Fellow Canine Fanciers: Support Our Cause: The Caravan Hound

We are deeply concerned about the survival of a most marvelous breed of dog, a living piece of India’s history: the Caravan Hound, also called “Karwani” in the language of its region of origin. We address you at this critical time in the hope that you will lend your support and consider our case concerning the Karwani. From years of extended study and a recent trip to India, we are disturbed that the breed in its pure form is rapidly disappearing due to a lack of opportunity to perform its historic function and rampant, widespread crossbreeding with Greyhounds, Whippets, Western Salukis, and possibly other Sighthound breeds. We consider it the duty of Kennel Clubs to preserve and protect breeds, but feel strongly that our organizations are falling short in this regard where the Caravan Hound is concerned.
Through misguided and perhaps dubious breeding practices, we feel that the Caravan Hound being promoted in show rings and thus being presented to the world stage differs vastly and considerably from the authentic Karwani found in rural villages in India. We find it absolutely abhorrent that while the rustic pure Caravan Hound disappears into oblivion, a modern incarnation bearing only faint resemblance to the proud, primitive hound of old should be considered to be India’s first “breed” to be represented internationally. We present here some photographs of show winning Caravan Hounds and authentic rural Caravan Hounds so that you, fellow fancier, may exercise your own judgment based on subjective observance and/or knowledge of type of any purebred dog that distinguishes one breed from another.

To FCI,
By this we ask you to delay the recognition of Caravan Hound for the following reasons:
1. To allow DNA samples to be collected from a wider population base by reputable, unbiased parties. There has allegedly been DNA presented, but we feel that the population sampled and presented may not be a true representative. We are deeply concerned from actual first hand observance of the native dogs in their habitat, that the current sampling is not representative of the purebred Caravan Hounds.
2. To allow a more accurate and descriptive Standard of the Breed to be presented based on the original type still observed in the rural areas (solidified by DNA) and proven to be a purebred. This will outline differentiating characteristics for future fanciers, breeders, and judges.
Only if and when an undisputed genetic base is established for Caravan Hounds, in accordance with FCI rules for inducting new breeds, will the breed be preserved and protected. Our hope is for the continuation of the purebred Karwani – a true National Treasure indigenous to Maharashtra, India.