The Telomian is a type of
dog
The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...
found in isolated villages near the Telom River in the rainforests of the
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula (Malay: ''Semenanjung Tanah Melayu'') is a peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area ...
.
[ It has been introduced into the ]United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.[ Some US-based breeders were selling these dogs as pure breds, which was dismissed with the Malaysian Kennel Association in a statement that these are ]pariah dogs
Pye-dog, or sometimes pariah dog, is a term used to describe an ownerless, half-wild, free-ranging dog that lives in or close to human settlements throughout Asia. The term is derived from the Sanskrit ''para'', which translates to "outsider".
...
and not a breed.[
]
Description
These are an active dog that is affectionate towards people, and possess a terrier-like temperament. They feature erect ears, curly tails, with short fur on the coat that is either red or yellow. There may be some variation in coat colour.[ Some are piebald in colour, and occasionally some have a black mask.][
They are noted for their climbing ability because their owners live in huts raised from the forest floor with access by primitive ladders. They kill rats and snakes, for which they are rewarded with food. They are also able to catch their own prey. They have a unique call and the females only have one heat per year instead of two like other dogs.
]
History
The anthropologist Dr. Orville Elliot sent a pair to the US in 1963 to be studied by the canine expert J. P. Scott. Elliot received a second pair in 1973 and all Telomians in the US are descended from these 4 dogs.
Telomians are also kept by the Orang Asli
Orang Asli (''lit''. "first people", "native people", "original people", "aborigines people" or "aboriginal people" in Malay) are a heterogeneous indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of ...
not only as pets, but for hunting as well.
See also
* Dogs portal
References
{{Primitive dogs
Dog breeds originating in Malaysia