| Himalayan Sheepdog | |
| Also Known As: | Bhote kukur, Bhotia, Bangara, Gaddi Kutta, Himalayan Mastiff |
| Country: | Nepal, India |
| Height: | Typically, can be up to |
| Coat: | Long, thick and harsh double coat |
| Colour: | Black and tan or solid black, some white markings on the extremities |
| Life Span: | 10–11 years |
| Notrecognised: | yes |
The Himalayan Sheepdog, known locally by various names including the Bhote, Bangara or Gaddi Kutta, and sometimes called the Himalayan Mastiff, is a breed of livestock guardian dog from the Himalayas.[1] [2] The Himalayan Sheepdog is found in the Himalayan foothills from eastern Nepal to Kashmir. The breed is primarily used as a livestock guardian dog, protecting flocks of yak and sheep from various predators, and as a property guardian dog; unusually for a livestock guardian, the breed is also used to assist with herding. The Himalayan Sheepdog is also used to assist in hunting.
The Himalayan Sheepdog is very closely related to the slightly larger Tibetan Mastiff. The breed's double coat is typically harsh and thick and they are usually black and tan or solid black with some white markings on their toes, chest and neck. They have small drooped ears and a heavily plumed tail that is curled over their back. There are slightly distinct sub-varieties of the breed found in the Kumaon hills and Chamba; the former, which is known as the Cypro Kukur or Kumaon Mastiff, is brindle, rich golden brown or black in colour, the latter is smaller than most of the breed and resemble a larger, longer-haired black Labrador Retriever.
In 2005 the Himalayan Sheepdog was one of four Indian dog breeds featured on a set of postage stamps released by the Indian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to celebrate the country's canine heritage.