Sinhala Hound
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| Sinhala Hound | |
|---|---|
 A Sinhala Hound nursing her pups | |
| Origin | Sri Lanka |
| Breed status | Not recognised as a breed by any major kennel club. |
| Dog (domestic dog) | |
The Sinhala Hound is a landrace of dog from Sri Lanka.
The Sinhala Hound is a native dog found throughout Sri Lanka, often living in a semi-wild state scavenging for food.[1] According to a native legend, when Prince Vijaya first set foot on Sri Lanka in the 6th century BC, he was greeted by the barking of dogs; the Mahāvaṃsa mentions domestic dogs belonging to the island's Stone Age inhabitants, the Yaksha.[2][note 1] The average lifetime of Sinhala Hounds is 10-13 years.
Long overlooked by authorities in favour of imported dog breeds, only recently[when?] has the Sri Lankan Kennel Club been encouraged to recognize the landrace as a breed.[2]
The Sinhala Hound can be found in a variety of colors, but brown or dark brown brindle are most common.[1][2] They are very similar in form to the African Basenji, the New Guinea singing dog, the Carolina Dog and the Australian Dingo.[1][2]
