What are Hmong Bobtails?
The Hmong Bobtail is an ancient spitz breed with natural bobtails, originating with the indigenous Hmong people. It is believed they came to northern Vietnam with the Hmong during their migration out of China many centuries ago. These primitive dogs are used for hunting and guarding the home. They are very loyal to their owner. Naturally athletic, they move swiftly across mountainous terrain and hillsides. While typically suspicious of new people on their territory, they generally range from neutral to friendly in public environments.
BREED STANDARD
Hmong Bobtail Dog
This is the current breed standard for the Hmong Bobtail according to the Vietnam Kennel Association (VKA)
ORIGIN
Vietnam
GROUP
Spitz and Primitive
PURPOSE
Guarding and Hunting
TEMPERAMENT
• Alert and independent nature
• Loyal to their owner
• Same sex aggressive
• Medium-high energy and prey drive
• Neutral to strangers in public
• Aloof to strangers in their home
SUMMARY
The Hmong Bobtail dog is an ancient breed raised by the Hmong ethnic group in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, used to guard houses and property and also as hunting dogs.
APPEARANCE
Medium-sized dogs with short but thick double coat. The whole body is muscular and strong, has a wide skeleton, and large head. Comes in Black, Brown (Liver), Yellow (Red), and Brindle.
WEIGHT
Males
39-57 lbs (18-26 kg)
Females
35-52 lbs (16-24 kg)
HEIGHT
Males
18-21" (48-54 cm)
Females
18-20" (46-52 cm)
Same Sex Aggression
This breed is prone to SSA (same sex aggression) when fully mature, males more noticeably than females. When considering adding a Hmong Bobtail to your home with existing dogs, plan whether you can manage SSA or dog selectivity once they reach maturity. Otherwise, this breed may be challenging for inexperienced owners. Individuals have varying degrees of SSA, but females generally less intense. So while it is possible for a female to live in a pack with other females/males, it's not recommended to house intact adult males together. Another thing to consider is that these dogs should not be expected to tolerate social gatherings with strange dogs such as daycares or dog parks. Most Hmong Bobtails are not overly social dogs that want to meet every new dog or person they come across. Their nature is to protect their territory and family.
Training and Prey Drive
These dogs are known for being intelligent and quickly adapting to new environments, with the right motivation they can become well trained and mannered pets. Though their independent nature might make it seem challenging to train at first, once you find what motivates them, you can use that to your advantage to teach them new skills. They are easily house trained as they do not like to soil their living spaces. Hmong Bobtails also have high prey drive due to their hunting history, so one must take precaution when introducing them into a home with smaller pets like cats or small dogs. Like other primitive breeds, training and desensitizing with positive experiences is extremely important for these dogs so they can become well socialized dogs. Though they make wonderful family pets, they are known to bond closer to one person they trust most.
Health and Grooming
The Hmong bobtail is a double coated breed. Their thick coat is short, but well insulated to protect against the cold. They should be brushed occasionally. They do shed seasonally so are not a good option for those who want a non-shedding dog. Owners should be prepared to desensitize their Hmong Bobtails to regular nail trimmings, washings, and handling so they can be easily cared for. Not much is known currently about their health in terms of medical or scientific data. All we currently have is anecdotal experiences from breeders and owners in the country of origin. Missing teeth has been a noted issue. According to breed experts in Vietnam, the Hmong Bobtail generally are healthy dogs, living up to around 15 years of age. Part of our club goals are to health test and study their genetics so we can have a better understanding of possible health concerns.
Breed Popularity
The Hmong Bobtail officially became recognized in the VKA (Vietnam Kennel Association) in 2020, marking the first and only kennel club to date that recognizes them. While there are few known Hmong Bobtails outside of Vietnam, they are a steadily growing breed due to their easy going nature, intelligence, and loyalty. With the exponential growth of the Hmong Bobtail's popularity, we want to make sure those interested are aware of all sides of this breed so they can make an educated decision on whether or not this breed is a good fit for their lifestyle. As a breed club dedicated to the ethical stewardship of these dogs, we also want to prevent the Hmong Bobtails from ending up in shelters, backyard breeders, and other exploitation. The Hmong Bobtail may not be a dog for everyone, but for those who cherish their qualities, they make loyal companions and excellent watchdogs.