Jindo

33-42 lbs
18-20"
South Korea
Korean Jindo Dog, Chindo, Jindo Gae, Jindogae, Jin Dog, Jindo Gu

The Jindo is a well-muscled and study Spitz-type dog from South Korea. He is a happy dog and loves performing a job. His original purpose as a versatile hunter has stayed with him through the generations. Loyal to a fault, he will form a strong bond with one person, although he will also be friendly with the rest of the family. Adult Jindos have a difficult time when they have to switch homes and have been known to travel long distances to return to their home and original owners. He is a clean dog and will housetrain easily. The Jindo can be territorial and if not raised with other dogs can be aggressive when strange dogs come near their property. 

purpose Purpose
Versatile hunter
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Spitz-type

Jindo Health

Average Size
Male Jindo size stats
Height: 20-22 inches Weight: 40-51 lbs
Female Jindo size stats
Height: 18-20 inches Weight: 33-42 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hypothyroidism
Minor Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Elbow Dysplasia
Occasional Tests
  • Hip X-Rays
  • Thyroid Tests

Jindo Breed History

It is unknown when the Jindo was actually developed. Some historians claim he descends from ancient breeds from the Nordic territories while others claim he began as a variety of the Akita. It is thought that he was originally bred on the Island of Jindo which is located in southwest Korea. He was originally bred to be a versatile hunting dog that could follow a cold trail and track badgers, rabbits, deer and wild boar. When hunting, he will take down his prey and then bring the hunter to where he brought down the prey. Since he was basically undiscovered for centuries, the Jindo evolved into a natural breed that is relatively healthy. Due to travel limitations to the Island of Jindo, he was the best kept secret of South Korea. Koreans found him to be a hardy, protective dog that was extremely loyal. He was also an adaptable hunter able to aid his owner in catching various prey. The first Jindos were imported into the United States in the 1980s and were officially recognized by the United Kennel Club, allowing them to compete in all UKC events. The American Kennel Club did not begin registering the Jindo in its Foundation Stock Service until 2008. There are still very few in the United States and Canada. In South Korea, the Jindo is protected by law since 1962 and is considered to be a national monument. He is listed as the most popular dog in South Korea. Even though he is popular in his native South Korea, the Jindo is a very rare breed and few are found outside of Asia. 

Jindo Breed Appearance

The Jindo’s height and weight are proportional, giving the illusion of a box. He is medium sized and has a short, dense coat that is harsh to the touch. His ears are triangular and stand erect and are alert most of the time, guarding his home or searching for prey. He has dark brown eyes that are almond shaped and inquisitive. The outside corners of his eyes slant towards his ears, giving him an intense look. His nose is black, except white colored dogs can have flesh colored noses. He has a double coat, the undercoat being soft and dense and the topcoat being short and harsh to touch. The topcoat will stand away from the body. His tail is typical spitz and will curl over his back. He is characterized his plush tail. The Jindo comes in a variety of colors including white, brindle, red fawn, grey and black and tan. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Jindo eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Jindo nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Jindo coat
White
brindle Jindo coat
Brindle
red Jindo coat
Red
gray Jindo coat
Gray
black Jindo coat
Black
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Jindo straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Jindo Breed Maintenance

The Jindo is a seasonal shedder and will shed very heavily twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. During heavy shedding, the Jindo needs to be groomed every day and given weekly warm baths to help the hair come out quicker. Use a comb, pin brush and deshedder when grooming during times of heavy shedding. When he is not shedding heavily, there will still be mild shedding but by brushing him weekly using a comb and pin brush the shedding will be kept to a minimum and will stay off of furniture and rugs. He is not hypoallergenic. You will notice, between baths, that he does have a moderate doggy smell. His coat can be sprinkled with baking soda and baby powder to freshen between baths. Cut his toenails as needed and clean his ears often to keep infections from occurring. Start a routine dental plan to ensure his gums and teeth remain healthy and strong. 

Brushes for Jindo
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Jindo requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Jindo Temperament

Loyal is the best word to describe the Jindo. He is loyal to a fault and forms such a deep bond with his owner. He does not transfer his loyalty easily so if you are considering a Jindo, be certain that you can commit to him for his life. He will be aloof with strangers and does need extensive socialization. The Jindo does not do well with other dogs, especially males. Even if raised with other dogs, he does need to be watched closely when interacting with them. Other pets in the household should never be allowed near the Jindo because of his high prey drive. His exercise needs are moderate, but he does require a lot of one-on-one attention to keep him happy. He loves spending time doing dog sports with his owner and excels at agility, obedience or rally. This reinforces the bond he has with his owner and gives him an opportunity to expend energy and use their intelligence. Training should be continued throughout his lifetime. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
45 minutes
activity minutes

Jindo Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Jindo Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Jindo size stats at six months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 20.5 lbs
Female Jindo size stats at six months
Height: 15.0 inches Weight: 18.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Jindo size stats at 12 months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 33.0 lbs
Female Jindo size stats at 12 months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Jindo size stats at 18 months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 45.0 lbs
Female Jindo size stats at 18 months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 35.0 lbs

Jindo Owner Experiences

Akira
4 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I wouldn't trust any North American trainer's opinion about Jindos. They know nothing. I would trust only South Korean people. They are not moderate energy need but HIGH. Just because they are not vocal or bark when they need exercise, doesn't mean they are moderate needs. They are subtle in their way of expressing themselves. They also are very affectionate with the owners that have earned their trust and bonded with them. If your Jindo isn't super affectionate with you, you haven't earned his/her respect nor has your dog bonded with you. I have a Jindo-High energy, very affectionate. I have a South Korean neighbour who constantly reminds me how Smart, Loyal ,Loving but Stubborn dogs they are.
1 year, 12 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Not a very affectionate dog but very well-trained likes to go on very long walks
6 years, 9 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Sniffing
Peanut, the Jindo I've had the pleasure of walking several times, is a very sweet dog who loves to walk. She lives with a cat who she seems to get along with very well. She's also friendly with new people and warmed up to me right away. She doesn't jump up or lick you and seems to have a generally calm personality. She's a surprisingly fast walker though and loves to cover as much ground as possible during her walks. She also likes to mark. She will occasionally growl and get aggressive with other dogs that we pass, but sometimes she has no problem with them so it seems to just depend on the dog. She is very quiet and I've actually never heard her bark.
6 years, 9 months ago
Charlie
5 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Charlies is the most affectionate dog, he is like a little human boy. Easy to train, knows his boundaries and is overall friendly with both humans and dogs. He is a great guard dog and Absolutely hates water!
5 years, 8 months ago
Luna
1 Year
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Luna came from a rescue in Korea. She is a very anxious dog so it has been at times a struggle to have her outside. After having her a year she is getting better but still needs work. Luna is wicked smart so training her the basics has been easy. Since we live in an apartment we spend a lot of time outside at our local parks but if too many people show up we do have to leave as her fear takes over. I'm hoping as she gets older and we stick with our routine she will be able to be outside with confidence.
5 years, 7 months ago
Cho Lee
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We've had her for a week now. She's having a hard time getting used to sleeping upstairs with us, so I have to move her crate upstairs at night for now. She loves our 12-year-old American Dingo, and they play together for long periods out in the yard and in the living room. She is a little white bundle of love and energy, and we look forward to a long and happy life together.
5 years, 6 months ago
Gamja
7 Months
1 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Got her at 2 months old and have had her for about 5 months now. She catches on to the commands easily but does not always follow them. She's super friendly and likes all dogs and people. She rarely barks except for when she hears people outside of our apartment door. She does have a lot of energy. We walk 3 times a day and about 5 miles but she still has energy at end of the day to probably go for another walk. Temperament wise she is mostly calm considering she's still a puppy.
5 years, 6 months ago
Judy
3 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Dog Parks
Hiking
Judy has been with us for over 6 months now, we adopted her from Jindo Love in Korea. In that time she has grown in confidence and become a very friendly, affectionate and loyal companion. She does love her territory however so you need to be careful around the dogs in your neighborhood. She really enjoys meeting and playing with dogs at the dog parks, and loves to be outside. She is very low maintenance as she will clean herself and has a very relaxed temperament.
5 years, 4 months ago
Dexter
3 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
road
Hiking
Dexter is a rescue from korea dog meat trade by koreank9rescue organization. He is a very quiet, lovely, rather shy to strangers and has become much more cuddly now than when we first got him.
4 years, 9 months ago
Morgan
1 Year
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Run
Our Jindo is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met
4 years, 5 months ago
Gracie
1 Year
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks, Hikes, participating in her doggie playgrou
Gracie is a Jindo mix adopted from a HK dog rescue at the age of 4 months. She started out extremely anxious, and I had difficulty getting her to go outside. Now that we're back in the U.S., she's settling in well and enjoying the outdoors. She is getting friendlier with her playgroup dogs, but she's not very friendly from the get-go with either people or other dogs.
4 years, 3 months ago
Loki
1 Year
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My Jindo is a 1 yo male and I would say he's not everyone's favorite dog since he's really aloof with visitors and even would growl and snap when they try to pet him. He's got food guarding issue and only listens to me and the husband as his leader, but never my 10 yo son. He bit him when my son was trying to pet him next to his food bowl (he wasn't eating his food anyway) Overall he's really good in commands and would pick up new cues quick! Jindos are just not for everyone. It takes loads of patience, persistency, strong and firm leadership.
3 years, 8 months ago
Keanu
3 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Hiking
Such a great dog. Jindo is very stubborn dog so you must constantly keep up with training
3 years, 8 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd