VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

KANNI DOG  (Web link ...)

• Dog for the sheep farming in the grazing land.
• The Kanni is found in and around Tirunelveli,  Kovilpatti, Kazhugumalai, Kileral, Kodangipatti, Sivakasi, and Madurai.
• It is said that the name Kanni comes from the fact that the dog used to be given as a gift to the bridegroom just before the marriage.
• They are usually of four colours, brown, cream, black & tan and brindle.
• The Kanni is kept by families who do not sell them but may gift them if a promise is made to look after them well.
• They are not allowed to roam on the streets and brought up as pet animals.
• They are given a diet of milk in the morning, corn porridge in the afternoon and a "Ragi" porridge in the evening.
• Meat is given once a week or once a month only. The breed is now extremely rare, and on the verge of extinction.
• Efforts to revive the breed have not been taken up, as specimens are few, and there exists little information about them.
• Found among the flock of Vembur sheep and Kanni goat. It is a good watch  dog.