| Africanis | |||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Africanis | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | African dog mūtina dog Khoekhoe dog Xhosa dog Tswana dog Sotho dog Zulu Dog Katali Bhoki Kutu Mukehe Bobby Simba Sibbi Lokasie-hond Kafferbrak(racist term) Bosco(Kenyan slang name) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Southern Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||||
TheAfricanis is a doglandrace found acrosssouthern Africa.[1] It is a medium-sized, short-coated dog, with a distinctive black patch around the front of the muzzle.
As is typical with landraces, there are several regional variations, believed to be the result of isolation and, to a limited degree, deliberate breeding.[2][3] Some modern writers describe the Africanis as apariah dog. This is considered an inappropriate classification, as the term typically denotes an ownerless, free-ranging dog. Considered a landrace with limited human interference in their breeding, the Africanis has also been maintained by human owners.[2]
The Africanis is a medium-sized, lightly built dog with a long slender muzzle and, usually, a short coat. It has been described as resembling a cross between aGreyhound, aterrier and adingo.[2][3] It can be found in almost any colour or combination of colours, although fawns, browns, brindles and blacks with various white markings are common.[2][3] A distinctive, possibly primitive, feature is a black patch found high on the outside of the tail where thecaudal gland is found in the wildwolf.[3]
The Africanis usually stands between 50 and 62 centimetres (20 and 24 in). Being alandrace, minor variations in appearance may be common. The Africanis is nonetheless known to breed true to a recognisable form.[3]
Africa's indigenous dogs descended fromancient Egyptian dogs found throughout theNile Delta around 5,900 years ago.[note 1] It is believed the descendants of these dogs spread throughout Africa with tribal movements, first throughout theSahara and finally reaching southern Africa around the6th century AD.[note 2][2][3]
The Africanis has always been attached tohuman settlements in southern Africa. The dogs have been used to help herd sheep, goats and cattle, guard against predators and help their human companions in the hunt.[2][3] The Africanis is known by a number of names. These include theKaffer brak (racist term), Kasi dog, umbwa wa ki-tamaduni ("traditional dog" inKiswahili), theKhoikhoi dog, theTswana dog and theZulu dog. Other local names include Sica, Isiqha, umhuqa, umgodoyi, Ixhalaga, Ixalagha, Isigola, I-Twina, and Itiwina.[3]
While generally looked down upon by European settlers who preferred their imported dog breeds, the Africanis was held in higher esteem by Europeans in Africa than theIndian pariah dog was inIndia.[2]
Efforts have been made to protect, preserve and promote these dogs, and prevent them from being split into a number of different breeds based upon different distinguishing physical features.[3][6] In South Africa, a society was established in 1998 to preserve the Africanis, theAfricanis Society of Southern Africa.[3][6][7]
The nameAfricanis is a portmanteau of the words "Africa" and "canis".[8]