Courtesy Song Dog Kennels
No, it’s not a wolf, and it’s not a cayote; it’s an American Indian dog. These working companion animals were almost lost to history after our American Indians were segregated onto reservations, and often left without the resources necessary to maintain the ancient breed. There is now growing interest in restoring the old lines of these beautiful canines.
America’s founding kennel for restoration, Song Dog Kennels, has been researching and saving the AI dogs for over 45 years. Founded in 1965, the AI dog registry now has over 850 dogs on record. Song Dog Kennels currently seeks to raise public awareness of the plight and historical significance of the American Indian Dog.
At LPH we are most fascinated by the images in the Ancient Dog Gallery (1 and 2) at the Song Dog Kennels website. Amazingly, the antique images consistently show a dog that looks very much like the animal pictured here.
Read more about restoration efforts, breeding programs, and history at the Song Dog Kennels online at www.indiandogs.com.
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Article by Carrie Franzwa. Excerpt from September 2009 LetsPlayHistory Club Newsletter.
