Pye-dog

An Indian pariah dog

Pye-dog, also known as the pariah dog, is a term used to describe an ownerless, half-wild, free-ranging dog that lives in or close to human settlements throughout South Asia, South China, the Middle East and North Africa. The term is derived from the Hindi pāhī, which translates to "outsider".

The appearance of pye-dogs varies considerably across the extent of its range. In some areas they can resemble herding dogs and in other areas they are more similar to sighthounds. They can be solid-coloured and sometimes striped, although their heads tend to be similar to spitz-type dogs. Depictions of the Egyptian god Anubis are often based on pye-dogs, although more frequently they are based on jackals.

The United Kennel Club uses the term pariah dog to classify various breeds in a sighthound and pariah group.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zaczek, Iain (2006). Dogs : facts, figures & fun. Wisley: AAPLL Artists' and Photographers' Press Ltd. pp. 12–13 & 17. ISBN 9781904332503.
  2. ↑ Dawkins, Richard (2009). The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. London: Bantum Press. p. 71. ISBN 9781409085874.
  3. ↑ Vesey-Fitzgerald, Brian (1957). The Domestic Dog: An Introduction to its History. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. pp. 20–21.
  4. 1 2 Epstein, H. (1969). Domestic Animals of China. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux. p. 125.
  5. ↑ "pye-dog". Chambers Dictionary. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "pye-dog". Collins English Dictionary. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers. 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Thomas, Elizabeth Marshall (2010). The hidden life of dogs. New York: Mariner Books. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-547-41685-4.
  8. ↑ "Breed Group Designations". United Kennel Club. Retrieved 24 December 2019.