African village dog

A study based on the DNA sequences of 318 African village dogs from Uganda, Egypt and Namibia indicates that dogs from most regions of Africa are genetically distinct.[1][3] There were some exceptions to the diversity in Namibia and Giza, which is proposed to be a result of European colonization or proximity to Eurasia.[4] It was then discovered that African village dogs are "a mosaic of" indigenous dogs and non-native mixed-breed dogs.[3] Another reason the African village dogs have been found to be more genetically diverse is the lack of selective breeding by people, which narrows a breed's gene pools.[1] Previous genetic studies of dogs have confirmed that the domestic dog traces its origins to Eurasian wolves 15,000 to 40,000 years ago.[3]

The information gathered from the study also suggests that breeds originally suspected to have come from Africa, such as the Pharaoh Hound and Rhodesian Ridgeback, have roots outside of Africa.[3] However, the results also indicate that African village dogs descend from indigenous ancestors that are related to the Basenji, a dog originating in the Congo Basin that has many unique traits."[5] The study also said that Afghan Hounds and Salukis appear to be indigenous to the Middle East.[6]

Due to the effects of geography, gene flow barriers and the presence of non-indigenous dogs in some packs, the African village dog has a complex social structure.[7]

There are different local variations or types of African village dogs, which can rather be considered as a landrace rather than a specified breed:

• Avuvi: a pariah-type village dog from Ghana[8]
• Baganda Dog: a Lurcher-like large game hunting dog from Uganda, named after the Baganda tribe[9]
• Bagirmi Dog: a large dog with piebald colour, named after the Baguirmi Department of Chad[9]
• Cameroon Dog: a hunting dog from West Africa, of medium size and primitive type, with erect ears, long legs and short coat, often piebald colour, named after Cameroon[10]
• East African Dog: a hunting dog from Kenya, large in size[11]
• Hahoawu: a "clean" medium-sized (11 to 14 kg) watch dog from Togo, with a far sight and a coat of fawn or red colour, well adapted to city life, named after the Haho river[12]
• Liberian Dog (a.k.a. Liberian Terrier): a terrier-like dog from West Africa, small and reddish-brown, named after Liberia[13]
• Madagascar Hunting Dog: a hunting dog from Madagascar[13]
• Nyam Nyam (a.k.a. Zande Dog): a small hunting dog from Central Africa with erect ears, a curly tail, and a short coat of fawn colour, though to be similar or somehow related to the Basenji, named after the Zande tribe[14]
  • Manboutou Dog: a local variant of the Nyam Nyam kept by the Mangbetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Simaku: a ratter from South Africa, also used for cleaning yards (by scavenging waste), developed by crossing pariah dogs with terriers[15]
• Sudan Greyhound: an extinct hare-hunting dog from Sudan[15]
• West African Mouse Dog: an extinct small (36 cm) Doberman Pinscher-like ratter, with a short, smooth, and red coat[16]
• Zulu Dog: a small guard and hunting dog with a square muzzle and fawn coat, named after the Zulu tribe[16]

Moreover, it is debatable whether the following breeds also belong or belonged to the landrace of "African village dogs".

• Abyssinian Sand Terrier: a probably extinct hairless dog
• Bisharin Greyhound: a hare-hunting dog from Sudan, with erect ears and a curly tail, named after the Bishari tribe[17]
• Dinka Greyhound: a Greyhound-like pariah hunting dog from Sudan, of a rougher type than the other Sudanese breeds, with a short, fawn coat, named after the Dinka tribe[17]
• Egyptian Hairless Dog: an extinct hairless dog, close relative of the Abyssinian Sand Terrier, small in size (41 cms), with drooping ears[18]
• Shilluk Greyhound (a.k.a. Shilluk Dog): an antelope-hunting dog with a robust body and semi-erect (folded) ears, usually of red colour with a black mask, named after the Shilluk tribe[19]
• Zanzibar Greyhound (a.k.a. Zanzibar Dog): a large (68 cms) hunting dog from Zanzibar, with erect ears, a robust body, and a red-white colour, believed to be developed by crossing Salukis with pariah dogs[20]

• African wild dog
• Africanis
• Basenji
• Free-ranging dog