At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
long profuse coat
A lean, fairly light-framed guardian built for speed, with drop ears, a bushy tail and a long coat. It is often likened to a large collie.12
Personality what they are like
A bold, clever and territorial working dog that takes its guarding role seriously and benefits from early, careful socialisation.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A working landrace used to guard and herd sheep in mountain country, so it is suited to an active outdoor life.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The long coat is traditionally shorn by herders, who use the hair.1
The story where it all began
The Vikhan is a traditional shepherd's dog from the mountains of Chitral in north-west Pakistan, where it still protects flocks. Its name is thought to come from a Sanskrit word meaning broken or hermit, perhaps referring to the rugged land or its isolation.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- Major kennel clubs
- Not recognised as a breed by any major kennel club1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Vikhan. 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
Bakharwal
Himalayan SheepdogLike 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.
- Wikipedia: Vikhan en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, name, coat, colours, use, recognition, facts
- Molosser Dogs: Vikhan molosserdogs.comused for temperament, colours, use
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.