All About
Kombai Dog
A Comprehensive Guide to Indie Canine Friends Down South š¶ š¦“
All About Kombai Dog
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Indie breeds are often ignored for dogs that are recognized by pedigree breeding organizations such as the American Kennel Club. Dogs like huskies, saint bernards, and others are brought to India, where the climate is highly unsuitable for them to thrive, thereby shortening their lifespans and subjecting them to a myriad of health problems, physical and psychological. The abandonment rates of such high-maintenance breeds have skyrocketed during the Coronavirus pandemic; their upkeep costs a lot, and they are not meant to be indoor dogs, resulting in traits their owners did not sign up for.
It is a sad sight to look at such dogs being used as status symbols, while we have stellar and highly capable indie breeds living on the streets. But did you know indie dogs have different breeds too? Strays are ill-treated and shooed away like pests, poisoned and culled cruelly, reducing their individual breed population to the critically endangered list.
Insight into the Kombai breed: Origin and History
The Kombai were dogs meant for hunting and guarding since the olden days, and have proven their position by the heels of their owners dating as far as the 9th century. However, there are very few records of this and hence the Kombai can be traced back to the 15th Century using sculptures and scripts.
In historical times, Kombai were war dogs. If you visit the South of India, you will find temples decorated with sculptures of these beautiful beasts, often guarding their kings. In fact, there exists a hero stone dating back to 580 to 630 CE where a man and his dog named Kovvian have been inscribed about. The dog is shown to have erect ears and an open jaw ready to attack, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Kombai breed.
Alternative Names of Kombai Dogs
- Combai
- Pulicharal Kombai (a brindle color variant)
- Porru Kombai
- Indian bore dog
- Bore hound
Physical Characteristics
Since the traits of a true Kombai have been diluted over time, there are vague markers of the breed. Our guide will act as a standard for you to identify these dogs better.
- Colour and coat - The Kombai come in various shades of āredā, which essentially means brown. They can have spots, patches or patterns in rare varieties too. However, a true Kombai is a solid coloured dog with a black muzzle. Their fur is a single-dense-coat.
- Head shape - The head of a Kombai is large and broad in shape, almost like a blunt wedge. It is proportional with the body and is meant for mobility as well as strength. While running, the head bends low for extra speed. Their muzzle is often a gradient darker than the rest of the fur coat, sometimes black.
- Body and legs - The Kombai is a medium-sized dog with an athletic yet muscular body. Their expression has an alertness, pointed ears or not. The tails of Kombai can be of different types, from straight, to curved or curled. They are guard dogs and it shows in their stance of gait. The legs are meant for speed and agility like a Rhodesian ridgeback from South Africa. They are known for their striking appearance and make very handsome dogs.
- Ideal height and weight - The ideal male and female Kombai both are 40-50 cm in height, with a very minor difference. The weight of a male and female ranges between 25-30 Kg and 20-25 Kg respectively.
Lineage: Do they descend from wild dogs?
The other wild dogs, Dhole seem to be the common ancestor between Kombai and Pariah breed, sharing similar traits. However, even this is yet to be scientifically proven.
Why are the Kombai Critically Endangered?
The Kombai breedās bloodline has been diluted over centuries. Introduction of non-native breeds and neglect towards indie dogs are two of the biggest reasons why true Kombai are critically endangered.
Varieties of Kombai Dogs
- Porr Kombai: The Porr Kombai is a piebald variant, the only one with patches on two colour bases. Their name translates to āWar Kombaiā, aptly describing their historical role.
- Pulichral Kombai: The Pulichral Kombai is the rarest of them all, with a brindle coat that looks like tiger stripes. Their name also translates to ātiger raindropsā, referring to their coat pattern.
- Mandai or Ramanathapuram Kombai: The Mandai is the only Kombai that is of a grey coat with other colour variants and mixes. Native to Ramananthapuram, these dogs have very few records and are almost impossible to find today. As ancient war dogs, they are slightly larger than the normal Kombai.
Temperament
The Kombai are dignified yet of a nervous temperament, hence they need to be trained by someone who is confident, firm and gentle at the same time. Using harsh training does not work on them, so reward based treats are the best route. They can display aggression while training on hunting mode and towards unseemly strangers, but this is protectiveness and territorial rather than aggressive. They can be gentle with children and bonded members, so make sure to socialize them early.
Kombai are working dogs who need to be trained for agility, speed and bite work as they will make very successful security dogs. They are loyal to their owner and the family while displaying alertness and integrity when they guard the house or property. Kombai can be playful and make great companions for strong people who love a good workout with their pet to bond.
Kombai Bite Type and Jaw Strength
Undershot Jaw, Reverse Scissors Bite. In an undershot type of dog mouth, the lower jaw of the canine is positioned perceptibly longer than the upper jaw. A Reverse Scissors Bite is caused due to an undershot mouth, where there is no gap between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The Purpose of Kombai Dogs
Do Kombai make Good Family Dogs?
Kombai along with all indie breeds are safe around children and family if they are unprovoked. It is advised to socialise your dogs regularly with people and other dogs to help with their temperament. While introducing new children and babies to your Kombai, give them time and be patient. Teach children how to be gentle with your dog and not pull their ears or tail, as they may not understand how to treat them.
Above all, never leave your children unsupervised around your Kombai until youāre confident that they understand that a pet is not a toy to be pushed, bitten or treated roughly. Kombai are extremely loyal guard dogs; even with brute strength, they can be gentle towards children. Animals do not react without threats and only to defend or protect, so make sure you have the environment under control.
How Easily are Kombai Dog Trained?
They are excellent guard dogs, can be recruited in the police and defence services. As they are highly disciplined, training comes as second nature t o the Kombai. Eager to follow instructions and appease their owner, the Kombai are quick learners.
Grooming and Nutrition of Kombai Dog
Is Kombai the ideal dog breed for you?
Breeding Kombai Dogs
They attain sexual maturity between 6-10 months. Breeding true Kombai brings beautiful and healthy pups in a litter of 4-8 with unadulterated traits, but it is rare to find them today. Inter-breeding has mixed the bloodlines or diluted the characteristics, which is why they are critically endangered today.
Kombai puppies
Know Your Kombai: Facts and Tips You Need To Know!
- They are one of the most ancient Indian dog breeds, being our loyal companions since as far as the 9th-15th century.
- Kombai make loving house pets.
- These dogs are highly intelligent and display problem solving abilities such as tracking prey.
- They can make an ideal recruit in the defence and police forces.
- Being high drive working dogs, a Kombaiās self esteem is attached to their work. This means they need heavy exercise.
- To help your Kombai feel confident and secure, train them with rewards for good behaviour and seeking treats with positive affirmations.
- They are extremely regal and dignified, which means they can feel offended or hurt if spoken to/treated badly.
- If you earn the trust of a Kombai, they will guard you and your loved ones with their lives.
Kombai Dog FAQ
Kombai make excellent guard dogs due to their temperament, territorial nature, hunting instinct and chasing speed. They can be intimidating to strangers as they do not take kindly to intruders and will defend their territory.
The accurate speed of a Kombai dog has not officially been established. However, considering that they are hunting hounds, they possess extraordinary stamina and can reach high speeds to catch their target.
Kombai dogs have an undershot or a reverse scissor bite.
You can identify a Kombai with the help of the physical features mentioned in our article.
We would advise against feeding an indegineous dog breed Pedigree because processed food puts your dog in danger of becoming obese. Kombai can be fed home cooked food such as a mix of chicken and rice with broth, or any meat combination with an ideal ratio of bones and cartilage to chew on.
Kombai are native only to make excellent guard dogs due to their high prey and hunting instincts. They can be very adept trackers and hunters, making ideal picks for the police and security forces. They can also be helpful to protect plantations, livestock or large properties due to their alertness, bravery and drive.
Weād suggest that you adopt a Kombai puppy, as the locality of Kombai is filled with them. You can contact an NGO who will be able to help you. However, if you want a true Kombai, you can visit breeder farms in the Theni district who are attempting to revive the Kombai population.
No, they are not. Kombai dogs are short coat indie breeds that do not need much looking after, save regular feeding, exercise, and bonding. They do not need a professional for grooming as you could bathe and brush them yourself! They eat home prepared meals and donāt need expensive treats, unless you want to pamper them.
The Kombai is a low maintenance breed, just like all indie dogs. Since they are acclimatized to our temperature, terrain, humidity levels, and all other factors that could easily get foriegn breeds sick easily, Kombai are very less likely to fall sick. They donāt need frequent vet visits unless your Kombai seems to be in discomfort or pain. However, if you notice anything unusual such as the following, take your pet to the vet at the earliest:
- Discharges
- Fever
- Vomiting or bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Lack of stool
- Odd colored urine
- Excessive drooling and panting for prolonged periods
- Delirium or over-aggression
- Depression-like behaviour showing prolonged disinterest in eating or playing
- Unusual whining whining sounds
- Wounds or a limp
- Lumps under skin or bald patches
- Any apparent inflammation
- Ear infection
Like all house pets and dogs, it is essential to have your Kombai dogs vaccinated when you adopt them. This will ensure that they are safe against diseases such as parvo and rabies, while protecting yourselves and the people interacting with your dog, too. Make sure that you take your Kombai puppy or dog to a vet whenever you adopt them first to check for worms, ticks or any other underlying conditions. Donāt miss out on their vaccination shots!
If you have adopted a dog from a shelter, there is no sure way to determine their breed as true Kombai are rare. However, a lot can be said from where you adopted them from. True Kombai have gold eyes, a darker muzzle, and ridge running down their spine in the opposite direction, just like a Rhodesian Ridgeback. You can also check out the characteristics and physical traits referring to their physique to match features. It is common to find mixed traits at times due to interbreeding Kombai, so your dog may also possess certain degrees of Kombai breed genes.
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Venkatesh Krishna
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