Description

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an extinct breed. They were short coated, with a coat that came in a variety of colors. The body was low and barrel shaped with a destined belly and short legs. The head was large and flat due to the lack of chewing from their vegetarian diets.

Origin

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is a Pariah Hound that has become extinct. They came to Hawaii with the Polynesians during the first settlement more then 1,000 years ago. At one time this breed was an important part of the Polynesian people's life. The dogs lived amongst the tribes. Female tribe members took care of these dogs and even nursed Poi puppies believing it would give them more protective instincts. The puppies were sometimes give as a gift to an infant at birth. If the child died the dog was killed and buried with the child's body. If the child out-lived the dog, the dog's teeth were pulled and made into a necklaces to be worn by the child, continuing the believed "protection". The dogs were only fed poi, which is a granular past based on the taro root. This was done to fatten the dogs up, for they were not only used as a companion, but they were also eaten by the tribe. It was not uncommon for a dog to have slept with the children one night and eaten as the main course the next. The vegetarian poi diet made the dogs become inactive and obese and they often were found amongst the hogs. Over the years this vegetarian diet changed the shape of the dog's skulls. The heads became large and flat due to the disuse of the bones from lack of chewing. These dogs eventually became very lazy waddling around with distended bellies only to be eaten at some point. It was said that they seldom barked and ran with the hogs. Early in the 19th century, other dogs began to breed with the Hawaiian Poi Dog and the breed was no longer pure. Years later a breeding program was started at the Honolulu Zoo in attempts to reconstruct the breed. After 12 years of trying it was deemed a failure and the program was discontinued.

Temperament

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was clumsy, but friendly and playful. They were said to be fat and lazy and rarely barked. They were fattened up to be eaten by the tribe in which they lived. Fed a paste made from ground, baked and fermented taro root, they were sluggish and were not very smart. Hawaiian Poi Dogs liked to play with the children, but were too slow to catch the fruits the children would playfully throw at them. Lots of times they ran with the hogs, which the tribes also ate, and acted more like hogs then dogs.

Height

Height: About 14 inches (36 cm.)

Weight

Weight: The dogs were overweight with distended bellies for the purpose

Known Health Problems

The Hawaiian Poi Dogs were fed a vegetarian diet that made them obese and gave them distended bellies and slow mentalities. The bones in their heads became flat and enlarged from lack of chewing due to this diet.

Conditions for Living

They lived with the tribes, sleeping with the children, but were also eaten as a delicacy.

Exercise Requirments

The Hawaiian Poi dogs were fat and lazy. Waddling around like the hogs.

Life Expectancy

Were usually eaten before they died of a nature death.

Grooming

-

Group

Southern