Gaddi Kutta Dog Breed

The Gaddi Kutta is not an official member of any kennel club breed category, but since it is a Mastiff type, it would fit into the Working Group of breeds. These dogs have historically been utilized in India as multi-purpose work and guard dogs; as such, Gaddis are not suitable as family pets, but make great guardians of livestock and property--particularly in colder climates.

Some breed specifications: Gaddis are large-sized (height at the shoulders averages 26 inches, and weight 85 pounds), with thick, medium-length coats that normally come in various lighter shades of brown. Here are some good (and not so good) qualities of this powerful breed:

PROS:

• Intelligent
• Excellent herding abilities
• Calm and loyal with owners
• Terrific watch- and guard dog skills
• Responds well to training
• Adapts very well to colder climates
• Great strength, agility, and stamina for working long hours

CONS:

• Reserved around and aggressive toward strangers; Gaddi dog attacks are not uncommon
• Not good for families with children
• Often aggressive toward other dogs
• Can be stubborn and territorial
• Lots of indoor and outdoor living space required
• Not hypoallergenic; sheds quite a bit
• Socializes poorly with most other pets; best suited for "one-pet" households

This is considered a large size breed and there is quite a bit of variation in size. Males range anywhere from 22-31 inches in height and weigh in at about 88-99 pounds. Females stand within 20-28 inches and weigh 77-88 pounds.

Owners will find a loyal, calm and gentle pet in the Gaddi; depending on the owner's needs this dog can work intelligently with livestock or as a courageous guard dog. Strangers beware, the Gaddi Dog is reserved and potentially aggressive around strangers. The home environment of this breed should be a one-dog household as they can be territorial and aggressive towards other dogs and will not back down from a fight. They can be affectionate and protective of children but this is not an ideal match for a family with small kids simply because an aggressive Gaddi may unintentionally cause them harm if caught in the vicinity of a territorial dispute.

Gaddi Kuttas are moderate maintenance dogs. They will require a minimum of a weekly brushing and seasonal bathing along with at least monthly ear cleaning. If kept indoors, there will likely be a lot of vacuuming that will need to be done during shedding season due to this breed's medium length, thick coat. This is an intelligent breed that enjoys being useful and will pick up on concepts intuitively so they will need activity/play time. Gaddis are known for stamina and will enjoy daily long walks.

This breed is thought to have developed long ago when Indian king Mahidant of Meerut crossed local wild Mastiffs with Tibetan Mastiffs that were already an established hunting breed at the time. Long ago, these dogs were used for big game hunting to take down dangerous predators such as panthers; they were also shepherd dogs and livestock guardians of the Gaddi tribe originally. Today, still, they serve as shepherds, guides and protectors of the flock. Some Gaddis even deliver supplies over Himalayan terrain where people and helicopters cannot be effective due to the dangerously deep snow. Currently they are found in India and, in small amounts, in Pakistan.

This is a large, muscular breed built for power and stamina but are less bulky than the Tibetan Mastiff. They have a large skull, deep chest and straight back, making their large bodies quite proportional. Gaddis will usually have a dense, wooly undercoat and a medium length thick outer coat that is longer on the chest, legs, and tail to protect them from the unpredictable Himalayan weather; they are sometimes observed with shorter coats. The ears are typically cropped and the tail will curl over the back.

Gaddis are intelligent dogs capable of herding and penning livestock. Three to four members of this breed are powerful enough to guard a flock of 2,000 sheep; no wonder shepherds and tribes rest soundly knowing their companions are capable of fighting off the likes of bears and snow leopards! They are said to be intuitive enough to pick up on certain behaviors related to herding or following routes. Armies local to the Himalayas are utilizing these dogs to transport supplies to areas unreachable by helicopter or foot.

This breed is calm, gentle and loyal towards their owners and will courageously protect them until the end. To other dogs and strangers, however, they can readily be protective of their territory and aggressive. This is likely not a n ideal breed to share the house with small children; the Gaddi will not be rough towards them but in situations of aggression kids may be easily injured. Those seeking a guard dog or an owner with a one-pet household will find a good match in the Gaddi Dog.

No major health issues have been well documented for this hardy breed. Based upon the size bloat and hip dysplasia should be monitored for. Closely related breeds to Gaddi Dogs often develop arthritis. This breed will likely live up to 10-12 years.