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Korean Jindo Breed Summary
Intelligent, Stubborn, Gentle, Calm and Faithful
This breed originated from South Korea on the Island of Jindo. They were brought over by Korean Expatriates to America and are well-known for their extreme loyalty and bravery.
One story in Korea discusses a dog named Baekgu who was sold and transported over 180 miles and returned to his master over seven months later. The story has since inspired cartoons, a documentary and even a book!
They are so respected in Korea, that anyone visiting JIindo, is greeted with a large dog statue to commemorate the prized breed.
Fun Fact: They are often likened to Akita's due to their independent nature!
| Kennel Club Group | Utility |
| Lifespan | 12 - 15 Years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males and Females 50cm - 53cm |
| Weight | Males and Females 16kg - 27kg |
| Coat | They have Double Coats. The Outercoat is Shiny, Stiff and Waterproof. The Undercoat is Soft, Crinkly and Insulating |
| Colour | White, Fawn, Red, Brindle, Grey, Black, Black and Tan |
| Eye colour | Dark |
| Common health issues | Hypothyroidism |
| Other Names | Korean Jindo, Jindo Dog |
These dogs are well-known for their loyalty to humans and high intelligence. For this reason, training them is a relatively easy task, paired with the fact they are very eager to please their owners.
One thing to watch out for with this breed is that they can be very stubborn, often they will demand respect from their owners before becoming loyal and, in early stages of training, they can be very strong-willed. Their high intelligence does mean they can learn complex skills and tricks.
They need plenty of socialisation in order to develop into well-rounded dogs, and when properly socialised they are very gentle and calm in nature.
Although there is no written record regarding the Korean Jindo's history, most believe that they have been around for many, many centuries. The most popular theories postulate that they are descended from Mongolian dogs which were brought to Korea in 1270 AD during the Mongol invasion. However, one thing that everyone can agree on is that they have been in Korea for over 1,500 years. They are actually extremely precious and in 1962 were declared as the 53rd National Treasure. This makes the breed very difficult to export outside of South Korea and they first appeared in the USA in the 1980s.
The breed is mainly used to hunt down medium-to-large-sized prey due to their large prey drive. However, many are also used by the military, police and search rescue teams because of their high trainability.