Russian Harlequin Hound vs Jonangi - Breed Comparison

The origins of the Russian Harlequin Hound are somewhat vague as there are many Russian hunting hounds and many of them have a similar ancestry.

The Russian Harlequin Hound is an indigenous hound whose origins go back to the 18th century. The first breed standard was published in 1925.

The breed was then developed during the early 1900s – being a mix of Russian Hound and English Foxhound. The Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed and you will find it almost exclusively in Russia.

The Jonangi, known also as the Jagilam or Kolleti Jagilam is an Indian breed of dog which has always been used for hunting and herding.

The dog isn’t seen abundantly in India and it isn’t recognized by any major kennel clubs in India. It isn’t recognized as a pure” breed and there is also concern that the dog is reaching extinction.

Because of interbreeding with other dogs, there is quite a bit of variation in the Jonangi breed.

The Russian Harlequin Hound is a medium to large sized dog that stands between 55 – 68cm in height and weighs between 18 – 31kg.

He has a solid build with long, straight legs with a long tail that can be slightly curved. The head is broad and square with medium sized ears which are floppy. The short coat is essentially white with tri-colored markings of white, tan and black.

Temperament:

The Russian Harlequin Hound has an amicable expression to his face and is a friendly social dog breed. He is lively and energetic, and with his hunting background will required a good deal of exercise.

They make great family pets, getting on well with children in the home and making friends with any other pets in the family. He is a gentle dog and with training and socialization is well mannered and obedient.

He loves his human family and wants to spend time with them in their company. He isn't suited to life in the city and a small property, but will require a home with bigger grounds.

The Jonangi is a medium sized dog that stands between 43 – 53cm in height and weighs between 12 and 21kg. He is lean and muscular. Because of interbreeding with the Jonangi dog, the colors of their coats can vary and be anything from fawn, white, tan, black, bi-colored or even brindle. The coat is very short and fine which helps it cope with the extreme heat of the environment.

The ears are erect, the forehead is often wrinkled and the long tail is held out straight or it hangs down low. The ears are fairly short and are somewhat floppy.

Temperament:

The Jonangi is capable of being a true family pet, becoming loyal and devoted to his human family. This isn't a particularly intelligent dog but they're even tempered, fun loving, social and easy to please.

You'll find them getting on well with other pets in the home and children too. An interesting aspect with this dog is that he seems to like digging a hole and lying in it, even preferring this to the regular dog beds you get.

The Russian Harlequin Hound has always been a hunting dog, known for his excellent hunting skills. He isn’t only a good hunting dog, but he makes a good family pet too.

If you’re looking for an unusual dog breed that is also intelligent, loyal and loving, then you might want to consider this Russian Harlequin Hound.

Life with a Jonangi is easy going as these aren’t finicky dogs – they’re low maintenance, easy going, fairly healthy dogs that want to please you and just be your pet.

They make excellent companions, being loving and loyal to their human families and getting on well with other dogs and children in the home.

There are those who are trying to revive the breed, and that is a good thing as these are good natured family pets that will be a positive addition to any home.

Your Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed that can reach 12 years of age if well cared for. There are some dog ailments that must be watched for. Cancer, ear infections and skin allergies can be problems to look out for. Other troublesome ailments can be -

Bloat:

This is a more common disease with deep-chested dogs, and the deep chested Russian Harlequin Hound is prone to bloat. Gas is trapped in the stomach and the stomach can actually twist. It can be life threatening. Your pet will have a hard, swollen belly and will be restless and salivating. Get him to the vet immediately. He may well require immediate surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is all about problems with the hip joints. It is sad for any dog with this disease as it can be painful for your pet to walk. Inflammation and arthritis can mean your pet being in pain. He can become lame too.

There are anti-inflammatory medications and your vet will suggest other treatments to make sure your pet is as comfortable as can be.

This dog is a robust breed, used to living under difficult circumstances. You won't find many inherited diseases with him, but still it pays to know about some of the more common dog illnesses that he might face.

Arthritis:

With any dog, the joints can take quite a pounding which can lead to injuries. You may notice your dog doing less and having difficulty with common activities. Your dog may even have lameness. Your vet will try to avoid surgery and look at things such as diet and weight management. There are also medications, anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.

Ear Infections:

Ear infections are common with dogs and can be caused by allergies, ear mites and bacteria in the ear canal. Your Jonangi may be tilting his head or shaking it, he may be constantly scratching his ear, he may even have lack of balance and an unpleasant odor coming from his ear because of a discharge. Take him to the vet as soon as you think he has an ear infection.

Lower Urinary Tract Problems and Infections:

This problem which affects a dog’s lower urinary system can be totally debilitating for your dog. There are many problems which can cause this problem in your pet and which can lead to health conditions such as incontinence.

Older dogs and those with diabetes are more prone to urinary tract problems. Your dog will strain or yelp with discomfort when trying to pass urine. The urine may be very cloudy or even have blood in it and there may be dribbling of urine too. Other signs can be vomiting, lethargy, back pain, weight loss and change in appetite. See your veterinarian for immediate medical attention. It is considered a medical emergency.

Exercise:

The Russian Harlequin Hound needs both mental and physical stimulation. He is a curious dog and wants to be out and about sniffing around and exploring. He will need to have a walk every day as well as lots of ball- and rope games. He will suit being the pet of a busy, outdoorsy family as opposed to a family of couch potatoes.

Grooming:

The Russian Harlequin Hound is looked upon as a low maintenance dog breed, and with his short, dense coat you can get by with just brushing him twice a week. Because he is such a lover of the outdoors check him over for ticks and fleas when you brush him.

Check inside his ears for redness and infection.

Open his mouth and look for bad, rotting teeth.

Check him over for any unusual lumps.

Make sure his eyes are clear and free of discharge.

Trim his nails.

Diet:

Every dog should be fed excellent food as this encourages good health. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient and nutritious if you get the better quality ones.

Try and include some simple, tasty home-made food to his diet . High-quality dry dog food will provide a balanced diet, but you want to make it a little more tasty for him by giving him some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. This can be added into the dry kibble twice a week.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock.

Diet:

With commercially manufactured dog food, there are companies that make quality foods that are formulated for certain conditions such as joint health. They have additives in them such as fish oils which decrease inflammation. Always look for a food that is appropriate for your dog’s age and energy levels.

Add in your own home-made food to his dry kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and pasta as well as vegetables and also try to include some raw meat into his kibble from time to time. Fresh, cool water should be available to him night and day.

Grooming:

With his short coat, the dog is looked upon as low maintenance. Brush him a couple of times a week to make sure the coat remains shiny. Check his eyes, ears and teeth for infections.

Exercise:

This dog is lean, energetic and agile. With his long strides, he likes to run over terrain sniffing and following scents. He is more suited to life in the countryside than to the city. Make sure you have a reasonable sized garden for him and meet his exercise needs by taking him on walks and playing ball and fetch games with him.