Bengaluru: Following the PM’s mantra of ‘Make in India’ and all the philosophies attached to the term, the Indian Army has decided to recruit six Desi Mudhol Hounds into their ranks in Jammu & Kashmir.
The hounds are currently undergoing training in the Army’s Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) centre in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and will be fit to serve by the end of this year in the guard duty.
Indian Army has been using foreign breeds like German Shepherds, Labradors and Great Swiss Mountain dogs and it first of its kind move, the army is all set to induct an Indian canine breed.
The Mudhol Hound is also known as Caravan Hound. It is also called Karwani and it is a common pet amongst villagers in India’s Deccan Plateau, who use it for hunting and guarding, which in a way makes it fit to be a part of the army. The breed is above all a working hound, capable of providing an excellent performance in the field on a consistent basis, under gruelling conditions that would decimate most other dogs.
However, as per sources, training Mudhols is an experience for the army by itself as it is believed that they absolutely have no research or documentation on the training module for the desi breed, which were first kept in quarantine to check for diseases, on their arrival.
“The six hounds have undergone basic obedience training and thereafter battle inoculation followed by specialised training,” said a source who adds that the most important aspect was building the bond between the trainer and the dog to understand the animal’s behaviour as well as its ability.
According to the authorities, following good performance of these hounds in the training camp, the army has sought eight more Mudhol hounds from the state government. “We are now in the process of sending puppies,” informed an officer.
