Miniature Poodle vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison

The Poodle is no stranger to the dog world and has been a familiar face in Western Europe for hundreds of years. Though they have lived in Europe for centuries, their origins are unsure, with some saying they hail from Germany and others say France.

The Miniature Poodles have been used in both countries as gundogs for water birds.

They have always been admired for their intelligence, and Miniature Poodles are believed to have been bred from Standard Poodles. It is interesting to note the 3 official sizes of the Poodle are Toy, Miniature and Standard – all considered one breed and judged according to the same written standard, just with different size requirements.

The Chippiparai is a working dog found in India and until recently there has been little interest in the purity of any breed, but rather only an emphasis on the abilities of the dog. They are only beginning to research the origin and history of their native dogs such as the Chippiparai. Not much is known about the origin of the breed except that it is found almost exclusively in Tamil Nadu and Keraia in the southern part of the subcontinent of India. Other than this there is much speculation about the breed’s origin but very little-known facts. It is indeed an ancient breed; however, its origin could be thousands of years ago or simply hundreds of years ago.

The speculation on the beginnings of the Chippiparai include:

• Perhaps it is a descendant of the Saluki as it resembles this breed quite a bit. It has been believed for some time that the Saluki is the original sighthound and the source of all sighthound breeds. The Saluki was very popular in the Middle East, especially in Persia and Arabia from which it could easily have spread to India. It would then have been shared from Northern India to Southern India where the Chippiparai is found.

• Perhaps the Chippiparai is a descendent of sighthounds from Central Asia and Afghanistan – the Tazi, Taigan, Hortaya Borsaya or the Afghan Hound. This part of Central Asia had more trade, influence and contact with the Indian subcontinent early in their history than with any other region. The Chippiparai is considered by some to be more like these sighthounds than like the Saluki and the interaction between these regions has a much longer history than the Middle East and India.

• It is also speculated that the Chippiparai might have been developed completely and uniquely from the local street and working dogs. With the civilization of India being one of the oldest in the world, it is considered a possibility that the Chippiparai is the descendent of the Harappan hunting dogs that probably were developed by the Indus Valley or Harappa roiling class.

Wherever the Chippiparai came from, they were the exclusive property of the wealthy and ruling castes. These upper castes were the only ones that could legally hunt with dogs or afford to feed one. The royal classes of Tiruneivell, Thanjavur, and Madurai all fed the popularity of the breed among the upper castes. They were coursing dogs used to chase down the prey once it was sighted. The Chippiparai are incredibly fast runners and would catch almost any prey and either hold it or kill it for their hunter. The Chippiparai, when not hunting, had to be chained so they would not chase any small animal that they saw. This confinement also added to the purity of the breed as random breeding was prevented.

The southern part of the Indian subcontinent is extremely hot with routine temperatures over 100’. The Chippiparai was developed to withstand these extreme temperatures and is more heat tolerant than most any other breed. They also need very little food and are resistant to the many parasites and diseases found in southern India.

Harboring the belief that Indian dogs were not as good as European ones, the occupying countries of Portugal, France, and Britain, had no interest in the Chippiparai, again leaving the breed to develop naturally on their own with little or no interbreeding. They also received no formal recognition because Indian culture only valued the dog for its working abilities. There was no Indian Kennel Club until 1956.

The Chippiparai is now very rarely and only found in the area of its birth. Many believe the breed is in danger of becoming extinct and even though it is now registered with Indian Kennel Clubs it is not often shown in their dog shows. Lovers of the breed are now attempting to get Indians to recognize that the Chippiparai is a great companion animal and attempting to save the breed.

With good care the lifespan of the Miniature Poodle is 14 – 16 years of age. This purebreed dog is small, standing at 28 – 38cm in height and weighing 7 – 8kg.

The coat is typically curly, springy and dense. Colors of the coat can be cream, beige, silver, black, brown or apricot. They are low shedding dogs and are regarded as being hypoallergenic. The ears are floppy and the tail is usually docked to give the dog a nice, compact look.

Temperament:

The Miniature Poodle is intelligent and learns easily, so you won’t have any trouble with training him and having him socialized.

He is a lively dog and loves a game and a walk, loving as much time as possible spent with his human family. He gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are not overly-friendly with strangers, and therefore make excellent watchdogs. They’re the kind of dogs who need both physical and mental stimulation though, and he won’t be content to be left and ignored – after all he counts himself as a member of your family! They make wonderful pets, being playful and energetic and loving water, always ready to swim with you.

The Chippiparai is a typical sighthound although their size and appearance will vary more than that of registered purebred sighthounds. Typically, they will have a long, domed head with small erect ears and dark eyes. Their muzzle will be as deep and wide as the skull but longer. Their legs are straight and long, their chest is roached back and deep, giving them, an appearance very similar to a greyhound or other sighthound.

They have a long curly tail, and their coat can vary greatly in color. They are medium sized, and their coat is short, shiny and close. He is very slender and sleek, which along with his long legs gives him that incredible speed. They are thin with visible ribs.

When you take a Miniature Poodle into your home and your heart, there are many wonderful positive aspects that come with him.

You won’t have any trouble training him as he is clever and bright. He is such a loving, loyal pet and he takes his job of guarding you seriously too.

Because they aren’t aggressive, they're easy to keep in the city or the countryside, so long as he receives plenty of love, companionship and exercise. Perhaps the only thing that may require a little bit of effort on your part is the fact that his coat will require quite a bit of upkeep to keep it looking good and healthy.

In exchange for looking after him, you’re going to benefit from having a wonderful canine friend and family pet in your life for many years.

The Chippiparai is a loving, gentle family dog if well socialized, well trained and well exercised. They are very intelligent and need human companionship. Once they are living with a human family, they are very protective of that family. They are for the most part peaceful and quiet dogs. They are loyal and loving but they are not overly affectionate. Cuddlers they are not, and they do not like to play rough with children.

Accepting and loving within the family, the Chippiparai are equally hesitant and shy around strangers. They can be suspicious, but they are not aggressive. They are just very aloof with strangers, yet they hardly ever bark.

Dog’s thrive on good nutrition and exercise, and if your Miniature Poodle gets both of these combined with plenty of love, he can live to be up to 16 years of age and even older.

They are robust little dogs, but even so, they can get sick. Ear infections, joint diseases, obesity, dental disease and bloat are common dog diseases to look out for -

Bloat:

This is a life-threatening condition where your pet’s stomach fills with gas. The swollen stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and the dog battles to breathe. The dog could also vomit, be drooling and lethargic.

The stomach can also twist putting the dog in shock. This bloating can occur with any dog breed and efforts can be made to avoid it by feeding the dog smaller more frequent meals as opposed to one larger meal which he gobbles up.

The dog shouldn’t exercise immediately after a meal either. You also want to avoid obesity at all costs.

Mitral Valve Disease:

When the mitral valve malfunctions, blood isn’t being pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. If the mitral valve weakens or leaks it can lead to endocarditis.

Quite a number of dogs develop some form of heart disease during their lifetime, with a high percentage being due to mitral valve insufficiency, which is more common in smaller dogs.

Your dog may have a cough, be lethargic and lose weight. The first signs of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. At first MVI doesn’t have obvious clinical signs, but with time the efficiency of the heart is reduced and congestive heart failure develops. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet and suggest treatment.

Sebaceous Adenitis:

A skin problem sounds fairly mild but it can cause havoc in your pet’s life, causing him to be constantly licking and scratching himself. The hair becomes dull and brittle, and breaking the skin from continuous scratching invites bacterial infection. These skin infections will require veterinary intervention.

There are no clinical studies regarding the health and health history of the Chippiparai, so little is known about their long-term health. However, most who know the breed, believe it is an incredibly healthy one. They seem to have a lot less genetically transmitted health issues than other purebreds. Because of their isolation for centuries in India, they have developed immunities and resistance to most parasites and diseases other dog suffer from.

Because of this you should look for the types of issues that occur in dogs of this size and build. Have them tested by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

Grooming:

If you opt to keep your Miniature Poodle’s coat long, it will actually require regular brushing – every day in fact, if you want to avoid matting and tangling. Most people don’t like the work this involves and they have their Poodle’s hair cut short all over, then he only needs a brush once or twice a week. Your Miniature Poodle just loves the time you spend with him grooming him. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps and to also check for fleas and ticks. Some people take their pet to the doggy parlor to have the coat clipped.

The dog’s nails should also be trimmed regularly, and their ears also need to be checked for wax buildup and debris which can lead to an ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked over too because dental disease won’t only lead to loss of teeth but it could be toxic for important body organs too.

Wipe around your pet’s eyes as tear stains can form under the eyes.

Make sure to feed your pet a top quality diet full of vitamins and minerals. Get to know the foods which can be toxic for your pet and cause stomach upsets. Dogs appreciate simplicity and consistency with their diets, and apart from dry kibble, home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables can be excellent for your pet.

Feeding

Do not overfeed your Chippiparai. Feed twice a day and no more than a total of 2.5 cups of high quality dry food.

Health issues

As mentioned previously the Chippiparai seems to have no genetic diseases or issues and very few acquired ones. However, he is sensitive to anesthesia and some foods. He is intolerant to cold weather and has a hard time with his pads on hard surfaces. Some Chippiparai might experience some of the ailments other breeds like them experience.

Dysplasia

Both Elbow and hip are possible. This can cause arthritis and lameness. This occurs when the bone does not fit well into the joint.

Luxating Patella

This can cause lameness as well. The kneecaps slide over the knee instead of staying in place.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/PRA

Problems with the retina can lead to blindness.

Exercise and games

This is a hunting dog and he will want to hunt. They are incredibly fast and need the opportunity to run. Brisk walks will not be enough for this dog. He is very energetic. They will chase any small animals. It is not recommended that you have small pets even small dogs or cats with a Chippiparai. Having been bred for centuries to hunt, they are not likely to respond to any commands if they are off lease and chasing prey. Do not allow them to be off leash unless in a fenced area, and that fence needs to be 8 feet tall as they can easily jump a seven-foot fence. Try they at coursing, agility, fly ball and frisbee competitions.