Pungsan

The Pungsan is a white Korean hunting spitz from the mountains of what is now North Korea, and a designated national treasure there.

History

It comes from the Pungsan area of Ryanggang province and was bred to hunt large game in deep mountain forest, reportedly including boar and tiger. Its status as a national symbol in North Korea means most of the population sits inside a country that exports very few of them, which is why it is rare elsewhere.

Temperament

The breed is known for being brave, loyal and independent, devoted to its own household and reserved with strangers, with a strong prey drive and considerable endurance.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and secure fencing. Training works better as partnership than as drill; this is a hunting spitz and it thinks for itself. The thick double coat sheds heavily.

Health

Generally hardy; nothing is widely documented as breed-specific. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.