Fun Korean Jindo Facts For Kids

An independent, extremely loyal, and intelligent dog coming from the Jindo Islands in South Korea will be our topic of discussion today. The Korean Jindo is a rare breed of dog exclusively preserved by the laws in Korea. Initially, they were bred as hunting dogs; these dog breeds have grown to symbolize loyalty and excellent health for their proud owners. They are also known by other titles like Korean Jindo Dog, Jindo Gae, Chindo, and Jin Dog. They have solid prey drives, which are tamed by early conditioning and training with positive reinforcements. Being hunting breed, they have great agility and demand dedicated time from their owners for physical activities every day. They have a very high amount of shedding; hence takes a lot of grooming.

Read on, as not only will you learn more about the Jindo dogs here, but we have more fun content on the dog breeds from Japan right here with Shiba Inu facts and Kai Ken facts.

What type of animal is a Korean Jindo?

The Korean Jindo is a purebred dog breed indigenous to the Jindo Island, part of South Korea. Known to be loyal, active, and intelligent, these dogs are a heritage symbol for the Koreans. These dogs were bred to be hunt dogs to hunt wild boars, badgers, rabbits, and deer.

What class of animal does a Korean Jindo belong to?

The Jindo dogs belong to the class Mammalia. The distinction of class Mammalia is hair or fur and mammary glands. The live young are fed milk by the mothers from their mammary glands. These animals are ectothermic or warm-blooded. They also have very highly developed and complex brains compared to all the classes.

How many Korean Jindos are there in the world?

There is no specific study done to evaluate the worldwide population of the Korean Jindo dogs. Therefore, it can be safely deduced that the numbers are limited in their habitat range of South Korean Jindo Islands as the laws of the land strictly protect them. Breeders bring in a limited number of these dogs and are present in America.

In the year 2019, there were only two registered breeders actively associated with the Jindos breed and only 20 Jindos registered under the American Kennel Club.

Where does a Korean Jindo live?

The Jindo dog lives in the house of the pet owner. These dog breeds are known for their unconditional loyalty to their masters. They can get very attached to the family and quickly consider themselves part of the social setup in the master's house.

What is a Korean Jindo's habitat?

The habitat is the house of its master. This dog is well adapted for an apartment dwelling. Being low on the barking side, be rest assured not to be bothered by your neighbors to keep a check on your dog. This dog can handle cold weather very well as they are adapted physically with a double coat. But they are sensitive to heat, and they would require to be kept indoors on hot and humid days.

Who does Korean Jindos live with?

They live with the owner and the family. Their loyalty and dedication to their masters make them excellent guard dogs. Why fear when your Jindo is near! This dog breed is also known to assist the Korean army by being a guard dog at military bases. The pet owners need to commit themselves to mental stimulation and physical activity for the pets before owning a Jindo dog breed.

This dog breed is also less tolerant of being left alone. These dogs prefer being surrounded by their family all the time. They might get panic attacks if left alone.

How long does a Korean Jindo live?

The Jindos have a pretty long lifespan of 12-15 years. They are great companions for their pet owners. These dogs are mostly healthy, but there might be occasional health issues like hypothyroidism.

How do they reproduce?

The dogs reach reproductive maturity at six months, and copulation of the male and female during the estrus cycle of the female results in pregnancy. The gestation period for the dogs is about 63 days. The average litter size of the Jindos is four to eight puppies.

What is their conservation status?

It is a known fact that these Jindo dogs are very strictly protected under Korean laws. However, there are no specific indicators on their Conservation status and hence considered not evaluated. We can assume that being indigenous breed and being in limited number outside their home grounds, these dogs are rare to find.

What does Korean Jindo look like?

The Jindos have an athletic built with a medium-sized proportionate body. Females of these breeds are slimmer than males and have pointed features. The male is bulky and broad-built. They have furred ears with rounded tips. Tails are feathered, and they come with a double coat which is stiff outside and soft inside. Their coat comes in varied colors: red, black, and tan to white, gray, or even black.

How cute are they?

Their independent, conservative and social nature makes them adorable pets. They constantly develop ways to stick around their masters, which is an endearing quality proving their intelligence.

How do they communicate?

These loyal and affectionate Jindos express their love by wagging tails and coiling up their body near their masters. Jindos If you wish to handle two Jindos of same-sex at home as pets, be prepared for some aggressive behavior. Opposite-sex dogs are the best option to keep together. This breed of dog does not bark much unless put in an uncomfortable situation. So an incessant barking of a Jindo may be a warning sign. Their other modes of communication may include different types of vocalizations and body postures.

How big is a Korean Jindo?

The Korean Jindo can grow as tall as 21 in and is smaller than the Akita breed that grows as much as 27 in.

How fast can a Korean Jindo run?

This breed of dog is very swift on its legs. They can clock up to 35 mph (56 kph) while running. Their high prey drive and high energy levels make them very swift animals on foot.

How much does a Korean Jindo weigh?

The Korean Jindo can weigh a maximum of 60 lb. They are much heavier than the Shiba Inu that weighs only 24 lb maximum.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male dogs are called dogs, and females are called bitch. While breeding, the male is referred to as a stud and the female as a dam. The parents of a puppy are called sire and dame.

What would you call a baby Korean Jindo?

The young Korean Jindo will be called a pup, whelp, or puppy. A group of pups born at the same time to one mother is called a litter.

What do they eat?

The Jindos can be given high-quality dog food and home-cooked meals for a carnivorous diet. Corn should be avoided in their diet. The amount of food served should be carefully monitored based on the pet's build, size, activity levels, and metabolism. Overeating may cause concern for their health as they are prone to obesity.

Are they slobbery?

The Jindo dog is the least slobbery. They like to be around their masters by their bodies curled up in their vicinity. They are independent and calm indoors. If you are a hardcore cleanliness enthusiast, the Jindo is your best option as a pet.

Would they make a good pet?

High on intelligence and alertness, this Jindo, a great family dog, will make a smart pet for anyone. Their intelligence is evident in their problem-solving abilities, which can be tested by assigning complex tasks. They may not be an excellent option for novice owners. The Jindos do not warm up to strangers and may come across as aggressive if untrained. Regular health screening is advisable to keep them in good shape. They are not hypoallergenic.

Did you know...

The Jindo dog is protected under Korean Laws. Only the Jindos that are authentically born in Jindo Islands can be registered as a Jindo after a precise inspection by the Government of South Korea.

The Jindo dog is thought to be hydrophobic as per pet owners' experience. Some of them may be even afraid of rain.

A dedicated research institute for this dog breed in Korea is called The Korean Jindo Dog Research Institute.

A legend states that once three Jindo dogs overpowered a Siberian tiger all by themselves.

Getting your own Korean Jindo

These facts about the Korean Jindo dog must have intrigued you even further, and you may want to own one right away. Here is how to go about it and how necessary training will be for your puppy. You can get a puppy from online pet stores or any pet stores near you or even from rescue shelters by following their ads. The cost of the Jindo puppies can be anywhere between $800-$1000.

Although training is challenging for this dog, early initiations may help get them attuned to the proper behavior. Early obedience training is crucial, and one needs to be mindful not to be too harsh with the tones with these dogs. Positive reinforcement during training is the key. These dogs should be kept tight on a leash when outdoors, for they have a powerful prey drive. Create and do activities to pick up things easily during the training sessions, being an intelligent dog breed.

Comparisons with similar breeds

The Shiba Inu is a similar-looking dog breed to the Korean Jindo. But let's find out how they differ from one another. The Shiba Inu is more popular worldwide as compared to the Jindo dog. The Shiba Inu has a more cat-like look, whereas Jindos have a more dog-like appearance. The Shiba Inu is more aggressive than Jindos. In the activity levels, the Jindos score better than the Shiba Inus.

Comparing with the Akita breed, Jindos are more child and pet friendly and more intelligent. The Akita originated in Japan, whereas Jindos are indigenous to South Korea. The Akita is not suited for apartment dwelling, unlike Jindos.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals, from our American Akita fun facts and Chow Lab mix facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable korean jindo coloring pages.