Korean Jindo: double-coat care through the shedding season
The Korean Jindo has erect ears, a curled or sickle tail and a substantial double coat over a body slightly longer than its height. This profile uses the Jindo’s own sources. Its coat maintenance and size descriptions should be considered directly rather than borrowed from another spitz-type breed.
Different height ranges
FCI gives 50–55 cm for males, ideally 53–54 cm, and 45–50 cm for females, ideally 48–49 cm. Weights are 18–23 kg and 15–19 kg. The earlier UK guide instead gives male heights of 48–53 cm, ideal 51 cm, and female heights of 46–51 cm, ideal 48 cm. It supplies no numerical weight here. Those sex-specific ranges and ideals remain distinct.
The coat changes the workload
Coarse, straight outer hair stands away from the body, supported by soft, dense undercoat, with longer hair around the neck, rump, tail and thighs. AKC suggests weekly brushing with a slicker or pin brush and occasional bathing. It describes heavier shedding twice yearly, with undercoat coming away over a month or more. During those periods, plan regular extra brushing and the corresponding household cleaning.
Handling between full sessions
The earlier UK category is grooming more than weekly, so the AKC ordinary-week example should not become a reason to ignore the coat between appointments. Work out how to reach the undercoat with a breed-experienced person. A clean-looking outer layer can conceal loose hair beneath it. The sources used here do not provide a compulsory clipping, stripping or bathing interval for every Jindo.
Daily shared activity
The UK exercise category is up to an hour daily and includes a small house and small or medium garden. AKC describes an active household providing physical and mental outlets, including a long walk. Choose a manageable daily routine with the individual dog rather than relying on an upright-eared appearance to predict its needs. Compare the Canaan Dog and smaller Schipperke on their own measurements, shedding patterns and coat texture.
Sources and further reading
Korean Jindo (Imp) at a glance
These earlier UK breed guides are starting points for comparison. Details may have changed, and individual dogs vary.
- Breed group
- Utility
- Size
- Medium
- Daily exercise
- Up to 1 hour per day
- Grooming frequency
- More than once a week
- Coat length
- Medium
- Sheds
- Yes
- Suggested home size
- Small house
- Town or country
- Town or country
- Garden recommendation
- Small / medium garden
- Lifespan
- Over 10 years
FCI breed standard
Standard guidance describes the breed ideal; individual dogs vary.
- Origin
- Korea
- Group
- 5 - Spitz and primitive types
- Section
- 5 - Asian Spitz and related breeds
- Height
- Males: 50–55 cm; Females: 45–50 cm; Males: Ideal: 53–54 cm; Females: Ideal: 48–49 cm
- Weight
- Males: 18–23 kg; Females: 15–19 kg
The Jindo height ranges contain narrower ideals; the weights are separate male and female ranges.
Official FCI standard (PDF)
Standard effective from 2004-11-09; checked 2026-10-15
