Meliteo Kinidio vs Jindo - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hailing from Korea, the Jindo dog's name is actually taken from the island Jindo. The dogs lived on the island for thousands of years, developing into a natural breed with good hunting skills.

They are also known as Jin Dog, Jindo-kae or Jindo-kyon. The exact origins of the Korean Jindo are unknown and it is believed to have been developed from different Mongolian breeds.

They were brought to the United States and been entered into the American Kennel Club.

Originating in Greece, the Melitea Kinidio is also known as the Small Greek Domestic Dog. It is an ancient dog breed. The dog has always been a skillful hunter of small game and birds.

It is believed that the dog breed originated from Malta, explaining its Greek name, Melitaion Kunidion.

There are efforts to recognize the Meliteo Kinidio as a separate and unique Greek dog breed but no formal breed clubs exist so far today. The dog also hasn’t been recognized by any reputable registry. Today these common dogs are found in high numbers throughout most of Greece.  

The Jindo is a medium sized spitz-type dog breed which is well-proportioned with erect ears and a long tail which is held over the dog's back.

He stands at roughly 45 – 65cm and they weigh anything between 11 to 23kg. The coat of the dog is medium length and available in a number of colors – yellow, tan, red, white, brindle, black or bi-color such as black and tan.

When you look at the Jindo you get the impression of bright alertness and intelligence. He makes a great watchdog, and with his bright, alert eyes and upright ears, he just looks like he is on guard.

Temperament:

The Jindo has always been a hunting dog so he has learned to be bold, tenacious and alert. He is also brave, courageous, loving and loyal to his master, but you need to know that he is a dominant dog who will get on well with an owner who is fair, strong, patient, kind and firm.

These dogs are strong willed, independent and dominant as well as being intelligent. He will require socialization and training from an early age. Be fair, firm and consistent with your instructions which he will obey once he has been trained. With training he gets on well with children in the home but he is inclined to have some difficulty with accepting other dogs into the family.

As with any dog breed, the temperament of the Jindo will vary according to the environment he lives in and the type of owners he has. The typical Jindo is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a little bit reserved around strangers.

The Meliteo Kinidio is a deep chested small sized dog which weighs about 3 to 8kg and stands at about 23 – 32cm in height.

The dog has a bright, fox shaped face, floppy ears and a tail which curls over the back and which is feathery or plumed. The body is longer than being tall.

He is available with two coat types – long- and short-haired, with the long haired one being the more common of the two. People often confuse this dog with the long-haired Dachshund. The coat is dense, weatherproof, silky and wavy.

The coat colors can be beige, blonde, white or black, with there being no standardization with color.

Temperament:

These Greek dogs are no pushover and in fact they are fairly fearless dogs, possessive of the human family, wanting to protect them and therefore being territorial as well. They make excellent pets, being very sensitive to their owners, sensing their different moods.

He has always been a hunting dog so he loves to be busy, making a good dog to have on the farm. They are even tempered and gentle, but have a loud, robust bark for their size.

The Jindo makes an awesome pet for owners who enjoy an active lifestyle. A happy, contented Jindo becomes a devoted, loyal pet who wants to guard and protect his owner from strangers, for whom he is wary and reserved.

He is an intelligent pet too, being easy to train and socialize and while independent, he loves to spend time with his human family and is an all-round excellent pet.

These feisty Small Greek Domestic Dogs are loving, loyal dogs who enjoy being around their human family but who don’t mind spending some time on their own either.

They’re dogs which are in tune with their owners and they’re intelligent too so they learn easily. You can expect to a have a good friend when you allow this companion dog into your home.

The Korean Jindo dog is looked upon as a generally healthy dog breed with no serious genetic problems to talk about. Look out for eye diseases and dental decay as well as hypothyroidism, a common disease in dogs where you notice deterioration with the coat – thinning, dry and dull.

The dog’s skin also becomes flaky and you’ll notice that your once energetic pet is now gaining weight and is lethargic. Get him to the vet. Hypothyroidism can be treated simply by your vet to get your pet healthy once again.

This dog breed enjoys good longevity and can live to be about 12 to 15 years of age with good care.

One thing you have to be careful of with a dog like this is that because he is active he loves to running around and jumping. However, with his long back, jumping off a fairly high bed for instance, can lead to injury and should be discouraged rather. Apart from ear infections, other health issues can be dental.

Dental Issues:

Brushing your dog’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week can prevent dental problems. Small dogs are more prone to plaque formation and gum recession. Many small dogs loose their teeth with dental issues. Plaque that is left on the surface of the tooth is detrimental to the dog’s immune system, starting an inflammatory response. Without good oral hygiene, other health issues such as heart disease and diabetes can become a factor.

Ear Infections:

Ear infections in dogs, particularly those with floppy ears, are common and can be painful.

Scratching at the ear with head shaking is a common sign that your dog has an ear infection as well as the presence of redness and swelling. The inside of the ear needs to be gently cleaned with ear cleanser, but many people don’t like to do this, fearing they may damage the ear. Then it becomes important for your vet or professional groomer to do it for you.

Grooming:

The Jindo has a double coat and this sheds heavily about twice a year, so certainly during these shedding periods you will need to brush his coat twice a week to keep it free from loose hair.

Never just assume that your dog is healthy and happy. When you brush him, check him over for ticks and fleas, check him for any unusual lumps, make sure his nose is wet and that his eyes are bright. Look at the condition of his fur, check his teeth and inside his ears – there are lots of tell-tale signs that can indicate that all is not well with your pet and then you need to get him to the vet.

Diet:

As a medium-sized breed, if you feed your dog commercially manufactured food, he will require a high quality food that has been formulated for a dog of his size and his activity levels. Mix some home-made cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta as well as vegetables into his kibble and try to include some raw meat in occasionally too. He needs to always have access to fresh, clean water.

Exercise:

The Jindo is a high energy dog, and with his bright face you can tell that he is always ready for action. Long ago he was bred to perform hunting and retrieving type jobs, and with their stamina, they require having a busy day.

They certainly require a significant amount of exercise and mental stimulation, so you will need to include him in your daily walks and give him exciting ball games.

The Small Greek Domestic Dog is easy to groom and the coat which sheds moderately will simply require brushing twice a week to keep it silky and vibrant.

Diet:

The Small Greek Domestic Dog is sleek lean and muscular and you want to keep him like that at all costs and avoid obesity. To keep him happy and fit feed him two smaller meals as opposed to one. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its the best quality one as the lower quality foods have inferior ingredients devoid of minerals and vitamins. When you have bought the best quality kibble, treat your dog to some home-made food from time to time – nothing exotic – just plain boiled chicken, brown rice and pasta and cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach. Some raw meat added in occasionaly is also excellent. Feeding your dog a simple but nutritious meal like this will ensure your dog is healthy, content and free of stomach problems. Fresh, cool water must be availabe around the clock.