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View 8 More +The Thai Bangkaew is best known for its highly intelligent, unwavering loyalty and protective personality. They are versatile working dogs with several uses, such as watching and guarding duties. These canines are also excellent snake killers and very reliable vermin exterminators. That’s why they are especially respected and valued in their homeland, Thailand, where kraits, cobras, and other venomous snakes frequently crawl inside homes and cause tons of trouble.
As you can see, this breed is genuinely exceptional and possesses many great qualities. But unfortunately, not many people outside of Thailand know about their existence.
| Height: | 17–21 inches |
| Weight: | 35–60 pounds |
| Colors: | White, pied, cream, black, gray, brown, red |
| Suitable for: | Experienced owners, families with older children, and families with no other pets |
| Temperament: | Loyal, intelligent, protective, independent, hard to train, don’t get along well with other animals |
The Asiatic wild jackal, which is now extinct, and the indigenous Thai domestic canine were the parents of the original Thai Bangkaew. Having a double coat and a plumed tail, this breed of medium-sized dog resembles the Spitz family in appearance.
Their primary qualities include extreme devotion, high intellect, alertness, protective nature, independence, strength, agility, playfulness, curiosity, and courage. Although Thai Bangkaews can be very stubborn and difficult to handle, they are definitely among the most dedicated companions in the world.
Thai Bangkaew Characteristics
Thai Bangkaew Puppies
Thai Bangkaew puppies might not be a good choice if you’re a couch potato. However, if you live an active lifestyle and enjoy being outdoors, it may be reasonable to get one. But keep in mind that, though beloved in their native country, the Thai Bangkaew is rarely seen outside Thailand.
There are many things you have to consider before getting a new dog. For example, the high cost, time commitment, the long list of necessary supplies, or even the type of food you want to feed them. But where to get your Thai Bangkaew should be one of the top priorities.
Be sure to only purchase from reputable breeders, and if possible, visit their housing circumstances and see the living conditions where the puppy was raised.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Thai Bangkaew
The Thai Bangkaew is a great companion to their family and will defend close people from intruders at any cost. They’re active, energetic, determined, alert, and incredibly intelligent. These canines are wary of strangers and will bark if they don’t know the person.
Owners can be very assured of their safety and property because Thai Bangkaews are always on the lookout for threats to their families.
Other positive traits of the breed include tenacity, loyalty, and playfulness. However, this dog has many primitive and wild characteristics at heart, so in order to socialize your Thai Bangkaew effectively, you will need to invest a lot of time in them.
Despite not being overly aggressive, the breed can be very threatening, intimidating, and downright frightful, particularly to those who are, for whatever reason, afraid of dogs.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑🧑🧒
Besides being an excellent guarding and hunting dog, the Thai Bangkaew is also a fantastic family companion. All members can count on their faith and affection, but their undying loyalty is often reserved for only one person—the primary owner.
With the proper upbringing and socialization, the Thai Bangkaew dog can make a good friend for your children. However, as you can see, this canine has a strong sense of hierarchy and is quite dominant and pack-oriented. As a result, they will always try to gain, if at all possible, a more dominant position within the pack (family). This may occasionally lead the Thai Bangkaew to view children (especially young ones) as lower-ranked members.
Since they won’t tolerate bad behavior from lower-ranked members, it is no surprise that potentially annoying actions of young kids can have serious consequences (a nip or even a bite). Therefore, you must socialize Thai Bangkaew pups from an early age and teach your children the right way to play with a dog.
These canines are usually pretty gentle and affectionate once they get used to somebody and will always be eager to play with them.
With this dog around, you can be confident that your property will be safe and secure because Thai Bangkaew is a dog that is naturally very watchful, territorial, and fiercely protective of the family. In reality, the guarding nature of Thai Bangkaew is one of the main factors in the breed’s popularity in Thailand.
Thai Bangkaews aren’t prone to excessive barking, but they may be vocal and loud whenever someone approaches the property or gets close to it.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Thai Bangkaew doesn’t get along particularly well with other dogs, especially those who approach their territory or are of the same sex. In addition, these canines have strong hunting instincts, so they won’t miss an opportunity to pursue and catch smaller pets or domestic animals they see, like cats, hamsters, chickens, rabbits, etc. All of them are too tempting for the dog and are considered tasty prey.
When it comes to interacting with other pets, early socialization is crucial. You’ll also need to start obedience training ASAP.
Things to Know When Owning a Thai Bangkaew:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
For the Thai Bangkaew, there is no special required diet. Of course, they still need protein-rich food, which includes a lot of meat, just like any other dog. And since they are not pure carnivores, a diet suitable for this pup should also have fruits and vegetables. Remember that dogs cannot digest everything, so you have to ensure the ingredients of the meals are safe for them to eat.
A well-balanced diet is very important to the health and well-being of a Thai Bangkaew. It can be challenging for you to select high-quality food from the thousands of brands and formulas on the market. Therefore, it is best to consult with a veterinarian to guarantee your dog’s specific daily needs are met. If you have any questions, they will also be the best source of support.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's our online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Exercise 🐕
The Thai Bangkaew is extremely quick, hardy, and active. They have an incredible level of stamina and will always be up for taking action no matter what. It means these dogs need a lot of daily mental and physical exercise. They are thus especially recommended for outdoorsy, energetic individuals who enjoy spending time in nature.
Generally speaking, you should aim to take your pet on a long walk, jog, or hike once or twice a day.
In order to keep Thai Bangkaews entertained, you should also change things up by playing games with them, such as tug of war, fetch, and discovering treats. If you keep your dog indoors, it is crucial that you keep them occupied as frequently as you can. Otherwise, you run the chance of them getting bored, which may result in destructive behavior.
Training 🎾
Early training is necessary to control a dog’s potentially harmful behaviors, like destructive or dominant ones. In order to effectively train a Thai Bangkaew dog, there are a few things you need to know. First, this breed is not very trainable. Indeed, Thai Bangkaews can quickly understand and remember even the most complicated commands, but on the other hand, they are independent, stubborn, and headstrong.
The breed requires a professional approach, which is why a novice or inexperienced owner should probably not choose this dog. An ideal owner of this dog would be able to position themselves as a firm leader. You must maintain a calm, relaxed attitude while being consistent and confident when training.
The best technique to apply is positive reinforcement, so you should praise and treat the dog when they do an excellent job. Always keep lessons brief—about 30 minutes—but avoid making them too repetitive. Your dog will pick up all the commands more easily and even appreciate the training if you do it this way.
Grooming ✂️
The coat of the Thai Bangkaew is made up of a medium-length, rough outer coat and a soft, dense undercoat that is comparatively easy to maintain. They may shed frequently but are not known to have a strong odor.
Daily brushing is ideal for these dogs to prevent mat formation. You don’t need to bathe them every few days, but doing so every 6–8 weeks is advised if you want your dog to look clean. Note that overbathing can lead to an overproduction of oil, giving the hair a greasy appearance and causing skin problems.
In addition to the above, you should check and clean their ears once or twice a week due to the breed’s propensity for ear infections. You also need to trim their nails once a month, and brush their teeth and inspect their eyes regularly.
Health and Conditions 🏥
A Thai Bangkaew typically lives for 11 to 14 years. These canines tend to be very healthy, and there has never been any evidence of susceptibility to any particular hereditary or congenital health issues up to this point. Fortunately, major most problems are easily avoidable with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise.
However annual visits to the vet are still advised, regardless of your dog’s overall health, to ensure the best possible care for your pet.
- Otitis externa
- Eye disease
- None
Male vs. Female
The differences between male and female Thai Bangkaews are not notable. Male dogs usually have plumper tails and larger bones than females. They are also slightly larger and might display a little more stereotypical behavior, like mounting and scent marking. Plus, females are usually less demanding of attention than male canines.
However, when choosing a new companion, the sex of the dog is relatively unimportant. Instead, it’s better to focus on getting to know the pet and thinking about how it will fit into your lifestyle.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Thai Bangkaew
1. The Breed Is Relatively New
The first Thai Bangkaew was born only a little more than a century ago, in the 1900s, when the Asiatic wild jackal and the native Thai domestic canine were crossed. Although there is little information about this dog, people widely accept that the breed originated in the village of Bangkaew, which is close to the Bang Rakam District in central Thailand.
2. The Breed Is Not Ideal for People Who Live in Cities
This does not mean that you cannot keep a Thai Bangkaew inside. In fact, with the right amount of exercise and proper training, this dog can make a pretty good indoor pet because they have no odor and are very clean.
However, a Thai Bangkaew faces numerous risks in an urban setting, as there are literally hundreds of ways for them to get into trouble.
The ideal place to live for the Thai Bangkaew should be a house with a large and well-fenced yard in some suburban or rural area. A nearby forest or river would be even better because that will allow these dogs to run off-leash without too much worry.
3. A Bored Thai Bangkaew Is Indeed a Walking Chaos
A bored dog has the ability to destroy your interior or exterior in a flash. They can quickly turn your flowers, blankets, pillows, or anything else into ruins. They are also well known for being excellent diggers who can soon cause chaos throughout your yard.
You may want to consider building a fence around it as a form of prevention if you can’t correct the dog about this. It should be set deep enough into the ground and high enough (6 feet at least) that this excellent climber cannot simply scale it.
Conclusion
To be clear and concise, the Thai Bangkaew is your best option if you’re searching for a great property guardian. This breed is well-known and highly regarded in their nation of origin for being superb family and land protectors. However, it’s necessary for you to thoroughly socialize and train your Thai Bangkaew in order to prevent such undesirable situations.
The Thai Bangkaew is a challenging breed, so it’s definitely not recommended for first-time dog parents. They need an experienced owner who has the patience and persistence to tame their somewhat stubborn nature.
Featured Image Credit: KPhrom, Shutterstock
