Santal Hound

		Santal Hound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			India
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
En français, cette race se dit			Chien de chasse Santal
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar			Santal-Hund
En español, esta raza se dice			Sabueso Santal
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd			Santal jachthond

The Santal Hound is an indigenous Indian breed with a slender, athletic body, short coat, and long, pointed muzzle. Used for hunting by the Santal tribe, it is renowned for its intelligence, tenacity, and loyalty, although it can be aloof with strangers. This ancient breed is genetically close to the indigenous dogs of Southeast Asia and Oceania. The Santal Hound takes its name from the Santal tribe, among whom it is found in the Hazaribagh district of northern Jharkhand. These tribes use it exclusively for hunting, both for subsistence and in a ritual context during the tribe's annual hunts, called Desom Sendra. These hunts are associated with the forest goddess Chandi and are reminiscent of those of the Arcadian huntress Diana and her hounds. The Santals call this dog seuta and kukur, and sometimes affectionately tuio, which means jackal. The presence of black or white coats in this dog can be considered a crossbreed and is absent in the pure type found in jungle villages. The dog is an affectionate member of the Santal family in Hazaribagh. The Santal dog, like other native breeds, is found among indigenous populations. Its range, like that of other ancient native breeds that contributed to the development of cereal crops and the formation of humankind, covers all temperate zones, although separated by vast stretches of land and sea that humans have traversed repeatedly for over five thousand years. The first animal domesticated by humans, the dog appears in similar indigenous forms among various tribal and primitive societies in these regions.