Overview
The Jonangi comes from the lakes and coastal villages of Andhra Pradesh in south-east India, where it worked alongside duck farmers and fishermen. It is a medium-sized, short-coated dog with a wrinkled forehead and a yodelling voice rather than a conventional bark. Numbers have fallen sharply as duck farming declined and the breed is now very rare.
As a landrace rather than a kennel club breed, Jonangi vary in temperament, but accounts describe a dog that is devoted to one family, reserved with strangers, agile and fond of digging. In Britain you are more likely to meet an import or a rescue than a pedigree pup.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour and a half a day of active exercise suits a working-type dog like this. They are fast and tireless and enjoy variety, including water if the owner allows it. Long line walks across open ground with scent and movement to watch work well.
The short coat offers little protection in a British winter; a coat on cold wet days is a kindness.
On the walk
- Strangers: Expect reserve rather than friendliness. Let the dog approach you and avoid reaching over its head.
- Prey and chase: A dog bred to move ducks and catch small game will chase birds and small animals. Keep it on a line near open water and wildlife.
- Digging: Jonangi are known for digging pits to lie in. On a walk this means an interest in soft ground and holes.
- Other dogs: Variable. Some are sociable, others wary. Slow, side-on introductions and no forced greetings.
Tips for professional walkers
- Spend time with the owner and dog together before the first solo walk.
- Use a secure harness; a lean, agile dog slips a loose collar easily.
- Choose quieter routes while you learn its reactions to traffic, bikes and people.
- Write down what you learn about this dog; the owner may know as little as you do about the breed.
What to ask the owner
- What is the dog's background, and what has it already met on walks here?
- Does it chase birds or small animals, and has recall been tried anywhere?
- Does it feel the cold, and should it wear a coat on wet days?