Himalayan Sheepdog Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs for the Himalayan Sheepdog breed.

Himalayans are considered medium sized, with males at 21-24 inches at the shoulder and 60-70 pounds; females are 19-22 inches and weigh around 50-60 pounds.

If trained early the Himalayan will be gentle, loyal companions to their families. They should be an only pet unless kept separately. Members of this breed will be suspicious toward strangers and are good guard dogs.

This breed is very low maintenance if kept outside but will require more grooming, and hours of exercise, is kept inside. Training requires a stern, firm owner that can immediately establish themselves as the dominant party.

Members of this breed have long been guardians of cattle and flocks of sheep, as well as property. They can be found all along the Himalayan region in the area from eastern Nepal to western India, but there is a rare type that is golden in color found only in the Kumaon region of the range. Although appearing as a longhaired version of a Labrador, the Himalayan Sheepdog is much more closely related to the Tibetan Mastiff. Today they are still primarily found in their area of origin doing the same tasks. Many families keep this breed as a companion.

This breed is said to resemble a Labrador in appearance but with thicker body and longer hair. They have small, drooping ears and reddish-brown eyes that are deep, close-set,and slightly slanting. The coat is double layered with an immensely thick undercoat and a long, harsh outer coat; this is shorter on the legs but longer and feathered on the rear. They are, overall, firm and muscular dogs, not long and leggy, and with cat-like, compacted feet to canvas the mountainous terrain.

If living in the wild or doing work as a herding or guarding dog, Himalayans are said to be ferocious and aggressive (still less so than other Indian breeds). With their families they are quite the opposite; gentle, loyal and companionable. They have long been bred to guard flocks of sheep, properties and homes and do not do well spending most of the day indoors.

These dogs are rumored to be stubborn and independent and will require firm, stern training to show them you are the dominant pack leader.

This breed is healthy, overall, and will typically live around 10 years. Some common health issues for them include joint problems such as: hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and arthritis. Glaucoma is not uncommon either. Obesity and bloat are always concerns to those that let their dog eat unchecked. Note that dogs bred in India are prone to having ticks, worms or even mange so puppies should be checked thoroughly by a veterinarian.