Overview
The Rajapalayam is one of India's native sighthounds, a tall, lean, pure white dog bred around the town of the same name to hunt boar and guard property. Unlike many sighthounds it carries a strong protective streak, so it watches people as closely as it watches movement in the grass.
Very few live in Britain, and those that do are usually with owners who have brought them over or sought them out deliberately. Expect a dog that is devoted to its own household, cool with everyone else and quick to notice anything that runs.
Exercise and walking needs
Around seventy five minutes a day works for most adults, split between a steady lead walk and a chance to stretch out at speed somewhere enclosed. Like other sighthounds it prefers a short, hard run to a long trudge, and will happily sleep off the rest of the day.
The coat is thin and the body carries little fat, so in a British winter a coat for the dog is sensible on cold, wet days. In summer the pale skin can burn on the nose and ears if the dog lies out in strong sun.
On the walk
- Chasing: Cats, squirrels, deer and small dogs that bolt will all trigger a chase, and a Rajapalayam at full speed is out of earshot in seconds. Keep it on the lead anywhere that is not fenced.
- Strangers: Reserved and sometimes openly suspicious. Do not let passers-by pet the dog without the owner having shown you how it copes with that.
- Other dogs: Often standoffish and not a natural fit for a boisterous group walk. Walk alone or with one calm, familiar companion the owner has approved.
- Lead manners: Light on the lead most of the time, with sudden lunges when something moves. A harness with a front and back clip gives you more control than a collar on that long neck.
- Hearing: Some white dogs of this type are born with poor hearing. If the dog does not respond to your voice, use hand signals and a gentle touch rather than assuming it is ignoring you.
Tips for professional walkers
- Find a secure, fenced field for the running part of the walk and treat everything else as lead work.
- Check the hearing on the first walk by making a sound behind the dog while it is relaxed.
- Pack a warm coat for the dog in winter and sun protection advice from the owner for summer.
- Watch for cuts and grazes after running; thin skin on a sighthound tears easily on brambles and wire.
- Let the dog approach you rather than the other way round at pick-up, and keep greetings low key.
What to ask the owner
- Can the dog hear normally, and if not, what signals does it already understand?
- How does it behave around cats, livestock and small dogs, and has it ever caught anything?
- Where has the dog been allowed to run off the lead safely, and how reliable is it there?
- How does it respond to strangers approaching, and should you avoid busy streets altogether?