Native American Indian Dog Breed

Though the Native American Indian Dog is not an official member of any breed category, it fits best with other breeds in either the Working group or the Herding group; dogs of this breed likely originated thousands of years ago, and were used as working animals with indigenous tribes worldwide. In modern times, NAIDs exist primarily as pets, and are social, playful companions for active families of any size.

Some facts about the Native American Indian Dog: members of this breed vary widely in size (they can be medium- to large-sized, with height at the shoulders ranging from 23 to 34 inches and weight from 55 to 120 pounds); their coats vary as well, and exist in both long- and short-haired varieties. Both coat variants are double-layered and harsh to the touch. Some advantages and drawbacks of owning this rare breed:

PROS:

• Good-natured and social
• Intelligent
• Responds well to training
• Extremely healthy and hardy
• Socializes well with children and other pets
• Low-maintenance overall
• Excellent watchdog abilities
• Enthusiastic and willing to please
• Playful and fun-loving
• Little grooming required
• Versatile and hard-working
• Long lifespan (14-19 years)

CONS:

• May suffer separation anxiety if left alone
• Fairly high exercise requirements
• May adapt poorly to warmer climates (particularly the long-haired variety)
• Doesn't socialize well with strangers
• Often mistaken for wolves; outdoor supervision highly recommended
• Rare, and thus hard to find/obtain

Size varies from medium to large; weight is 55-120 pounds, and height is 23-34 inches at the shoulders.

NAIDs are intelligent, active people-pleasers; their loyal and protective natures make them good watchdogs, and great family pets in general. These dogs are sensitive, and will prefer companionship, be it human or animal, as much as possible.

This breed is pretty low-maintenance and won't require much grooming or training.

While no one is certain of the true origin of the NAID breed, some experts believe it is descended from various wolf breeds (and possibly the wild Dingo of Australia, with which this breed shares much of its genetic material). Others posit that the NAID is a conglomeration of breeds descending from the dogs (possibly shepherds) European settlers brought with them while exploring North America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Native Americans, they say, bred the settlers' dogs with wolves and coyotes to create variants of the NAID as it is known today.

It is further disputed whether this breed is related to the Carolina Dog, another Dingo descendant that, interestingly, was discovered in the 1970s living in the wild in rural South Carolina. Still others claim that all NAIDs currently in existence descended from "designer dog" mixes developed in the late twentieth century by professional breeders, who were attempting to create breeds reminiscent of the dogs owned by Native Americans in centuries past. Whatever the case, the NAID is somewhat rare around the world; though the breed is recognized by various kennel clubs, it has not been acknowledged by official organizations like the AKC in the U.S., or England's UKC.

This breed has a harsh, double-layered coat that can either be short- or long-haired. Though individual NAIDs can vary in overall size, their bodies are generally a bit greater in length than in height. The head is somewhat large and oval shaped; the eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, and exist in shades of amber or yellow; the ears are high-set, triangular, forward-facing, and carried erect. The chest is of moderate width, the legs are medium-length and straight, and the tail is long, fairly thick, and is sometimes curved slightly.

In spite of its size and coat variations, the Native American Indian Dog breed has no specific sub-types.

There are two varieties of coat length for this breed. A Native American Indian Dog with short hair has thick, double-layered fur that is similar to a breed such as the German Shepherd; the long-haired NAID, meanwhile, has equally thick, longer fur similar to that of a Smooth Collie. In both cases, the coat is double-layered, with a dense, thick undercoat. Coat colors in both variants are bi- and tri-colored patterns, and include black, gray, silver, red, brown, and white.

Perhaps the greatest variation among dogs of this breed is in their size. Some NAIDs are medium-sized, and are as small as 23 inches at the shoulders in height and 55 pounds in weight; others grow as large as 34 inches in height and 120 pounds (or more!) in weight. While no scientific evidence exists to explain this size variation, canine experts contend that it's because NAIDs contain the genetic material of a number of differently-sized dog breeds, wolves, and even Dingoes.

Intelligent, affectionate, and sensitive, the NAID is an active, happy breed that responds very well to training. These dogs love to please their owners, and will make every effort to do so; they are also extremely loyal and protective, and thus will make great watchdogs. This breed is great for families with children, as one of its favorite activities is outdoor play. The typical NAID is very social, and dislikes being alone; these dogs may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods, which can lead to excessive barking or howling and destructive behavior. Experts contend that this breed does better when other pets are also in the home, as the companionship will ease the anxious tendencies.

Life expectancy is 14-19 years. This healthy and hardy breed has no known health issues.