Himalayan Sheepdog

The Himalayan Sheepdog is a breed of herding dog. These dogs are of Nepali origin and are a very rare breed. They are not very noticeable in regions around the world these dogs are also called the Bhote Kukur. The Himalayan Sheepdog is very similar in appearance to the Newfoundland dog and even the Tibetan Mastiff dog. These dogs make very good work dogs and are loyal companions. They are rather large in size and have often been compared to mountains bears. This dog has a bark loud enough to scare any unknown strangers far away from their herds. This breed is very protective and will sincerely watch over their herd without allowing anyone near them. These dogs are territorial and will make good watch dogs. These dogs are only found in the Himalayas and are not seen in other parts of the world. They are not used as house pets and are more suited as a working breed.

The Himalayan Sheepdog is primarily white in color. They can come in variations of fawn, brown and off white. They are not always seen in a solid color and can come in a bi colored combination. They have a double layered coat that is weather resistant. They have a dense and thick, furry outer coat which is coarse to touch. The under coat is made of considerably finer hair that is not as dense. The Himalayan Sheepdog is most comfortable when outdoors and can withstand great variations in temperatures, even surviving intensely cold snow storms. There are fairly large in size and stand anywhere between 66 to 82 cms tall. A fully grown Himalayan Sheepdog should weigh 28 to 38 kgs. The females are usually lighter and shorter than the male dogs.

This dog is very easy to groom as they are very self sufficient. They will shed their thick fur once a year. Their tails are very bushy and obvious feathering is noticed. Their tails are slightly curved and held quite high at all times. Their feet are thickly padded making it easy to walk in the snow capped mountains of their origin. This dog is considered to be quite a hairy breed with a well proportioned body. Their limbs are very muscular and well suited for life outdoors. They usually have black noses that are not very powerful. They have considerably small eyes with an intelligent expression.

The Himalayan Sheepdog is a guardian dog used mainly for flock and livestock. These dogs are not even tempered and can very ferocious in their temperament. They are very well suited for family life and will make excellent watch dogs not allowing strangers into the house. They are quite stubborn and can be disobedient to a certain extent. They are a strong willed breed and are very powerful dogs. They are very healthy dogs with not many diseases plaguing their life. In the mountains they have a reduced life expectancy due to the harsh living condition. Their normal life expectancy is anywhere between 10-13 years.