Here goes to the oldest breed of dog in the country - Nigeria ubiquitious "EKUKE."
I had been to a reputed pet shop to buy food for my dogs. In the shop there was this important looking man conversing with the owner, the conversation largely being about how great his show-winning Great Dane and Labrador were. As I was about to leave, the he asked me what dogs I have. “A Rottweiler and an ekuke he exclaimed. “Lucky dog… that stray must have done some really great deeds in his last birth to deserve this!” How wished I could rub it into him that Ekukes are not necessarily strays or mongrels, and that they deserve a LOT more respect than they are being given. But I had neither the time nor the inclination for an argument right then, so I tried wrapping it up saying “it’s not that my dog is extraordinarily lucky, it’s just that the breed is extraordinarily unlucky to have been ignored for so long.” “Today’s kids talk a lot” he snickered

Almost sounding like Canine Literature but I think this is vital for the Ekuke as a landrace breed in Nigeria.
Remember we lost our native chicken breed to crossbreeding illegitimately.
let's not lose our Beloved Ekuke.
.....to be continued.

The Ekuke has been abused like this for a long time. Its name alone makes it an outcaste. Very few people even acknowledge it as a breed. It is better known as “stray” and “mongrel” than as a specific breed. No kennel club recognizes it. Not even the Kennel Club of Nigeria. These dogs have roamed the streets of Nigeria since years living upon garbage and scraps and are rarely considered worthy of being kept as pets. So much so, that many people are embarrassed if somebody in their family has one- “Oh, it’s just a friendly stray, not our dog” they tell guests. Why such a bias? I don’t think I can as yet correctly answer that, but all I can guess for now is this - the British were the ones responsible (largely) for introducing the practice of keeping and showing dogs as pets in our country. They were too busy importing aristocratic canines from ‘back home’ and never bothered to develop local breeds. May be they even actively dissuaded local breeds (we know they did this with a lot of other local stuff, including people). The few African breeds that did get recognition were mostly the ones promoted by a few enterprising Nigerians. Little wonder then that most Nigerians, especially the snobbish kind, believe the Ekuke (I’m tired of that name, lets just call it the (Nigerian Hound/Spitz/Terrier)to be the scourge of the canine world rightfully belonging in the streets and never to be seen in any self- respecting man’s yard.

Part 2

Had a Boerboel, have an Alsie and recently got a 'Nigerian Hound' puppy for 2k. Caused a stir as no one gets why I got it but the puppy is showing lots of potential.
Just got tired of the so called foreign breeds and decided to start the local breed fad.

· It is spread across the globe from Israel, through Africa and Asia right into Australia with significant regional variations. The Israeli variety has been recognized as the Canaan dog and the Indian variety is called the Desi dog. They are being bred to meet high standards and are excelling in the show ring all over the world. The Australian Dingoes are descendants of dogs left behind by Asian sailors. The Dingo is perhaps the closest one can get to the original domestic dog. In Nigeria they are struggling for recognition and are, more than anything else, treated as pests.

· They are similar to the spitz family but show many wolf-like traits not seen in modern breeds. For example, modern breeds have two breeding cycles in a year while Ekukes have just one.

· They are extremely hardy and well suited to Nigeria's sweltering bi polar climate. The breed doesn’t have any inherited faults/diseases and have the most genetic diversity among dogs - that ensures that they don’t suffer from the ills of inbreeding.

· They shed remarkably less than other breeds and produce very little odor.

· They are beautiful, well-proportioned dogs.

· They are highly adaptive and, though they thrive with lots of exercise, will happily adapt to more sedentary lifestyles.

· They are highly intelligent, extremely loyal, even-tempered, brave dogs with a strong guarding instinct.

· They are easily trainable but some can be a little headstrong - blame their hunting pedigree for that. They are still used by tribes in the South West to hunt everything from hare and giant grass cutter to wild antelope - you need a very determined dog to face a wild antelope.

· They are among the few breeds that go closest to being the ideal dog. They are a brave guard dog, yet loyal and friendly to their family. They are strong and athletic, but easy to maintain and extremely hardy. Their intelligence makes them very trainable. Their size is big enough to make them look intimidating to unwanted visitors, yet they are small enough for easy handling and affordable feeding.

The breed is fast losing its purity to mixed breeding. It is extremely crucial to preserve the breed now. Like-minded promoters of the breed need to get together, set a high standard, and start breeding these dogs selectively to achieve that standard. Every effort should be made to get the breed recognized and give it the respect it so truly deserves. A lot of us Nigerians need to stop being snobs and start appreciating the fact that the very purpose of keeping a dog is to have a companion for life. They are not status symbols born for the show ring and nothing else. The purpose of dog shows is to promote a breed and encourage breeders to strive for making every litter better than its parents. Glamour is not the point of a dog show. Even if you are looking for glamour, take this- the Ekuke is the oldest living breed of domestic dog in Nigeria today. It’s the original domestic dog. The one that started it all! To me, nothing can be more glamorous than that, because it is impossible for any other breed to ever achieve that.

ValueAddin:
Had a Boerboel, have an Alsie and recently got a 'Nigerian Hound' puppy for 2k. Caused a stir as no one gets why I got it but the puppy is showing lots of potential.
Just got tired of the so called foreign breeds and decided to start the local breed fad.

That's sooo noble of you
Where did you get it?
Can you post pictures or perhaps start a diary on it?

They are truly special

WanyeKest:

That's sooo noble of you
Where did you get it?
Can you post pictures or perhaps start a diary on it?

I know
I got it from a friend.
These are the same breed of dogs I knew while growing up and they were agile, hardy, fierce and loyal. I will send a picture as soon as I snap it. I dont know about starting a diary though.

This puppy has become the aggressor...tiny with high pitched bark yet getting territorial.
I just think they do not grow as big as the regular foreign breeds.

Here

Another

Beautiful dog, see his physique(escape artist international), Nice coat.
You said it's aggressive, Have you tried teaching it stuff that will mentally task it?

WanyeKest:
Beautiful dog, see his physique(escape artist international), Nice coat.
You said it's aggressive, Have you tried teaching it stuff that will mentally task it?

Thank you. Not yet started teaching it any major tricks apart from the usual sit, up, come nd stop It! It is round 6-7mnts and I got it like 2 months ago.

ValueAddin:

Thank you. Not yet started teaching it any major tricks apart from the usual sit, up, come nd stop It! It is round 6-7mnts and I got it like 2 months ago.

1......Fetch
2.......Answering to a name
3.... Patience before serving treats
4....... Potty training

OP my love for dogs started from our Nigerian local dogs growing up they were the dogs that were common; they are loyal, strong, tough and very intelligent they are some things that you don't even need to teach them they just on their own know what to do they indeed nice dogs to have.

rumenase:
OP my love for dogs started from our Nigerian local dogs growing up they were the dogs that were common; they are loyal, strong, tough and very intelligent they are some things that you don't even need to teach them they just on their own know what to do they indeed nice dogs to have.

True!
Their versatility is due to being adapted to the street life.

you are correct op there are very intellegent

Everything in Nigeria is taken for granted... If not protecting this dogs would be of top priority I have seen these dogs survive illness the so called foreign breeds can't .
I wish Fynestboi, Seun, greene66 and other pet lovers can take the initiative to sensitize Nigerians on the importance of preserving these breeds cause am very sure they would be sought after they must have gone into extinction.

if u noticed, they don't need potty training, they poo outside where they reside


as for training and socialising thumbs up
they will follow you anywhere without a leash and not bite anyone or attack, can u try dat with a those foreign dogs?


training alone is soooooo easy and comes to them naturally but for a foreign breed you need videos from professionals or youtube


you can leave them with kids and not fear a thing


they can live long for Africa

chai

this breed needs recognition


when Last have you seen a foreign dog hunt in nigeria?

chidichuddo:
if u noticed, they don't need potty training, they poo outside where they reside


as for training and socialising thumbs up
they will follow you anywhere without a leash and not bite anyone or attack, can u try dat with a those foreign dogs?


training alone is soooooo easy and comes to them naturally but for a foreign breed you need videos from professionals or youtube


you can leave them with kids and not fear a thing


they can live long for Africa

chai

this breed needs recognition


when Last have you seen a foreign dog hunt in nigeria?

you are correct.
Do you have one?

mercy348 how're your dogs doing you stopped updating

WHEN DO THEY COME IN THEIR FIRST HEAT

PLEASE o at what age do they come into thier first heat

chidichuddo:
if u noticed, they don't need potty training, they poo outside where they reside


as for training and socialising thumbs up
they will follow you anywhere without a leash and not bite anyone or attack, can u try dat with a those foreign dogs?


training alone is soooooo easy and comes to them naturally but for a foreign breed you need videos from professionals or youtube


you can leave them with kids and not fear a thing


they can live long for Africa

chai

this breed needs recognition


when Last have you seen a foreign dog hunt in nigeria?

One day I was close to a borehole in my area where people come to fetch free water when I saw some kids coming to fetch water, behind them was a local dog following very closely no leash, dog sat down till those kids fetched their turn and still jejely followed them home.. I tried for close to 2 months before I thought my Caucasian dog to walk off leash, even when walking she tends to wander off a bit far but comes back afterwards. When I build my own house with a nice compound I'd get a local dog

When I went to the vet clinic one day when a white woman drove in crying her heart out begging the vet to save her dogs life, the dog was run over by a car. Pup I came to treat fell from our one storey and injured himself, the doctor wanted to leave me to attend to the woman so I wanted to raised my voice when the woman came in carrying our very own Ekuke all bloodied up, people there were murmuring, some even saying she should sell to local dog meat joints before the dog dies but this woman continued to cry, I was so moved I jejely brought my dog down from the table used to examine so the woman can be attended to... We don't value our own, the whites that introduced the foreign breeds to us are still the ones loving our locals.. We used to have a local mix that grew so aggressive my dad forced me to sell but I gave him out, I still miss that dog

Namdeenero:
One day I was close to a borehole in my area where people come to fetch free water when I saw some kids coming to fetch water, behind them was a local dog following very closely no leash, dog sat down till those kids fetched their turn and still jejely followed them home.. I tried for close to 2 months before I thought my Caucasian dog to walk off leash, even when walking she tends to wander off a bit far but comes back afterwards. When I build my own house with a nice compound I'd get a local dog

our ekuke smart abeg

durubrian:
nice thread, the Ekukes are very strong with an amazing immune system, but when it comes to security, I can't say they are the best choice. . .

May be they may not be the best choice security-wise when compared to some breeds but anything that moves near the gate of my house, my little ekuke is growling and pacing, barking and snarling like it's life depends on it.

I walk my ekuke sometimes and I must say I like the way it falls into rhythm with my steps.

Their size is the only disadvantage as it appears they do not grow much no matter what they are fed.

chidichuddo:



our ekuke smart abeg

Very.

ValueAddin:


May be they may not be the best choice security-wise when compared to some breeds but anything that moves near the gate of my house, my little ekuke is growling and pacing, barking and snarling like it's life depends on it.

I walk my ekuke sometimes and I must say I like the way it falls into rhythm with my steps.

Their size is the only disadvantage as it appears they do not grow much no matter what they are fed.

lol they still grow big to some extent.. What should I say about my lhasa breed..

The only reason I can't buy it is because I love large breed,all my dogs have all been male Rottweiler's.

Ekuke too dey small

WanyeKest:
Here goes to the oldest breed of dog in the country - Nigeria ubiquitious "EKUKE."
I had been to a reputed pet shop to buy food for my dogs. In the shop there was this important looking man conversing with the owner, the conversation largely being about how great his show-winning Great Dane and Labrador were. As I was about to leave, the he asked me what dogs I have. “A Rottweiler and an ekuke he exclaimed. “Lucky dog… that stray must have done some really great deeds in his last birth to deserve this!” How wished I could rub it into him that Ekukes are not necessarily strays or mongrels, and that they deserve a LOT more respect than they are being given. But I had neither the time nor the inclination for an argument right then, so I tried wrapping it up saying “it’s not that my dog is extraordinarily lucky, it’s just that the breed is extraordinarily unlucky to have been ignored for so long.” “Today’s kids talk a lot” he snickered

lol

Proud owner of one, you dare not pass my gate anyhow, whether day or night.