Sapsali

The Sapsali, or Sapsal, is a shaggy-haired dog from South Korea that is traditionally said to ward off evil spirits. Its name means a dog that chases away evil spirits and misfortune. It turns up often in Korean songs, folktales and paintings, and has been called the Ghost Hunter, the Sunshine Dog and, for its big paws and shaggy coat, the Lion Dog.

History

The Sapsali is dated back to the Three Kingdoms period. During the Silla era it was bred mainly as a companion for aristocrats, and after Unified Silla fell it passed into the hands of ordinary people. A 300-year-old stone memorial in southeastern South Korea tells of a nobleman who fell asleep on a riverbank after drinking. Embers from his pipe set the brush on fire, and his Sapsali soaked its coat in the river and put out the flames, saving him at the cost of its own life.

Under Japanese rule the dogs were killed in large numbers so that their skins could be made into winter coats for the Japanese military in Manchuria. In the late 1960s professors at Kyungpook National University gathered about 30 dogs to preserve the breed, yet by the mid-1980s only eight were left. The geneticist Ha Ji-hong then rebuilt the breed, using DNA methods to re-establish it and to breed out congenital problems.

In 1992 the Sapsali was named one of the Natural Monuments of South Korea, which gives it protected status and funding as part of the country’s cultural heritage. The Korean Kennel Federation recognises it. There are now thousands of the dogs, and a Sapsali was the mascot of the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu.

Appearance

Males stand 51 cm tall and females 49 cm. The body is covered in long, thick hair that keeps out the cold. The coat may be black, gold, orange, brown, gray, blue or white, in a single color or a mixture. The ears hang down, and the muzzle is fairly blunt, not pointed like a Jindo’s. With its large head and raised tail, the dog has something of the outline of a lion.

Temperament

The Sapsali is described as bold, brave and loyal to its owner. It is also gentle and friendly, and is commonly kept as a household pet and used as a therapy dog.

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