The Himalayan “Gaddi” dog has officially been recognized as a distinct breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in Karnal, Haryana. This formal recognition, granted on January 5, 2025, will help safeguard the breed’s purity and promote its conservation.
The Gaddi dog becomes the fourth indigenous breed to be registered in India, following the Rajapalayam, Chippiparai, and Mudhol Hound breeds. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Gaddi dog, a working breed traditionally kept by the Gaddi community to guard livestock against theft and wild predators.
In a letter dated January 7, Dr. B.P. Mishra, Director of the NBAGR, informed the Director of Animal Husbandry in Himachal Pradesh about the registration. The official accession number for the breed is INDIA-DOG-0600_GADDI_19004.
Dr. Pardeep Kumar Sharma, Director of Animal Husbandry in Himachal Pradesh, confirmed the news and highlighted the breed’s suitability for the region’s cold climate. “The Gaddi dog is a steadfast protector of flocks, capable of guarding against both theft and wild animals. With a weight of 40-45 kg and a thick coat of black and brown fur, it is well-adapted to the harsh weather conditions of the Himalayan region. Now that the breed is officially recognized, we expect its population to grow due to high demand, particularly from orchard owners,” Sharma explained.
Dr. Shivani Katoch, Head of the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding at the College of Veterinary and Animal Science (COVAS) in Palampur, welcomed the breed’s registration as an important step in preserving indigenous dog breeds. “This is a significant achievement for the conservation of our genetic resources. The registration ensures that the Gaddi dog’s characteristics—both morphological and genomic—are now defined, which will help maintain its purity and support future breeding efforts,” Katoch remarked.
Prior to the breed’s official registration, there were no guidelines or census data available for the Gaddi dog. The Animal Husbandry Department can now conduct a population survey and monitor the breed’s health and genetic diversity.
The Gaddi dog is the first Himalayan breed to be officially recognized, though there are claims from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand that their local breeds share the Gaddi dog’s lineage. A significant challenge in preserving the breed has been the lack of scientific validation, which allowed unauthorized breeding and commercialization. In 2019, efforts began to study the Gaddi dog more rigorously. Researchers from COVAS Palampur University traveled to remote areas of Himachal Pradesh to collect Gaddi puppies for research, compiling their findings over three years before submitting the data to NBAGR in 2022 for official validation.
Known as the “Indian Panther Hound” due to its ability to protect livestock from snow leopards, the Gaddi dog is a large, powerful, and aggressive breed. It shares a deep bark similar to the Tibetan Mastiff, though its tail is less curled and more heavily feathered. Unfortunately, like many indigenous breeds, the Gaddi dog has faced a risk of extinction due to gene pool dilution caused by unregulated breeding.
The breed is primarily found in the higher altitudes of Himachal Pradesh, but it is also bred in Punjab, particularly in the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Ropar. In Punjab, farmers often purchase Gaddi dogs from shepherds who migrate to the plains from the hills, paying a premium for their strong guarding instincts.
With the Gaddi dog now officially recognized, experts hope that the breed’s numbers will increase, ensuring the preservation of this vital part of India’s natural and cultural heritage.
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