Telomian

The Telomian is a type of dog found in isolated villages near the Telom River, in the rainforests of the Malay Peninsula. It is not a formal breed. Some breeders in the United States have sold Telomians as purebreds, but the Malaysian Kennel Association has stated that they are pariah dogs and not a breed.

History

The Orang Asli keep Telomians both as pets and for hunting. In the villages the dogs kill rats and snakes and are rewarded with food.

The anthropologist Dr. Orville Elliot sent a pair to the United States in 1963 to be studied by the dog researcher J. P. Scott. A second pair followed in 1973. Every Telomian in the United States descends from those four dogs.

Appearance

Telomians stand 38 to 48 cm tall and weigh 8 to 13 kg. They have upright ears, a curled tail and a short coat that is usually red or yellow. Color varies somewhat: some dogs are piebald, and a few have a black mask.

Temperament

Telomians are active, affectionate with people and terrier-like in temperament. They are known for their climbing. Their owners live in huts raised above the forest floor and reached by simple ladders, and the dogs climb them too. They can also catch their own prey.

The dogs have a call unlike that of other dogs, and females come into heat once a year, where most dogs do so twice.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.