Chippiparai Care

The Chippiparai (sometimes called the Tamil Greyhound, and nicknamed the "Chippi" for short) is a tall, thin, medium-sized breed native to India. These dogs, which are extremely rare, are sighthounds blessed with great speed, and are similar in build to the Saluki (the breed from which they're descended); they're also independent and aloof in temperament. Overall Chippiparai care and maintenance won't take a ton of work, but will need to include a lot of exercise and some early socialization.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Chippiparai, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. Get answers to your questions about raising a Chippiparai in the following sections!

These dogs are incredibly athletic, so Chippiparai exercise requirements are pretty high. As an intelligent, task-oriented hunting breed, Chippiparais will need activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make excellent jogging and bicycling companions as well.

Adult Chippiparais will need an hour at the very least of dedicated exercise each day. You can start exercising your Chippiparai puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Chippiparai exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're a year old
• High prey drive means a leash is required when exercising in public
• Strong wandering tendencies; yards should be securely fenced to keep the dog from escaping
• Might get cold easily; don't exercise in freezing temps

Exercising your Chippiparai every day is a must. Without consistent activity, these energetic dogs will become frustrated, disobedient, destructive, and even aggressive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few Chippiparai exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Good indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
• Canine Sports: Chippiparais can be fantastic competitors in agility trials or lure coursing
• Hunting: Puts these dogs in their natural element
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, give your Chippiparai access to balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

These dogs don't need much maintenance overall. Chippiparai shedding is pretty minimal, and drooling is a minor issue.

Chippiparais have short, smooth coats that, while shedding year-round, don't shed heavily at all. Owners can brush their Chippiparais once or twice a week with a bristle brush to keep the shedding to a minimum. Hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will rarely be required.

And a Chippiparai might drool a bit in anticipation of food, after drinking water, or when especially excited or nervous--but the drooling won't be heavy or frequent like that of a Saint Bernard or Bloodhound. If your Chippiparai is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Chippiparai diet will need to include animal proteins, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Chippiparai dog food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

These thin, athletic dogs will do best with high-protein formulas. Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Victor are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of high-protein dry food.

Adult Chippiparais, depending on their size and age, will need about three cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Chippi puppies will need a bit less: depending on age, about two cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For more info on feeding a Chippiparai puppy or adult, see the following chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. While not especially prone to obesity, if constantly overfed (and under-exercised) these dogs certainly can become overweight--and a fat Chippiparai will have numerous health problems and a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Chippi's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Chippiparai is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't easily feel ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!