TiffaniKellum at 13:31, 30 May 2026

2026-05-30T13:31:48Z

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{{Short description|Nepalese working dog breed}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name = Himalayan sheepdog
| image = File:2. Himalayan sheep dog.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = A Himalayan Sheepdog
| altname = {{Plainlist|
* Bhotia
* Nepali Mastiff
* Nepali Sheepdog
* Himalayan Mastiff
}}
| nickname = {{Plainlist|
* Bhote Kukur
* Himalayan Sheepdog
}}
| country = [[Nepal]]
| maleweight = {{right|{{cvt|30|-|40|kg|lb|round=5}}}}
| femaleweight = {{right|{{cvt|25|-|35|kg|lb|round=5}}}}
| maleheight = {{right|{{cvt|61|-|71|cm|in|round=5}}}}
| femaleheight = {{right|{{cvt|58|-|69|cm|in|round=5}}}}
| coat = Long, thick and harsh double coat
| colour = Black, solid black, tan or some white markings on the extremities
| litter_size =
| life_span = 
| kc_name = International Kennel Club
| kc_std =
| kc2_name =
| kc2_std =
| fcistd =
| notrecognised =
| extinct =
| note =
}}
The '''Himalayan Sheepdog''' ({{langx|ne|भोटे कुकुर|Bhote Kukur}}), known locally by various names including '''Bhotia''' and '''Bangara''', and sometimes called the '''Himalayan Mastiff''', is a large Nepalese breed of [[livestock guardian dog]] native to the [[Himalayas]] of [[Nepal]]. According to the [[Kennel club|International Kennel Club]], male Himalayan Sheepdogs stand 24–28 inches (61–71 cm) tall and weigh 30–40 kg (65–90 lb), while females stand 23–27 inches (58–69 cm) tall and weigh 25–35 kg (55–75 lb).<ref>{{Cite web |title=International recognition of Bhote dog of Nepal |url=https://ekantipur.com/news/2025/03/14/en/international-recognition-of-nepals-bhote-dog-04-59.html |access-date=2026-05-30 |website=Ekantipur |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhote Kukur Club of Nepal |url=http://www.bhotekukurkennel.com.np/ |access-date=2026-05-30}}</ref>

== History ==
Tracing back to ancient times, Himalayan sheepdogs were guardians and companion for shepherds as well as Nepalese monasteries.<ref name=":0" /> Due to the decline in nomadic lifestyles, the population has also been in decline, though there are still dedicated breeders and enthusiasts working to preserve and promote the breed.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luitel |first=Radha |date=2023-11-18 |title=Coming from Sikkim to breed pure breed dogs |url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/35091 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=The Rising Nepal}}</ref> The breed is recognized by [[Kennel club|International Kennel Club]] under the name "Bhote Kukur."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-03-11 |title=Breed Recognised (BHOTE KUKUR) |url=https://www.ikcworld.org/2025/03/11/breed-recognised-boeta-kukur/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=International Kennel Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Gaddi Face profile.jpg|thumb|Gaddi Puppy 10 months]]
Closely related to the slightly larger [[Tibetan mastiff]],<ref name="Morris" /><ref name="Soman" /> Himalayan sheepdogs are distinguished by being more protective against people.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dawydiak |first1=Orysia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d8SaDwAAQBAJ&dq=himalayan+sheepdog&pg=PT68 |title=Livestock Protection Dogs, 2nd Edition |last2=Sims |first2=David |date=2019-05-17 |publisher=Dogwise Publishing |isbn=978-1-61781-253-8 |language=en}}</ref> There are subtypes of the breed found in the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon hills]] and [[Chamba district|Chamba]]; the former, which is known as the cypro kukur or kumaon mastiff, is brindle, rich golden brown or black in colour, the latter is smaller than most of the breed and resemble a larger, longer-haired black [[Labrador Retriever]].<ref name="Hancock" /><ref name="Soman" /> [[Bhutan]] is home to a larger variant of the Himalayan sheepdog, known there as the "Bhutia Sheepdog."<ref name="Morris" />

==Description==
[[File:Himalayan sheep dog 2.jpg|thumb|A light colored Himalayan sheepdog walking]]
[[File:Bakarwal gaddi.jpg|thumb|Bakarwal (brown) female - 5 years old and Gaddi puppy (black and tan)-10 months old.]]
[[File:View of Himalayas with dog.jpg|thumb|Himalayan Dog]]
Himalayan sheepdogs are found in the Himalayas from [[Kashmir]] to eastern [[Nepal]].<ref name="Hancock">{{cite book |last=Hancock |first=David |title=Dogs of the shepherds: a review of the pastoral breeds |date=2014 |publisher=The Crowood Press Ltd |isbn=978-1-84797-808-0 |location=Ramsbury, Wiltshire |pages=14 & 32}}</ref><ref name="ggg">{{cite book |last=Rajeshwari |first=Y. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=59as4kF7D4gC&pg=PA93 |title=Handbook on Care and Management of Laboratory and Pet Animals |publisher=New India Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=9788189422981 |pages=93}}</ref><ref name="Fogle">{{cite book |last=Fogle |first=Bruce |author-link=Bruce Fogle|date=2009 |title=The encyclopedia of the dog |location=New York |publisher=DK Publishing |page=384 |isbn=978-0-7566-6004-8 }}</ref><ref name="Morris">{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Desmond |author-link=Desmond Morris |title=Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds |date=2001 |publisher=Trafalgar Square Publishing |isbn=1-57076-219-8 |location=North Pomfret, VT |pages=404–405}}</ref><ref name="Soman">{{cite book |last=Soman |first=W.V. |title=The Indian dog |date=1962 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Mumbai |page=73}}</ref> The breed is primarily used as a livestock guardian dog, protecting flocks of [[yak]] and [[sheep]] from various predators, and as a property [[Guard dog|guardian dog]]; unusually for a livestock guardian, the breed is also used to assist with herding.<ref name="Fogle" /><ref name="Hancock" /><ref name="Morris" /><ref name="Soman" /> They may also be used to assist in hunting.<ref name="Soman" /> Himalayan Sheepdogs are especially adapted to high altitudes,<ref name="ggg" /> and the breed's double coat is typically harsh and thick and they are usually black and tan or solid black with some white markings on their toes, chest and neck. They have small drooped ears and a heavily plumed tail that is curled over their back.<ref name=Soman /> The breed has a distinctive deep bark.<ref name=":0" />

Feral Himalayan sheepdogs compete with [[Snow leopard|snow leopards]] in the Himalayas, particularly in [[Gangotri National Park]], as both share prey including the [[bharal]]. This has threatening the food chain and the survival of snow leopards, which are already classified as vulnerable. The problem is worsened by the growing population of these dogs, many of which hunt in packs and often supplement their diet from human scraps, creating further ecological imbalances.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kotnala |first=Abhyudaya |date=2019-03-06 |title=Snow leopards in higher Himalayas at risk as aggressive sheepdogs kill their prey |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/snow-leopards-in-higher-himalayas-at-risk-as-aggressive-sheepdogs-kill-their-prey/articleshow/68276940.cms |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>[[File:Canis lupus familiaris - 1870 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ22300204.tif|thumb|Himalayan dog, 1870]]

In 2005 the Himalayan sheepdog was one of four dog breeds featured on a set of [[postage stamp]]s released by the Indian [[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]] to celebrate the country's canine heritage.<ref name=Upadhye>{{cite news |last=Upadhye |first=Aishwarya |date=1 February 2019 |title=The comeback of Indian native dog breeds |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/the-comeback-of-indian-native-dog-breeds/article26149887.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai |access-date=28 July 2020 }}</ref>

A stray Himalayan sheepdog mix achieved the highest known altitude scaled by a dog after accompanied mountain climbers to the summit of [[Baruntse]] at {{Convert|7129|m|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Hugh |date=2019-03-08 |title=Stray dog tags along to conquer Nepal peak |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/stray-dog-tags-along-to-conquer-nepal-peak-jf3v27lbk |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-10 |title=Dog makes record climb of a 23,497-ft Himalayan peak |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2020/07/03/dog-mera-himalayan-peak-climb.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Onmanorama |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Portal:Dogs|Dogs portal]]
* [[List of dog breeds]]
* [[List of dog breeds from India]]
* [[Kuchi dog|Kuchi]]
* [[Kukur Tihar]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Chinese dogs}}
{{Indian dogs}}
{{Livestock guardians}}

[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Asia]]
[[Category:Livestock guardian dogs]]

Himalayan Sheepdog - Revision history

TiffaniKellum at 13:31, 30 May 2026