Overview
The Kombai, sometimes spelled Combai, is an old working dog of southern India named for the town where it was bred. It hunted boar and deer alongside its people and guarded farms and homesteads in between. It is a strong, athletic dog with a short red or tan coat, a dark mask and a tail that carries high.
Unlike the slim Indian sighthounds, the Kombai is built for power and confrontation rather than pure speed. It is devoted to its family, suspicious of strangers and willing to use force if it judges that necessary. In Britain it is almost unknown, and any example you meet should be treated as an individual to assess carefully.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour to an hour and a quarter a day of purposeful walking, with time to trot and explore, suits an adult. The breed is tough and heat-tolerant, and copes with a British summer far better than with a wet January.
A long line in a quiet, open space gives the dog room to move without the risk of a loose, guarding-type dog meeting a stranger.
On the walk
- Strangers: The dog will place itself between you and anyone approaching, and will not take kindly to being touched by them. Keep encounters at a distance.
- Other dogs: Combative with dogs that challenge it, and quick to read a stare as a challenge. Avoid narrow paths and head-on approaches.
- Strength: Very strong for its size, with a low centre of gravity. A broad harness and a lead you can hold with two hands.
- Cold and wet: Short coat and little tolerance for standing around in the rain. Keep winter walks brisk.
Tips for professional walkers
- Have the owner hand you the lead on the first few visits so the dog sees the transfer of trust.
- Choose quiet times and rural routes where off-lead dogs will not come running over.
- Do not attempt to pick things out of its mouth or push it away from something it has claimed; distract and trade.
- Dry the dog and let it warm up in the van after a wet winter walk.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog react to visitors at home, and is that behaviour different in the street?
- Has it had any incidents with other dogs, and are there any it walks happily with?
- What is the owner's rule on strangers touching the dog, and how should you enforce it?