Jindo Dog to Join Ranks of World`s Best Breeds

Jindo dogs (national landmark No. 53) will join the ranks of the world`s best breeds of dogs.

The Jindo Dog Test Center in Jindo, Geollanam-do said on Nov. 18 that it will send three male Jindo dogs and two females, which are five months old, to the Kennel Club, the world`s most prominent dog registration agency based in the UK, for entry into the club`s purebred dog register.

Under an mutual agreement, the test center and KC will place the five Jindo dogs under KC`s protection to send them to breed and dog shows scheduled for March next year.

After attending the shows, the five puppies will be trained at KC members` for about a year before going through breed tests and finally getting registered in the club in 2004.

The Kennel Clubs, established back in 1873 in the UK, is one of the world`s three major dog registration agency along with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Federation Cynologique International (FCI), and is, in particular, known for its long history and strict standards.

There are 196 breeds of dogs currently registered at the club, which is supported by British Royal Family, including Bulldog, Grey Hound (Britain), Shepard, Doberman (Germany) and Akida (Japan).

Registration of Jindo dogs is expected to not only promote the existence of Korea`s purebred dog, but also open the way for exports of Jingo dogs for $2,000 to $3,000 a head.

The test center has raised some 6,000 Jindo dogs in the island of Jindo since 1998. To preserve the pure blood, in particular, it implanted a 2mm electronic chip containing a 10-digit number under the skin of the dogs.

The five representatives were selected after X-ray and DNA tests for physique and genetic attributes.

˝Once Jindo dogs join the ranks of the world`s best breeds, the nation`s image tainted with `dog soup culture` will be restored greatly,˝ said Dr. Lee Gye-woong, veterinarian at the Jindo Dog Test Center.

shjung@donga.com