Mudhol Hound care: exercise, heat and sitters
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
The Mudhol Hound is a tall, strongly built sighthound from north Karnataka, registered as an Indian breed by ICAR-NBAGR and trained by the BSF and CRPF. Records describe high stamina, obedience and an independent streak. While you travel, it needs a sitter it has met, walks only in cool hours and a secure lead.
Little has been published about its health, lifespan or exercise needs. This page keeps to what the registry, the university that breeds it and government sources record.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
- Indian breed
- Developed in India
- Origin
- Bagalkot and Vijayapur districts, north Karnataka, IndiaICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
- Adult weight
- 21 to 40 kg (adults, as recorded by ICAR-NBAGR)ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
- Height
- 61 to 80 cm (females 61 to 74 cm, males 73 to 80 cm at the withers)ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
- Coat
- Smooth, short and fine, in colours from black, grey and white to cream, red, fawn and brindle.Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy
- Indian heat
- Copes with careCentral Bureau of Communication, Government of India
- Flats
- Needs spaceICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
Mudhol Hound at a glance
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | NBAGR records 73 to 80 cm at the withers in males and 61 to 74 cm in females, and 21 to 40 kg as adults. | ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources |
| Exercise | Not measured as a daily amount. NBAGR describes high stamina and endurance, and an effortless, flying stride. | ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources |
| Alone-time tolerance | Not studied for this breed. PDSA's general advice is no more than four hours alone at a time. | PDSA |
| Heat tolerance | No measured data. A 2025 government booklet says the BSF found it showed remarkable adaptability to India's climate and terrain. | Central Bureau of Communication, Government of India |
| Coat and shedding | Smooth, short and fine, in white, brown, black, fawn, brindle, patchy or spotted colours. | Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy |
| Sociability | Obedient and easy to train, per NBAGR. A KVAFSU study adds an independent temperament, with males tending to attack at times. | Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy |
Where does the Mudhol Hound come from?
The Mudhol Hound is a sighthound of north Karnataka. ICAR-NBAGR, the national registry of Indian livestock and dog breeds, records it mainly in the Bagalkot and Vijayapur districts and describes a strongly built dog with high stamina and endurance and an effortless stride that looks like flying. Village owners used it for guarding and shepherding. A 2022 study by KVAFSU scientists adds that the breed has a long association with war, hunting and guarding, and that it is in demand as a companion, hunting and guard dog.
The breed takes its name from the former princely state of Mudhol. The Week reported in 2023 that Malojirao Ghorpade, the last king of Mudhol, recognised the dogs' qualities, bred selected local hounds with greyhounds from Central Asia, and on a visit to England presented some to King George V, who called them Mudhol hounds. That account comes from a news feature, not a breed study.
Other names for the dog are Pissouri Hound and Lahori Hound, according to NBAGR. Many people also call it the Caravan Hound, but two peer-reviewed papers on Indian dogs list the Mudhol and the Caravan as separate entries.
How did the Mudhol Hound come to India?
The Mudhol Hound is a native breed. ICAR-NBAGR registered it as an Indian dog breed in 2020, with an estimated population of about 1,500 dogs, and a 2016 NBAGR paper says the Kennel Club of India has also started registering it. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) runs a Canine Research and Information Center for the breed at Thimmapur, Bagalkot district, opened on 24 September 2009, which supplies pups to the Army, the CRPF, the CISF, the BSF, the Air Force and the SPG. The Week reported that some 500 families in Bagalkot own about 800 of the dogs.
The breed now works for the nation. In Mann Ki Baat on 30 August 2020 the Prime Minister said Mudhol Hounds had been inducted into the dog squads of the Army, CISF and NSG. A 2025 government booklet describes BSF training at Tekanpur, Gwalior, and says the breed showed remarkable adaptability to India's climate and terrain, and PIB named Mudhol Hounds in the BSF's marching contingent for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2025. The KVAFSU study notes that the number of dogs is still falling slowly.
What care does a Mudhol Hound need?
The three things that shape a good day for this breed.
Exercise
No source gives a daily figure, but NBAGR records high stamina and a fast, flying stride, so plan long walks in the cool of dawn and after dark and runs only in a fully fenced space. The Animal Welfare Board of India names heatstroke and burns from hot surfaces among summer risks for dogs. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
Grooming
The coat is smooth, short and fine, so it needs little brushing. Ticks matter more: they were found on 53% of 525 dogs in a survey across four Indian cities, so check the ears, neck and toes after walks. Animal Welfare Board of India
Training
NBAGR describes the breed as high in obedience and easy to train, while a KVAFSU study calls it a keen sighthound with an independent temperament and says males can tend to attack at times. Train with patience, socialise early and keep it on a lead near other dogs and livestock. Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy
How much should a Mudhol Hound eat?
Daily calories for a healthy, neutered adult Mudhol Hound, worked out from its weight with the formula vets use (70 x weight in kg to the power 0.75, then AAHA's factor for a neutered adult). Divide by the kcal per kg on your food's pack for grams a day, and adjust by body shape.
| Resting need (kcal a day) | Neutered adult (kcal a day) | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 kg AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) | 690 | 960 to 1100 |
| 30.5 kg | 910 | 1270 to 1450 |
| 40 kg | 1110 | 1560 to 1780 |
No study sets a diet for the breed. The Week reported that village hounds in Bagalkot can survive on millets and goat milk, but surviving is not thriving: a pet Mudhol should eat a complete and balanced dog food, with a puppy food made for growth until adulthood, as the Merck Veterinary Manual advises. Keep treats under about 10% of daily calories, as WSAVA suggests, and weigh the dog often; a lean sighthound shows weight gain late. Keep the dog away from Indian kitchen foods that are toxic to dogs: onion and garlic, which damage red blood cells; grapes, raisins and tamarind, which Merck links to kidney injury; and chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol. The energy table below gives the daily calories for the breed's weight range; ask your vet to set the exact amount. Meals a day: 6 to 12 weeks, 4 a day; 3 to 6 months, 3 a day; 6 to 12 months, 2 a day; adult, 2 a day. Puppies, kittens, working, pregnant and older animals need different amounts: ask your vet, or use Petym's food calculator.
Which illnesses is the Mudhol Hound prone to, and how are they treated?
The conditions veterinary studies and breed surveys most often report in the Mudhol Hound. Knowing the early signs means a vet sees it sooner.
See your vet first. This is general information from veterinary sources, not a diagnosis. Only a vet who has examined your pet can say what is wrong and prescribe treatment, and this page never gives a dose. Do not give your pet human medicine. If your pet seems very unwell, go to a 24-hour vet: find one in your city.
Heatstroke
Emergency: go to a vet nowNo published study covers inherited disease in the Mudhol Hound, so the risks here are the ones every active dog in India faces. Heatstroke comes first: dogs cool mainly by panting, and exercise in the heat is the usual trigger. PDSA
Signs to watch for
- Heavy panting and fast or difficult breathing
- Drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Pale or very red gums, weakness or collapse
- Confusion or seizures in severe cases
How a vet treats it
Start first aid at once: move the dog somewhere cool, pour cool water over the body away from the nose and mouth, make a breeze, and call a vet. PDSA says vets lower the temperature with cold water, fans and, if needed, a fluid drip; severe cases may need oxygen, medication or anaesthesia, with blood tests and monitoring for organ damage.
Prevention
Walk only in the early morning or evening, test the ground with your palm for seven seconds, give shade and water all day, and never leave the dog in a car.
Ehrlichiosis (tick fever)
See a vet soonA blood infection spread mainly by the brown dog tick. In a survey across four Indian cities, ticks were found on 53% of the dogs, and a hound that runs through fields and scrub picks them up easily. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Fever and low energy
- Bleeding tendencies such as nosebleeds
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Lameness
How a vet treats it
A vet confirms it with blood tests, which often show low platelets, along with serology or PCR. Merck names doxycycline as the drug of choice, with supportive care for fever or bleeding, and platelet or whole blood transfusions for dogs with severe anaemia or very low platelets.
Prevention
Year-round tick control that your vet recommends, and a tick check after every walk.
Babesiosis
See a vet soonA tick-borne parasite of the red blood cells. Merck notes that in tropical countries Babesia vogeli is carried by the brown dog tick, the same tick common on Indian dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual
Signs to watch for
- Lethargy, weakness and fever
- Anaemia
- Yellowing of the gums or eyes (jaundice)
- Red or dark urine
How a vet treats it
Diagnosis is by a stained blood smear under the microscope or a PCR test. Treatment is with antiprotozoal drugs the vet chooses, and Merck says blood transfusions may be lifesaving in very anaemic animals, with supportive care such as fluid therapy.
Prevention
Tick control lowers the risk, though Merck warns it cannot be relied on alone to prevent infection.
What is known about the Mudhol Hound?
It is the third of the three Indian dog breeds ICAR-NBAGR has registered, with accession number INDIA_DOG_0800_MUDHOL HOUND_19003.
NBAGR's breed page says the Mudhol Hound is mainly found in the Bagalkot and Vijayapur districts of Karnataka, with an estimated population of about 1,500 dogs. It describes the dogs as strongly built, with high stamina and endurance and an effortless stride that gives a flying appearance, used for guarding and shepherding, and high in obedience and easy to train.
The breed has a home at Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU). Its Canine Research and Information Center at Thimmapur, Bagalkot district, was inaugurated on 24 September 2009 on 40 acres of land. KVAFSU says the breed was registered by NBAGR in 2020 and lists the forces and agencies it has supplied pups to, including the Army's Remount and Veterinary Corps in Meerut, the CRPF, the CISF, the BSF, the Air Force and the SPG.
A 2022 study by KVAFSU scientists calls the Mudhol a hardy dog and a keen sighthound with an independent temperament, and says male dogs tend to attack at times. It also says the number of dogs is gradually falling. That frank line is worth knowing before a stranger looks after one.
From village hound to national service
24 September 2009
KVAFSU's Canine Research and Information Center for the Mudhol Hound is inaugurated at Thimmapur, Bagalkot. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University
2020
ICAR-NBAGR registers the Mudhol Hound as an Indian dog breed. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University
30 August 2020
In Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister says Mudhol Hounds have been trained and inducted into the dog squads of the Army, CISF and NSG. Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister's Office
2024
Riya, a Mudhol Hound, wins Best in Tracker Trade and Best Dog of the Meet at the All India Police Duty Meet, according to a 2025 government booklet. Central Bureau of Communication, Government of India
October 2025
The government's Mann Ki Baat booklet describes BSF training of Mudhol Hounds at Tekanpur, Gwalior, and CRPF training in Bengaluru. Central Bureau of Communication, Government of India
30 October 2025
PIB announces a BSF marching contingent of Indian breed dogs, Rampur and Mudhol Hounds, for the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations. Press Information Bureau
Is the Mudhol Hound the same as the Caravan Hound?
Many people use the two names for the same dog. The research we found does not.
NBAGR gives the breed's other names as Pissouri Hound and Lahori Hound, not Caravan Hound. Two peer-reviewed papers, a 2022 KVAFSU genetics study and a 2016 NBAGR paper on characterising Indian dogs, list the Mudhol Hound and the Caravan as separate entries. We could not find a Kennel Club of India breed standard online to settle it.
For a sitter, the name does not change the care. A dog sold as a Caravan Hound in Maharashtra or Karnataka will need the same things: a secure lead, exercise in the cool hours and a careful introduction to strangers.
Walking a Mudhol Hound: do and don't
No source gives a daily exercise figure. These rules come from the breed's described stamina and speed and from general heat guidance.
Do
- Walk at dawn and after sunset in summer, and test the ground with the back of a hand for seven seconds. The Royal Kennel Club
- Use a well-fitting harness and a strong lead: a strongly built sighthound with high stamina can pull hard. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
- Let it run only in a fully fenced space the owner has approved.
- Carry water and rest in shade on longer evening walks.
- Check for ticks after every walk, especially in the monsoon.
Don’t
- Do not exercise it in the midday heat; the Animal Welfare Board of India names heatstroke and burns from hot surfaces among summer risks for dogs. Animal Welfare Board of India
- Do not let it off lead near roads, livestock, cats or community dogs.
- Do not introduce it to unknown dogs on walks, especially an entire male; a KVAFSU study notes males can tend to attack at times. Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy
- Do not tie it up outside a shop or leave it in a car.
Mudhol Hound in numbers
About 1,500
Estimated Mudhol Hounds, per ICAR-NBAGR ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
80 cm
Upper end of male height at the withers recorded by NBAGR ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
2,009
Year KVAFSU's Mudhol Hound research centre opened at Thimmapur Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University
What health signs should a Mudhol Hound's sitter know?
We found no published findings on inherited diseases in the breed; KVAFSU lists blood chemistry research but no results. These are general signs to act on.
If Heavy panting, drooling, lethargy, a fast heartbeat or collapse in the heat.
Heatstroke: move the dog somewhere cool, pour plenty of cool water over it, use a fan, and go to the vet at once. Animal Welfare Board of India
If A fight or bite wound after meeting another dog.
Separate safely, never with your hands between the dogs, call the owner, and see the vet for any bite.
If Fever, tiredness, pale gums or poor appetite after ticks were found.
Call the vet the same day and tell them about the ticks.
If Limping after a run, or not putting weight on a leg.
Rest the dog, no running, and call the vet if it is not better within the day.
If Vomiting, diarrhoea or refusing food for more than a day.
Call the vet. Keep the food exactly as the owner left it. PDSA
If Howling, chewing or toileting indoors when alone.
Signs of separation anxiety, per PDSA. Do not scold; tell the owner and cut the time alone. PDSA
Heat, feeding and the monsoon
The October 2025 Mann Ki Baat booklet says BSF shortlisted the Rampur and Mudhol Hounds and that both showed remarkable adaptability to India's climatic conditions and terrain diversity, with high stamina and endurance. That is an observation from training, not a heat study, and a working dog under a handler is not a pet left at home. In the UK heat-illness study, the Greyhound, another sighthound, had about four times the odds of a Labrador. Plan for heat as you would for any active, large dog.
No source describes a special diet. Write down the food, amounts and times and ask the sitter to log every meal; a sudden change of food is a common cause of diarrhoea. ASPCA Animal Poison Control warns that grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage, xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver damage, and onion and garlic can damage red blood cells, so no family leftovers.
In the monsoon, a short coat dries quickly, but wet paws and ticks need checking after every walk. Leave tick prevention dates and the vaccination card (DHPPi, rabies) with the sitter.
Mudhol Hound sitter checklist
- A meet and greet at home first, and a note of how the dog reacts to strangers.
- Whether the dog gets on with other dogs, and whether it is neutered. Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbalstudy
- Harness, strong lead, and where the dog may run off lead, if anywhere.
- Walk times for the season, and routes away from livestock and traffic.
- Vet and 24-hour vet details, vaccination card and tick prevention dates.
- Food, amounts and times; nothing with onion or garlic. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Gates, terrace doors and boundary walls checked before the first day, with any gaps or low sections pointed out to the sitter.
Which Petym service suits a Mudhol Hound?
Most Mudhol Hounds
Overnight pet sitting
One sitter stays in your home, keeps the dog's routine and walks it in the cool hours. The free meet and greet comes first.
Workdays
Dog walking
Dawn and evening walks on long workdays with the same walker, who handles a strong dog on a harness.
Settled dogs only
Pet boarding
A stay in a checked sitter's home, only if the dog accepts the sitter and there are no other dogs it might fight with.
Breeds with similar care needs to the Mudhol Hound
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
Questions owners ask
Is the Mudhol Hound a recognised Indian breed?
- Yes. ICAR-NBAGR has registered it as an Indian dog breed from Karnataka, and KVAFSU says registration came in 2020. An NBAGR paper says the Kennel Club of India has also started registering it. It is not listed by the FCI or the UK's Kennel Club.
Is the Mudhol Hound used by the Indian Army?
- Government sources say so. The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat address of 30 August 2020 said Mudhol Hounds had been inducted into the dog squads of the Army, CISF and NSG. A 2025 government booklet describes BSF and CRPF training, and PIB named Mudhol Hounds in the BSF's marching contingent for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2025.
What is a Mudhol Hound's temperament?
- NBAGR records it as high in obedience and easy to train. A 2022 KVAFSU study calls it hardy and a keen sighthound with an independent temperament, and says males can tend to attack at times. Introduce a sitter carefully, and keep the dog away from unknown dogs on walks.
Is a Mudhol Hound the same as a Caravan Hound?
- The names are often used together, but two peer-reviewed papers list the Mudhol Hound and the Caravan separately, and NBAGR gives the Mudhol's other names as Pissouri Hound and Lahori Hound. We found no Kennel Club of India standard online to settle it. The care is the same either way.
Can a Mudhol Hound handle Indian heat?
- A 2025 government booklet says BSF found the breed showed remarkable adaptability to India's climate and terrain. That comes from training, not a heat study. Any dog can get heatstroke, so walk at dawn and after dark in summer and keep shade and water available all day.
Can a Mudhol Hound be left alone while I travel?
- No study has looked at the breed. PDSA's general guidance is no more than four hours alone at a time. A strong, independent hound is best with one sitter it has met, in its own home, through overnight sitting.
Can a Mudhol Hound live in a flat?
- No source answers this. NBAGR describes a tall, strongly built dog with high stamina, which needs secure, cool space and regular walks in the cooler hours. If you live in a flat, plan the walking routine and your housing society's rules before you travel, and share both with your sitter.
Keep reading
- Dogs: caring for a dog while you are away
- Rajapalayam careTamil Nadu's registered sighthound.
- Chippiparai careAnother lean hunting hound from Tamil Nadu.
- Heatstroke in dogs
- Questions to ask a pet sitter
- Overnight pet sitting
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources: Mudhol Hound dog (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Central Bureau of Communication, Government of India: Mann Ki Baat (English), October 2025 edition (opens in a new tab)
- Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University: Canine Research and Information Center (Mudhol Hound), Thimmapur, Bagalkot (opens in a new tab)
- Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister's Office: English rendering of PM's address in the 15th episode of Mann Ki Baat 2.0 on 30 August 2020 (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Press Information Bureau: Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: a pillar of national cohesion (30 October 2025; read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: Request to ensure care and protection of animals from direct heat during extreme hot weather (4 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 26 sourcesShow fewer
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy care (opens in a new tab)
- WSAVA: Frequently asked questions and myths (Global Nutrition Committee) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Garlic and onion (Allium spp) toxicosis in animals (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Grape, raisin, and tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) toxicosis in dogs (full review September 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People foods to avoid feeding your pets (opens in a new tab)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog (opens in a new tab)
- AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association): 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: energy requirement calculations (Box 1, PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional requirements of small animals (full review November 2023, updated September 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Ehrlichiosis in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Babesiosis in animals (opens in a new tab)
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources: New breeds registered (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- The Royal Kennel Club: The danger of hot pavements (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Diarrhoea after a change of food (opens in a new tab)
- Indian Journal of Animal Research (2022), KVAFSU Veterinary College Hebbal: Microsatellite DNA polymorphism studies in Mudhol Hound dog native of India (opens in a new tab)
- Journal of Livestock Biodiversity (2016), ICAR-NBAGR: A new methodology for characterization of dog genetic resources of India (opens in a new tab)
- Parasites & Vectors (2011): A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India (opens in a new tab)
- Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)
- The Week: When Mudhol hounds found new friends, by Bhanu Prakash Chandra (5 March 2023) (opens in a new tab)