The four great national Vietnamese dogs are intelligent and agile dog breeds that become friendly friends at home.
Let’s learn more about them, including their origin, characteristics, and current price on the market.
Phu Quoc dog
Phu Quoc dog, also known as Phu Quoc Ridgeback, appeared about 400 years ago on Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. They are rare worldwide, with a vortex running along the back.
An adult Phu Quoc dog is about 35 – 40cm long. Their coat of vortex is hard, tends to grow back, and has a darker swirl color than on the body. Their vortices have various types but are symmetrical through the spine, and the vortex width is not over the back.
The feet of Phu Quoc dogs have a thin membrane like a duck’s, so they can swim without training.
These dogs are intelligent and sensitive, with the strength to move powerfully. However, this dog is quite aggressive, has a high hunting ability, and can hunt large prey.
Currently, the price of Phu Quoc dogs is in the range of 5,000,000 – 6,000,000 VND.
Bac Ha dog
Bac Ha dogs originate from the Northwest mountains, in the territory of Lao Cai province, Vietnam. The locals also call it the Vietnamese poodle. These dogs often guard houses or work as hunting ones for the H’Mong people, becoming lovely friends when traveling in the forest.
Bac Ha dogs are medium-sized, have a firm body, and move agilely on mountainous terrain. Their sensitive noses make them excellent hunting dogs.
Normally, an adult dog of Bac Ha will be about 50-60cm tall and weigh about 19 – 26kg for males and 16-23kg for females.
These dogs have long, thick, spiky coats resembling a lion’s mane. But not all Bac Ha dogs have a mane; the ones with the mane are more expensive. Compared with other dogs in Vietnam, the Bac Ha dog is wild and has high survival ability because it lives in the harsh environment of the high mountains.
These dogs are raised to keep the house and lead them to hunt. They are assistants and companions to the indigenous people here. This breed loves herds, likes to live in the highlands, and is flexible and quick-moving, suitable for all terrains. These dogs are always loyal and protect their owners exceptionally well.
One Bac Ha dog costs 600,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND, depending on age, feather color, and shape.
Jasmine dog
Jasmine dog, Chó Lài in Vietnamese, is known as the Indochinese Dingo, a purebred Vietnamese dog.
Many documents record that traces of this breed were found in the Indochina peninsula 6,000 years ago.
This dog often appears in Lao Cai and mountainous provinces in the Northwest Midlands to look after the house, take care of cattle, and support the owners’ travel to the forest.
For the Mong people, the Jasmine dog is their friend and spiritual support. The dog can go to the forest to hunt for food when needed. These dogs are brave hunters; they like to go to the forest to hunt wild animals, such as wild chickens and mice.
This kind of dog is intelligent and agile but also aggressive. It is incredibly loyal and uses its life to protect its owners from the dangers around them. Although the personality is a bit wild, if appropriately trained, this dog will be a great pet because of its good memory.
An adult Jasmine dog will be 45 to 65 cm tall and weigh 23 to 32 kg. However, a few old ones can weigh up to 40kg. Their bodies are longer in proportion to their height. Usually, male dogs are slightly larger than female ones.
One Jasmine dog, about two months old, weighing 5 to 7 kg, is sold for around 1,000,000 VND.
H’Mong Short-Tail dog
The Hmong Short-Tail dogs are a crossbreed between a jackal and a native dog. They live in the Northwest mountains, so their nature is very wild. The H’Mong have tamed them for hunting, looking after livestock, and housekeeping.
This dog type is, on average, 45-55cm tall and weighs 15-25kg. It was born in the wild, so it is highly resistant and can adapt quickly to hot or cold conditions.
The H’Mong Short-Tail is highly intelligent and has a good memory. They remember the roads very well, so they are often companions with the H’Mong people when hunting and traveling.
If you pay close attention when the Hmong dog is wary of something, the forehead will be wrinkled; otherwise, it will be very flat.
One short-tail dog of H’Mong costs from 500,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND.
Above are the four typical national dog breeds in Vietnam, known for their intelligence and royal qualities. They can become excellent companions for pet lovers- hopefully, you are one, too.
Finding extremely original Vietnamese dogs is rare because they are mixed. Despite that, each dog type highlights characters and appearance, which helps you find out which breed a dog belongs to.
You may choose one of them to train to become a friendly friend in your house, sharing your feelings and protecting you and your family members.
