Overview
The Taiwan Dog is the indigenous dog of Taiwan's mountains, a semi-wild hunting companion of the island's aboriginal peoples for thousands of years. It is a medium-sized, athletic dog with a short coat, pricked ears and a sickle tail, built to move fast through dense forest.
Many of the Taiwan Dogs in Britain arrived as rescues, often with a cautious start in life. The breed is famously loyal to its own people and reserved to the point of suspicion with everyone else. It is also a thinker, an escape artist and a hunter with a quick trigger.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour to an hour and a half of exercise a day keeps the body tired, though the mind needs more. Lead walks over varied ground, scent games and a little training along the way work well. Free running is only for secure spaces.
These dogs are agile enough to climb and jump out of fenced areas that would hold most breeds, so check the fence height and any gaps before letting one off.
On the walk
- Strangers: The dog is likely to shy away from people it does not know, and may bark or freeze. Do not let strangers reach for it, and give it room to move behind you.
- Prey drive: Cats, squirrels and birds will all be chased given the chance. Keep the lead short where wildlife is likely and expect a sudden lunge.
- Recall: Often poor, because the breed is independent and distrustful. Treat any off-lead time as a privilege earned slowly in a secure field.
- Other dogs: Wary of new dogs and quick to defend itself if crowded. Walk it alone or with dogs it already knows and trusts.
Tips for professional walkers
- Meet the dog several times with the owner present before walking it alone; trust is everything with this breed.
- Use a secure, escape-proof harness; a frightened Taiwan Dog can back out of a collar and vanish.
- Choose quiet routes and avoid busy parks at peak times, especially early in the relationship.
- Keep sessions calm; a primitive breed responds to patience, not to firm handling.
What to ask the owner
- Was the dog a rescue, and what is its history with strangers, handling and other dogs?
- Has it ever escaped a garden or slipped a collar, and what equipment do you trust?
- What are its known triggers, and how do you want me to respond if it panics on a walk?