# Kanni

Also known as: Maiden's Beastmaster, Kanni Dog, Kanni Naai
- **Group:** Sighthound (FCI group 10)
- **Size:** Medium
- **Origin:** India
- **Height:** 64–74 cm
- **Weight:** 16–22 kg
- **Life expectancy:** 14–16 years
- **Temperament:** Loyal, Faithful, Shy, Independent, Protective, Easy to Train

A rare, slim South Indian sighthound from Tamil Nadu, prized for coursing hares and for guarding its home. Its name means "pure", for its loyalty.

## Overview

The Kanni is an indigenous sighthound of Tamil Nadu, found around villages in the Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi districts. It is used mainly for coursing.

The Kennel Club of India registers black and tan dogs as Kanni and solid-coloured ones as Chippiparai, though some experts think they are separate breeds.

## History

Kanni dogs lived for generations in a few pockets of southern Tamil Nadu. The name means pure in Tamil and was given for the breed's loyalty and purity of heart.

It is also called the Maiden's Beastmaster because it defends its territory so keenly against wild animals and was often given to newlywed brides as a guardian. Mostly black and tan dogs were gifted this way, which is why that colouring became linked to the name.

## Appearance

Medium-sized and lean, the Kanni has a straight topline and a tucked-up abdomen. The head is straight with strong jaws, golden eyes and a black nose, and the ears may be erect, dropped or semi-dropped.

It stands 64 to 74 cm and weighs 16 to 22 kg. The tail is semi-curved, and the build is light but muscular.

## Temperament

Faithful, loyal and easy to train, the Kanni is usually shy with strangers but will defend its home or master when needed. On a hunt it tends to think for itself.

It is trained to obey subtle hand signals while hunting and has been recorded at speeds up to 60 km/h.

## Care and exercise

This is not a city dog. It needs open space and its own territory, along with plenty of vigorous running.

The short coat needs little grooming. Traditional diet includes millet, corn, jowar and rice porridge with milk or curd, alongside non-vegetarian foods.

## Ratings (1 to 5)

- Energy: 4
- Exercise needs: 5
- Grooming: 1
- Shedding: 2
- Trainability: 3
- Barking: 2
- Good with children: 3
- Good with other dogs: 3

Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/kanni
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanni · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38958
Photo: Crkuberan (CC BY-SA 4.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kanni.jpg
Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.