Telomian Dog Breed

Below are some quick specs regarding the Telomian breed.

The Telomian was bred to be highly effective at killing common house pests. Since they were bred in the jungles of Malaysia, their natural instincts are to hunt and kill mice and snakes that are in the home or around the property of his/her owners. Due to their strong prey drive, Telomians will make chasing a critter his/her top priority, even if it is against the will of their owner.

Telomians are also known for alerting their family of any possible threats. This trait is likely developed from generations of alerting their owners of any nearby poisonous animals, snakes, and dangerous animals in the jungles of Malaysia. Another unique trait to the breed is the use of its paws. Telomians have excellent paw control and will use them to hold objects, food, and toys. Many believe this trait is directly related to the breed's learned skill of climbing the short 6-8 foot ladders to their owner's home in Malaysia (it was considered foolish to build your home on the jungle floor due to the high risk of snakes and wild animals entering your home during the night hours).

The Telomian was originally bred by the Orang Asli to aid in hunting and to control small vermin in the jungles of Malaysia. The Telomian would enter the house before it's owners and would alert them if any snakes, vermin, or critters were present. Vermin control was a common concern for the indigenous people as the jungles contained a large population of mice, snakes, and pests. It was common for people to build their huts 6-8 feet off the ground to help reduce the frequency of pests. This forced the Telomian to adapt to climbing the ladders which helped the breed develop extraordinary paw control which is still common in the breed today. It is not uncommon to see Telomians confidently hold toys, food, and even open doors with their paws.

Due to the rareness of this breed, they were not discovered until 1963 when Dr. Orville Elliot found them near the Telom river (which is what the breed is named after). A pair of Telomians were brought to the United States after discovery and a second pair was imported in 1973. It is believed that all Telomians in North America are directly descended from the original two pairs imported in the 1960's and 1970's.

Telomians were the first and are still the only Malaysian dog breed to be bred outside of Malaysia.

The Telomian is a small dog breed with a short smooth coat. They resemble many other common wild dogs such as the Dingo. Their small size makes them quick and agile (ideal for catching vermin). Telomians will have a black or blue tongue (similar to the chow chow and other ancient Asian dog breeds).

Telomians are extremely intelligent and adaptable dogs. They have a strong prey instinct and enjoy running and playing so they enjoy games that require this skill such as searching for a treat and any type of chasing game like fetch, frisbees, chasing balls, etc.

The Telomian is an extremely alert breed. They have an unusually high intuition for danger (most likely a trait developed living the jungles of Malaysia) and will alert their owner of any possible threat that makes them feel uneasy. This trait makes them an extremely effective watch dog.

Telomians have a unique howling sound instead of a bark (similar to the Basenji and the New Guinea Singing Dog).
Since Telomians were bred from wild dogs, they aren't as fully domesticated as many modern dogs. Because of this, it's important that puppies have as much interaction time with people as possible (starting at four to five weeks of age). Telomians who are introduced to people too late will remain independent and distant from their owners and will be unable to adjust to new situations.

Once a Telomian is socialized they become very loving dogs with a strong desire to please their master. Their charming personality and obedience will win the heart of every Telomian owner. If not, then their unique ability to make faces and use their paws as hands will set them apart from other dogs.

Unlike other dogs, Telomians can fend for themselves and will often catch small prey to eat if they are unfed by their masters.

Since the Telomian is a rare dog breed, little is known about potential health issues.