- Kanni
Infobox Dogbreed
name = Kanni
country = India
notrecognized=trueThe Kanni, which means
maiden , is a rare indigenousSouth Indian dog breed found in the state ofTamil Nadu . The breed is a further extension of the Caravan or Mudhol Hound, and is also a descendant of theSaluki . However, the Kanni does not possess the grand features of these breeds. It is used mainly forhunting .Description
Appearance
In general appearance, the Kanni is similar to a smooth-coated Saluki or a Doberman Pinscher with natural ears and tail. The dog is usually black and tan in colour, perhaps with limited white on the feet and chest. There also exists a cream-coloured variety of the breed, which is known as "Paalakanni". The Kanni is agile, slim, graceful, and moderately built, with a deep chest and slim body. The dog stands about 25 inches at the
withers , the bitch about 22 inches.History
The Kanni is found in and around
Tirunelveli ,Pollachi ,Kovilpatti , Kazhugumalai, Kileral, Kodangipatti,Sivakasi , andMadurai . It is said that the name Kanni ( which means Unmarried Girl) comes from the fact that the dog used to be given as a gift to the bridegroom just before the marriage. In fact, it was in the list ofdowry items offered to the groom. They are usually of four colours, brown, cream, black &tan andbrindle . The Kanni is kept by families who do not sell them but may gift them if a promise is made to look after them well. They are not allowed to roam on the streets and brought up as pet animals. They are given a diet of milk in the morning, corn porridge in the afternoon and a "Ragi" porridge in the evening. Meat is given once a week or once a month only.The breed is now extremely rare, and on the verge ofextinction . Efforts to revive the breed have not been taken up, as specimens are few, and there exists little information about them.External links
* [http://www.rajapalayamdogs.org/kanni.htm rajapalayamdors.org] - pictures from Rajapalayam dogs
* [http://www.rajapalayamdogs.net/breeds4.html Breed description] - maintained by a kennel
* [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/2005/01/09/stories/2005010900860800.htm News article]
* [http://www.dogsworld4india.com An Indian Site Dedicated to Dog Breeding & the sport of dog showing in India]
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