11/02/2024
Philippine native dogs are hunting dogs. š¾
Our native dogs we often call a*o, ido, ayam, askal, or aspin, are hunting dogs historically (although our ancestors distinguished those who had the abilities to hunt). Their counterparts in various mountainous and forested provinces, especially those with indigenous peoples such as the Asong Gubat of Bukidnon, remain hunters. The divergence occurred when most of the Filipinos embraced colonial life and the role of their dogs diminished when the hunting culture dwindled; while those who defied colonization continued the tradition, thus their dogs remained accustomed to hunting.
Asong Gubat and other documented native hunting dogs in various parts of the country are reservoirs of the DNA of our native dogs. But this does not diminish the value of their counterparts in a typical Philippine village who are products of centuries of mongrelization. History attests to the ability of the Aspins, be they a mongrel or an Asong Gubat-like. We can still unleash the centuries-old--or even thousands-old--hunting prowess of the Aspins if we will only believe. An Aspin can be a smart service dog. We inherited them from our ancestors. They are gifts from the past. We are the ones who must value them the most. They can be everything they are.
Read more about the history of our dogs in Dogs in Philippine History. You may purchase a copy via shopee.com/dogsphi .