold or green. They are large in size, measuring up to 29 inches at the withers.
The Rajapalayam is most at home in a house that has a yard for him to run in. A fence is necessary, or even better – a tall wall that will keep this jumping Houdini safely inside the property! Under normal circumstances he should be walked every day to expend his energy. While he is calm and well-behaved in the house, he was bred to run and therefore does have energy that must be burned. One should never skimp on exercise lest they be prepared to have a bored, destructive dog on their hands!
The Rajapalayam is intelligent although can be headstrong and difficult to train. He needs to value his trainer in order to work, so one must build a strong foundation from puppyhood based on mutual respect. He also needs extensive socialization from early puppyhood. As with other sighthounds, his strong prey drive will overrule an obedience command if a particularly distracting prey animal runs near him. Be prepared to spend lots of time training with distractions, and don’t put 100% of your trust in him if he’s off leash.
Rajapalayams shed very little and don’t require very much grooming – least of all professional grooming! Many keep themselves fairly clean and will lick themselves like cats. Only the most basic of care will be needed to keep one looking his best. The short white coat has adapted him to live in the hot climate of India although he doesn’t fare as well in colder temperatures. Be prepared to give him a coat when walking outside in the winter. In terms of health – while most members of the breed are healthy, deafness does run in some lines as it is unfortunately linked to white dogs. Aside from this, the average lifespan is about 10-11 years.
