Vietnam has four native dog breeds known as the “Four Great National Dogs,” which include: Bac Ha Dog, Lai Dog, H’Mong Tail-less Dog, and Phu Quoc Dog.
1. Bac Ha Dog
The Bac Ha Dog – one of the “Four Great National Dogs” – originates from the mountainous region of the Northwest, specifically Bac Ha in Lao Cai Province. This breed is also known as Vitespitz. Sometimes, it is generally referred to as fluffy dog or shaggy dog.
The Bac Ha Dog is also known as Vitespitz.
The Bac Ha fluffy dog is used by the H’Mong ethnic people for guarding homes, keeping watch, and hunting during long forest trips.
Overall, the Bac Ha Dog is a medium-sized breed, quite sturdy and powerful. The Lao Cai fluffy dog moves quickly and agilely even in rugged mountainous terrain and is very clever. They are sensitive to sounds, making them suitable for hunting or working dogs.
Like other standard dog breeds, purebred Bac Ha Dogs have a body length slightly longer than their height. Statistics show that an adult Bac Ha Dog typically stands between 50cm to 60cm tall, depending on whether it’s male or female. Females range from 50-55cm, while males range from 55-60cm. Their weight varies between 16-26kg, with females weighing between 16-23kg and males between 19-26kg.
One of the most striking features of this mountain breed is its long and thick fur. The name fluffy dog or shaggy dog comes from this characteristic. Some Bac Ha Dogs are particularly notable for having a thick, long mane that resembles a lion’s mane, forming a distinct collar of fur separating their body and head. The mane on males is always longer than that of females.
However, the number of Bac Ha Dogs with a mane is not large. This characteristic is one of the signs indicating a good Bac Ha Dog; naturally, it comes at a higher price.
Local people raise and use them during long trips.
The fluffy Bac Ha Dog has lived alongside the H’Mong people for generations in the rugged highlands of the Northwest. The harsh living environment has shaped the Bac Ha Dog’s wild nature and unparalleled survival ability.
Indigenous people raise them and use them on long journeys. Humans have turned them into close companions, guardians for personal safety, or reliable assistants in achieving remarkable feats during hunting trips. This closeness has tamed the breed’s wild nature, making them loyal and affectionate animals to the local people.
2. Lai Dog (Indochinese Dingo)
The Lai Dog (also known as the Indochinese Dingo) is a purebred dog originating from Vietnam. Some books record that over 6000 years ago, the Vietnamese discovered traces of this breed on the Indochinese Peninsula.
This breed is raised to help farmers guard their homes.
The Indochinese Dingo is most commonly found in the midland regions of Northwest Vietnam, particularly in Lao Cai and mountainous areas. This breed is raised to assist farmers in guarding homes, herding livestock, and going into the forest.
For the H’Mong people, the Lai Dog serves as both a friend and a valuable emotional support. When food is scarce at home, the Dingo goes into the forest to hunt, bringing food back to its owner. Perhaps because of this, the breed has long been considered valuable and is one of the “Four Great National Dogs” in Vietnam.
The Lai Dog is known for being very intelligent, quick, and somewhat aggressive. They are extremely loyal to their owners, always striving to protect them from surrounding dangers.
The Lai Dog is very intelligent, quick, and somewhat aggressive.
In the past, the H’Mong people raised Lai Dogs as true hunting dogs. They would go into the forest to hunt various animals such as wild chickens, mountain rats, and squirrels, bringing back the catch to their owners. They could also serve as “decoys,” herding animals and snakes into the hunter’s line of fire. When a prey was caught, the Lai Dog would bark to signal its owner.
Back then, the Lai Dog was like a “brave hunter”, playing an important role in the lives of the H’Mong people. However, nowadays, this breed has gradually lost its hunting instincts and has become friendlier and more obedient.
If the wild nature of this breed is trained correctly, it can become a tremendous source of strength. They are excellent at remembering paths and rarely get lost. When performing tasks like guarding homes, the Lai Dog is very focused and has an extremely quick reaction time.
3. H’Mong Tail-less Dog
Today, many people rush to buy expensive imported dog breeds like Husky, Alaska, Pitbull, and Golden Retriever, forgetting that our country also has a breed that is very intelligent, beautiful, and possesses many valuable qualities. This is the H’Mong Tail-less Dog, one of the precious Four Great National Dogs of Vietnam.
H’Mong Tail-less Dogs live scattered throughout the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam.
The H’Mong Tail-less Dog is the result of breeding between wild dogs and local dogs. They are found scattered throughout the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam. Because they live in remote, uninhabited areas, H’Mong Tail-less Dogs have retained the wild nature of their wild ancestors.
When the H’Mong ethnic group migrated to this region, they discovered these dogs and began to domesticate them primarily to assist in hunting, herding livestock, or guarding homes.
The H’Mong Tail-less Dog is considered to be a medium-sized breed, with an average height of an adult ranging from 45-55cm and a weight of 15-25kg. Typically, males are slightly taller and heavier than females.
They rarely get sick, and if they do, they recover quickly.
Born and raised in the pristine mountainous area of Northwest Vietnam, the H’Mong Tail-less Dog possesses excellent natural resistance. They rarely fall ill, and if they do, it is usually a mild case that resolves on its own. Additionally, the H’Mong Tail-less Dog adapts well to various climatic conditions, from sweltering summer days to bone-chilling winters.
From birth, the H’Mong Tail-less Dog shows innate intelligence and excellent memory, making training quick and easy. Their most outstanding trait is their exceptional orientation and memory skills, thus making them indispensable companions for the H’Mong people whenever they venture into the forest for hunting or gathering.
4. Phu Quoc Dog
The Phu Quoc Dog (also known as the Phu Quoc Ridgeback) is a rare breed of dog in Vietnam.
The Phu Quoc Dog has existed for quite a long time, approximately 400 years ago on Phu Quoc Island. The question of their origin has always sparked much debate. Many countries claim that the Phu Quoc Dog originated from their territory, notably Thailand and France.
The Phu Quoc Dog has existed for quite a long time, approximately 400 years ago on Phu Quoc Island.
The Phu Quoc Dog is one of the three rare Ridgeback dogs in the world (along with the Thai Ridgeback and the South African Ridgeback). Besides the prominent feature of the Phu Quoc Dog, which is the ridge of fur running along its back, they also possess several distinctive characteristics that make it easy to identify purebred Phu Quoc Dogs.
The ridge of fur on the Phu Quoc Dog resembles a small sword, measuring about 35-40cm in length and 3-5cm in width, depending on the individual. The sword’s tip points towards the tail, while the hilt rests on the shoulder. The ridge fur is quite stiff, tends to grow backward, and converges in the middle. The color of the ridge fur on the back is darker than the main coat color, making it easily visible to the naked eye.
The Swirls of Phu Quoc Dogs Come in Various Shapes such as arrows, leaves, and lyres. However, they must be symmetrical along the spine and not wider than the back. Phu Quoc dogs also have swirls in other areas, particularly on the neck and sides of the hips. The characteristic swirls are crucial in selecting a standard Phu Quoc dog.
Phu Quoc dogs can swim independently from a young age without the guidance of their owners.
Phu Quoc Dogs Have Unique Legs with a Thin Membrane Between Their Toes. This structure is similar to that of duck feet, which may explain the exceptional swimming ability of this breed. They can swim on their own from a young age without needing owner guidance.
The legs of Phu Quoc dogs are straight and parallel. The hind knee is positioned lower than the front knee, facilitating acceleration while hunting prey.
Phu Quoc Dogs Have a Compact Body Structure. When fully grown, females stand about 48-52 cm tall and weigh 12-18 kg, while males reach about 50-55 cm and weigh 15-20 kg. They are smaller in stature compared to the Thai Ridgeback breed, with a rectangular body shape.
Their abdomen is deep, while the chest is wide and muscular. Adult dogs have a chest depth reaching the front elbow. Their ribs are strong and closely spaced.
In addition to intelligence, Phu Quoc dogs possess good physical strength, sharp reflexes, and endurance when hunting. They are very quick and agile, unafraid of heights, capable of climbing and jumping well, and excel at swimming.
Phu Quoc dogs can be quite aggressive and alert. They may be friendly and affectionate with family members but are never so with strangers. Although they can bite, it is rare and only occurs when they sense danger from a person.
This breed has exceptional hunting abilities. Livestock and poultry are easy targets for them. Additionally, Phu Quoc dogs can hunt larger prey such as deer and wild boars. Once they have spotted their target, they typically corner it against a wall and will not give up without a command from their owner.
