BIG GAME HUNTERS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs


BIG GAME HUNTERS


Dogs have been used as hunting aids from earliest times.All over the world dogs were trained to find, flush, pursue or attack different prey. For example, the Patagonians hunted with the help of horses and dogs. The dogs were trained to seize the prey. In India a number of breeds such as Alangu Mastiff, Caravan Hound, Rampur Hound were extensively used by the nobility in the Mughal period to track down big games.
Gran Chako dogs, which lived on offal and scraps and inhabited the dens which they scrapped in the ground, were used in hunting Jaguars and peccary : they were noisy and persistent in nature which so aggravated the fleeing jaguar that it paused to deal with them, giving an opportunity to the hunters to catch up!
Eskimo dogs, apart from drawing sledges, were trained in detecting and hunting of seals. They could detect the seal's breathing holes in the ice, and also attack a bear from behind so that the hunter could easily harpoon it.
In Tierra del Fuego fox like dogs herded shoals of fish into their master's net and also stole edible birds' nest for their master.
In Samoa they trained very courageous dogs to check the progress of a fleeing pig by catching it by the ears, tail and shoulders so that the hunters could finish it off. 
The early Muslim invaders in India knew that elephants dreaded small, noisy animals, especially dogs, which they to divert a charge.


Here are some of more specialists :


AFGHAN HOUND : wolf, gazelle, leopard, jackal, fox.


AIREDALE          : bear, wolf, wild boar, stag, otter.


AKITA               : bear, deer.


BEAGLE             :(oversize ones in Ceylon and Venezuela) jaguar,leopard


BORZOI             : wolf coursing and throwing


BRAZILIAN TRACKER : jaguar tracking


BULL MASTIFF     : poachers (trained to throw down but not maul)


COONHOUNDS    : raccoon,stag,bear,op[ossum,cougar,wildcat


COURSING HOUND: coyote (American Great Plains)


FINNISH SPITZ    : polar bear,elk


GREAT DANE       : wild boar  


GREYHOUND       : stag,gazelle,wild boar, fox,hare( not to mention domestic                                              
                           cats and geese!)


HARRIER            : leopard (Ceylon), large cats (south america)


HOKKAIDOKEN    : bear (Japan)


IRISH WOLF HOUND : stag, wolf,coyote,wild boar


KANGAROO HOUND  :kangaroo


ALANGU MASTIFF   : (India ) bear,wolf,deer,leopards 




Raj Prateek Verma

THE GREAT INDIAN MASTIFF: ALANGU MASTIFF

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

Alangu Mastiff :

History:

This very impressive dog is from INDIA, generally found in the regions of Thanjavur and Tiruchin (South).
The dog has an ancient history. Similar type of breed was used by the Persians as war dogs. The breed probably originated in the Punjab region of India and became a favorite of the Mughal nobility as a war and hunting dog. It received huge patronage from the nobility as a result of which the breed was in great demand in medieval India. However, it lost some of its importance when cheetah was replaced for hunting purposes.

Later on, it was used and is still used primarily as a guard dog. A very similar breed is found in Pakistan by the name 'BULLI KUTTA'. This is also a very good hunting dog and can be easily found in rural areas where village folks use them for 'DOG FIGHTS. Although this sort of entertainment is totally illegal in both the countries, yet it is a common practice among the rural folks to participate in dog fights with their prized mastiffs for the sake of entertainment and for earning money through betting.

Description :

Indian Alangu mastiffs are red or tan with a very prominent black muzzle. It has a massive head with very small ears. The chest is deep and the limbs are well muscled.

Height:

Male : upto 30 - 33 inches
Female: upto 27 -  30 inches

Coat:
Very short and needs  very little maintenance.

Temperament :
This breed is quite sharp and very alert. It is inappropriate to keep this breed in a confined space as it needs wide open space for exercise. This breed is quite ferocious and requires careful handling. It is a very hardy and a robust breed and can survive without much care.


Raj Prateek Verma

SHIPWRECKED DOGS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs
 

Chesapeake Bay Retriever :


In 1807 an English ship was wrecked off Maryland and two Newfoundland puppies were rescued, one red and one black. They were eventually mated with local retrievers, water dogs or Coon hounds, and the new breed became a superb water dog, working in rough seas and protected by its coarse, oily coat. It is a very independent, courageous and determined dog.

Kerry Blue Terrier  :


Apart from a claim that the Kerry Blue was in NOAH'S ARK, it is also claimed that the only survivor of a ship wreck off the Kerry coast was a fierce terrier which killed every dog it met and thus established the right to found its own breed.





  
In 1588 the Spanish Armada lost most of its ships off the west coast of Scotland. it is said that some white
Spanish dogs from the wrecks landed on the Isle of SKYE, and Lady MacDonald of Armadale Castle crossed them with local dogs to create the Skye Terrier. The Skye, in due course of time, grew long coats to adapt to the climate. Their double coat consists of a very long outer coat insulated with an inner one of short wool.

Skye Terrier

Labrador Retrievers :


Not so much ship wrecked as shipped, labradors first came to England by boat, landing at Poole in the 1830s. They had long been used as fishermen's dog in Labrador.


Raj Prateek Verma

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PSEUDO PREGNANCY AMONG DOGS

 ' Mishti.' Nicknamed her "MAMMA".Very docile   

        and attached to the kids of the house.

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs


Pseudo Pregnancy among dogs


DOES YOUR DOG SUFFER FROM FALSE PREGNANCY?  Mine does!
The first time she went through false pregnancy, I was absolutely confused. My bitch showed every sign of pregnancy yet I was sure that she couldn't have mated and conceived as she stays in a compound where other dogs cannot venture.
It was only after consulting the vet I understood that she was suffering from false pregnancy. I have tried to list the symptoms, causes and remedies for the problem.

Symptoms :
1.The animal believes that she is pregnant. She will have enlarged mammary glands with production of milk.
2.There might be a swelling of abdomen.
3.The appetite changes. She might go off food.
4.At whelping time she shows extreme  excitement accompanied by panting and trembling.
5.Many of the bitches may go through labor pain as about the time they normally would be delivering.
6.Often a bitch makes a" nest" and proceeds to collect her "puppies" which may be toys, towels or anything she can carry in her mouth.
7.She may curl up with her "puppies" , tightly snuggled to her breasts.
8.Restlessness, whining, crying, scratching at rugs are other very visible symptoms.
9.Mannerism and behaviour changes. She tends to become over friendly to her human companions.
10.The dog might have fever due to the enlarged mammary glands full of milk.

Causes :

Dogs which love children and are extremely attached to them, are more susceptible to  false pregnancy. My Dalmatian has literally adopted my younger son as her "puppy". Bitches in false pregnancy have been known to have adopted an entire litter of puppies and to have produced enough milk to raise them during their 6 weeks of suckling.
In medical terms this problem  arises due to imbalance of hormones and abnormalities of the ovaries.

Remedies :


1. The vet usually prescribes tranquilizers and antibiotics. The animal is in trauma and in pain and needs instant help.
2. Camphorated oil applied gently to the breasts help relieve inflammation and drying up of milk.
3. The vet may administer a variety of hormones to correct the imbalance
4. Such bitches should be bred to have their own puppies.
5. Another alternative is to get the bitch spayed if the owner doesn't want to raise puppies.

The signs of false pregnancy usually lasts for about 5 to 6 weeks after which the bitch returns to her normal self. False pregnancy is generally repetitive. A bitch which had false pregnancy, is prone to have such problems again.

Raj Prateek Verma
http://www.dogalogueofraj.blogspot.com

UNCANNY WAYS OF MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT !!

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs


This small but extremely beautiful water fall lies deep in the jungles, about 15 kms from the town where I stay.  It is called Dharagiri and is a favorite water hole of elephants  and other wild animals found in abundance in the jungles. The water is cool and crystal clear, tempting one to take a plunge! Fortunately, it still maintains its charm as very few muster courage to go so deep into the forest. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides.  The foliage is so dense that hardly any sunlight penetrates through it. One cannot help but admire THE CREATOR'S genius!!

Made this painting of the falls on a ply-board using enamel paint.


Raj Prateek Verma

YET ANOTHER AMAZING INDIAN BREED: RAMPUR HOUND

The m  ore I see of humans, The more I love Dogs RAMPUR HOUND

HISTORY :  RAMPUR was a small principality between Delhi and Meerut in Northern India before Independence. It was ruled by His Royal Highness, Ahmed Ali Khan Bahadur, who was a great sportsman and hunter. He desired a to develop a hound which had great stamina, endurance and speed. Apparently when the Afghans came to India in the 1760s, they brought their ferocious 'Tazis' along with them. The British found these dogs too deadly and brought in some obedient  English Greyhounds.

Under the patronage of Nawab of Rampur and some generations down the line, the Rampur Hound DNA took shape.


DESCRIPTION : A very powerful dog with enormous stamina. It was used by the rulers in tracking and hunting big games such as boars, bulls, deers, jackals, leopards etc. It has  very strong jaws with scissors bite.  The feet of Rampur Hound are are its most distinctive features . They have long, arched and webbed toes, with powerful claws. Such feet gives it a good cat-like grip and facilitates its speed too.

CHARACTER :  As Strong and ferocious as the TAZI yet as obedient and loyal as the GREY HOUND ! The climate of our country suits it better than any foreign breed. It can be more ferocious than a Boxer yet more gentle with children than a Golden Retriever.

HEIGHT :  Male : 60 - 75 cms (at withers)
                  Female: 55 - 60 cms( at withers)

COLOUR: May be black, brindle, fawn or white.


LENGTH:  From withers to base of tail is about 36", the chest is deep in front but not very wide. The hind legs are long, muscular and rather broad. The tail is carried low. It is long and tapering, slightly curving upwards. The front legs are long and straight.


Raj Prateek Verma

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RARE INDIAN BREEDS : MUDHOL HOUND

      Mudhol Hound/Caravan Hound

We have failed to give due respect and the right place to our indigenous breeds  which are on the verge of extinction. There are quite a few Indian breeds which can be compared   with respect to their character, utility ,temperament and great looks with any other foreign breed . It is our duty to see that such magnificent dogs are not lost forever.

Mudhol hound

It is an Indian breed, also known as CARAVAN HOUND.  There is also a feathered variety referred to as  PASHMI. It is generally found in Central and southern India and is used by village folks as hunting and guard dog.

History  :  It is an ancient breed, native to the Deccan Plateau of Western ,Central and Southern India. Its local name is CARVANI, anglicized to Caravan Hound when K.C.I recognized the breed.

The breed was probably brought by the Afghans to India through the Khyber Pass during the Mughal rule. The Afghans settled down in the Deccan during the Mughal period, therefore the dogs are found in the same area. A former ruler of Mudhol, Karnataka, gifted a pair to King George V  of England. Therefore the breed came to be known as Mudhol Hound. The breed was patronized by the Mughal rulers as guard dogs and were also used for hunting.

Looks :  It has a long and narrow muzzle. The jaws are long and powerful, with a scissors bite. The ears are short ,hanging closely to the skull. The eyes are large and oval. The neck is long and muscular.

The forelegs are long, straight and well boned. The back is long, broad and well muscled.

Height :  Males reach a height of 68 - 72 cm and the females can reach a height  of 64-68 cm (at the withers).

Temperament: A very good WORKING HOUND. It needs a lot of space and a great deal of exercise.  It has the capacity to work tirelessly for grueling hours in the most strenuous conditions. It has great physical strength and plenty of stamina. 

It is not a very friendly dog and very much wary of strangers. However, a Caravan should not be too aggressive and should adapt to other dogs and human beings. It should be treated with lot of love and respect otherwise it may develop into a nervous and sometimes, a vicious dog.

Raj Prateek Verma

DOGS OF WAR

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FRIEND

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

DOGS OF WAR

Dogs have been used in battle since ancient times and many have become war heroes and mascots.

Assyrian attack dogs : were shown in a Pergamon frieze of 280 BC.

Herodotus describes a battle where men fought men, horses fought horses, and dogs fought dogs.

British Mastiffs  were exported in considerable numbers to Rome and Gaul for battle work, they usually wore armour.

Rottweilers were used by the Romans, at first to herd 'meat on the hoof' for the soldiers, and later as agrressors. The Romans also used Pyrenean and Bernese Mountain dogs.

Henry VIII  sent mastiffs to Charles V of Spain for his French war, as war dogs and for reconnaissance.

Elizabeth I's soldiers used hundreds of dogs against the Irish rebels.

In World War I  dogs were extensively used by several armies, for the Red Cross work and as messengers, draft dogs and sentries.

Germany had 6,000 trained German Shepherd dogs ready and waiting before 1914 and sent  20,000 to the battlefield.

France used Braids extensively. 10,000 dogs were sent to the battle front to locate the wounded for the Red Cross, to act as front-line sentries, and to carry ammunition in back-packs. They also used 8,000 sledge dogs in the Vosges Mountains.

Britain also used thousands of dogs, many from Battersea Dogs' Home, and 7,000 were killed in action.

In World War II dogs were used again in large numbers

America  used dogs to search for wounded and to flush out snipers in the jungles of Pacific arena.

Germany used 2,00,000 dogs, mostly to guard concentration camps.

In Norway the Defence minister is empowered to mobilize all privately owned Norwegian Elkhounds in case of war- they are highly prized as sledge dogs.

Raj Prateek Verma

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL DOGS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

Many dogs are claimed to be able to talk, count, thought-read, read, predict and so on, and many of the stories could well be true. Here are some, true or not:

BERGANZA :was a fictional talking dog in Cervantes' Colloquy of the Dogs who told his life story to another watchdog. He joined a drummer to perform tricks and went on to become a comedian with a theatrical troupe.

BLITZ: was a 'talking' German Shepherd dog belonging to a school custodian in the Bronx. He would tell him"I want a hamburger' or 'want to go out' etc.

CHRIS THE WONDER DOG: Owned by George Wood in the 50s, was thoroughly researched. He responded to verbal questions by pawing his owner's arm, and could guess hidden symbols accurately.

GYP: A German Shepherd dog owned by Herbert Neff of Tennessee, left home in a huff when the family's second baby was born but returned without fail on Christmas day for the next ten years.

ROLF: was an Airedale from Mannheim who understood arithmetic and learned the letters of the alphabet. Using numbers to represent letters, he would tap out messages with his paw. He is said to have predicted an earthquake in 1912, and to have answered a woman who had asked what she could do for him by saying,'wag your tail.'

LOLA: was sired by ROLF the Airedale and used his method to predict the weather.

MR LUCKY: was a talking Boston terrier with a voice like a talking doll, thin and high, although his normal bark was deep.

PEPE : was a talking Chihuahua who 'sung' his words and who appeared on television several times in California.

PROFESSOR DUNCAN had a troupe of performing rough collies which acted out an elaborate routine: they were a fire brigade called to a burning house, where, while rescuing one of their number,  posing as a child, another one 'sacrificed his life' in the attempt, and the troupe buried him with full ceremony!

RAGS: was a part Scottie, part wire-haired terrier. He turned up in SING-SING prison in 1929 and remained there for 12 years (voluntarily). He performed tricks to cheer up the prisoners but ignored the warders and guards!! He was sensitive to depressed prisoners, and spent whole night with a potential suicide, growling at him to prevent him from hanging himself!

MISSIE: A Boston terrier predicted the times of certain events by moving the hands of a cardboard clock, and she indicated the time of her own death.


Raj Prateek Verma    29DMEXZMRHZH

ECCENTRIC NAWAB AND HIS DOGS

Junagadh was a small principality during the British rule in western India.  Ther Nawab, Sir Mahabet Khan Rasul Khan, was famous for his eccentricities. He was known to have pampered his dogs to strange limits.

He had the audacity to invite Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of British India, to his favourite bitch, Roshsanara's 'marriage' to Bobby, a Golden Retriever belonging to The Nawab of Mangral.

Of course, This invitation was outrightly rejected by the Viceroy as he was in no mood to indulge in this nawab's unprecedented and frivolous pastime.

A number of ruling royals attended the marriage. Earlier, 250 dogs of various breeds attired in brocade, a military band and a guard of honour had received the groom 'Bobby' at the railway station! This was followed by a grand wedding feast!!

This eccentric nawab owned some 800 dogs, each with its own room, a telephone and a servant. There was a fully equipped, modern hospital with a British vet to attend to their ailments.

Such were the eccentricities of Maharajas and Nawabs of Princely India!!



Raj Prateek Verma

THE TYGER

SAVE FOREST  SAVE TIGER

     

Tyger, Tyger burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What  immortal hand or  eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And watered Heaven with  their tears,

Did HE smile his work to see?

Did HE who made the Lamb made Thee??


                               - William Blake



Raj Prateek Verma  

                                                                                                      














Awesome !!

ALLERGIES IN DOGS

The more I see of humans, The more I love Dogs

Allergies

Allergies in the form of asthma, fever and eczema have been accepted as a major cause of human discomfort for a long time. However, such allergy syndromes have also been identified with canine discomfort in recent years.

They show in the skin as welts and lesions; in the head and other parts of the body in hive- like swellings; in the intestinal tract in diarrhea and vomiting.

Allergic symptoms:

1. SCRATCHING

2. COUGHING

3.  SNEEZING

4. EYE RUBBING

5. PAW LICKING

6. RUBBING FACE AGAINST THE WALL

7 DIARRHEA

8.VOMITING

 

Causes :

Allergic reactions in the dog can be caused by:-

1. Various Foods
2. certain insects
3. vegetation and pollens
4. hundreds of different agents like dust, floor polish, woollen articles
5. cat hair 
6. tobacco etc.

Allergy due to DIET   

Pets have their idiosyncrasies regarding food too!. Some dogs can't assimilate some types of food. Certain food induce chronic diarrhea or vomiting. In or to assess and find out dietary allergies, one should start with basic diet. Mutton and rice would be a good example. Foods can then be added at a time until an allergic response tells us which one is the culprit. Protein sources should be tested first followed by cereal products.

Allergy due to FLEA 

Hypersensitivity to Flea Bites is a fairly common allergic reaction. The bite of the flea results in intense itching. The dog will scratch violently, sometimes leading  to  secondary infections like "mange".

Allergy resulting in HIVES 

Hives in the dog are characterized by a tremendous swelling of the head, usually around the eyes and mouth. The animal is uncomfortable and exhibits extreme itching. The hives are usually caused by an allergy to a certain type of food which perhaps is not a part of his regular diet. It can be treated with a laxative or enema to flush out any toxic agent in the intestine. Cold  packs can be used to remove itchiness.

Allergy due to color of SKIN 

White dogs and light coloured dogs seem to be more susceptible to skin allergies. Poodles, Maltese, Setters, Terriers, Dalmatians seem to be more prone to allergies. The initial symptoms are redness and inflammation. Scaliness follows, and the hair starts to fall out, leaving bare patches. Baby oil or Lanolin rubbed on the irritated area will soothe and relieve the skin but this is only momentary. To effect a cure the CAUSE has to be determined.

Incidentally two or three breeds, the MEXICAN CHIHUAHUA and the MEXICAN HAIRLESS can be kept by persons considered  allergic to dogs, and can actually help them. These two breeds are known to have been of help to people prone to allergies and asthma!! 

Raj Prateek Verma http://www.dogalogueofraj.blogspot.com