The Kanni, which means
maiden, is an
indigenous South Indian
dog breed found in
the state of Tamil Nadu.
The breed is a further extension of the
Mudhol Hound,
and is also a descendant of the
Saluki, but does not possess the grand features of these breeds.
Appearance
In general appearance, the Kanni is similar to a smooth-coated
Saluki or a Doberman
Pinscher with natural ears and tail. The dog is usually black and tan in
colour, perhaps with limited white on the feet and chest. There also exists a
cream-coloured variety of the breed, which is known as
Paalakanni. The Kanni is agile, slim, graceful, and moderately built, with a
deep chest and slim body. The dog stands about 25 inches at the
withers, the bitch about
22 inches.
History
The Kanni is found in and around
Tirunelveli,
Pollachi,
Kovilpatti,
Kazhugumalai,
Kileral,
Kodangipatti, Sivakasi,
and Madurai. It is used
mainly for hunting.
The Kanni was often given away as part of a bride's
dowry. 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.