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.
1. 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. Its vortex coat is hard and tends to grow back, and its swirl is darker than on the body. The vortex has various types but is symmetrical through the spine, and its 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, and they run powerfully. However, they are pretty aggressive, have 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.
2. Bac Ha dog
Bac Ha dogs originate from the Northwest mountains in Lao Cai province, Vietnam. The locals also call them the Vietnamese poodle. These dogs often guard houses or work as hunting dogs for the H’Mong people, and they become lovely friends when traveling in the forest.
Bac Ha dogs are medium-sized, have firm bodies, and move agilely on mountainous terrain. Their sensitive noses make them excellent hunting dogs.
Usually, an adult dog of Bac Ha is about 50-60cm tall and weighs 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.
Depending on age, feather color, and shape, one Bac Ha dog costs 600,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND.
3. Jasmine dog
Jasmine dog, Chó Lài in Vietnamese, is known as the Indochinese Dingo, a purebred Vietnamese dog.
This dog often appears in Lao Cai, mountainous provinces in the Northwest Midlands, and along the Ma River. It can look after the house, care for cattle, and support its owners when traveling to the forest, becoming a friendly friend and spiritual.
The Jasmine dogs mix fox and local dog breeds, making their faces, mouths, and tails like foxes. Their popular feather color is dark yellow.
This type of Vietnamese dog is wild and aggressive, influenced by fox characters. Still, if appropriately trained, it will make a great pet because of its excellent memory.
An adult Jasmine dog will be 45 to 65 cm tall and weigh 23 to 35 kg. However, a few old ones can weigh up to 40kg. Their bodies are longer in proportion to their height, and male dogs are slightly larger than female ones.
One Jasmine dog, over two months old, weighing 5 to 7 kg, is sold for around 1,000,000 VND.
4. H’Mong Short-Tail dog
The Hmong Short-Tail dogs crossbreed between a jackal and a native dog living in the Northwest mountains, specifically in Bac Ha and Ha Giang.
These regions were home to many H’Mong people, who tamed this dog breed for hunting, caring for livestock, and housekeeping.
The first thing that becomes the highlight of this dog, like its name, is its short tail. Many nearly have no tails; some are 3 to 5 centimeters long. A few have tails from 8 to 15 centimeters, but not more valuable than the two others above.
Because it originated from the wild, this dog type is highly resistant and can adapt quickly to hot or cold conditions.
On average, a Hmong Short-Tailed dog is 45 – 55cm tall and weighs 15 to 25kg. It has three pure coat colors: black, brindle, or fawn. A few have white, but it’s rare.
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 with other types of dogs. Despite that, each dog type highlights its own character and appearance, which helps you determine 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.
