Telomian

The Telomian is an ancient , primitive breed from Malaysia. The Telomian originated in Sungai Telom valley in Pahang after which it is named. To date, it's the only known breed from Malaysia to live outside of the country.

Originally, Telomians were bred to be hunters by the indigenous people in the jungle of Malaysia. These jungles are filled with dangerous animals and creepy crawlers so the huts in the villages were built on stilts. As a result, Telomians developed an unusual ability to climb up the ladders into their owner's huts.

The breed was officially discovered by the West in 1963 when Dr. Orville Eliot found them and brought a pair to the United States. Shortly after, the Telomian Dog Club was established in 1970.

Telomians are small, have an elongated back, and can be any shade of sable. Adults weigh between 18 and 28 pounds, and are 15-18 inches tall. Similar to the Chow Chow, Telomians are known for having a blue tongue.

Telomians are described to be very alert, intelligent and loyal to their families. Because of their wild heritage, they need to be socialized from a younger age (around 4-5 weeks) than most other dogs. If socialized properly, Telomians make great house dogs and are wonderful companions to children.