Phu quoc ridgeback dog
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Phu Quoc ridgeback dogs are a breed of dog from Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam’s southern Kien Giang Province. According to Le Hoang Tam, Director of Vuong Trung Son Company, they are one of the world’s three rarest dogs with whorls on their backs, in addition to dogs from Thailand and Africa, as recorded by the International Association for Rare Dogs. Tam’s company has opened www.ChoPhuQuoc.com to introduce more about the dog.
Previously, the Phu Quoc dog was included in the Larousse Dictionary, and appeared frequently on international dog web pages. According to some dog experts, the Phu Quoc dog is much more intelligent than others[citation needed]. They are famous for hunting and protecting houses, for their friendship and loyalty to owners, and fearlessness against competitors.
According to old people on Phu Quoc Island, the dog was traditionally four main colours: spotted, black, yellow, and striped; however now the colours have become more varied. A mature dog is about 20-25 kg, with a small head, quite a long snout, and thin ears. The body of tapering belly, straight legs and “duck-like” toes, allows Phu Quoc dogs to swim and run exceedingly well.
An important sign to recognize a true Phu Quoc dog is the whorls on its back, together with short, thin hair. When facing competitors or running after prey, the whorls become erect, making the dog look brave and strong. Now, it is quite difficult to find original Phu Quoc dogs, as they have mixed with others.
Recently, more and more visitors come to Phu Quoc in search of the dogs, giving rise to four breeding camps on the island, which now raise about 600 dogs. Mostly are sold in HCM City, ranging from VND 800,000 (US$ 50) to VND 1 million (US$ 62.50)
