Rajapalayam
Also called Polygar Hound, Indian Ghost Hound, Rajapalayam Hound
From South India. Named after the town of Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu.1
At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives males up to about 40 kg and an overall range of roughly 30-45 kg; sources are not consistent.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short single coat
A tall, lean sighthound with a fine, short, single coat. It moves with a light, springy trot and suits hot climates better than cold ones.1
Personality what they are like
A devoted, watchful dog that bonds closely with its people and takes guarding its home seriously. In the field it is persistent and steady rather than a short-burst sprinter.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Built for stamina, it enjoys long, steady outings and room to run in a safe, enclosed area.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short, fine coat needs very little care beyond an occasional brush.1
Home where they are happiest
Well suited to warm climates; its thin single coat gives little protection in cold weather.1
Company who they like around
Close bond with its owner and family; it can work alone, in pairs, in a pack or alongside its person.1
The story where it all began
The Rajapalayam was kept by the Nayak-era nobility of Tamil Nadu to hunt and to guard crops, livestock and estates. Numbers fell sharply in the 20th century, and a government breeding unit set up in Chennai in 1980-81, together with the Kennel Club of India's conservation project, helped bring it back.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
India Post featured the Rajapalayam on one of four dog-breed postage stamps issued in January 2005.1
- 2
The Indian Army has trained Rajapalayams as guard dogs, including for service in Kashmir.1
- 3
Its white coat and pale, pink-nosed look earned it the nickname 'Indian Ghost Hound'.1
- 4
Its gait is often compared with the trot of a thoroughbred horse.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Kennel Club of India
- Recognised by the Kennel Club of India, which runs a 'Save the Rajapalayam' project to support the breed.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Rajapalayam. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
You might also like
Chippiparai
Kanni
Mudhol HoundLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Rajapalayam dog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for all fields
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.