It needs courage to enter the Canine Research and Information Centre at Thimmapur, near Mudhol, in Karnataka. A pack of Mudhol hounds bark fiercely at any unfamiliar face.
The Patwardhan Kings of Mudhol created the hybrid hunting dogs by crossing the Afghanistan Caravan hounds with the local native dog breeds. It is said that the King of Mudhol presented a pair of puppies to King George V in the early 1900s. The dogs came to be identified with the name of their town: later, it was bred in nearby regions.
The slim and sturdy Mudhol hounds are recognised as a native dog breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The CRIC was set up in 2009-10 by the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar, to breed these dogs, which are in demand for surveillance and guard duties. They are also known for their loyalty.
