Breeds / Medium
Taiwan Dog puppies
Alert, agile and deeply loyal to its own people, the Taiwan Dog is a primitive island hunting breed that stays reserved with strangers and needs a great deal of exercise.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Taiwan
- Adult weight 11.8 to 18.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 26 to 40 lb
- Adult height 43 to 51 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 9 to 13 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the Taiwan Dog
The Taiwan Dog descends from the hunting dogs of the island's indigenous peoples, used to track and hold game in mountain forest, and it still looks the part: lean and agile, 43 to 51 cm tall and 11.8 to 18.1 kg, with a short hard coat, prick ears and a sickle tail. This is a primitive landrace rather than a manufactured show breed. Taiwan Dogs are alert, fast moving, devoted to their own household and naturally suspicious of people they do not know.
Energy is high and this dog needs daily running, climbing and problem solving rather than a stroll. Grooming is a weekly brush. They learn quickly but think independently, and prey drive plus real athleticism means secure fencing and a lead in open country. Early and continued socialisation is essential, since natural wariness can tip into reactivity without it. The breed suits an experienced, active owner. The usual mistake is buying one on looks and then finding a bored dog scaling the garden fence.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Taiwan Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
- Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
- Dental disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing and veterinary checks
From Taiwan Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/taiwan-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Taiwan Dog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Taiwan Dog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11.8 to 18.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.