The Thai Bangkaew Dog

The Thai Bangkaew Dog presents a picture of agility and alertness. It is a medium-size Spitz type dog, square in profile. The Thai Bangkaew Dog is compactly built and well proportioned, with a smooth gait. The double coat consists of a short, undercoat, with a longer guard hair growing through it forming the outer coat. The coat is thicker and longer around the neck, chest and back forming a lion-like ruff, which is more noticeable on dogs than on bitches. The richly plumed tail is carried with moderate upward curve over the back. The TBD comes in white with shades of red, gray, brown and black, in a wide variety of patterns.

They are an alert and watchful dog, protective of home and family. Bangkaew are devoted to their masters but can be aloof with stranger.

Agile and active, they are strong swimmers and voracious diggers. They are highly intelligent but can be stubborn and benefit from training. Positive reinforcement methods work best with this breed.

The Creation of the Thai Bangkaew Dog, "Bangkaew" is a village located in the Bangrakam District, Phitsanulok Province in the central region of Thailand. In this district, near the Yom River, there is a monastery named, Wat Bangkaew. 100 years ago, the land supported a forest plentiful with timber and inhabited by wild animals such as elephants, boars, wild chickens, jackals, and dholes (Asiatic wild dog). It is believed that Wat Bangkaew is the place of origin of Thai Bangkaew Dogs.

As the story goes, the third Abbot of Wat Bangkaew Temple, long respected Luang Puh Maak Metharee, was known for mercy and care given to all things living. He kept animals of many kinds like, bantam hens, doves, cats, and dogs. He came to receive a native Thai bitch by an old Bang Kaew villager named Tah Nim. That bitch was large with long black hair. As she was pregnant, her mating may have been to a jackal or dhole, the resulting litter produced longhaired puppies of black and dark brown coloration.

During the time that Luang Puh Maak Metharee had raised four bitches, there were the migrations by the Song, a race of Thai people, into Huay Chan, a village located a little more than a mile away. These people used their dogs to herd the cattle they brought along on the journey to their new homes. After settling in Huay Chan, they began to interact and established trade with the people in Bangkaew village, and of course, their dogs followed along. Hence, the breedings between the bitches of Luang Puh Maak Metharee and the dogs of the newly arrived inhabitants took place. Local residents of the houseboats along the Yom River took these dogs as their pets.

The bitches' seasons occurred at a time most of the land in that area was flooded by the very heavy rains. Secluded by this natural occurring barrier other dogs were excluded from the contributing to the gene pool. Thus the inbreedings that took place lead to the creation of the Purebred Thai Bangkaew Dogs. From then on, this charming, beautiful, clever, honest and loyal breed has been selectively bred and has become one of the most favored varieties of Thai dogs.