A Study on Morphology and Behavior of the Sapsaree : A Korean native dog (Canis familiaris)

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterize the morphological and behavior patterns of Sapsaree dogs. The population (n=8,256) has been constructed since 1990 over 12 generations and managed at the Sapsaree Breeding Research Institute, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk province. Eighteen morphological and seven behavioral traits were investigated for 882 individuals. Linear models were applied for each trait by fitting sex, season of birth, hair color or test age. The averages of body weight, body length, body height, and depth of chest were 20.5±2.4 kg, 57.3±4.2 cm, 52.1±3.6 cm, and 21.1±2.4 cm, respectively. Males had greater estimated values than females for these body conformation traits. The chocolate Sapsarees had greater averages for body weight, body height and chest depth. The older animals (>2 years) had heavier body weight than younger animals. About 54, 69, 97, 39 and 83.3% of the Sapsarees had hairs with yellow color, straight, medium to long, untangled, and longer around eyes, respectively. Also, about 40% brown eye, 43% curly tail, 78% normal jaw, 86% no missing teeth, 90% no dewclaw, and >90% with black nose, pendent ear, tongue without spots were observed. About 95% males were normal in testicles state. The males performed significantly better than the females for majority of the behavioral traits. For nerve stability, affability, wariness, adaptability, sharpness, activity, and reaction during blood drawn about 79%, 73%, 76%, 61%, 70%, 48% and 81% of the Sapsarees performed at desired level. In general, the Sapsarees showed good characteristics for both morphological and behavioral traits, which can be exploited to use the Sapsaree breed as a companion or guide dog.

Estimation of Effective Population Size in the Sapsaree: A Korean Native Dog (Canis familiaris)

“…The tight population bottleneck history in Akita and Bernese mountain dogs was followed by a large reduction in N e ( Rogers and Brace, 1995 ; Wilcox and Walkowicz, 1995 ; AKC, 1998 ) and reflects a long extented LD ( Sutter et al, 2004 ). This result is consistent with the Sapsaree population history, in which significant reduction of the population size occurred during Japanese colonization of Korea more than half a century ago, wherein the breed reached extinction and was re-established about 30 years ago ( Han et al, 2010 ). Moreover, the past N e with significant reduction of the size in recent generations may cause an increasing inbreeding rate in the Sapsaree individuals of the current generation ( Figure 1 ).…”

Tracing the Origin of the RSPO2 Long-Hair Allele and Epistatic Interaction between FGF5 and RSPO2 in Sapsaree Dog

“…The Sapsaree is a Korean native dog breed with medium body size; long hair is its most prominent feature [ 32 ]. However, individuals with short hair also appear in the population ( Figure S1 ).…”

Genetic diversity and population structure of the Sapsaree, a native Korean dog breed

“…Correspondingly, Han et al [22] showed that Sapsarees have greater genetic diversity based on several morphological traits such as tongue spots, dewclaws, tail-set, and coat, nose, and eye color. The Coat color of the Sapsaree also revealed the heterogeneous nature of the breed, indicating two distinct group of blue and yellow including several subdivisions such as blue black, grey black, deep yellow, yellow and light yellow [77].…”