Overview
The Meitei Hui is a little-known native dog from the Imphal Valley in the Indian state of Manipur. It has lived beside the Meitei people for generations and has often been overlooked in favour of imported breeds.
In recent years dog shows and awareness campaigns have helped people see it as a capable and worthy companion, and it now appears in welfare events across the state.
History
The Meitei Hui is believed to have been kept by early Meitei farming communities in the Imphal Valley, with its origins traced back thousands of years to the taming of local canids as settled life developed.
For a long time local dogs were thought less intelligent than foreign breeds. A Best of Breed win at an Imphal show in 2004 by a dog named Jone changed many minds, and its owner went on to campaign against the killing and eating of local dogs.
Appearance
There is no formal written standard for the Meitei Hui, so individuals vary. It is generally a medium-sized, practical village-type dog suited to the local climate.
Temperament
Local people describe the Meitei Hui as intelligent and capable, and its performance in competition has challenged old ideas that native dogs are dull. As a traditional household and village dog it is typically loyal and watchful.
Care and exercise
As a hardy local dog it is generally low-maintenance. It benefits from regular exercise, social contact with its family and basic training, plus routine vaccination and parasite control.
