Over 2,000 years old native dog from Jindo Island, Korea

        Until the early 60's, Jindos were at the risk of being extinct.  Originated and                       i       isolated in Jindo Island off of the most southern tip of South Korea for                           of years, Jindos have been shelterd from countless invations from China and     Japan and survived the Korean War.

         "The Chosun Treasure of Historic Beauty Natural Treasure law (Number 961)                that was created during Japanese occupation was renewed and announced. The Jindo dog became protected and managed under Korean law on December 3, 1962 and has been so until the present as Natural Treasure Number 53" 

            There are no set usage for dogs, however, dogs were first breed for hunting, but the current usage vary: house dog, farm dog, army dog. etc… The Jindo Dog has many excellent traits but because of its loyalty, obedience, bravery and hunting ability it is also know as a superior hunter. These special traits were acquired from adapting to nature and unlike the land dogs, due to the fact that they survived on an island, they are of pure breed and carry a wild instinct. It can be speculated that the special hunting traits were developed due to the scarcity of food and enhanced by the will to survive. With compliance to history and the records from Japan, it is difficult to deny the fact that the dogs that were breed by the people of the stone ages had crossed from main land China through Manju, to our country, and a multitude to Japan.

	With accordance to scientific research and from the above enumerated, dogs crossing either from Baekjae and Shila dynasty to Japan had taken place way before the great wars of Songdaenan and Sambeulcho. The dogs in our country was mainly used as hunting dogs, and it is not difficult to make assumptions that the best of the hunting dogs were taken to Japan during the 5th and 6th century. What is clear here is that, during the 5th and 6th century, the dogs through out the country were mainly hunting dogs, the bloodlines and wild instincts of the Jindo Dog were much more pure compared to the other main land dogs and remains as the present Jindo Dog. The dogs that crossed to Japan during that period maintained their characteristics and became what is now, and difficult to distinguish from the Jindo Dog, Chujeungeon and Gyejugeon. As previously mentioned, according to the Yangeunggi, the dog that was brought over from Baekjae to Japan was spotted black. As a result, the Jindo Dog is not the descendant of the Songnara or the Mongol dog, but a comparatively well preserved native dog of our country and a descendant of the dogs breed in a unique environment of Jindo by the people of the stone ages. In a similar context, there are accounts in the thesis of Japanese Dog Ancestors and was concluded that the prehistoric domestic dogs were affected by other dogs and adapted to various environment of the urban area becoming the present dogs in Japan.
	So far we have investigated from the accumulated documents and results from scientific studies the origination of the Jindo Dog. The evidences to support the rumors of the Mongol dog and the Pyorugyeun of Songnara are not clear. Therefore it is proven that the Jindo Dog are the descendants of the dogs that were breed by the people of the stone ages raised in a unique environment of Jindo where the bloodline and the wild instincts were preserved and that it is our countries native dog. From official Jindo Island Website; http://tour.jindo.go.kr/english/index.htm   In 1962, the Korean government designated the Jindo dog as a National Treasure (Number 53), the highest honour given to precious cultural artefact, animals or persons; and passed the "Jindo Preservation Ordinance". A Jindo institute was created to actively preserve the breed. The Jindo Institute evaluates puppies at 6 months old and if the puppy is deemed to meet the breed standard and sound , it is micro chipped. Only micro chipped Jindos are allowed to remain on the island unless they are neutered. Chipped Jindos cannot leave the island to ensure preservation of the breed from the best stock. As of 2002 there were 14,000 micro chipped Jindos on the island and all are under the auspices of the government Frrom Overhill Kennel;