Rajapalayam Breed Standard
DISCLAIMER:
While the Rajapalayam is a real breed and shown in its native country of India, it does not have an official breed standard from any major international kennel club. The below information was gathered from cited breed studies for the purposes of DARPG.
While the Rajapalayam is a real breed and shown in its native country of India, it does not have an official breed standard from any major international kennel club. The below information was gathered from cited breed studies for the purposes of DARPG.
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General Information
AKC Group |
UKC Group |
FCI Group |
Hound Group |
Sighthounds and Pariah Group |
Group 10 Sighthounds |
Size, Proportion, and Substance
As per the classification of hounds, the Rajapalayam dog breed comes under the category of mid-size hounds. The average Rajapalayam is similiar to the Saluki in size, ranging between 23-25 inches, with specimens ranging on the low end of 20 inches up to almost 30 inches, both rare but not faulted.
The ideal body weight is between 20 to 40 kg (44 to 88 pounds). Bitches are on average shorter, smaller in length, and weigh less than their male counterparts.
Disqualifying Fault: Smaller than 20 inches or taller than 30 inches.
The ideal body weight is between 20 to 40 kg (44 to 88 pounds). Bitches are on average shorter, smaller in length, and weigh less than their male counterparts.
Disqualifying Fault: Smaller than 20 inches or taller than 30 inches.
Head
The head profile is straight with a straight nasal bridge.
EYES: The eyes should be golden, the color of honey, with pink eye lids. The presence of Silver or Blue eyes (including wall-eye or split eye) are associated with deafness and are not permitted.
NOSE: Pink as caused by albinism. Darker colored noses are to be discouraged.
EARS: The ears are medium in size, flat and drooping.
Major Fault: Brown nose.
Disqualifying Fault: Blue or Silver Eyes; Wall-Eye, Split-Eye. Dogs displaying deafness or blindness. Cropped or rose ears.
EYES: The eyes should be golden, the color of honey, with pink eye lids. The presence of Silver or Blue eyes (including wall-eye or split eye) are associated with deafness and are not permitted.
NOSE: Pink as caused by albinism. Darker colored noses are to be discouraged.
EARS: The ears are medium in size, flat and drooping.
Major Fault: Brown nose.
Disqualifying Fault: Blue or Silver Eyes; Wall-Eye, Split-Eye. Dogs displaying deafness or blindness. Cropped or rose ears.
Neck, Topline, and Body
The neck length of the Rajapalayam is between 17.53 and 18.4 cm, with neck girth of males reaching 40.00 cm. The body is ideally 55 to 60 cm in length. Some specimens will be longer than tall, taller than long, or close to equal based on height at the withers. The height at base of the tail is less than that of height at withers, indicating that the Rajapalayam has a slope from the chest towards the hind quarters.
TAIL: Tail length was observed to be around 41 cm in males and 38 cm in female. The shape is semi-curved, being held down between the legs when at rest and carried above the topline in a sickle shape when gaiting.
Handlers are permitted to pose the tail in a sickle shape above the topline when stacked.
Disqualifying Fault: Curled tail that lays over the hindquarters. Docked tail.
TAIL: Tail length was observed to be around 41 cm in males and 38 cm in female. The shape is semi-curved, being held down between the legs when at rest and carried above the topline in a sickle shape when gaiting.
Handlers are permitted to pose the tail in a sickle shape above the topline when stacked.
Disqualifying Fault: Curled tail that lays over the hindquarters. Docked tail.
Limbs
The Rajapalayam has between 18 and 20 claws, most typically found with 5 on the front paws and 4 on the back paws. The leg length is longer in the hindlimbs than it is in the front limbs by several centimeters, with males displaying longer limbs on average. Paw pads are pink with light colored claws.
Gait and Stack
Free-flowing yet powerful gait. Tail is raised above the topline. Legs and feet should move in line with the body with no "hackney" motion. Legs should form nice, clean lines when moving at proper speed. (VIDEO).
The Rajapalayam is stacked in a square, 4 point stack where the front legs and hindlegs are parallel. Both front legs and both hindlegs are placed beside each other, forming a rectangle shape when viewed from the back.
The Rajapalayam is stacked in a square, 4 point stack where the front legs and hindlegs are parallel. Both front legs and both hindlegs are placed beside each other, forming a rectangle shape when viewed from the back.
Coat and Color
The Rajapalayam is solid white (Milk White) with pink skin. The coat (hair) is very smooth and small in length, occasionally giving the dog a pink sheen due to the skin color. Dogs with cream or very light isabella spots (think dalmatian spotting) are permitted, but discouraged. Pink spots on the stomach or areas of thin skin around the muzzle are common.
Major Fault: Dalmatian spotting (very light cream or light isabella).
Disqualifying Fault: Any other color than milk white or very light spotted. Fringed, long, or feathered coat.
Major Fault: Dalmatian spotting (very light cream or light isabella).
Disqualifying Fault: Any other color than milk white or very light spotted. Fringed, long, or feathered coat.
Temperament and Purpose
The Rajapalayam is a very individualistic dog and prefers to be housed alone. They are very active, obedient, easily trainable, and not prone to attack livestock or poultry if properly socialized. They are, however, very wary with unknown persons and wild animals. Their eyesight is keen and used to track prey.
Their primarily purpose is that of the farm dog: bred to protect livestock, guard the property, and hunt wild boar that threatens local crops. They were used by the Indian Army in Kashmir as guard dogs. While the Rajapalayam is not as fast as a traditional sighthound, they are tireless and steady over long distances making them ideal for large game hunting.
Recommended Disciplines: Large Game Hunting, Boar Hunting (Catch and Bay), Deer Driving, IGP, PSA, Livestock Protection, Property Protection, Lure Coursing.
Their primarily purpose is that of the farm dog: bred to protect livestock, guard the property, and hunt wild boar that threatens local crops. They were used by the Indian Army in Kashmir as guard dogs. While the Rajapalayam is not as fast as a traditional sighthound, they are tireless and steady over long distances making them ideal for large game hunting.
Recommended Disciplines: Large Game Hunting, Boar Hunting (Catch and Bay), Deer Driving, IGP, PSA, Livestock Protection, Property Protection, Lure Coursing.
