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A NEW HOUND FOR BRITAIN
By David Hancock

The arrival in Britain of the Chinese Chuandong Hound continues a long history of imported hounds from overseas, some impressive – like this one, some very short-lived here, like the Abyssinian Sand Dog in the late 19th century. We have brought in, more successfully, barkless dogs from the Belgian Congo and ridge-backed dogs from Rhodesia. we have imported mountain hounds and badger dogs from Germany, scenthounds from Sweden, sighthounds from Russia, Africa, Arabia and Afghanistan, rabbit hounds from Malta and Sicily, elkhounds from Norway, bearhounds from Japan, boarhounds from Germany and coonhounds from the USA. But recent importations have not always prospered: the Azawakh (none registered in 2018), the Basset and Grand Bleu de Gascogne (1 of each registered in 2018), the Segugio Italiano (0 registered in 2018), the Ibizan Hound (13 registered in 2018), the Sloughi (3 registered in 2018), the Azawakh (0 registered in 2018), the Cirneco dell’Etna (13 registered in 2018), the Finnish Spitz (16 registered in 2018) and the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne (9 registered in 2018). The enthusiastic recognition of such breeds by the KC looks premature and the imports left without a following.

Our packs, however, have been successfully introducing hound blood from overseas, mainly France but America too, for more than a century, but with a crucial difference. These imports are not imported distinct breeds with their own closed gene-pool but imported blood to widen a gene pool. I welcome breeds from abroad and have written in praise of them many times. I am however strongly against the importation of extreme forms of the dog, the excessive favouritism shewn to really rather ordinary breeds from overseas and the neglect of our native breeds which this leads to. When a purebred dog of a breed new to this country is imported it contributes nothing to the genetic diversity in our dogs. In all breeds of purebred dogs registered with the Kennel Club the gene pool is closed. This is despite the benefits obtained in the Deerhound from an outcross to the Greyhound, the use of the blood of the Tibetan Mastiff in the Irish Wolfhound and Harrier blood to produce the very capable English or Hunting Basset. A small gene pool in the hands of unskilled breeders is a recipe for disaster.

But oriental hounds are rarely seen here. I can recall the time when I was commanding an ambush in the Malayan jungle, miles and miles from the nearest kampong when, ignoring us through keenness of animal scents, a local breed known as the Telomion, went through our position as though we didn’t exist. I recall too the admiration of a European sportsman, when based in China, for the Chinese breed of Hah-see, because of their all-round skills in detecting and tracking game. He also rated the Japanese hunting breeds, not known in the west: the Shikoku, the Kishu and the Kai. He had hunted too a wide variety of ground game in Thailand, using two types of local breeds, one with a ridged back and the other just called the Thai Hound. He was most unusual.

There is a worry too about new breeds from abroad with a small genetic base; they could be full of 'genetic junk' and unhealthy dogs can so easily be produced from such stock. This brings good trade to the veterinary profession, but heartbreak for owners and distress to the afflicted dogs. In a free society, people should be able of course to import whichever breed of dog they wish to. But if that breed's imported specimens carry inherited defects and these are transmitted so as to constitute a defective breed, then that does need curtailing. However, responsible, informed, knowledgeable breeders have brought in some valuable dog breeds to enhance our lists.

Alison Darley in Pembrokeshire, has imported 5 Chuandong Hounds, now risen to 20; this is a breed from East Sichuan in China, where they are highly prized as hunting dogs. I suspect that they are used in small packs to locate game, then detain it until the human hunters arrive to dispatch it. They remind me of Thai Ridgebacks, now selling well in the United States. There is a Thai Hound too, resembling the ridged version and of similar type to the Chuandong Hound. The KC strives to control the importation of exotic breeds, seeking confirmation of genetic diversity, sound temperament and genetic health in such breeds, usually establishing a five-year wait, even after FCI recognition. Alison informs me that this new breed is long-lived, many reaching 20, is as clever as a collie, is a good watch dog but very affectionate with the family. She has had to struggle with endless bureaucracy to achieve her importations and deserves admiration for that alone.

. Hounds wherever they originate need the anatomy that allows them to hunt and the fixed determination to succeed in the hunt. That determination is often revealed through their gaze – hence the old description of some of them as ‘gazehounds’. The intense focus required by all-purpose hounds is usually revealed in their head position, intense concentration and utter determination in their eyes. The Balinese Mountain Hound is valued for its long-sight, able to spot game in the valleys below its extended gaze. The Shiba Inu of Japan needs keen hearing and fast reactions to close ground game to earn its keep. The Matagi Akita in Japan was used as a bear hound and needed stature and immense dash to perform in the hunting field. For any breed of dog to have the word ‘hound’ in its breed title puts an onus on breeders to honour past function, which shaped the breed, and produce dogs that can function as hounds. This not only pays tribute to their origin and development but also decides their form.

I see plenty to admire in many foreign hound breeds. Many have been introduced here for our and their benefit by worthy people, I wish the foreign breeds brought here by eager fanciers a sound future here and in their homelands - if it is not to be here. The Chuandong Hound resembles the hunting dogs portrayed long ago in China and is a striking, determined-looking hunting dog deserving support in any land. May they thrive.

(Further information on this breed can be obtained from: www.chuandonghound.co.uk)