1. History

2. Name

3. Description

4. Colour types

5. Temperament

6. Hunting

7. Habitat and Food Habits

8. References

The Kanni ({{audio|Ta-கன்னி.ogg|pronunciation}}) - also known as the Maiden's Beastmaster - is a rare indigenous South Indian sighthound breed of dog found in the state of Tamil Nadu.^[3] The breed is used mainly for coursing game. Kanni name is exclusively called to black and tan and black and sable variety , while single coloured variety is known as Chippiparai.

History

Kanni is a royal indigenous hound dog breed in Tamilnadu, India.

During ancient times it was generally used for hunting by Zamindars (Aristocrat) and Landlords.^[4] In the beginning such breed of dogs existed in Tamilnadu especially in Southern districts like Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar and Madurai.^[5]

Name

The name Kanni means "pure" in Tamil and was given to this breed for its loyalty – purity of heart. The Kanni is also known as the Maiden's Beastmaster for its voracity with which it defends its territory against other wild animals and because they are often gifted to newlywed bride as their guardian.^[6] Even though they had different colours in this breed gifting only black and tan coloured dogs during marriages was generally followed as a practice. This leads to the wrong naming of the black and tan coloured breeds as Kanni in dogs as well as goats in future.^[7] Even though the native people call this breed as Kanni, Kennel Club of India (KCI) registered this with two names. It registered the black and tan coloured dogs of this breed as Kanni and the rest as Chippiparai respectively.

Description

Kannis are medium-sized dogs. The breed standard height at the withers is 65 cm (26 in). The standard weight is 20 kg.

Body size is medium, straight top line, tucked-up abdomen. They have straight head. Eyes are golden colour with strong jaws and a black nose. The ears are medium size and flat. Ears type erect, dropping, semi dropping. The tail is semi curved.^[8]

Colour types

Kannis have shot coat. Coat colour found in brown with black, fawn, pale red to dark red, cream, white, red with white, ash

known as Santhana Pillai, Sevalai, Karum Sevalai, Reththa Sevalai, Mayila Pillai, Karamba Pillai, Keeri Pillai, Semmarai, Sampal, Paal Kanni, Seng Kanni, Karung Kanni and Parukki in Tamil languages according to^[9]

Some are generally black throughout the body and have fawn coloured dots on eyebrows, face and legs those are called as Paal Kanni

Some are generally black throughout the body and have dark tan coloured dots on eyebrows, face and legs those are called as Seng Kanni

Some are generally black throughout the body and have fawn colour both side of face and legs those are called as Karung Kanni

The ones which have black and fawn colour equally distributed throughout the body with fawn covering head and legs and blacking covering rest of the body parts are called as Parukki

Brindle Kanni is rarely born when the dark coloured Kanni is mated with white or ash coloured Kanni dog as the result of reversed gene of K chromosome. If correctly bred, not more than 2 brindled Kanni puppies can be born out of 7 to 9 litter mates.

Kanni with this type of coat is called as Pulichchaarai or Pulicharai

Temperament

The Kanni is usually shy but will always defend its home or master, if the need arises. The Kanni dogs are extremely faithful and easy to train but they will always think independently when on a hunt. They are good companion, loyal and friendly to family.^[10]

Hunting

This breed is used for hunting deer, hare and other rodents. Kanni generally run very fast to catch their prey. It smells and traces the hare. While hunting, it can quickly respond to the hand signals and gestures of its owner towards a running rabbit. The key to the Kanni's capability as a coursing dog can be found in its light but muscular build, large heart, double suspension gallop, and extreme flexibility of its spine all like that of Cheetah.^[11]

Habitat and Food Habits

Such breed dogs live in temperate climate zone. Minimum veterinary care is enough. They need free space and territory conscious. Hence this breed is suitable for village and not suitable for city life. Not a finicky eater, Kanni eats millet, corn, ragi, jowar and rice porridge with milk or curd and non-veg foods.^[12]

References

• Breathless (Terence Blanchard album)
• Breath of a Salesman
• Breath of Brazil
• Breath of Fire VI
• Breath of Heaven (disambiguation)
• Breath of Life (Louis Hayes album)
• Breath of Life (WSQ album)
• Breath of Light
• Breath of the Wild
• Breath of the wild
• Breath On a Window
• Breath on a Window
• Brea (Thrace)
• Breathy voice
• Breathy-voiced glottal approximant
• Breaugh, Michael
• Breault, Michael
• Breaux Bridge High School
• Breaux House
• Breay
• Breazeale
• Brebach
• Brebach (disambiguation)
• BRE Bank
• Breban, Matthew