Africanis

The Africanis breed of dog developed naturally, without much in the way of human interference, and many feral Africanis dogs still roam freely in the villages and surrounding areas of South Africa. It is impossible to determine the true ancestry of the Africanis dog, but it seems likely that they are the descendants of the wild hounds and pariah dogs that lived in ancient Africa, possibly with some infusions from sighthounds like the Greyhound. They are exceptionally friendly and naturally subservient and are a familiar sight in villages where a traditional South African lifestyle is still maintained. They often work as guardians for both people and their livestock, as hunting dogs, and even as a herding dog in some instances. In 1998, a society dedicated to the conservation of this unique and primitive breed, the Africanis Society, was created by John Gallant, an ardent protector of the breed, and the former director of the National Cultural History Museum, Dr. Udo Küsel. Unlike most breed societies, their intent is not to perfect the breed but to conserve and maintain the breed as it has developed naturally. Advanced DNA testing of registered dogs is standard, and the group maintains a code of ethics, as well as regulations and procedures for registration and breeding guidelines. While a great deal of variation from dog to dog is encouraged in this landrace breed, certain standards have been put in place to prevent the spread of certain genetic disorders, such as issues with dermoid sinus in dogs with ridged backs.