Hawaiian Poi Dog

		Hawaiian Poi Dog
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Hawaii
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an extinct Pariah Hound. It came to Hawaii with the Polynesians during the first settlement over 1000 years ago. At one time, this breed was an important part of Polynesian life. The dogs lived among the tribes. Members of the female tribe cared for these dogs and even nursed Poi puppies, believing this would give them more protective instincts. The puppies were sometimes given as a gift to a baby at birth. If the child died, the dog was killed and buried with the child's body. If the child outgrew the dog, the dog's teeth were pulled and made into a collar for the child to wear, continuing to believe in "protection". The dogs were only fed poi, which is a granular paste made from taro root. This was done to fatten the dogs, as they were not only used as a companion, but were also eaten by the tribe. It was not uncommon for a dog to have slept with the children one night and been eaten as the main course the next. The vegetarian poi diet caused the dogs to become inactive and obese, and they were often found among the pigs. Over the years, this vegetarian diet changed the shape of the dogs' skulls. Heads became large and flat due to bone disuse caused by lack of chewing. These dogs eventually became very lazy, waddling around with distended bellies to be eaten at a moment's notice. It was said that they rarely barked and ran with the pigs. In the early 19th century, other dogs began to breed with the Hawaiian Poi Dog and the breed was no longer pure. Years later, a breeding program began at the Honolulu Zoo in an attempt to rebuild the breed. After 12 years of trying, it was deemed a failure and the program was abandoned.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an extinct breed. It was short-haired, with a coat of various colors. The body was low and barrel-shaped, with a destined belly and short legs. The head was large and flat due to the lack of mastication of its vegetarian diet.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was clumsy, but friendly and playful. It was said to be fat and lazy, and rarely barked. Poi dogs were fattened up to be eaten by the tribes in which they lived. Fed on a paste made from ground, cooked and fermented taro root, they were slow and not very intelligent. The Hawaiian Poi Dog loved to play with children, but they were too slow to catch the fruit the children would throw at them. Many times they ran with the pigs, which the tribes also ate, and acted more like pigs than dogs.

Hawaiian Poi Dogs were fed a vegetarian diet that made them obese and gave them distended bellies and slow minds. The bones in their heads became flat and increased from lack of chewing due to this diet.

They lived with their tribes, slept with the children, but were also eaten as a treat.

Hawaiian Poi Dogs were fat and lazy, waddling like pigs.

They were usually eaten before dying a natural death.

Height at withers approx. 36 centimeters.

Weight : The dogs were overweight, with distended bellies designed to be eaten.