Caravan Hound India - Gameland - The Blog #Sample

Alaknoori

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:12:29 +0000

Would like to share the insights I learnt from my elders regarding the difference between hound breeds .I will be talking about the Karvani and the Mudhol but will clarify a bit about Pashmi and Alaknoori as well. Technically the genetic reports will do more talking but who would bear the expense? The KCI hasn’t researched about the 50+ indigenous canine breeds so far. Most of these breeds are extinct already due to ban on hunting and diminishing game lands to increasing population. Enough of the rant.

Now all breeds come under same species. Moreover, the breed is recognized upon the phenotype and the not the genotype. I know lines have been vigorously mixed and stirred hence the resulting litter’s varying characteristics from that of the parent. But the breeds are developed for different purposes and in different areas having a different terrain and climate.

ALAKNOORI : H.H. CH. Shahu Maharaja of Kolhapur is the man who influenced the “make life large” philosophy of we GHATIS [ people from the mountain ranges ]. He loved animals, kept them, and hunted in vast region. He imported some grey hounds to his personal hunting grounds in Alaknoor village in Karnataka State .Greyhounds were faster but weaker in this harsh climate and couldn’t manage the rough terrain. Greyhound would suffer strokes within a couple of courses in the heat. Their digits and limb are often fractured by taking tumbles while being dodged by the hare or due to the rough terrain. He bred these hounds with the Karvani to enhance characteristics suitable for the terrain. He succeeded making a new breed altogether known by the village it was originated around….ALAKNOORI. One can call it a breed when some specific characteristics of the parents are exhibited throughout down their line as it proceeds. Alaknoori was developed into an independent breed aiming to eliminate these shortcomings of the greyhound. The following characteristics were carried forward :

1. signature short white coat with black patches preferably but other colors exist as well.

2. long muscular torso but a deep chest and a level top line unlike that seen in a Greyhound

3. flying ears and a sloping stop

4. Good front and rear angulation

5. Speed of a greyhound and agility of a Karvani.

Unfortunately this breed has been vigorously mixed with many things , recent interests being the derby greyhound, This breed being from the Mudhol hound catchment , was frequently mixed with them. There is some greyhound in the Mudhol hounds found now a study from the government canine centre states which raged a debate .Those greyhound genetics might have passed from these Alaknooris. This doesn’t make it a mixed breed, read the previous blogs for reference .Need not be worried about.

More of the H.H. Ch. Shahu Maharaja of Kolhapur:

He lived a life fit for a king and imparted that KINGSIZE attitude to Kolhapur. He had varied interests and hobbies which he indulged in . Wrestling and Hunting mainly.

Himself being a good wrestler, he had an extraordinarily huge physique. He established the arena named Khasbag maidan for the Indian style Wrestling called ans KUSTI. He also established many gymnasiums known as TALIM providing excellent amenities for the players.

We can say hunting was his favorite of all sports. Mainly use to hunt menacing animals. Sources tell he had a KUTTA KHANA {dog breeding centre} in Radhanagri. Mainly use to breed dogs for the sport. He culled to promote only the best of breed..A dog heavily wounded or not good at the sport would be culled immediately to avoid further pass of the genetics. Only the dog which has sustained the ground without serious injuries and played well would be bred. Hence the lines were genetically very strong in their game.

During the last days of his time when he couldn’t walk , he still use to hunt travelling in a cart. It is said that a male and a female parti-colored were the prime foundations .The male with a broken leg and a female bruised by some animal was sent for cull to a Dhangar {a person from the shepherd clan} of his Shikaar Khana {Hunting House}.This Dhangar , resident of the village ALAKNOOR didn’t cull these dogs but kept them hidden as he had disobeyed the culling orders and could be punished if brought to notice. In the meantime the hounds recovered but Shahu Maharaj deceased. Now he started breeding these two dogs and the whole lineage of Alaknoor got its signature particolor coat of white and black. This was a story told by an 85+ year old man named Turiappa in Alaknoor village .The Dhangar he mentioned was his father……Turiappa and his brother were owners of 350 acres of land inherited from his father. Such vast land was gifted to the men close to the Kings when the Land acquisition act came into force.

A few of what we hear are truths and most are myths. I leave it up to you to believe it or not. But the Alaknoori still plays mightily braving the barbs and the sun. Already forgotten and awaiting extinction due to ban on hunting and no recognition in the show circuit.

The poor farmer and his dogs!

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:12:29 +0000

For the ones who have the misconception of the term FARMER being synonymous to POOR, this is for them. Poor people can’t afford to buy 2-6 hounds and condition them for optimum performance. Keeping varied animal interests, one has to manage their upkeep and invest time and money. The returns are not assured in the animals hence whatever stock held is considered valuable. A city chap comes on his high horses and consider farmers poor and hence their livestock cheap. The ones only playing dogs, have you even the slightest clue what a fine Khillar or a Pandharpuri Gavlaht buffalo costs? It costs approximately equivalent to a hatchback car the city chap pays EMI for. The Madgyal sheep and her kid cost more than your Royal Enfield motorcycle. These POOR farmers have such expensive livestock not handful but yards and sheds full of them. Similarly expensive is their upkeep. Only a worthy payment buys a worthy animal. The farmer owns acres of land. The population is increasing but the land isn’t hence the northward set prices for these land holdings of a farmer. Accounting these factors, can we still consider the native Houndsman poor?

Not just the owning and knowing a fine being but upkeep is a major part of the hobby. Expensive and important animals are well fed, well kept in all aspects possible. This involves serious money which goes unaccounted for a novice to notice. Being wrestlers at some point of their lives, they know the fact that a match performance depends solely upon the efforts taken outside the ring. Good food, good exercise and a good trainer are crucial factors for optimizing skills. Similarly these are working animals and their performance depends upon their conditioning. People here depend a lot upon ample milk for their animal .Be it horses, bulls, buffalo, cows, goats, sheep and dogs of course. Copious amount of milk is fed to the lactating female and the puppies. Some keep a milch animal not to sell the milk but just for feeding milk to their other animals. Fed meat, eggs, and various farm produce. Milk will be fed to most of the good canines throughout their lives.

There is another side to this coin as well. There are people who have average animals, feed average, expect only average performance and have no concerns about how healthy the animal looks since its value is insignificant. These people breed their females to any male available to them for free irrespective of any other factor like his breed confirmation, ability, temperament, structure, etc. They expect average returns for the young ones. So the animal they give is cheap not because they are poor farmers but only because they know it is not up to the mark. These kind of animals are obviously much more in numbers and easily available. Any outsider coming in search of a caravan pup is certainly going to find these before anything else. These comprise of your pet shop purchases.

In a rare instance if an animal with decent confirmation shows up in the possession of an average upkeep owner, it is immediately cracked a deal with the neighborhood houndsman who values its worth. Such deals happen only in the close circuit and it is highly rarely that an outsider is going to get a decent animal at a lower value since everyone in the natives knows the value of their livestock. Quality always comes at a cost, be it the cities or the natives. All the best sourcing your cheap or best Indigenous hound.

Its not the Judges’ fault!

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:12:29 +0000

All the enthusiasts, breeders, handlers, viewers have a negative view about the judging personnel in the ring. The negativity escalates to a different level especially when your dog, horse, bovine, etc isn’t rewarded. Many times a worthy animal is taken over by a lesser specimen. It’s got bad legs, over angulated, irrelevant features, wrong coat, hasn’t got the drive, walks bad, too long, too tall, albino! Many other reasons for the animal to fail, yet is rewarded. To be true, I was dejected to see dogs win multiple shows but they don’t even show enough features to be called of the specific breed it was been shown as. Similarly when the TB mix won for being a tall Marwari mare. Cussing doesn’t improve the situation. I decide to analyze it from a neutral point of view.

It’s difficult to summarize the exact number of breeds recognized at the kennel clubs, let alone the ones unaccounted for. Each breed has a specific phenotype, genotype and temperamental dies. All of it occurring in varying measures in each specimen. Variation of a specific feature in some extent may be appreciated or disregarded by the breeders. Any breed is constantly in the process of change as every litter is born with a specific vision of its breeder .Out of this litter, not every pup comes up to the breeders’ standard or specialist specification. A specific feature/type which appeals to one, may not appeal to another. One person’s trash may appear to be another one’s treasure.

Said that, one person’s ceiling is also another one’s floor…Someone feels his dog is the pinnacle of the breed by what he understood from his mentor and his understanding of the breed. The case of the indigenous animals here is they are very selectively bred up to minute features like the thinness of the coat, tail, head, ear leather. Extremely specific features like the pigmentation not just limited the skin color but that of the nails, iris and so on. So specific and particular that a slight deviation will significantly reduce the score card, in most cases fail to be counted as a Karvani or Khillar bull or a Kathiawari horse. These breeds are not so thoroughly documented on the World Wide Web or any literature written upon them. Albeit the breed standard is yet so specifically maintained and the knowledge is passed down from the elders with mandatory field practical and testing to back up the theories leaving no unfurnished chapters in the learning of a novice in pursuit. To summarize, the native breed standards are stringent and resolute despite any significant records maintained. Keeping animals for money or ego massage and have a pseudo fulfillment from the education received off a handful people ruins you, eventually the breed you keep. Studying specimens constantly with an unbiased eye and field trials are necessary. Charlatans will take their simply perfect breed specimen to the shows and breed the heck out resting on their too much knowledge .Neglecting the doyens from the natives who are with these animals for their lifetimes but promoting whatever is bred and pushing it down everyone’s’ mind.

Concluding on the matter of framing the ones who ruin the indigenous fauna, it’s every single one of us in the following order.

1]The ‘Natives’ who didn’t take enough interest to document in eternal format, blindfold trust upon the next group of enthusiasts to propagate the breed. Not taking the animals to shows for everyone to see the aboriginal type. Cross bred for improved performance but lost the phenotype all together.

2]The ‘Show Breeders’ who didn’t collect sufficient knowledge but collected sufficient under-performing rejects from the natives and brandishing them as ideal specimens [Since they being cheap or free and easily available].

3]The ‘Buyers’ who didn’t pay the breeder enough, which could inspire breeder to acquire a better specimen and allow further exploration. The buyers expect it to be cheap and easy since its local or since it’s from a farmer. Good stock comes only at a good price, no exception. The inflow of moolah reduces, the quality deteriorates.

4]The ‘Clubs’ to be blamed for relying only upon a handful of favored breeders but not venturing out for a field study for the right breed recognition. Awarding the participated dogs irrespective of the native breed confirmation which promoted the dogs which don’t adhere to the phenotype[read not caravans at all!]. After such pervasive showing all these years, the newcomer has to consider the show dog as a ‘ pattern’ of Caravan which actually is a smooth Saluki phenotype ,mostly bred out of a Saluki but isn’t a Karvani at all.

5]The Judges are to be the least blamed for the ruckus. They are provided with favorably tampered documentation to study from, hardly explaining a breed which is so thoroughly examined. The lid blows when a specimen which would be disqualified from the breed is not just included in the breed but also wins multiple best in shows. Not the Judges’ fault when they have lack sufficient input about the breed specifications but compelled to make a decision. It’s obvious to bank their reputation upon the frequent winner or trust the elder handler/breeder/kennel prefix and award their dog. If nothing works, the best handled dog with the best handler or simply the favored owner/handler/breeder may be awarded. It’s totally fine, at least with me. It’s enough that the judges be consciously unbiased. There is a margin for the judges for deciding upon a poorly documented breed. Otherwise they have to deliver a bulletproof judgment in the matters of well documented breeds. Their judgment is the measure of their knowledge and it is a difficult job to live up to their reputation with a thousand eyes upon them.

The breeds represent long hauls of sweat, blood, determination, patience, emotion, stress. More importance to the indigenous fauna as this was meant for a purpose and looks beautiful as well. These breeds can’t propagate by themselves and the rigors of the men and women working for them and with them for hundreds of years will be lost. Set the egos aside, be open to the knowledge and most importantly to work together to contribute worthwhile by propagating and promoting these animals in the format they were meant to be.

P.S. : I might sound like objectifying animals .But it is only limited to this matter to clarify the intricacy of the subject. By no means have I considered Animals to be lesser than us Homo sapiens. Animals are way better and humane than the existing humans I’ve encountered lately. I adore them all.