It needs courage to enter the Canine Research and Information Centre at Thimmapur, near Mudhol, in Karnataka. A pack of Mudhol hounds bark fiercely at any unfamiliar face.
The Patwardhan Kings of Mudhol created the hybrid hunting dogs by crossing the Afghanistan Caravan hounds with the local native dog breeds. It is said that the King of Mudhol presented a pair of puppies to King George V in the early 1900s. The dogs came to be identified with the name of their town: later, it was bred in nearby regions.
The slim and sturdy Mudhol hounds are recognised as a native dog breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The CRIC was set up in 2009-10 by the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar, to breed these dogs, which are in demand for surveillance and guard duties. They are also known for their loyalty.
The research centre supports breeders by supplying certified hounds. It has a buy-back system too. A distinct parental lineage certificate is also issued by the KVAFSU. The centre’s scientists train local farmers who are interested in breeding these dogs.
Mudhol hounds come in seven colours. Night black is the rarest, followed by brindle, which is usually brown or tawny with bands of another colour. The centre provides 50-day-old puppies to breeders and enthusiasts for ₹12,500 each. The adult dogs are fed milk, eggs, cereals, millets and certified dog food at the centre. Puppies are fed milk and supplements, after they are weaned.
Nearly 240 farmers from the Scheduled communities have been given free pairs of dogs. Vaccines and food for the dogs are also provided for a year.
The Indian Army, the Air Force, the Remount Veterinary Corps, the Sashastra Seema Bal, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Central Industrial Security Force in Sriharikota, the Border Security Force, the administration of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the Karnataka Police, and the elite Special Protection Group use the services of the Mudhol hounds.
The research centre is hoping to expand its activities by introducing scientific training facilities with better infrastructure as the demand for the breed is only growing.
