Sarail Hound
The Sarail Hound is a unique breed of dog that very closely resembles the Grey Hound and is found mainly in Sarail upazilla of Brahamanbaria district of Bangladesh. Although there is lack of authentic information about the origin of the breed, but some researchers assume Sarail Hound to be a Fusion of Arabian Hunting dogs, Greyhounds and Wild-dogs. At present the ‘pure Sarail Hound’ is facing a devastating future leading to possible extinction. Therefore, it is very important that dog enthusiasts of Bangladesh recognize this breed as a part of Bangladesh’s heritage and take initiatives to save it from extinction.Through studying the available articles on the Sarail Hound, discovered the fact that the breed is from the family of sight hounds. Sight Hounds rely on their sharp eyesight, rather than smell, to chase down and hunt preys. Sight hounds are ancient varieties of dog that were brought in to the subcontinent by middle eastern traders. Breeds like Salukis, Azawakhs, Tazis and Afghan Hounds were common among them. Decedents of these breeds crossed with the grey hounds of the British rulers in India, creating a new set of hounds in the Indian soil. The landlord of Sarail brought these hounds and crossed them with wild dogs from the jungles of Tipperah district, creating what is known as the Sarail Hound today. However, with time the breed is losing its purity as it is becoming a common practice to breed Sarail Hounds with Deshi Kukur due to lack of genuine breeders to save the breed.
Informstions about Sarail Hound:
Type of Hound: Sight Hound
Found in: Sarail, Brahamanbaria district of Bangladesh
Height: Male (25–28 inch), Female (23–26 inch)
Weight: Male (23–33 kg), Female (18–28 kg)
Coat: Short thin coat
Color: Mostly bi-color; brown & white, brindle, black & white
Character: Intelligent, Steadfast, Aloof.
Temperament: Alert, bold & at times ferocious.
Life Span: 8-14 Years
Exercise need: Very High
Prey instinct: Very High
Watchdog ability: Moderate
Trainability: Moderate
Speed: 55 km/hr
Found in: Sarail, Brahamanbaria district of Bangladesh
Height: Male (25–28 inch), Female (23–26 inch)
Weight: Male (23–33 kg), Female (18–28 kg)
Coat: Short thin coat
Color: Mostly bi-color; brown & white, brindle, black & white
Character: Intelligent, Steadfast, Aloof.
Temperament: Alert, bold & at times ferocious.
Life Span: 8-14 Years
Exercise need: Very High
Prey instinct: Very High
Watchdog ability: Moderate
Trainability: Moderate
Speed: 55 km/hr
The body looks compact and tough, lightly built, fine boned, high on the legs compared with length of the body. The head looks Long and narrow, fairly wide between the ears, the muzzle is thin and slightly pointed. The eyes are dark, bright, intelligent, indicating spirit. Ears are small and fine in texture, semi-pricked when excited, otherwise thrown back and folded. The nose is pointed and prominent just like other scent-hounds. Teeth are very strong and sharp. The neck is long, muscular, slightly arched, and widening gradually into the shoulder. The shoulders are placed as obliquely as possible, muscular without being loaded. The forelegs are perfectly straight, set well into the shoulders, neither turned in nor out, pasterns strong. The chest is deep with well-sprung ribs. The back is strong and firm sloping slightly from withers to croup. The spine is strong and flexible. The waist is narrow and tucked up. The hindquarters are long, muscular and powerful, wide and well-bent stifles. Hocks well bent and legs are parallel to each other and moderately wide apart. The feet are hard and close, rather more hare than cat feet, well knuckled up with good strong claws. The tail is long, thin with a slight curve and white marking at the tip.
"There are not many breeds matching the speed and strength of the Sarail Hound”
-General M.A.G Osmani (1981)
-General M.A.G Osmani (1981)
A Story
“Two of the Pakistani Cammando Platoon on a mission to kill me, on jumping into my compound at 23-J Banani on the night of 25/26 March 1971.They were attacked by my ‘Field Marshall’ (A sarail hound) and got bayoneted by the commandoes. The injured dog was later taken by the son of Mr.Justice Jabbar, to their house at Lalmatia, despite his injury ,he broke chain and was at large in search of me. Eventually after four years he traced me out. My Sarail Hound was deeply attached to me, I will always miss him”.
__General M.A.G Osmani
__General M.A.G Osmani
Sarail hounds are legendary dogs of Bangladesh. Descended from Arabic Saluks, they were bred over hundreds of years into superior hunting dogs by Moghul generals and aristocrats at the village of Sarail. They have served in the army and police, as hunting and guard dogs, and as devoted pets.
To identify a Sarail Hound there is a white mark running down from the forehead, a white tail-tip, white paws and an elongated nose. The shape is important: thin hips, powerful thigh muscles and a large chest. It is a quiet dog with an intense gaze, and free of odours.
Sarails are extremely devoted to their masters, but don't like to hug or lick. They are very territorial. they swiftly kill animals - cats, rats, mongoose that stray into their fenced area.
To identify a Sarail Hound there is a white mark running down from the forehead, a white tail-tip, white paws and an elongated nose. The shape is important: thin hips, powerful thigh muscles and a large chest. It is a quiet dog with an intense gaze, and free of odours.
Sarails are extremely devoted to their masters, but don't like to hug or lick. They are very territorial. they swiftly kill animals - cats, rats, mongoose that stray into their fenced area.
Government, Companies or Individuals funding can help set up a Sarail Sanctuary on the outside of Dhaka city where pure Sarail Hounds will be kept and bred in small scale to prevent it from extinction. Such sanctuary can help facilitate research on the biological and behavioural aspects of the Sarail Hound and help improve the breed to make it more useful to the humankind.
Young Sarail Hound enthusiats can create website, blog and use other social medias such as the facebook to promote awareness on saving the Sarail Hound.Formal breeding requires organisation, time, and investment, says Kaiser, and no such initiative exists today.
Sadly, without a substantial effort to save them, our treasured Sarail hounds are without a future.
We (The Dog-lovers of Bangladesh) must put a concerted effort preserve our heritage (The Sarail Hound) from being lost forever.
‘Let us save the Dog of Bangladesh’.
Young Sarail Hound enthusiats can create website, blog and use other social medias such as the facebook to promote awareness on saving the Sarail Hound.Formal breeding requires organisation, time, and investment, says Kaiser, and no such initiative exists today.
Sadly, without a substantial effort to save them, our treasured Sarail hounds are without a future.
We (The Dog-lovers of Bangladesh) must put a concerted effort preserve our heritage (The Sarail Hound) from being lost forever.
‘Let us save the Dog of Bangladesh’.