User:YAALI
This is all about a breed that we are seeing in the district of Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu, India. I think this is best time and platform to share the details about these dogs which we know by our own experience and analysis(not thru any article).
Before going into the subject, I would like to give key notes about us. Hope that will help.
1. We are living with this breed for the past two generations in an urban area. 2. There will be minimum one slot allocated and filled by these dogs in my home along with other breeds. 3. We use to pick pups from this district for our home. 4. We gained knowledge about these dogs from our father which he gained from his ancestors. 5. Our native is Ramnad is district. Please note : This write up is not related to breed standard. This is all about just what we see and know about these dogs.
Appearance:
1. Fitness - Well built and broad chest. 2. Coat - Shiny fine coat are most common. 3. Ears - Most common are front folded or side wise folded. Rarely seen with erected ears also. 4. Eyes - Brown or red. Gives rough look. From the eyes we can understand how bold these dogs are. 5. Head - Broad and Solid head with black nose. 6. Tail - Lengthy and curvy but not curly. 7. Height - Medium tall.
Colors:
Grey, Black and Ash colors are most common with or without white patches. Rarely seen in other colors too. May be common colors blends with the landscape color("Karisal" in Tamil) of Ramnad dist.
Temperament :
1. Fearless, protective and very aggressive to strangers. 2. Well controlled to the master and attached with the family. 3. Will act as a close companion to the master. 4. Good listening skill. 5. Self disciplined.
Purpose/Working Ability:
1. Amazing dog for guarding. 2. Used specially in the sheep and cattle herd ("Kedai/Mandhai" in Tamil). Not sure why these dogs are called as Mandai dogs(Might be Mandhai dogs?). Even today these pups are taken by sheepherding people from Ramnad dist to various places(particularly to Tanjore dist). 3. These dogs has the talent to control the flow of sheep herd("Mandhai" in Tamil) and align them in line. 4. During night halt in the farm lands, these dogs will acts as firewall against theft and wild animals like fox to protect the herd.
Food & Maintenance :
Simple area to explain smile emotion. No special care required. These guys will take any type of food(With better care we may get better result).