Bhotia Dog

The picture is of Bhotia a Himalayan dog, this breed is in large numbers in Uttaranchal, they usually are pets of farmers. An average Bhotia is slightly bigger than an average Labrador. The thick coat of a full grown Bhotia resembles that of a wild Bear. This thick coat helps the poor man's Labrador from snow, sleet & harsh weather. Bhotias are known to be guard dogs & are extremely loyal to their masters. You don't need to search for a Bhotia when you are touring the heavenly state, they can be seen in high altitude towns & villages. Bakharwal is also a sub variety of Bhotia but with a lot sharper nose, this sub-breed looks more like a jackal. Unfortunately, Bakharwal despite being an over obedient & efficient guard dog does not figure in AKC list of dog breeds. It is time AKC comes, looks out of the developed west to broaden their knowledge base & starts recognising Asian dog breeds.